SWNOVELS Chapter Small white coffin.
My mother, Alpha Erik and Luna Vera are with us at home. Their sorrow is just as great as ours. My mother is angry, guilty and sad for Damon, for me and for our little girl. I will have a good talk with her at a later time, because she should certainly not feel guilty.
The procession of cars leaves the church, the first car being the funeral car that carries our little girl's white coffin. When we arrive at our ceremonial ground, I watch the others' eyes follow Damon and Alpha Erik as they place the coffin on the funeral pyre. I notice that it is not only the grief of Damon and me that is great. But also that our pack members share our grief. The white coffin is now on the woodpile, which is decorated with different types of white flowers. After a long final salute from the many members, the priestess sets fire to the piled up wood. Among the pack members stand warriors in wolf guise, howling for a lost heir to the throne. The pain in their cries goes through the marrow and bone. Everyone cries along. I watch the dancing flames engulf the coffin and follow the smoke as our little cub reaches Selene. Then I look at my mother and Damon's parents. Those people have also lost a piece of them and the worst thing is that it's all my fault!
During the coffee table I look at my two friends. Anna's tummy is clearly visible and I know that it is almost her due date. Daisy gave birth to twins a couple of days ago. I know it's a boy and a girl. But because of my grief I was not able to ask much further.
“Daisy, how are the twins?” I ask her after hesitating for a long time. Daisy looks at her two husbands and then at Damon and me. "Uh, okay."
"Just okay, or won't you tell me because of the loss of my cub?" Damon gives me a gentle knee blow under the table that startles me and immediately makes me feel guilty.
"I'm sorry, I…"
“Lana, the twins are doing really well. Tristan and Tamara are both healthy.' I smile and congratulate my friend. Everyone at the table is less tense and relaxes more.
'We'll have to pay a visit. And Anna when is your due date?'
"Next month, Lana."
'Call me when you're ready? I want to be there right after the delivery.'
"Definitely, girl."
Nelly is also at the table, but is extremely silent. I see another kind of sadness in her eyes. I know that her Beta is in prison and that he calls Bart. The trial will be next Friday. "Damon, can I ask you something about Beta Bart?" Damon and Nelly both look at me with curiosity.
"Okay, tell me?"
"Can Beta Bart come to our office tomorrow?"
"Uh, yes."
"Okay, that's taken care of," I say with a small smile without going into further detail.
The next day, Bèta Bart is sitting nervously in the chair in front of us. His silver handcuffs are attached to the arm rests.
'Beta Bart from the Kingdom of the East. Were you voluntarily Jan's Beta?' The guy looks at us and scrunches his nose.
'No, I definitely wasn't. My father pushed me forward out of fear. I was worthless to him. Then I served King John as a faithful servant. I have many murders on my conscience, of which I certainly have nothing to be proud of. So… if you want to give me the death penalty, I'll accept my fate with open arms.'
"What did you think when you saw Nelly?" Bart lovingly looks at Nelly who stares at him with tears in her eyes. Then, with great effort, he pulls his eyes away from her and stares at the ground.
'That I had to rescue this woman from my king. She's my mate. She's my everything. Without her by my side I feel empty and I'd do anything for her.' Even if I can't see his aura anymore. The love for Nelly fills the entire room. He has a strong power in him, even though he's just a Beta.
"Damon, I think it should be him?"
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, he'll do anything for Nelly, and those people need someone like that as their leader." Damon nods and signals for me to do the talking.
"Untie his bonds," I command to one of the warriors. The man immediately does as I ask and Bèta Bart looks at me suspiciously while rubbing one wrist.
'If you really love my friend as you say. Then I want you to marry her and mark her. Then I want you to show us she is your Goddess-given Mate.'
"Lana, you can't demand that of him," Nelly exclaims, shocked.
'Yes she can, because I want to too, sweetheart,' replies Bart, who is now on his knees before her. Nelly looks open-mouthed at Bart.
"Will you marry me, Nelly?"
"I…I…of course I will." Bart stands up and squeezes Nelly into a deep embrace. The little girl disappears completely into the strong arms of her future husband.
After a long conversation, Nelly and I are sitting in my old room.
“Lana, how are you and Damon doing now?” I look over at my girlfriend and sigh.
'It's complicated. Damon is having a very hard time with the loss of our cub. We finally slept in the same bed again. It'll take a little bit of time.' I look at my friend with a green smile and then lightly pat her knee.
"Your Bart is a special one, too, isn't he." A dreamy smile forms on her lips.
“The day he laid his eyes on mine, I was totally sold. He came to speak to me at night and told me to keep strong. One day he would free me and he jumped at the chance when you were with us. He regrets what happened to you and the cub. Every day he wants to make it up to you one way or another.'
'That day will come,' I slyly reply.
"Lana? What are you up to?"
'Damon is up to something big. He appoints new Alphas to the East and has something else in mind.'
"I'm not supposed to know what his big plan is?"
'No, that will remain a secret.'
A week later, the packhouse's main hall is well filled. Many men, but also women of the East are present at an important meeting about the future of the East. You see that the people suffered a lot under King John's reign. Many of them are unable to smile and look tired. Damon steps on stage and calls for people's attention.
“Dear werewolves in the East. The time of fear under the reign of King or rather Alpha Jan, the leader of the Silverback Pack, is over. You are invited, because you have helped us defeat the Silverbacks. I also heard from some of you that you pardon Beta Bart? Beta Bart, step forward.' All heads nod when Bart comes on stage. An elderly man with a cane steps forward.
“Beta Bart warned us before the King was going to attack our pack. We managed to hide all our pregnant women and small children in time.'
"He warned us in time when the king had an impulse to attack our pack," another man in the audience shouts. Bèta Bart looks surprised when all the werewolves start telling their stories at the same time. Then a very small girl comes forward and shouts: 'Beta Bart helped my mother when she had a big belly. A few days later she had my little brother and named him Bart. My daddy never got to see my brother. But Mama says he's with the Moon Goddess and takes care of us, even though we don't see him.' I look at my husband and his watery eyes. He walks over to the girl and kneels before her so that he is at her eye level.
'I have a big question girl,' Damon says, looking at the girl with a smile.
"If you could choose. Who would you want as your king?" The girl points at Bèta Bart. The man looks at the little girl in shock and shakes his head in disbelief. Nelly can only stare at everything with wide eyes and her hands in front of her mouth.
“Which one of you thinks that Beta Bart of the Kingdom of the East should be your next king. Raise your hand.' The girl is the first to jump with her hand high in the air. Then follows the hand of the older man and before we realize it the room is filled with all hands that are raised. Nelly gasps for breath and Bart gets tears in his eyes. I put my hand in the air and Damon looks at me with a big smile before he puts his hand in the air too.
'Very well, so be it. Starting tomorrow, I will crown your new king. Starting tomorrow, Beta Bart will be King Bart of the Eastern Werewolf Kingdom and you will also meet your future Queen Nelly.
"I," Nelly squeaks.
"Yes you, my friend. Come with me to the stage. Your future king is waiting for you." I push Nelly onto the stage and she walks towards Bart with a scared heart. She waved shyly with one hand at everyone and then followed a lavish cheer and applause for the young couple. Nelly hides in Bart's embrace and he hugs her tightly before giving her a kiss on her hair. The many people congratulate them and thank us for their stay in our pack house.