Do you know that feeling where you feel like you're dying? Like everything around you is all a hallucination or a dream and you can't wake up? That was me right now. Everything around me was frozen. As if everything had just stopped.

I didn't want to believe it. Yet there was no doubt that the body in the coffin was Blake's. His scent was still noticeable. Standing beside my parents, I couldn't help but notice the way my dad wrapped an arm around my moms waist and rubbed her side softly. Or the way my mom leaned into him trying so hard not to cry.

I glanced around the clearing were most of my old pack members stood at the front. The ones who hadn't known Blake lingered behind us. My mate and Beta Jay stood at the front of everyone else, hands clasped behind their backs. They both had unreadable expressions on their faces. From what Thaddeus said after telling me Blake was dead those few days back, it was Beta Jay who wanted to bury Blake. Thaddeus was against it at first because he wasn't a pack member, but he gave in. Basically, he wasn't going to speak though. Beta Jay and some people that had actually known Blake, volunteered to speak. I was one of those who volunteered.

As everyone gathered around and began to settle down, Beta Jay started speaking.

"We are all here to remember a young child who went out of his way to help find our Luna." Many heads turned to me but I focused on the Beta. "His name was Blake and even though he wasn't in this pack, I feel we should all have a moment of silence for this courageous child. He knew what he was getting himself into, yet he still helped find the location of our Luna. If it wasn't for him, our Luna would have been dead before we could have rescued her."

I could feel the piercing eyes of many people, including my mate. I couldn't tell what he was thinking, but I knew he was relieved that I was still alive.

"Now for a moment of silence," I bowed my head down and thought of Blake and everything we've ever benn through. Without wanting too, tears sprung into my eyes making me wipe away hastily. No one needed to see me break down.

I felt a pair of eyes on me and without meaning too, I glanced up to see my mate watching me. He didn't break the eye contact. Instead his eyes softened a little bit before I finally turned away.

After a few moments of silence, Beta Jay finally began calling people up to speak of Blake. I was the first one he called. I didn't want to show my fear so instead I walked to where he was with no emotion whatsoever.

I turned to face everyone. This was actually nerve-wracking. I coughed into my shoulder before beginning.

"Blake was a bright and energetic pup. He was so easy to get along with and he made everyone happy. I see and will always see Blake as the younger brother I've never had. He was such an innocent curious child, who wanted nothing but to grow up a strong man that helped people in any way possible. I still remember those times when he would help the elders with cleaning instead of playing with his friends. Blake always put people before him and because of his random acts of kindness it makes me wonder if he was actually a grown man inside a kids body rather than a ten year old boy, " that comment got chuckles from many people including myself. "All in all though Blake will always be in my memory and in those who he managed to befriend during his short life time."

I turned around and walked back to my parents. Another person was already taking my spot to talk. My mom wrapped me up in a hug while my dad gave me a nod. I turned back to the front where I felt Thaddeus' eyes on me. He looked somewhat proud but I couldn't exactly tell.

A feeling of warmth enveloped me. I felt a strong sense of accomplishment. I could just picture Blake with that big grin on his face telling me he was proud.

-

After speeches, Beta Jay announced that if anyone had anything to say to Blake they should do so now, because he was soon going to be taken for burial. At that, my heart felt like it plummeted into the pit of my stomach. Rushing forward with tears threatening to fall, I dropped to my knees and glanced at Blake's still pale body. His neck was still twisted making me want to throw up but someone had covered him up with a small blue blanket; his favorite color.

"Blake," I murmured wanting to make this only for Blake and I, "I'm going to miss you kiddo. I'm going to miss your bright smile, your random acts of kindness, your funny comments but most of all: you. I love you so much Blake Hunt. Rest in peace kiddo."

The next people went up and I wanted nothing but to prolong this part. I didn't want Blake to be buried yet. I wanted him to be awake but of course that wasn't going to happen.

The last person to approach was... Thaddeus. He looked blocked off but other than that, he seemed like his normal self. I couldn't hear what he was saying yet I strained myself to hear.

-

Beta Jay

After letting everyone go up, I turned around and walked over to the coffin. I glanced at the small child and kneeled down.

"My names Jay," I murmur remembering what Blake had last wanted to know. "I know it's late but I needed to get it off my chest."

-

After the funeral, I head to the pack house where I get to meet many pack members up close.

I walked around the pack house with people- kids, teens, adults, elders- greeting me and asking if I'm OK. I simply nod and I end up striking a random conversation with them. By the time, I make it to the kitchen I introduce myself to the adults in there.

"Oh we know," one of the adults reply. She's a women with blonde hair and kind hazel eyes.

For some reason I turn an embarrassing shade of red. The women laughs and walks over to me.

"Your parents can never stop talking about you," she explains. I playfully glare at my parents who in return just laugh at me.

The lady watches me for a few moments making me feel awkward. Then, she turns to my parents. "You guys are right, she is a beauty."

I blush beet red before she glances at me again. "My names Nancy, Luna."

"I'm not Luna-" I argue but she silences me by putting her hand up. My wolf was growling at the back. Show her who's boss, she was telling me. I decided to just ignore my wolf since I did tell her I wasn't Luna... yet.

"Nancy," a male said speaking up. He sounded as if he was warning her.

