Chapter 136 Funeral

Nikolai

Natalia was still going through her heat so Max and her were busy. Andrei told me that he needed to take care of a few things so him and the other half of the Neos army were away.

Once we returned back to the palace, Ava saw her father and everything returned back to her again and she broke down. Dimitri, who was still in shock from Sof's death was with her, as the both of them mourned together.

Mikhail and I decided to take over the responsibilities of the pack and the funeral. A lot of the dead were vampires and since their bodies decayed very fast, we had to be quick and do the finishing ritual.

The numbers in front of my eyes were heart-breaking. Over a total of six hundred wolves and vampires ended up losing their lives, sixty were permanently handicapped and over two hundred and fifty were seriously injured.

And the only reason behind this was the black magic used by the zombie witches. Otherwise, my pack members were strong enough to fight for themselves and capable enough to save their children and elders.

"Is everything ready?" I asked Mikhail when he entered my office.

"Yes, Alpha. The pack has already assembled." He replied.

"Go call them." I told Tessa who nodded and left.

"The Alvarez' have arrived at the borders. They are being escorted to the cremation first. Their rooms have been arranged at the palace too." He informed.

"How bad is it?" I asked.

"Josias is pissed. His parents... I'm not sure. They are angry but there seems to be something else too." He replied.

I'm going to protect Ava from them. Yes, I've called them into our home, out of respect for Javier and for Ava's sake. They are her last living family, except for Faelern. But I'd rather bet on Javier's family to accept her than on him.

I could sweet talk those people if it means to get what I want— a family for my mate. Ava is done being sad. She is done suffering. I'm going to do everything in my power to make her happy.

Ava came into the living room crying. I stood up upon her sight. The subtle, constant pain in my chest—which was her pain, increased. She must be in a lot more pain.

I cupped her cheek and pressed a kiss on her lips. "It's time, Love. Let's go."

Dimitri who stood in the far corner of the living room, leaning emptily against the wall looked up at me and offered me a smile but it fell not even a second later.

It broke my heart to see him like this. Dimitri was never without a smile, without a joke or a jab. It broke my heart to see both of them like this, especially when I couldn't do anything to make it better.

All the way to the cremation grounds, which was a vast expanse of unused grounds on the bottom of the mountain, I kept a firm hold on Ava's hand and Mikhail made sure to keep Dimitri company. Ava's tears weren't stopping and she sobbed at regular intervals but I didn't stop her, I didn't try to pacify her. She needs to let it all out, she needed to mourn her father.

All of us were silent, except for the sounds of our feet on the ground till we reached our destination. Most of the pack had already arrived. Half of the Neos Army was present too. We made our way past them to the very front.

I noticed Andrei was back, standing beside Alpha Zayn, Luna Belle, Alpha Ralph, Luna Iris and Logan. All of them caught the sight of us and tipped their head in respect and to offer their condolences. I tipped my head in return, grateful for them to make time and come here, especially when they would be needed in their own pack the most.

Javier's body rested on a pyre and a woman stood near it, crying and a man was clutching her shaking shoulders. Josias stood on her other side. I'm guessing that those are the parents.

There were hundreds of pyres laying behind up, and on them, rested the werewolves and vampires who had lost their lives in war. Their families stood around their lost ones and bid them goodbyes for the last time.

Josias immediately stiffened before he turned around and glared at Ava and I. I figured that he was angry at us and blamed us for Javier's death.

He opened his mouth but I spoke before he did, "Javier will rest peacefully in his last moments, without listening to his family argue. For his sake, let us come together and finish the ceremony first and talk at the palace."

His jaw clenched but he nodded.

The Sacredos stepped forward and I nodded at him, motioning him to begin. He started murmuring something in Latin to the Moon Goddess and God Sol, marking the beginning of the ritual. From what I knew, they were pleas to pardon us for causing so much bloodshed and death. And to accept the death into heaven.

A sob rose from Ava's throat and I squeezed her hand. "I want to do it too." She whispered. It was tradition for only the male family members to do it but I didn't care. Ava would do what she wanted.

"Let's do it together?" I asked softly and she nodded.

We walked to the side and I picked up three flambeaux. I kept one in my hand, handed one to Josias and another one to his father, Silas.

I used my powers and lit all the flambeaux held by the people. I placed an arm around Ava's waist and used the other hand to hold the flambeau with Ava. Her hand was trembling.

As per ceremony, all four of us circled three times around the pyre, holding the flambeau up high, after which the pack members start circling their own dead family members. Ava's cries increased and I tightened my hold on her.

After the circles were done, Ava and I stood towards the head and Josias and Silas towards Javier's feet.

Ava took in a shuddering breath. She wasn't even holding the flambeau anymore, she was clutching her waist, trying hard to control herself from crying hysterically.

Looking at Josias, who looked identical to Javier, made her cry even more.

Josias and Silas were crying too. The entire pack was crying. Everyone mourned him.

Sadness weighed my heart but I didn't cry. He died trying to protect Ava. He died trying to keep Ava safe. I'm going to carry in his actions and make this world a safe place for Ava. I remembered my promise to her that one day, she will be able to walk around the pack freely, without any guards.

And I'm going to work hard to made that 'one day' arrive soon.

"Javier died protecting Avalyn. He died protecting his daughter. He always fought for and protected his loved ones." I said, my voice reaching the far ends of the ground, falling on the ears of every person present here. "To even become half the man he was, we should strive to do the same. It is our duty to protect those whom we love."

