Once Upon a Wolf

Chapter 32

CHAPTER 32

The alpha of the Moonstone pack had died.

In the middle of the night, his heart gave out... finally succumbing to the Rabid Mouth disease.

Faye's screams bursting of agony impaled the night. Her bottomless weeping, filled with suffering, still lingered in my mind. Her moaning wails haunted my dreams. The howls of every member of the pack woke up the forest, alerting every beast their alpha is no longer.

Her mate was dead. Gone forever. And I couldn't fathom her pain.

And Maddox...

I shut my eyes just thinking about it.

His face contorted with disbelief as he witnessed his father on his bed where death had claimed him. His expression twisted to anger and rolled out into pain. It was as if the foundation of his existence had crumbled beneath his feet, leaving him adrift in a sea of sorrow and regret.

My heart hurt for Faye, the twins, Brett, and Willow, but most of all, for him. I could tell he held back, trying to remain strong for the pack. He was to lead them now. It must've been difficult to hold all that in. But at least he wasn't alone, I guess. Savina ran after him like a puppy — consoling him in ways I didn't want to imagine.

A tired breath escaped my mouth. I felt weird sitting and waiting in my bedroom. It was lonely. All the others were still in their rooms, awaiting the ritual for the alpha. We all had to be confined in our rooms all day. No work. No chores. No food. Only a period of silence before the procession that will take place this evening under the moon. I had no idea what would happen, except we all had to wear black and meet at the common ground in an hour.

I huffed out in utter boredom. This space started to give me bedroom fever, and I had to get out. I gently opened the door and slipped out as quietly as I could. It was eerily quiet as I tiptoed through the silent hall that you could hear a pin drop. No doubt the wolves heard my footsteps. Moving swiftly down the stairs, I quickly made my way to the library. I needed a new scene, even if it was just for a while.

The door was closed as I cracked it open and skated through, but instantly, my nose was smothered with his cinnamon apple scent.

Maddox.

He was here... or still here in the library?

I turned around and spotted him with his eyes closed and his fingers rubbing the bridge of his nose. His thick, silky black hair was disheveled, with a few tendrils settling on his forehead. He rested on his armrest, pushed purposefully into the corner. The setting sun glazed him with dark shadows and golden light.

I haven't seen him since our training, where he left me at the hilltop — his favorite place. Snapping open his blue eyes, it was full of melancholy as he looked at me. He breathed in, sniffing the air, and his broad chest rose beneath his black cotton shirt. He, too, was dressed for the rituals later.

Blinking, I stood frozen on the spot, not knowing what on earth to say to this big, black wolf?

Sorry for your loss?

At least your father is in a better place?

I bit my bottom lip and inched closer, interweaving my fingers out of nervousness. "How are you holding up?" I asked with a half-hearted smile.

He continued to scrutinize me, but a moment later, he blinked away. "Better than I should." His voice was deep and steady. He was trying to be tough, but his voice was filled with emotion.

I nodded dimly and dropped my eyes to the ground. I didn't know what to do. Do I try to console him? My wolf wanted that. To reach out and hug him in my arms, giving him my warmest embrace that I wouldn't want to end. Weirdly, I wanted to sit on his lap and cuddle with him, placing my cheek against his firm chest and hear his aching heartbeat within it as my fingers caressed his chin.