The vigil was a beautifully resplendent, and a truly elaborate ceremony.
Well as beautiful as a funeral ceremony could be anyway.
The entire pack was up between the wee hours of dawn and midnight old and young alike, dressed in formal attires of midnight black with no trace of any other colour... just as werewolf culture demanded.
Candles lit up the grand courtyard, just enough to provide some light as the healer, who had thankfully made it back in time for the ceremony gave the final words and performed the concluding rights, but it did not matter anyway... was not really needed. The moon gave just enough light, its ivory coloured illuminance making the whole presentation almost otherworldly, blending in with the golden light of candles and the dark midnight of clothes to create a harmonious explosion of colour.
And then all the candle lights were turned off, the huge, elegant pyre set up.
The names of the dead were mentioned, and then they were placed on the pyre as the healer called out to the moon Goddess to come take over their spirits and lead them all out into the spirit world, keeping them in her bosom until they all met once again.
At this point, the ceremony, which had initially started out as a silent one save for the soothing voice of the healer quickly changed tempo, becoming more fervent and tear-filled, as wives, husbands, family and friends realised that the time to say their final goodbyes was truly here... for they could see bodies now, point out that this was their beloved now, but they knew that after the pyre was lighted up, all they were going to have as a souvenir to remember their lost one by would be ashes. The mourning was truly sorrowful, and it intensified even more as six male wolves holding flaming torches approached the pyre, standing by, waiting as the healer said some final incantations. Everyone then shifted into their wolf form when she was done, right as the flaming torches were dropped.
And then the howling began.
Indeed, it was almost deafening. Alpha Joffrey would start the chant, and then the rest of the wolves would join him as they sang— or rather cried out their goodbyes. It continued over and over, until the still bodies became charred, and then slowly turned into nothing but warm, powdery ash.
*****
Kendra could not bring herself to sleep. They had about five whole hours until the handing over ceremony, and Killian had not spared any minute, he had drifted off to sleep almost as soon as his head had touched the pillow, his arm wrapped around Kendra so hard that she honestly thought she’d choke... okay she was exaggerating a little bit—but it was almost as though he thought she would vanish or even worse, die too if he did not hold on to her tight.
Who knew, maybe it was the reason why she couldn’t sleep after all.
The female Beta studied her mate’s features as he slept, her heart warming with love as she softly caressed his face. He was indeed exquisite, with granite carved handsome features that seemed to have softened very much in his slumber. She gazed upon his countenance, eyeing his lashes that were so long that she was almost envious of them, and then her gaze slid lower to his lips, those same lips that said adorable words to her during the day and worshipped her body at night.
A slow fire started in her lower belly at those thoughts...
Causing her to groan softly as she wiggled in his grasp, trying to escape his tight grip even as she tried to ignore how tight her breasts were pressed against his chest, or how she could have sworn she could feel him, hot and hard, pressing against her. But now wasn’t the time to be having wild thoughts? She chided herself angrily.
Killian was sleeping for fucks sake. And even if he wasn’t, the atmosphere was too sombre to engage in carnal pleasures anyway.
But the bastard only tightened his arms around her some more, completely oblivious to her dilemma as he slept on.
After what felt like an eternity of struggling, Kendra was finally able to get out of his strong and oddly reassuring grip. She decided to peruse the library in her boredom, seeing as it never failed her after all.
As she walked towards the library, her mind flitted towards the end of the beautiful ceremony, when she had officially introduced Killian to Rida and Saul, the couple who had taken her in. A smirk made its way onto her lips as she remembered Rida’s wicked grin of approval as she had mouthed the words, ‘ooh, he’s a complete snack’ secretly while her husband and Killian conversed. Kendra had quickly summarised the last couple of days in innocent terms to the elder couple, explaining that now they had completed the mate bond, but something about the old she-wolf’s grin had told her that she hadn’t believed the innocent story she had just been told. She believed that Kendra was leaving out all the juicy details.
The she wolf chuckled again. She did not know why she was only realising it now, but she had family and friends in Dnakle too... People who cared about her just as much as she did about them, even though she was in no way one of them.
The feeling made her feel so much better, and made her hope that her own folks back home— scratch that— back in Riverdale, had found people like that too.
For about thirty minutes, Kendra was lost in the world of geography as she read through the huge voluminous book, but she was suddenly interrupted by the sound of the huge library door opening.