She immediately looked bewildered by what she had done moments before. "I'm sorry Luna, I do that a lot when kids are arguing and I hadn't meant to do that."

"No, it's OK," I reassure her. She looks guilty but I smile brightly to show her that I am not affected. Too bad I had to continuously tell her to stop apologizing.

I stayed with my parents and when dinner came around I helped around the kitchen. I helped make sloppy joes and by then the first group- pups and teens- had already sat themselves at the dinner table.

"Oh dear," one of the elders cried out while rushing to me just as I was about to go around and pass out the food. "You don't have to do that. Sit and eat if you may."

"Actually, I should be going now," I said noticing the time on the wall. "May I help here next time?"

"You don't have to-"

"I know, but I'd like to do something with the pack and cooking with you ladies was a nice experience," I reply noticing some of the grins on the cookers faces.

"You can come by anytime sweety," The women says. I smile in return and wave goodbye heading for the door. Just as I open the door, a guard has his hand out as if he was going to open the door.

"Luna," he says greeting me and motioning for me to go before him. I do and something tells me I'm in trouble but I don't show my facial expressions.

"Is there a problem?" I ask trying to keep the suspicion out of my tone.

"The Alpha has requested you home," he replies with a tone that makes me feel like he just shut down our conversation. Like it was just over the moment I asked my question.

When we reached the house, I walked in with determination. As I see my mate on the couch, I approach him.

"Now what?" I say. Thaddeus looks up at me with a blank face. "Don't give me that blank face too. Now, what do you want?"

"I was informed that you were helping at the pack house with dinner and other things," he said his eyes scanning my face, "why?"

Without much control, I scoffed. My mate on the other hand didn't appreciate that action. His face changed from blank to annoyance in a second. "Maybe it's because I have absolutely nothing to do here. Besides, you did suggest to work in the kitchen with the cooks at the pack house."

Surprisingly, he nodded. I wasn't expecting that from him. "You can cook but the cleaning and such are for the other kids who arrived here without you that night."

"We're all in our late teens," I grumble, "we're not kids."

"Anyways that's not what I wanted to talk to you about," he says before gesturing for me to sit down. I take a seat in front of him with lots of space in between us. It hurt me that my mate didn't even want me to sit next to him from the way he acts.

"You had three rogues that kidnapped you that night," he says, "am I correct?"

I nod slowly unsure why he was bringing that up.

"You weren't taught how to fight correctly in your old pack right?" I nodded. "If you are still interested in learning to fight-"

Before he finished, I jumped up in surprise. "Are you actually saying what I think you're saying?"

Thaddeus kept quiet for a second before continuing. He seemed to be evaluating my reaction ...as if he wanted to see me like this.

"I want to put you in the training sessions with Jay," he finishes.

"Are you joking?" I ask excitedly. Thaddeus looks away for a moment and I could have sworn I saw a hint of amusement but when he glanced back at me, his eyes were blank.

"I don't joke," he replied in his all-too-serious voice.

"Thank you, thank you," I repeatedly say. In the rush of the moment, I throw my arms around him but because he's sitting down, I collapse onto his lap, straddling him. His hands immediately go to my waist steadying me.

I cover my burning red face so he doesn't see. This is so awkward, I thought. I swear if wolves could smirk, mine would be at the top of the list. She was loving it right now.

Hastily, I get off making Thaddeus' hands drop away from my waist. I stepped away and sat back down on the seat across him but this time it's much more awkward.

A moment of awkward silence appears and I'm left twiddling with my fingers.

"You don't have to be embarrassed," Thaddeus says. I don't want to look at him because from the way he said that, it seemed as if he was amused about this situation.

"Anyways, dinner is on the table," he says getting up, "good night."

"Good night," I reply startled by the sudden choice of words. I watch as he walks up the stairs. Just as he reaches the top, he speaks up without turning to face me.

"Is there something on my back?" Again, my face turns beet red.

"N-no," I stutter. I curse myself out internally and rush to the kitchen where some sloppy joes lay where he said it would be. How did he manage to get this when I helped make it? Without wanting to think much about it, I reheat the sloppy joes and then retrieve it, heading back to the couch.

I know I shouldn't be eating on the couch, but my mates scent still lingered here and I so desperately wanted to be as close as possible to him.

After eating, I stayed in my spot for a little longer before reluctantly having to get up and wash my dirty dish. When that was done, I went upstairs and grabbed my spare clothes, heading to the washroom. It's been a very long time since I last showered -disgusting, I know- and I was currently yearning for warm water to pelt down my back.

I undressed quickly and jumped into the tub, immediately taking pleasure at the warm water surrounding me. I took my time rinsing, scrubbing and washing before getting out feeling more awake.

I dried myself off before changing into my PJs. By my I mean the new bought pajamas I finally found in my shopping bags from all the way back. Apparently, telling me about my bags of clothing is no ones priorities. I had found out when I was walking around the pack house and saw some young boys digging around inside the familiar looking bags. I hadn't meant to make some of them cry but when one pulled out a bra and thong I just had to shout. I'm still puzzled on how they managed to find the bags.

Anyways, I hurried to my bed and got settled in. Just as I begin to drift off, I hear something like footsteps but I don't pay much attention.

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~MissieA out!

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