Chapter 22: Funeral and Farewells

Tyler's funeral was at dawn.

Pack tradition. Wolves said goodbye to their dead as the sun rose.

We gathered in the woods behind the gym. The whole pack. Human form. Black clothes.

Tyler's body lay on a pyre. Wrapped in white. Flowers around him.

He looked peaceful. Too young.

Cole stepped forward. As Alpha, he led.

"Tyler Morrison was nineteen. He joined six months ago. Looking for family." Cole's voice was steady but I heard the pain. "We failed him."

"Not your fault," Marcus said.

"Yes it was. I'm Alpha. His safety was my job." Cole looked at us. "All of you are my job. And I let a demon in."

"We all did," Stacey said. "We all missed the signs."

"Which is why this never happens again." Cole's eyes flashed. "From now on, we're more careful. We test everyone. Trust no one outside."

Everyone agreed.

"Tyler deserved better," Cole said. "A long life. A mate. A future." He paused. "All we can give now is justice. His death won't be for nothing."

Alex stepped forward. Lit a torch.

"We commit Tyler's body to flames. His spirit to the moon. His memory to our hearts."

He touched the torch to the pyre.

Fire caught. Spread.

We stood silent. Watched.

Tears fell down my face. I barely knew Tyler. But he was pack. His death hurt.

Because he was family.

The sun broke over the horizon. Golden light mixed with orange flames.

Beautiful and terrible.

When the fire died, Andres came forward with an urn.

"We'll scatter his ashes here. Let him become part of the land. Part of the pack forever."

One by one, we each took ash. Scattered it.

When it was my turn, I whispered, "I'm sorry."

"Not your fault," Cole said softly.

"Isn't it? I brought my family's mess here."

"Then we never would have found you. Never would have known we had a Luna Alpha." He took my hand. "Tyler's death is a tragedy. You being here is a gift. Don't confuse them."

After, we went inside.

Erica was awake. Andres had finished the exorcism.

She sat in the locked room. Pale. Shaking. Eyes red.

"Can I see her?" I asked Cole.

"Why?"

"I need to understand. Why she let them in."

"She tried to kill you."

"I know. But she was possessed. I need to hear her side."

Cole looked at me. Then nodded. "Five minutes. I'll be outside."

He unlocked the door. Let me in. Locked it.

Erica looked up. Flinched.

"You're glowing," she whispered. "Silver. Like a real Alpha."

"I didn't come to gloat."

"Then why?"

"To understand. Why?"

She was quiet. Then spoke. Voice broken.

"I loved him. Cole. Since childhood. Everyone said we'd be mates. That I'd be Luna. My destiny."

"But he didn't choose you."

"No. He chose you. A human. A weak human who didn't even know she was a wolf." Bitterness in every word. "Not fair. I trained my whole life. He threw it away for you."

"So you made a deal."

"They came to me. Whispered promises. Said they'd give me power. Make Cole see me." She laughed. Hollow. "I didn't know the price. Didn't know they'd take over. By the time I realized, too late."

"They killed Tyler."

"I know. I felt it. Felt them use my hands." Tears fell. "I tried to fight. Stop them. But I wasn't strong enough."

"What happens now?"

"Banishment. Pack law. I endangered everyone. Killed a member. Even if I was possessed, I'm responsible." She looked at me. "Cole banishes me at sunset. I have to leave. Find a new pack. Or go rogue."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be. I did this." She wiped her eyes. "But can I ask something?"

"What?"

"Take care of him. Cole. He acts tough but feels everything. Tyler's death will haunt him. My betrayal will hurt." She met my eyes. "He needs you. Don't let him carry this alone."

"I won't."

"Good." She looked away. "You can go. Don't want your pity."

I left. Found Cole outside.

"Well?"

"She's broken. But she knows what she did."

"Doesn't change consequences."

"I know."

That evening, the pack gathered. For Erica's banishment.

She stood in the center. Head bowed.

Cole spoke. Alpha command in every word.

"Erica Hartman. You are banished. No longer welcome. No longer protected. Twenty four hours to leave. If you return, you're an enemy. Understand?"

"I understand." Barely a whisper.

"Then go."

She walked away. Didn't look back.

Gone.

"That was hard," Stacey said.

"Had to be done," Cole said. But I heard pain.

Later, I found him on the roof. Staring at stars.

"Hey," I said.

"Hey."

I sat. "You okay?"

"No. But I will be." He looked at me. "Two people gone. Both my fault."

"Not your fault. Demons did this. My mother did this."

"I'm Alpha. Everything is my fault."

"Then let me help carry it. That's what mates do. What Luna Alphas do."

He smiled. Small but real. "Yeah. That's what they do."

We sat silent. Watched stars.

My phone buzzed. Text.

From the Seattle number.

Two days left. Come alone or deal is off. And Lita? Bring the journal. James's journal. I know you have it.

How did she know?

"What?" Cole asked.

I showed him.

"She knows too much. A trap."

"Probably. But I still go."

"We still go," he corrected. "You're not going alone."

"What if she won't tell me if you're there?"

"Then we make her talk." Eyes flashed. "One way or another, we get answers. About James. About whoever's behind this."

"You think there's more? More than my mother?"

"I think your mother didn't summon demons alone. Someone taught her. Helped her." He stood. Pulled me up. "And whoever called knows who."

"So we walk into a trap. And hope we're strong enough?"

"Basically."

I laughed. "Insane."

"Welcome to pack life." He kissed my forehead. "Get rest. We leave tomorrow. Long drive."

"What about the gym?"

"Alex stays. Keeps everyone safe. Andres and Stacey come. Marcus too. The rest guard territory."

"You really think we need that many?"

"I think we don't know what we're walking into. Better over prepared."

He was right.

Something big was coming. I felt it.

Demons were just the beginning.

My mother was just a pawn.

There was something bigger. Older. More dangerous.

And it wanted me.

The Luna Alpha who shouldn't exist.

I had to figure out why.

Before it was too late.