"My fellow pack members, we are here today to remember our beloved Matthew and to announce a path to justice," Jack said. His voice carried the weight of his anger and sorrow as he addressed his assembled pack.
Outside of the pack house, Jack, Kelly, Garrett and Bethany stood on a stage in the middle of the pack grounds right in front of the steps of the pack house. Before the stage was the funeral pyre with Matthew lying there dressed in a black suit.
There was a somber silence, the weight of grief pressing upon every heart. Matthew did not wake up from his coma after speaking. The loss of Matthew, a beloved member of the pack, hung like a dark cloud.
"We will not rest until we have justice for Matthew. The Alpha of Blue Creek took one of ours and has crossed a line that cannot be ignored," Jack continued. He and Kelly, the leaders of the Grey Blood pack, called a meeting with their pack members.
Majority of the pack had been angry for their inaction. It was a moment they had all been waiting for, a moment to rally and seek retribution. It was a moment to regain the trust of their pack.
"Matthew was a son, a brother, and a loyal member of our pack. His loss has left a void in our hearts that can never be filled," Kelly added. "We are here to send him to the Moon Goddess properly."
Garrett took a torch from Jack. Bethany lit her torch from Garrett's as they walked over to the funeral pyre. Tears streamed down Bethany's face as she looked at Matthew's lifeless body.
"We will avenge you," Bethany said as she and Garrett lit the pyre that erupted in flames. Bethany lifted her head and howled. Garrett followed after her. Then, the pack erupted in howls wishing Matthew a swift passing into the hands of the Moon Goddess.
"We will not let his death go unchecked. We will not let the death of our pack members during the attack of one of our most sacred places be left unchecked. We are going to war!" Jack's voice boomed, causing the pack to erupt in cheers.
"We have reached out to our allies, and we are not alone in this fight. The Alpha King has offered his support, and Luna Debra and Luna Bethany will fight alongside us!" Kelly added.
Jack and Kelly continued to rile up the pack and mentally prepare them for war. Garrett stepped away as his mind was in turmoil. He would deal with the grief over his brother, but he needed to focus on something else for now.
"You're running away again," Bethany accused as she followed after him. "I can't believe you would do this right now. Do you have any shame?"
"Bethany," Garrett said but Bethany interrupted, practically screaming at him.
"No, you don't get to run anymore. You don't get to do that again," Bethany exclaimed.
"I swear to Goddess, Bethany, you..." Garrett stopped in mid sentence after turning around to see Bethany's face. Bethany looked fragile, weak, barely keeping it together. He had never seen Bethany so vulnerable before and especially not with him.
"You can't leave, Garrett," Bethany repeated. "I can't lose you too."
Garrett pulled Bethany into a hug and allowed her to sob into his chest. He held her, not saying a word allowing her to get it all out before releasing her. Garrett wiped the tears from her face before kissing her forehead earning a shocked expression from her.
"I am not leaving, Bethany. I told you I am not running anymore. I am going to meet with my Beta and the Alpha King to discuss strategy. Stay and provide support to Mom and Dad," Garrett said and Bethany nodded. Her vulnerable expression is now replaced with her typical stoic expression. Bethany left him going back outside.
Garrett smiled slightly, knowing that there was hope for his relationship with Bethany. He quickly made his way to the war room and Ethan looked up, concern on his face. "Garrett, why aren't you with your family?"
"Bethany has it covered. I want to help with this. I do have some information," Garrett explained, sitting down next to Adam. Adam gripped his shoulder in support and Ethan nodded. "An Omega that is friends with Lily knows about the patrol schedule at the Blue Creek pack. We can take advantage of the gaps in their security to get in undetected."
Before Ethan could answer, Debra burst into the room with an urgent expression. She placed a document on the table before them.
"Luna Debra, what is this?" Ethan asked.
"Look at it," Debra replied.
"But, what..."
"Look at it!" Debra exclaimed, interrupting Ethan again.
Ethan took the document and reviewed it. His eyes widened after a moment. "Is this real?" he asked before passing the document to Garrett and Adam.
Debra took a steadying breath before responding, her voice quivering with the gravity of her discovery. "It's Lily's paternity test, Alpha. Kenneth is not her father."
Garrett, his eyes blazing with anger, could hardly contain himself. "That's why Kenneth killed Matthew and was so intent on bringing Lily back. He plans to claim her as his mate."
"That's disgusting! Has he lost his mind?" Adam exclaimed.
"That wolf has been insane for a long time," Ethan growled. "Adam, speak with your mate. Ask her where Lily is currently."
Adam opened the mate link with Tiffany. Before she could respond, he communicated the information to her earning a scream of disgust from Tiffany. "There is a ceremony planned in two days for Lily. I can only assume that it will be a mate ceremony as my pride has been invited," Tiffany said.
"Tiffany knows Lily's whereabouts, and there's a ceremony planned in two days at the Blue Creek pack," Adam explained. "She is invited."
Ethan's eyes gleamed as he processed the information. "Then that's when we'll strike."