Lexa fell to her knees, tears rolling down her cheeks. It was not possible, it was not possible... Jake? Jake was the loner? He had... Killed Keith and Nia? No, it was not possible . She picked up her friend's body and carried it to the rest of the pack. Niella's parents burst into tears and the young girl entrusted the remains to them. As soon as Nia left her arms, Lexa fell back onto her knees, her legs no longer supporting her. A scream escaped her throat and she didn't try to stop as she cried hysterically:
- It's Jake, it's Jake, it's Jake...
Carter knelt beside her with tears in his eyes and whispered:
- No, Lexa, it's not Jake, it's Nia. I'm sorry my heart.
she shook her head:
-N-no, Jake did this... That's what he was there for. Not for making peace or any other bullshit , it was to kill OUR friend !
She started to sob again, and he carried her to his cabin – their cabin, where he laid her on the bed, kissing her on the temple before leaving, huffing:
- I'll be right back, Lexa. Promised.
But she didn't hear him, curled up in a ball, staring into space.
He went out and made sure the submissives were all safe and that his parents and little brother were okay. Once done, he returned home and found Lexa under the blanket, in a fœtal position. She didn'teven do as much as blinking as he picked her up and undid her dress, setting her down in front of the fire, and she didn't react either when he plunged her into the hot bath he had just run for her. He washed her carefully, dried her and made her put on her pajamas, the girl obediently obeying his every command. He carried her back to the bed, where he lay down next to her. She curled up against him whispering:
- it is impossible ... Impossible ... Not possible ...
He hugged her tight and they fell asleep like that , the young man's chest wet with Lexa's tears.
On the day of Nia's funeral tribute, the full moon was hidden by the clouds, as if nature itself was mourning the magnolia-scented young brunette. Cater was waiting like everyone else for the ceremony to begin, an arm around Lexa. The young girl held on as best she could, trying to be brave in spite of everything. Nia's body was tied to a post, awaiting cremation, and the closer the moment came, the more Lexa trembled. John stepped forward, torch in hand, and the girl threatened to collapse. He lowered the torch and when the body ignited, Lexa lost her mind, thrashing in Carter's arms like a demon. She was screaming, kicking and trying desperately to reach her friend.
- Carter, let me go! Let go of me ! Nia! no, wait!
but nothing helped, he did not let her go and she ended up collapsing in his arms sobbing. It broke his heart to see her in this state. The usually strong wolf was broken, lying in his embrace like a broken lily, her golden skin as pale as death. The smartest thing would have been to take her back to the cabin, but he knew she would never forgive herself for not attending her best friend's last tribute to the end. So he held her tightly against him, no longer standing on her legs and crying hot tears as the body of Niella, wolf so loved by everyone, went up in smoke, joining the Moon goddess . When it was over, he took her back to the cabin and put her in their bed, where she stared into space, as if she was just an empty shell.
Lexa felt like she was in a cotton cocoon: Everything came to her fuzzy, and fluffy and inconsistent. She couldn't concentrate enough to see anything clearly. She remembered the pain that had taken her when the flames had approached her friend, heartbreaking, blinding. And right after that, something broke inside her. Couldn't concentrate, think, or feel, and somehow it was a blessing straight from the goddess. She didn't want to feel or see again and again the mutilated bodies of her friends. She wanted to sink into this lethargic feeling, and wanted to stay there. But yet, the strongest link, standing out thanks to its color among all the other pack links, kept her one foot anchored in reality.
Carter couldn't take it anymore. Lexa had been in this vegetable state for two days now, and nothing seemed to trouble her. Franklin, who went to see his sister, asked:
- Is she at least eating?
Carter shook his head unhappily.
- I tried, but she refuses anything that isn't water.
The blond male pursed his lips and put his hand on Carter's arm.
- You should perhaps entrust it to Leroy, Cart'. He might be...
Carter roars:
-I can take care of my mate!
Franklin's face softened a little:
-I know Carter, I know. But you're still young, and he could help her. I mean, look there! She's no more than a zombie in this form.
Carter sighed:
- If in a week, it's not better, I'll bringher to him . But in the meantime, She stays with me.
as they stopped looking at her, they didn't see the dangerous glint that started gleaming in the girl's eyes.