Two Moons

Chapter Forty Four

May

"Today we gather to remember our pack, and others from Athena pack, that died fighting for our Luna's life and to protect our species from Derek Laurent, a ruthless killer and hunter. Now, a moment of silence for Jared Loff, Josh Brooks, Blake Darting, Cole Anderson, Sydney Laurent, Irin Finn, Kira Young..." The Priest's voice seemed to grow quieter with each name, although I know it didn't. My mind wanders, wondering what could have happened if I gave myself up in the beginning.

My other mate. My best friend's mate. My mate's father. My old Alpha. My brother's mate. All dead, because of me.

"Don't." Lucas mutters under his breath. I look up from my lap and meet his furious eyes in shock.

"None of it is your fault. You would gladly give your life up for anyone, and they did the same. They loved, no, love you. The blame isn't on anyone but Derek. Remember that," he says quietly and looks back up front, squeezing my hand. I sniffle, tears welling up in my eyes and dropping on black funeral dress.

"Thank you all for your respect to our loved ones. Please enter the remembrance room one at a time please. It is located in the basement of the pack house, where it will remain a memorial to our pack mates and anyone else willing to help us in our war. It will be open everyday for anyone to visit. Thank you," the Priest smiles and leaves the stage, leaving us still in our seats. No one moves and stays glued to their chairs. I stand up, feeling a sudden burst of confidence. I walk to the stage, grasp the microphone in my right hand, and turn to my pack, my friends, my family.

"Hi. You know me, I'm the Luna of Ares pack and Derek's sister. I wish I hadn't brought the burden of him with me when I became your Luna. But it's a part of me, my past. He was evil. He was cruel. That was him. I wish he just gave up, but he was obsessed. He wanted me to die for being stronger than him. I'm sorry for all these deaths Derek caused. And as your Luna, I want to prevent anymore war-related deaths from happening.

"I want you to know that as your Luna, I will gladly die protecting you because you are my new family. Even though I may not know all of your names and don't know every little thing about you, I will put you first. I hope that you can too. That's why these horrible deaths had to happen. I know nothing we do will bring them back, but we can at least remember them. I personally set up the remembrance room. We can tell stories and look at pictures and speak to them because we know that they will be watching. Hell, if they aren't, they're listening. They will always be here because we have memories. They aren't gone. They aren't next to us. They are within us. Thank you so much for listening, and for protecting me with your lives these past few months. I owe you everything," I finish, and put the microphone back to the stand. Staring at my pack, they slowly rise and clap. The smile and their tear streaked faces have hope in them. Their eyes have that spark I saw when I first came here.

I make eye contact with my brother. He nods his head.

I make eye contact with Chloe. She laughs the first genuine laugh since Josh passed.

I make eye contact with Maya. She shakes her head in amazement.

I make eye contact with Lucas. He has tears brimming his eyes.

'That's a true Luna,' he says through his mind link.

Entering the remembrance room was the hardest thing I've had to do in a really long time. I can't bring myself to say goodbye.

"Sydney," I start. "I'm so sorry. I wish I had a chance to say goodbye. I would have died for you, I really would have. I'll talk care of Max, I promise. I know you would have wanted him to move on and find happiness, so I'll make sure that happens. You were always so kind to me when I was younger. I was that annoying little sister, but you managed to smile and never hurt my feelings even though you wanted to hang out with Max. So thank you. I will miss staying up late and talking to you and going shopping and getting our nails done. Gossiping about boys and ranting about what we wish we could change. I love you and miss you babe. You'll always be in my heart."