Moonlight Avenger

Burial Rites

I lead the way through the forest with the others following. “Wait, are we going back?” Hades questioned.

I glanced over my shoulder and nodded. “Yes, we are not leaving our people that didn’t survive desecrated like that. We’re returning to bury them at least.”

Hades frowned. “I understand that reasoning, but do we really have time? I’m worried that those they take will be killed while we bury the ones behind.”

Mana joined just behind me his hulk sending a shadow across my body. “The Goddess would be upset if we left our comrades in that state. I will help you bury them, and give them a final rest.”

I didn’t much care for what the Goddess wanted, not that I didn’t appreciate her gifts, but Hades had a valid point. It wouldn’t be wise to sacrifice living members for dead ones. Still, I would not change my mind on this. I owed my pack this much, and all I could do was hope that the living members weren’t taken away during this time. And if they were? All the more reason for me to rain my own hellfire on the mysterious pack.

“You’re sure about this?” Hades demanded again. “That was a demon, we know what demons want and what they convince others to do.”

I winced. “I know, but I will not abandon my people just because their souls are no longer with us. They deserve at least a burial, they were the elders of the pack. They deserve a respectful burial, especially since they didn’t have a respectful death.”

Mana nodded to my words. “Let us hurry then, we can take care of them quickly, and then return to our own clan to do the same before it gets too late.”

“No,” Hades shook his head. “We are not wasting more time taking care of your dead too.”

Koda caught up and glanced over at my mate. “So you will take the help provided you to care for your own, but when we request the same favor we are turned down? You do realize that Morgan knows some of those that died in my pack, correct?”

“Hades, Koda, stop it,” I demanded snapping at the both of them. “We will bury our pack first, and when we are through we will do the same for Koda.” I could swear the wolf inside me was wagging her tail at the news. She usually stayed asleep deep inside me on most days, but when Koda was around all that changed. I peeked at my tail to make sure it wasn’t emulating her happiness.

“Morgan, are you serious? We’re already risking some of our pack by doing this now. I know this is important, but I don’t want any more deaths, especially those that could be prevented.” He frowned and shook his head. “I want to say that Cya and I should go ahead, but I refuse to do that. I’m not leaving your side, Morgan.”

The indecision gnawed away at the bond. He would obey me, but the doubt and worry flooded through me over it. “Cya, what do you think?” Anger simmered through me from his bond. A low subtle rage that kept building as time went on.

The thoughtful wolf glanced between me and his brother his ears flattening “I agree with Hades, staying here to help them is far too risky, and helping him?” he swung his head toward Koda and snorted. “I don’t want to help him, Morgan. He treats you like a thing, a possession he wants to take. I know he’s your former alpha, but I don’t trust him.”

“I can hear you,” Koda observed with a chuckle. “The thing you two don’t get as you play at being mates is that Morgan isn’t like you. She’s been through far more and she’s harder than you can ever imagine. My kitty has claws, and she’ll use them whenever she’s backed up in a corner.”

“I’m not yours, Koda, don’t think you can talk to them like that. Hades and Cya are my mates, you’re nothing to me. I’m only offering to help you with your pack because of the members that were in it, and because your zeta is helping us. I doubt you’d be of much use. You’ve softened over time.” My wolf growled at me for the tone of this conversation but I ignored her.

Mana ducked his head and lowered his eyes. “Thank you, Luna.”

“I’m not that either. I am an alpha myself, and I will get my pack back.” I turned to the thinning woods and snarled as the blood smell drifted into my nostrils. Now that I knew about it, I could smell the blood of so many that had been spilled. Mary’s body was still in the middle of the main courtyard and I went to her pressing my head against her side. Cold now, completely cold. I tipped my head back and howled the loss, behind me Hades, Cya, Mana, and even Koda echoed my cries.

