Second Chances (mxm, poly, mpreg)

Farewell

Chevy waddled back and forth rubbing his hands over his stomach. Dom and Beta Dean stood by the door with their black dress uniforms on loaded down with bows, ribbons, and cords. It was the day of Alpha Whitebeard's funeral and they were waiting for one more person before they left for Whitebeard Pack.

Their heads turned to the stairs and Chevy stopped pacing as Erion made his way down the steps. He was dressed in his dress whites, the color of mourning, with black cords draped over his shoulders. His sparkly eyes were dull and red ringed. He said nothing as he reached the bottom.

Chevy reached for his hand. "Erion - "

Erion stopped him, putting his black beret on. "No disrespect, beta. There is nothing anyone can say or do to comfort me today."

Chevy bit back the sting in his eyes and nodded in understanding. "I'm sorry."

"There's nothing for you to be sorry for. Thank you." He half bowed at Dom and Beta Dean as he passed them and opened the door.

****************

Sloan slowly exited the armored vehicle as it parked in the lot at Whitebeard pack. He hadn't been back since making the final preparations for Alpha Whitebeard after Erion ran to Dark Moon Central. His wolf was no longer speaking, merely laying quietly in his mind. He wasn't suffering from rejection sickness but he wasn't a hundred percent either.

He smoothed out his jacket and put the black beret on his head. Snow and Bunny stood on either side of him for support as Minerva, Terese, and their mates followed behind them through the pack house out onto the field where rows of chairs had been set up. His heart pounded in his chest as they met Erion flanked by Dom and Chevy.

Longing flashed through Erion's eyes seeing his mate before it was replaced by his blank mask. Sloan started to reach for his hand but he pulled away.

"Eri-"

"Let's just get through today, Alpha Greystone," Erion sneered.

Sloan's shoulders slumped. There were several low growls. Bunny stepped forward before anyone else could say anything. His wolf pushed forward to chastise the young were for his disrespect. "Mate or not, he is an alpha and an elder. Show some respect in front of others, young one. Alpha Whitebeard raised you better."

Erion's bottom lip quivered as his eyes welled with tears. It was true. His father would be disappointed at his behavior. He nodded at Bunny. "I'm sorry." He turned to his mate. "We'll...we'll talk another time."

Sloan nodded and headed to his seat. The others followed with hearts as heavy as Alpha Whitebeard's casket. His funeral was attended by high and low ranking wolves far and wide. It was also attended by several council members and members of the alliance. The pack alphas, alpha-subs, and betas of the six packs were also in attendance along with anyone who didn't have duty or work.

Everyone spoke of their relationship and favorite memories of the alpha. There were tears, quotes, jokes, and laughter. Sloan stood beside his mate and the Whitebeard family as guests walked by the casket and said their final goodbyes before his casket was loaded into the hearse and taken to the crematorium where he'd be cremated. Cremations were only attended by the spouse and children. Sloan waited outside with his fellow alphas for the Whitebeard family to emerge. His heart clenched in his chest as he listened to the wails behind the door and his wolf was pacing restlessly waiting for his mate.

The door squeaked open and Erion's mother walked out clutching to his brother's arm as tears streamed down her face. The rest of his siblings followed behind them until he stopped. He turned soundlessly to the faithfully gathered and raised the urn over his head.

Sloan held his sobbing mate as mourning howls filled the air.

********************************

Following Alpha Whitebeard's funeral, there were funerals for fallen council members, and fallen pack mates. Before Dark Moon West could focus on the search for answers to their unanswered questions, they had to attend one last funeral.

Zeke Drummond had his memories altered after the council dissolved his bond with Verde. He lived among the humans until a were tore his throat out the night of the eclipse. He did not go down quietly.

Half his lab was destroyed in the struggle. The walls were dented with large body prints. Furniture and equipment previously bolted to the floors or walls had been forced out of place. A large desk had been thrown against a wall across the room and shattered. Broken glass and fallen books littered the floor. Zeke gave everything he had but was overpowered in the end.

His closed casket funeral was attended by his sister and her husband and a few colleagues. The alphas of Dark Moon West, their spouse- a grieving Verde attended as did Lord Hakon and Alpha Fenri. It wasn't until the ceremonial photo and a small decorative box of Zeke's ashes were presented to Verde for Uni, that he broke down.

His precious Uni who shared the same eyes as her sire's side of the family. Uni whose infectious smile made her eyes sparkle just like her sire's. Uni who had the same color hair only curly. Uni, the carbon copy of the man they were saying goodbye to. Uni, his sweet little girl who was missing.

*Short but this had to get in and wouldn't fit elsewhere. We got a few more hurdles to jump before we get back to the good times.

**And sorry my posting has been off. I have a teething infant staying at my house. It's quite distracting.