The True Alpha {2}

Epilogue

Kelly

I trembled as I stood at the entrance to the home of the Lion Claw Pride. I never imagined I would ever have to return to this place without Skye at my side. I turned to gaze sadly back at the small figure clutched tightly in River's arms. I sighed. He had refused to let anyone else help carry her home, even though he was injured too.

The four young werewolves stood solemnly at the back of the little patrol. Daisy and Lucy stood protectively on either side of them. Everyone was silent in their devastation. Every single one of our lives was touched in some drastic way by Skye, I'm not sure I know how to carry on without her. But I know what she'd say, I can almost her voice telling me not to be an idiot, that we knew this day would come and that I must stay strong. For my clanmates if for nothing else.

I shuddered as I pushed open the doors. All around there were signs that the rogues had been here, disrespecting our home. The building was trashed although there was no sign of the rogues. I suspect that they fled after the battle, knowing that we would come home to claim our territory. Timothy stood steadily at my shoulder.

"It'll all be okay, you'll see." He whispered softly into my ear. I leaned back against him, feeling his strong muscles and allowing him to hold me up and support me.

I walked into the building still trembling. A snarling figure blocked our path and I stiffened, preparing to shift and defend myself. The small shape slid out of the shadows before hurling itself at me.

I hit the ground with a dull thud and groaned as my wounds from the battle shrieked in protest. The cat sitting atop my chest was purring loudly, licking my face.

"Blaze!" I laughed. "Get off me you furball!" The small gray tabby female leaped off of me, landing gracefully on her paws before shifting to stand before me.

Blaze grinned at me. Her pale brown hair falling in her face and her amber eyes blazing with joy, the very trait that had been the inspiration for her name.

"Kelly it's so good to see you! I'm so glad you're home! And Lucy too!" Blaze paced the floor eagerly. "We knew something big was happening when all the rogues left but we had no idea what!"

I smiled sadly at her. "The rogues are gone," I told her softly. "They won't come back to bother us ever again."

"But Kelly," Blaze asked hesitantly. "Where's our leader? Where is Skye?"

I looked at my feet, unable to face her and tell her just how terrible a price we had paid for our freedom and victory. As I hesitated I heard a low groan behind me and turned to see River begin to stagger under the weight of Skye's body.

His sound caused Blaze's attention to turn to him and when she saw the limp figure in his arms she stumbled and fell. "Oh no! No!" She cried.

Her desperate cries alerted more clan members and they began to come running. I found myself faced with almost the entire clan, my entire clan all clamoring to know what had happened.

I stumbled numbly over to the ledge where Skye, and the leader before her, had always stood to address the clan. I forced my numb legs to haul myself up onto it, muscles screaming in pain. I faced the clan forcing back my own tears. I have to stay strong, for the clan.

"Loyal members of the Lion Claw Pride, gather below the meeting ledge to hear what I have to say!" I choked out the words but they were hardly necessary. All around the entire clan had already gathered and were gazing up at me with confusion and eagerness.

"It is with the deepest sorrow and greatest regret that I must tell you all that Skye is dead." I rasped. All around me desperate cries hollow with grief sounded as the news sank in with the clan. "She died the nobilist of deaths, saving all of us from the rogues that threatened us all. It is thanks to her sacrifice that the rogues have gone and will never bother us again." The clan nodded and murmured among themselves. "Before she died; Skye and I made the decision to welcome several new members to our clan. They proved their loyalty to both Skye and myself and I would be honored to call them our clanmates."