Zeus [Book One] - Rewriting

Thirty-Eight

a/n: final chapter.
Zeus 
| thirty-eight |

The funeral of Athena was quiet. The wolves gathered by the gardens, each dressed in black as they silently mourned their pack mate. At the front of the ceremony stood Ares, accompanied by Anya, as Zeus stood to the side, his eyes heavily guarded as he watched Ares kneel by his mate's body. 

Traditionally, wolves would leave the body of a lost one without a casket, allowing nature to consume their body as their soul was taken to stand by the Moon Goddess' side. Hercules and Hades had been allowed to join the ceremony, each had been unchained on the condition that they remain respectful. Eli had recovered enough to stand by his brother, his tall frame supported by a pair of crutches. Sally's hand remained clasped with Artemis', hot tears running down their cheeks as they cried over the death of their friend. 

Eos had even joined in, supporting her saddened sister who struggled to compose herself as Ares lowered his head to plant a kiss on his mate's head. I love you, I love you, I love you, He whispered, his eyesight welling with tears as he forced himself to stand to his feet, Zeus stepping towards him and resting a hand on his shoulder. "She is at peace," He assured his estranged Beta, his eyes flickering over to Anya who flashed him a small smile. 

Ares nodded his head, biting his trembling bottom lip as he sighed deeply. 

Zeus turned to the rest of the pack, "Go now," He ordered. "Let us remember her with pride in our hearts; pride that the Moon Goddess allowed us to know someone as special as Athena Winter-Moon." 

The wolves nodded in unison, remaining silent as they walked from the scene, until it was only the Alphas and Ares. However, Eos allowed her sister to walk ahead of her as she hung back in order to talk with Zeus. The Alpha male noticed her presence, walking a few paces away from Anya and Ares who remained by Athena's peaceful body. 

"Alpha, I know this is a bad time," Eos started, linking her fingers together as Zeus stared down at her, his eyes glinting with something that showed her that he already knew what she was about to say. "You can feel it, can't you? It's in the air," The witch spoke carefully, aware that a mournful wolf was a dangerous one. Especially an Alpha. Zeus grunted, looking over his shoulder towards Anya and Ares, before turning his head to look back at Eos. "It will be the full moon tomorrow," Eos reminded him, yet the both of them were aware that he already knew. 

"Yes, I am aware of that," Zeus spoke gruffly, his eyebrows set low above his eyes, a shadow cast around his eye-sockets. He looked straight ahead of him, so silent that Eos thought he had started to daydream, but his head turned towards her once again, his eyes dark. "Early morning, meet me outside the cells; we take both of them." 

Eos rose an eyebrow, "You do understand you only require one parent?" Zeus nodded towards her, turning around as he heard Anya's soft footsteps behind him. Eos took this as her cue to leave, watching as Zeus pulled his mate in for a hug before she turned on her heel and left the scene. 

As she walked away, she sighed, tomorrow was going to be a long day. 

~ 

Later on in the day, Hercules and Hades were sat on the grass on the other side of the gardens, both silent as the soft heat from the sun beamed down on them. Hercules rested on his elbows, his eyes closed as he enjoyed his freedom; he had grew up with Zeus and knew that once the day was over, he was as good as dead. Hades, however, was much more fidgety. 

"Do you think he'll really kill us?" He asked, a frown on his face as he looked towards the trees. His fingers twitched, temptation creeping in. 

Hercules did not answer right away, before he opened his eyes, his jaw clenched as he looked towards his eldest brother. "What does it matter to you? You're supposed to be dead anyway."