CHAPTER THIRTY TWO

CHAPTER THIRTY TWO
Silvana's Point Of View

By the time the rituals were over, everyone was at the hall of the Palace. The vast space was filled with the aroma of roasted meats and wine, but the atmosphere remained solemn. Soft, melancholic songs were being played on traditional instruments, filling the air with a quiet presence.

Alpha Darken, the imposing leader of the Stormknights, was the first to speak, his voice booming through the murmur of conversations. "A toast," he said, raising his intricately carved wooden cup. "To Alpha Zephyr."

"To Alpha Zephyr," everyone echoed, raising their cups in unison. Everyone, minus Garrick. He looked lost in thought, his eyes unfocused as he stared into nothing, his jaw tight, his shoulders slumped with a palpable grief.

"Why so glum, Garrick?" I heard a voice drawl, from across the table, it was dripping with sarcasm. I looked up to see Eryk staring daggers at him, his eyes glinting with cruel amusement.

"Eryk, don't," I heard someone say, a warning tone in his voice. I turned to see Alpha Darius, my Alpha, his face etched in a deep frown as he stared at Eryk. "This is no place to be childish. We are at the funeral of a very dear friend that we lost, and a well respected Alpha. Behave."

Eryk shrugged dismissively as he dropped his cup on the table with a clatter, splashing wine across the polished surface. "Whatever you say, King Darius."

I heard Alpha Darius let out a sigh, it sounded so weary. Then, I felt a nudge in my arm. I looked up to see a beautiful woman with green eyes and long, orange curly hair staring at me with a warm smile.

Woah... I hadn't even realized I was sitting close to her until now.

"You must be Luna Morgana," she said, her voice kind and melodic. "Hi, I'm Luna Evelyn. It's nice to finally meet the one woman who was able to tame Garrick," she added with a soft giggle which made me smile.

"You're Luna Evelyn?" I gasped, her name finally sinking in. There's no way she looked this young! She's almost 100 years old! Her beauty was even more stunning than I imagined. 

She chuckled as she shook her head, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "Sweetheart, I'm a 110,"

"How did you-"

"Evelyn can read minds, to an extent," A man interrupted. I tilted my head to see a handsome man with hazel orbs staring at me with a playful smirk.

"Alpha Luca?"

He smirked, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Yes, Morgana."

Evelyn nudged my arm again, her smile widening. "You're extremely pretty, even more than I imagined," she then turned to my Alpha, Alpha Darius. "I never knew women from your pack were this beautiful,"

He shrugged. "Is that so?" He then leaned in next to his wife and pecked her cheek, making her giggle. "Too bad, I only noticed my Luna,"

Evelyn snorted while others laughed. "Oh please, Morgana is a beauty," she declared, her gaze now on me frank and admiring.

"I'd say you're more beautiful," I murmured, sincerity filling my voice as I stared into her mesmerizing eyes.

She giggled, a light, airy sound, and licked her bottom teeth in a way that was both playful and slightly flirty.

"Carefil now, Evelyn," I heard Alpha Luca warn from across the table, a hint of amusement laced in his tone. "I don't think Garrick is into sharing."

I arched my brow, confused by his statement. "I'm lost....what does that mean?"

"Evelyn here has a thing for beautiful young women," I heard Alpha Darius explain, his voice booming with laughter. Immediately, half of the table erupted into laughter, even those who had been mute. I looked at Evelyn with wide eyes only to find her blushing extremely hard.

Oh hell no-

"Oh, don't worry Morgana," I heard a voice say. I looked up to see Alpha Magnus staring at me and Evelyn with amusement. "It's bound to happen, I mean she's the only one here without a partner,"

I heard Evelyn snort behind me. "Just twenty years is nothing,"

"Twenty years of celibacy," I heard Eryk laugh, making the whole table erupt into laughter once again. He then leaned in closer and winked at Evelyn. "How about I assist you with that before I become king tomorrow? Should show you what you're missing..."

"How about I show you some manners instead?" She retorted.

Once again, the whole table erupted into laughter, harder this time. I smiled at everyone, but my smile died when my eyes trailed to Garrick. He looked so lost.

"Garrick?" I called out softly, reaching out to hold his hand. But instead, he just stood up, his chair scraping against the stone floor.

"I'll be leaving." He said in a flat tone and began to walk away. He didn't look sad...rather...he looked angry.

"But-" Before I could finish my sentence, Garrick had already left the hall, disappearing into the shadows. My heart dropped as I watched him leave. I felt so guilty and filled with worry for him. 

In a situation like this...what could I possibly do?

"Well, that's rude," I heard Alpha Darken say from across his face. I snapped my head to face him, my anger rising at his words. It was almost as if he sensed it so he looked up at me, his brows furrowing. "Don't give me that look Morgana, he shouldn't have done that, we are all grieving too."

"You can't compare, Darken," I heard Evelyn say beside me. Her voice was laced with sympathy. "Zephyr was like a father to him. After losing both parents at an early age, the only being in his life was Zephyr and now he's dead....dead without a clue," she added with a frown.

"Oh please Evelyn," I heard Eryk snort, I turned to look at him. "Zephyr was like a father figure to everyone."

"Atleast he wasn't known as a tyrant." I heard an unfamiliar voice bellowed, his voice surprisingly loud. I narrowed my eyes to see a short man with a bloated stomach. He was munching on the beef in front of him like an animal. Of course, that's Alpha Rain. An ambitious, greedy Alpha who believed in nothing but riches and fornications, marrying multiple women. His short stature wasn't as ugly as his insides.

From beside me, I heard Evelyn burst out laughing. "Honey, he isn't that bad, okay, maybe a little." she said as she leaned in closer, her breath tickling my skin.

My cheeks burned with a mix of embarrassment and amusement. Why can this woman read minds?

Soon after, everyone became engrossed in their own conversations, the middle shifting from solemn remembrance to lively chatter. I felt completely left out, just staring into my food.

I was tempted to go check up on Garrick, but for some reason, I believed he needed his space, time to think and process his grief alone.

"Morgana," I heard a voice slur, without even looking up, I knew who it was.

"Yeah?"

"Go to him," she said, her face now serious, her playful demeanor gone. "He needs you more than ever. I know that."

I let out a deep sigh. "I don't know exactly what to say or do, I feel like I'm not doing enough for him," I confessed, feeling inadequate to offer comfort that matches his pain. "I'm so unsure of how to help him through this."

"Your presence is more than enough for him, now go." She urged. I looked into her eyes, finally gathering some courage. I nodded and excused myself from the table. No one minus Evelyn seemed to care that I left, their attention was consumed by their own conversations.

I hadn't seen my father since the ritual, I wonder how he was doing, but that would be after I've seen Garrick. He's my priority now.

I ran around the palace, searching for him. Finally, I saw him standing under an oak tree, bathed in the moonlight, his figure silhouetted against the night sky. Just as I took a step closer, another figure emerged closer towards him.

Ravenna.