Moon Bound [Undergoing Rewrite]

Chapter Eleven

For the longest, Ludovica knelt in front of the three graves of her family. Rain hammered down, soaking her from head to toe as she lifted her gaze to the darkened sky. This had to be a nightmare. It had to be. She squeezed her eyes shut before holding back the cries as she reached out and trailed her fingers over the wet soil that covered the graves.

Why? She kept retreating over and over in her head. Why them and not me?

"Ludovica, what do we do with Jacquelyn's body?"

Not turning to face Caleb, she said, "I don't care. She doesn't deserve to be buried here with the rest."

"It's against pack law not to bury the body—"

"Alfonso, please just get rid of it." A growl rumbled in her chest as she hurried her trembling fingers in the wet soil, wolf claws out. "She betrayed us. I don't care about pack law right now. Perhaps it would be the perfect punishment for her soul to not rest in peace." With an inhale, she forced herself to stand, even though her legs threatened to give out any second.

When she faced everyone, she hid the pain within, putting the mask she had worn for so long back on. As she held her chin high, she met Alfonso's gaze. "I lost everything because of her. How can you ask me to bury her in this sacred place?"

All of her pack members stood around the graves and dropped to one knee, head hung. Alfonso's pack stood in front of them in wolf form and howled. Ludovica began to shake visibly as the pain within intensified, threatening to consume her.

How could she live without them?

Once the ceremony was finished, Ludovica headed into the house, not sparing anyone a glance. In the living room, she took one of the many family photos then she ascended the stairs and managed to reach her room.

She lay in her bed and hugged the picture as tears streamed down her face.

When a knock came at the door, she ignored it. As she held the picture tighter, sobs escaped her lips. She sat up and wiped the tears away the second the door opened and Alfonso walked in.

Her gaze dropped to the ground. "I want to be alone...please."

He inched closer and grasped her arm, forcing her to stand. Her eyes widened when he wrapped his arms around her. He didn't say a word, perhaps aware that no words could ever ease her pain.

When he stepped back, she sat down on the bed, her eyes meeting his. "It's my fault they are gone." He shook his head and his lips parted, but before he could say anything, she spoke again. "If I would have listened to you and killed the rogues, they would still be alive." She stood, holding her chin high. "It's a mistake that I won't commit again."

The breeze blew in every direction with enough force that Ludvoica was certain the trees would rip right out of the earth any second. Her long crimson hair flew all over her face and she moved forward. Every time she blinked, images flashed in the back of her lids like a horrifying movie clip.

Her car devoured by orange and red flames that encased her parents in an inescapable inferno then the witch's laughter resonated in her head as her brother dropped dead in front of her, throat cut open. A pain built up in her chest, threatening to crush her ribcage. With a cry, she bent over and as if possible, the wind picked up so much force she was certain it had forced her back a couple of inches.

She shook her head, staring at the pitch-black sky. "Please...I don't wish to live anymore." Her legs trembled before she plummeted to the ground. But then, she saw herself pass by as a child, giggling.

Then, she was sprinting through the forest. She glanced over her shoulder and Dmitri was right behind her as a child as well. She ran around the tree of a bark and sneaked a peek from behind it. Dmitri stopped in front and grinned at her.