I had stayed to my territory, I had stayed in my land. And yet we had been attacked from outside. My people had been attacked, murdered, kidnapped, and I didn’t want to think of what else they could be going through. My cries filled the forest as I promised my revenge for those I was burying now, and for any that got wronged before they were safe by my side again.

Koda trailed off first and went to work digging with his firm strong paws. There was no point in any of us shifting back, not when we could dig faster in these forms. I let one more lingering howl escape before I too turned to my work. Between us, we dug grave after grave. My paws grew cracked and bloody from the constant strain. More had died than I had realized.

“There, that’s the last one.” Cya finished his hole and shook himself off sending the dirt that matted his fur flying. “I’ll start bringing them here.” He glanced over at Mana. “Thank you for your help, this has gone faster than I thought it would.”

“Maybe here, but we’ll lose a lot of time helping them out too.” Hades still was growly over the situation. I longed to take him in my arms and comfort him. The rage simmered in both my mates, a rage they were not accustomed to and one I wanted to save them from. I fought a sigh. I had gone soft with these two. Only a few years and yet I would do almost anything for either of them.

Mana went from grave to grave and covered it with his snoot one after the other as Cya rolled the inhabitants in. “Goddess, let them find peace. Let them find solace and may their suffering be at an end. Let the moon’s power shine down and protect their souls and guide them to her side.” Mana said the same simple prayer over each and everybody until my pack was put to rest.

The sun was high in the sky now and I tipped back to study it. If I was to keep my word it would delay us catching up, by a lot. The trail would be harder to sniff out, but it would be okay, I’d find a way even if I had to create my own. “It’s time we get going, we need to go to Koda’s next.”

Hades and Cya glanced at each other. “It’s already late, is their pack even on the way?”

“No,” Koda replied. “It’s not.”

“And I don’t trust you,” Hades growled. “For all I know you’re delaying us on purpose. You don’t want us to get our pack back, this is all some game to get Morgan for yourself. I promise you it won’t work. I’m not the cub you think you remember. I’ve grown a lot.”

“In three years?” Koda questioned with a tilt of his head. “That’s a very fast growth spurt for you two.”

“What we went through is what made us grow.” Cya corrected. “Don’t treat us like kids, we’re not. We’ll protect Morgan with everything we have.”

“This isn’t the time to fight.” Mana rebuked the group as he glared at them. “We have just buried fellow devotees of the moon Goddess, don’t disgrace them by arguing, not now.” He turned toward me his dark brown eyes piercing. There was a fire in him that had not been there before. His entire body was tense and as he bared his fangs I was reminded of how much of a monster he truly was.

Cya withdrew and hung his head but Hades wasn’t ready to give up yet. “This might not be the place, but I still don’t trust you, either of you. So what if you helped with this? I don’t care. Helping you is foolishness, and Morgan, please, don’t do it. We need to go, now.”

I sighed. “Mana is right.” Sparks of betrayal surged to life in the bond. I would have to explain it later, in-depth. “We need to help them, it’s true. Some of those that died over there, I knew. I want to respect them as much as I respected my own pack. Hades, Cya, please, I know you disagree with this situation. But I want you two to come with me.”

The twins glanced at each other their tails dragging. “If that’s what you say,” Cya’s tone was nothing but a whimper.

Hades grunted. “Fine, but I still disagree with this.” He tossed his head and glared at the other two wolves. “If either of you tries anything, Cya and I will make you regret it. Morgan is under our protection, and you’ll be begging for the demon cats before we’re done with you. We’re only helping because she insists, that’s it.”

Mana bowed his head to me his nose almost grazing the ground. “Thank you, Alpha, I pray that the Moon Goddess blesses you for this decision. On behalf of me and my pack, thank you.”

I hoped I wouldn’t regret this decision, but I didn’t see any other way to handle it. Besides, there were a few in my old pack that if they had died, I owed them all my respect and more. “I’m glad we’ve come to a decision, let’s get going.” I strode off in perfect confidence that they would follow. My mates were hurt, but I would make it up to them later, I had to.