Brendon's POV:
The funeral was the worst one I've been to.
Because I had to watch Vivienne sit on the second row. She refused to take a stand by my side. I know it was because she felt ashamed. I've been so terrible to her.
Maybe she think's I'm being distant because I don't love her anymore. But, I do love her. I love her even more then I did when I first met her. I love her because she survived when Aaliyah didn't. I love her because she's brought excitement and truth into my life. She's brought light into my darkness. I love her even though she lost the baby. Maybe she's hurting inside now. I'm terrible. I have been so terrible to her. I feel like a bad mate. I'm terrible for asking her to leave while I had a private conversation with my parents and sister. But, I believed she needed to rest. She didn't need all this extra... weight on her shoulders. She's lost so much right now. And, with the misarrange will she change her mind about being with me?
I wrapped up the funeral with the following, "lets eat to gain our strength for the run." I wanted the pack well fed. We'll be at war before the full moon. I could feel it in my bones. After these types of ceremonies we tend to hold a banquet to try to get everyone to eat. Afterwards a run will be held as the family of the deceased take the bones to the great burial grounds. Innath will be able to rest in peace finally.
The boarders were being patrolled by Elijah, Mateo, Mia, Ava, Destery, Jordan, Atlas, and Issac. Two on the east and west sides and four to the south. I rarely had the north boarder guarded since nothing was out that way of a threat. Once Fang completes his mission in Blacktail's territory I will send him up north. Hopefully there is something there he can bring back.
I doubt there will be any time for that. I have a feeling we're going to be at war within hours from now. There's not much I can do to warn my pack except to bunker the young and elders until this is all over with. The worst case scenario being the young actually get taken from us and sold into slavery under those bloodsucking demons.
My sister, Artemis returned with her mate- Mabel to bring back warriors. They said they wouldn't be long. I didn't think I would ever make friends with my neighboring packs but in times of need... they've become closer allies then I expected. Artemis is going to make Mabel practically family now. I never expected my baby sister to be... all grown up and ready to run her own pack. It pleased my parents so much when they met miss Alpha Mabel Rivera.
With everything happening it's been a small relief to have my parents back. My father being a retired Alpha will be a huge advantage to have. His strength alone will help tremendously.
Lamia had sent my people a message.
Surrender.
But, as an Alpha... I don't know when to quit.
I cannot allow my pack to break. I will not let Lamia win.
I will use up all my life force if I have to just to make sure she is safe.
My luna.
Vivienne. With her red hair- my scarlet wolf. I will not let them abuse and take anything from my luna or my pack. I will chew off Lamia's head personally. Vivienne is my moon now. She is my whole being of existence and I will fight to give her a pack worth leading. She will live with me and we'll hopefully have a big family. I want daughters and sons. I want to see her smile as she looks down at her first newborn in her arms.
Lamia messed with the wrong wolf pack! I am Alpha Brendon and in my blood lines there are warriors. They know nothing but the enjoyment of the hunt and kill. I will hunt Lamia down to the ends of the earths to make sure.... Vivienne is safe. My pack is strong.
We ran her off once and we will do it again.
"What are you thinking of?" Vivienne asked me as she walked up. She left her family's side to come to me. She dressed in all black but the outfit looked like something borrowed. She didn't wear a whole of of black. Especially something fancy for this occasion. Vivienne had her hair braided french style. It was one of her most common hair styles. She didn't put on any make-up as she was too distracted to think to do so.
"Just how much I want to protect the people I care most about," I told her softly as I wrapped her into my arms. Vivienne didn't cry. Unlike her mother. I noticed that she was very much like her father. She didn't have any tears to shred over Innath. I knew she had a lot of sibilings... but were they really this distant from emotional connections?
"I just want to hunt Lamia down personally," Vivienne whispered to me. "Because she's taken so much from us... and I want to get even."
"You don't want to kill her?" I asked softly. Some of the pack members were watching us but also trying to give their condolences to Romona and Calix. I wanted to slip out a growl at them. They should be ashamed of their ears.
'Calm down,' Steele thought to me.
Vivienne's romantic scent eased my anger. I breathed her in as she smelled just like the first time I met her. But without the heat being a huge icing to a cake. I barely know Vivienne. But, It doesn't stop me from wanting to get to know her and love her even more then I do now.
I remember when I first met her.
She was so upset. But she sat on the rock and looked just like Aaliyah. Aaliyah use to run to the same rock when she got upset. It wasn't the scent that attracted me to Vivienne... It was how much she reminded me of my first love. But, when I listened to her confess her misfortunes...
Aaliyah never talked to me like that.
No one ever talked to me the way Vivienne does. She's so open. She tells me what I want to hear. Vivienne told me everything in that moment and when I heard about how her mate just... didn't care about her it sent me off.
I could never understand how someone could just ditch the one destined for you. I didn't understand the concept until I met Vivienne and the mere thought of Aaliyah started to disappear from my world. It was starting to become about Vivienne. She drove me crazy. I wanted to claim her once I discovered she was there for the taking. She was so brave to reject him first.
But damn if it had to be Emmett, my cousin, best friend, and beta.
Out of everyone... I didn't think I would have to make that kind of decision. He made me so angry. Because he had been so close to me and knew I lost Aaliyah and there he was letting his own Aaliyah fall right through his fingers. He disrespected his mate. I could only imagine her anger when she found them two together. Her brother- Cole and her scum bag mate, Emmett. I bet every moment of them two together must have flashed before her eyes. Every insta-photo she liked when she was away at college. Just admiring her brother's boyfriend and never suspecting a thing.
Vivienne, thankfully is mine.
I will worship her to the end of time.
"No... sometimes I really do. But, then I wonder if she even deserves a death?" Vivienne asked me and lowered her eyes to the floor. "Brendon we have to talk about something before it comes up later. I don't want you to hate me for it after finding out from someone else."
"What is it?" I asked softly.
"The only way I was about to escape... was because Lamia staged it to try to get me killed. Because, I killed someone she made into a vampire. I killed him," she whispered softly into my ear. "I killed Emmett."