Surprise flitted across her face when she saw Aiyisha von Sterling standing behind the door, a distressed look on her tired face. “Kendra!” She exclaimed in surprise and a little bit of fear, for she had not really expected to see anyone in the library, “Why, you also couldn’t sleep?” The blonde haired wolf asked, but Kendra only scoffed. “I think I should be the one asking you that,” She threw back at her, “Have you seen your face? You look like you have not slept in days. Whatever is the matter?” She asked as she gestured for Aiyisha to join her on one of the chairs, finding that she was rather concerned for her friend.
Her friend.
She found that it was much easier to say the word now. Aiyisha was her friend, even though they had started off on quite the wrong foot, but to forgive was divine... and while Kendra did admit that she was no deity, she was also quick to note that the girl’s repentant actions and her actual niceness had rapidly sped the process of forgiveness.
“Tell me why you’re here first, and then I’ll tell you mine.” Aiyisha said.
Kendra nodded sighing deeply in the process. “Very well...” She leaned back in her seat to feel for comfortable. “To be honest with you, I don’t really know why I can’t sleep... but I was just stuck in thoughts about our former pack.”
“You miss them?”
“More than you can ever know.” Kendra responded with a sad smile, “But you know what I just realised?” Aiyisha shook her head in the negative. “I realised that I have made friends here as well... people who care about me too just as much as I care for them. The revelation makes me feel... I don’t know, loved. I always used to think... used to feel that it was just Killian and I... but surprisingly, I don’t feel that way anymore.”
Aiyisha smiled softly and reached for her friend’s hand, “I am happy that you feel that way now... and I truly do hope that you see me as one of those people,”
“We’re gradually getting there,” Kendra admitted with a grin.
“Good. I don’t see how that should make you unable to sleep though. Feeling loved should be enough to make you drowsy with sleep,” The Alpha’s daughter teased but Kendra only tsked in slight annoyance. “I thought I started my story with I don’t really know why I cannot sleep.” She eyed her friend. “Anyway... what’s your reason for still being awake?”
It was now Aiyisha’s turn to shrug, “I do not know... I guess I’m a little nervous?” Why she phrased that statement like a question Kendra had no idea, but it had her raising an eyebrow in confusion. “Nervous?” She repeated, “Whatever for, though?” Kendra gasped when it finally clicked in her head, “Don’t tell me it is because of the handing over ceremony, Aiyisha.”
“But it is.” The blonde haired she wolf admitted.
“Why ever will it be? Is that not what you have wanted for so long?” Kendra voiced out her confusion, she could notice that her barrage pf questions were distressing her friend even more, but she just wanted to understand.
“Look Kendra... it really is what I’ve always wanted... but now that the chance to prove myself is here, I rather realise that I just happen to fear that I may never be good enough for the position.” She admitted softly, almost as though she hated herself for saying those words out loud.
Kendra had no words to say in that moment, the shock of her friend’s words muting her up a little bit. And so she did the next best thing, wrap her arms around the woman in a hug, “Oh Aiyisha,” She whispered squeezing tight. By the time she pulled away, she rather knew exactly what to say. “Believe me when I tell you that in moments of truth like this, self doubt is very much normal. Will I win? Am I good enough? Can I really handle it? We ask ourselves these important question all the time, and while they are wonderful questions necessary for a thorough self evaluation, we can just as easily crumble under the pressure it sets for us. You are perfect for this position as Alpha of your pack, Aiyisha,” Kendra said passionately, reaching for her friend’s hand. “You have always known it... some people in your pack have seen it, heck... After all these years your father is owning up to that simple fact. Now is not the time to give up? To let fear make you question your competence? Now more than ever is the time to raise that head up high and steel your shoulders, as you ready yourself to prove to all those who think that you are not fit to lead them... as you show them that they are wrong for thinking that.”
The female beta’s eyes were shining with so much light... a gleam in there that told Aiyisha that she was not saying all those words just for saying sake... that she absolutely— nay, completely believed them with all her heart.
It made the Alpha’s daughter feel warm all over.
She could do this!
“If it is because of the battle that you’re thinking this... trust me... more situations will arise where you will question yourself, but in all of this, never forget that you were born for this. Just strive everyday to be the best version of yourself for you and your pack, and the rest will be a breeze, you’ll see.” Kendra ended confidently. When she was done, even she could see the significant change in her friend.
Funny how just a few words could make everything so much better.
“Feeling sleepy now?” She teased with a mischievous grin, one that had Aiyisha bursting in laughter. “Much, much,” She smirked, “But alas, its almost time anyway. I can get all the sleep I want when I finally complete the ceremony and become Alpha.” She raised her head haughtily as she said the words, her sudden confidence making Kendra giggle in pride, “Atta girl.” She said with a grin.