When Blair was dressed in jeans and a blue t-shirt, she headed to her father's office. She knocked and went in, "No need to knock Blair, this is your office now," her father said. Blair looked around the room at the men she had known her whole life and felt alone as she took her place behind the desk. "We must perform your mother's funeral today, before her spirit," Elder Luther, who was also the shaman began. "I understand, get word out we will hold her funeral at six this evening," Blair answered before he could finish. "Alpha, we need to decide what you are going to do about your mate?" Kaspar asked. "What about him?" Blair questioned back. "No doubt word has spread what happened last night, it leaves us vulnerable," Craig informs her. "Are you asking me to complete the mating ceremony?" Blair asked. "No one wants you to do anything you don't want to, we just want you to merely be aware of the problems that can happen," Kaspar tried to ease her anxiety.
It didn't, instead it made her suspicious of everyone around her. "I am aware," she said. "I just need time to consider all the possible options," she added. "Alpha Blair, we should decide now," Craig pushed. There was a knock, "Come in," Blair called. Elder Wallace walked in, "I wasn't aware there was a formal meeting," he said with a smiled. Craig, and Todd pressed their lips into a hard line, "Then again, this isn't a formal meeting since you are all no longer council member," he added jokingly. "Blair hasn't named a beta, delta, or zeta, therefor we are still technically council members," Todd shot back. "If Alpha Blair hasn't named anyone, then she hasn't named you either and everyone knows once an alpha changes hands they must name their new council members," Elder Wallace replied. "We were merely pointing out some things that Blair will need to decide in the coming days," Kaspar spoke up. "There will be time for decisions, I believe the alpha should take a few days to recoup from her loss," Elder Wallace defended. "While we are left open for an attack?" Craig scolded. "Do you underestimate the alpha, Craig?" Elder Wallace asked. "Well, no," he answered furrowing his brow. "She has driven a possessed wolf from our pack, I believe she could handle it if there was an attack," Elder Wallace pointed out.
Defeated the men left Blair and Elder Wallace alone, Kaspar shut the door behind him. "Thank you," Blair told him. "Your mate is smart and intuitive, and I believe you should stick close to him, during this time," Elder Wallace advised. "Did he send you in here?" She asked. Elder Wallace bowed, "He's worried about you and feels there may be some people who aren't advising you for yours or the packs benefit," he explained. "What do you think I should do?" Blair asked. "I meant it when I said, there will be a time for decisions. Blair right now is a time of mourning for everyone," Elder Wallace answered gently. She half smiled at him, "Thank you," she said. He bowed and walked out, leaving her to sit and think alone in what was, now her office.
Blair remembered sitting in there with Ben as a child watching the men who seemed to turn on her just now. They seemed so wise and helpful to her father, now she got a feeling they were in this for themselves. Blair could feel the unease of her wolf during that impromptu meeting, something was bothering her; but Blair wasn't sure what it was. She got up and went to her room, shutting everything off she needed to get ready for her mother's funeral.
After alerting elder Wallace, James went to his room and called Ryan, "We have a problem, I need you to come back by Wednesday with any archive information we have on twins, demon possession, or distich's," James told him. "Why?" Ryan asked. "They are trying to get Blair to reject me. If I don't find a way to fix this, I think she will," James explained. "Are you going to be ok till then?" Ryan asked. "Yeah, just hurry, find whatever you can," James ordered and hung up. He dressed in his alpha suit and went to Blair's bedroom and knocked. Blair slipped on her black pumps check herself in the mirror, though she didn't much care if her hair was curled perfectly or her makeup was done right. She smoothed her fitted plain black two piece knit dress, and heard a knock on the door. She walked over an opened the door, there stood James in his alpha suit, similar to the party suit but the funeral version, the lapels were the color of the pack while the jacket was just black. "You look beautiful," James offered and gave her a kiss on the cheek.
Blair let out a breath and closed her eyes, she just wanted to stand there and breath him in. "Blair, your coat," James whispered. "Huh," she murmured. "Oh right," she said coming back to reality. She grabbed her tan wool coat and her purse, "Let's go," she said. They went downstairs and met her dad at the limo, "Family only," Kaspar stated. "Daddy don't do this," Blair ordered exasperated. "Is that a command?" He asked angry. "It's fine Blair, I'll take my car," James offered gently, releasing her hand. Blair felt hurt when he let go, "I'll ride with you," she said. "Blair," her father objected. Blair stood her ground, "Fine, he's your mate after all," Kaspar receded.
They got into the limo Kaspar sitting on the opposite side. They rode in silence to the funeral grounds which was a sacred ground with a stone pyre in the center. They got out and began walking, towards the pyre and torches that surrounded it and lit up the grounds. As soon as Sofie could be seen laying on the pyre, Blair stopped. James turned to face her. "I can't do this," she whispered panicking. "Blair, your pack is here, and they need to see a strong alpha," James whispered back. "I can't," she said her voice cracking. He handed her his handkerchief secretly, "Wipe your eyes and do not let them see you weak, especially your father and his friends," he told her. She took a shaky deep breath in and handed back the handkerchief. He tucked it back inside his coat pocket and grabbed her hand as they continued their walk to the pyre. Blair stood as stoic as she could as Elder Luther went through the rituals and prayers. Blair and her father put a winter jasmine flower in her hands before they set the pyre. They stood as Elder Luther committed Sofie's soul to the moon, setting her human form on fire.