Betrayed and Broken

28

Skylar's POV
I hated having to sit there and watch Haze fight Reid. When Reid slashed his chest, my heart stopped. I was so scared I was going to lose him. I can't lose him. I don't know what I would do without him. When Haze stood up and came to me, I was so relieved. I can't even put into words the relief that washed over me.

When I told Haze I knew what happened, I saw the shame in his face and the worry in his eyes. I know he thinks I'll hate him. He has to realize he isn't the same person. He was just a kid. Yes, he has done a lot of stupid shit that has hurt a lot of people, but he really has changed. I don't know where I would be if it weren't for him. I'm not going to let his past dictate our future. I love him, and he loves me, and that's all that matters.

By the time we returned to the pack, that shot had started wearing off. Haze took me to the hospital even though I said I didn't need to go. He stayed by my side the whole time. It has been two days since the attack. Today is Kail's funeral. I went and spoke to his mother. We sat and cried over memories of Kail. I apologize for everything. She said I had nothing to apologize for. Cole, Blaze, Luke, Danny Tyson, Haze, and I have made all arrangements so his parents don't have to do it.

Yesterday, we had a pack funeral for everyone who passed. Alpha Theo said a prayer over the other wolf corpses before burning their bodies in one huge pyre. Our pack members had their own pyre. Everyone had a family member tell a story about them before they lit the fire with a prayer. It was really emotional. There wasn't a dry eye in the pack. Sadly, we had lost 12 great men and women. They each left behind a family. It was absolutely heartbreaking.

I'm standing in the mirror, looking at myself. I'm wearing a long black wrap dress with a halter top and black heels. My hair is down and straight. I have on light makeup. I am wearing a bracelet set Kail had bought me. It's a silver bracelet that says love on it, with a silver necklace with a heart that says love and little heart earrings. It's the last thing he bought me. I'm looking at the necklace, and tears start spilling from my eyes.

Haze wraps his arms around my waist from behind. "I know this is hard, baby. It's hard for all of us, but it will be ok, " he says as he kisses my temple. "I know, babe. I just hope he knows I forgive him. He will always have a place in my heart no matter what, " I reply as I turn in Haze's arms and look at him. He leans down and kisses my nose. "I'm sure he knows, baby."I hope, "so. I reply.

We head to the backyard of the pack house. There is a pyre on a stage in the middle of the yard. There are chairs lined up in rows with flowers everywhere. It looks beautiful. Haze and I take our seats in the front row with Cole, Blaze, Tyson, Luke, and Danny. His mother and father are sitting on the stage with Alpha Theo and Luna Amanda. My parents are also sitting up there. Alpha Theo and Luna Amanda stand and walk to the front of the stage.

Today, we are celebrating the life and mourning the death of a wonderful young man, Beta Kail Anderson. We had the privilege of knowing this young man his whole life and watching him grow. It is a sad day any time we lose a young man, but this loss hits close to our homes and hearts. He grew up with our sons, Haze and Tyson. Kail was at our house every day playing with the boys. It breaks our hearts that he is no longer here with us. We know he would have been a great man had he had the chance. He will surely be missed. We love you, Kail Alpha Theo said with tears running down his face. Luna Amanda was standing next to him, crying.

After Alpha Theo and Luna Amnada came my parents, they shared memories of us all growing up, like when Kail, Luke, and Haze used to lock Danny in the closet or how Kail would sneak off with all of my mom's cookies she had just baked. Then they shared memories of Kail and I when we were together. I cried at the memories of him coming over for dinner and my brothers giving him a hard time or when we would just cuddle up on the couch and watch movies as my brothers made fun of us.

After my parents were Kail's parents, his father was barely able to speak; he was crying so hard. His mother cried while sharing memories of when he was a baby. This is so hard. I was a crying mess. Next was Blaze and Cole. They shared memories of things their parents didn't know they had done, like sneaking out and getting into trouble. They shared happier memories, like Kail getting locked out of the locker room in nothing but a towel and how embarrassed and mad he was. They had us laughing and crying. It was heartbreaking.

Next was Luke and Haze. "I remember when we were younger, the 3 of us used to get into so much trouble. We always pulled pranks on our parents, and they hated it, " Luke said as he laughed. Our parents all smiled at the memories. "I remember this one time we all stayed the night at my house. My dad was finally able to relax that day, and he was watching a football game. We had a universal remote that we snuck and bought. We programmed my dads' TV to it. We hid behind the couch and kept turning the TV off. My dad kept turning it back on. Eventually, Dad got up and was checking the cords and the TV. He was cussing up a storm. Kail snuck to the kitchen and walked into the living room, asking if my dad needed help. He acted like he was trying to help him. Luke and I were dying. Kail said I found the problem. My dad was so excited that he asked what it was. Kail then pulls out our remote and says this. We all lost it and started cracking up. My dad was so mad, but he couldn't help but laugh, " Haze said with a chuckle. Alpha Theo shook his head with a smile, clearly remembering the incident. "The 3 of us were like the three stooges when we were together," Haze said with a smile.

"Kail was very competitive when we played video games. I can't even begin to tell you how many controllers he broke, " Luke laughed. They paused, and Haze continued. "He was an incredible friend. He was there for me at a dark time when I was 15. I don't think I could have made it through it if it hadn't been for him. We had a pretty rough year this last one. The both of us made some terrible choices, me more than him. I was a shitty friend. I would give anything to go back and change everything. This last year I missed my friend now I'll miss him for the rest of my life. Kail died holding my hand. We got to apologize to each other. I got to tell him I loved him, and his last words were he loved me too, " Haze said with tears streaming down his face. "Kail will definitely be missed. He was one of a kind. I will miss him and think of him every day, " Luke said with tears of his own. "Thank you, Kail, for being a great friend. I wish you were here, man," Haze said before stepping down from the stage.

Everyone was crying. We all know how close the 3 of them were. Haze comes and sits next to me. I hug him and wipe the tears off his face. "You did a great job, babe," I said as I stood up and kissed his head. Now it's my turn. I walk up on stage. I'm so nervous. My hands are shaking. Oh God, how am I going to do this? Goddess, give me strength.