"Javier was one of the best Alphas there was. And I'm going to do the same thing to become one of the best King there will be. I am going to protect my family, my pack at any cost. I am going to carry Javier's values with me for as long as I shall live. A lot of you have known him as your Alpha and your friend. I had the privilege of knowing him as a mentor and as a father. However short my time was with him, our time was with him, he will live with us forever in our hearts."

Avalyn was full on crying now.

"Today will be marked in the history of supernaturals— the day all three races of Jivan came together to fight off the great evil. I will make it my cause to eradicate black magic from the universe so that this never happens again. The ones behind this will be caught soon and will not be shown any mercy." I growled. Adrik was as good as dead and so would be Yolanda and her helpers—whose identity I would soon find out.

"Every single wolf, vampire and witch that died on this soil today shall remain alive in our hearts forever. I would like to personally thank Natalia, Dimitri, Anna and Headmaster Malone for risking their lives and finding the cure and saving the witches. The entire Neos and the Soare-Luna Army for fighting with utmost bravery and to be willing to risk their lives for our people. Special thanks to Andrei for taking charge in Silverwitch Bay and saving the lives that he did and leading half of the Neos Army along with General Ratmir to our neighbours— the Wintercrown and the Red Moon Pack. Mikhail and Max to lead the Neos Army to save Alvar and Imporia along with Chiara and, Symon, for being the reason we made it back home alive."

"Some of the brave hearts who died were— Breyton, who ended up saving nineteen children and six elders, Kaylie, who rescued multiple families from a burning house, Jansta, who saved eight elders, José, Paula, Langston, Triff and Yemit, who took it upon themselves to help all the injured warriors to the palace, Ursula and Freyla, who saved ten children and four elders. Jan and his comrades who gave up their lives so that Avalyn, Symon and I could survive. It is impossible to take the names of all those who are now in heaven and show the depth of our gratitude towards them so let's use two minutes of silence to remember and appreciate our fallen ones."

I raised my hand and placed it over my heart, closing my eyes to feel the broken bonds of my pack members and to realise how brave and selfless they were. It brought tears to my eyes— to feel the excruciating pain they felt while dying, to feel the gut wrenching pain their kith and kin were feeling.

After two whole minutes, I opened my eyes and felt a sense of peace among the hearts of the pack members.

"To our warriors, elders and children. Our fallen brave-hearts. To Javier. A great Alpha, a father, brother and a son." I raised the flambeau higher before I lit the bottom of the pyre on fire with it and then put the piece of wood in the it.

Josias and Silas followed.

The rest of the pack, whose family members had passed away, followed us as they had up until now and lit the pyres of their loved ones.

Ava was full on crying and sobbing now, hiding her face in my chest and I held her in my arms, trying my best to sooth her.

I felt anger. So much anger.

Xillian deserved a death much worse than what he got. He deserved to rot in hell. No, he deserved to rot in my dungeon and have me at him at least once a day.

Javier did not deserve this. At all.

He had already suffered for ten years. And he was a good man. The kind that is hard to find. I can agree that he was a much better person than me. Today, it wasn't just a personal loss, the entire pack had lost him, the entire world had lost a good soul.

All I can hope is that he finds some peace now. With Valerie.

Even when he joked, even when he laughed, there was always a lingering sadness in his eyes. He always tried hard to cover it up. But one can't cover up that kind of loss— the loss of your soulmate.

Now that he has found her, I believe that he is truly happy.

The old man would surely be making a sarcastic comment from the other side of the moon right now, something along the lines of 'stop crying like a bitch' or something like that.

Ava twisted in my arms, digging her face in my neck, coming closer, trying to find more comfort in my arms.

I wrapped my arms around her back tighter and rubbed her back soothingly and caressed our bond too.

I watched the all the pyres burn and then extinguish on its own, leaving behind only ashes.

Josias stepped forward and began collecting Javier's ashes and filling it in a pot.

"We will be pouring his ashes in the sacred Royal Pond of Voda." Silas murmured, his eyes sad yet cold and I nodded. I understood that we weren't invited. I figured that it was a sacred ritual they did to the ashes of the Royal family members, just like we poured the ashes of our dead into the ocean or a river.

I wanted Ava to know more about her family rituals wasn't going to push here, I knew it was a difficult time for his family too and the last thing I wanted was to cause more anger in his heart for us.

"Alpha Nikolai, Queen Avalyn," the Alphas and Lunas of both our neighbour packs, along with Logan greeted us solemnly. "We are extremely sorry for your loss."

Ava's hold on me tightened and I knew that this was the last thing she wanted to hear—the reminder that he was gone. And so I needed to end this quick.

"Thank you so much for coming, it means a lot to our entire family." I murmured.

"Thank you so much for the help," Zayn said and Belle nodded, "we wouldn't have been alive otherwise."

"Yes, thank you for everything. I had made a mistake. Apologies for that." Alpha Ralph looked genuinely remorseful. Luna Iris and Logan looked pleased that he did the right thing.

"It was the least I could do." I replied. "And let bygones be bygones. It would be best if you trust Logan and his instincts to do the best for the pack."

He offered his son a smile and nodded.

"Avalyn?" Belle whispered.

Ava's hold loosened on me and she turned in my hold to look at her friend. I let my hands fall from around her but kept caressing our bond, silently telling her that I was here if needed me but she was strong enough to stand on her own and deal with grief in a healthy way.

"Thank you for coming," Ava whispered in a hoarse voice. "I-it means a l-lot."

"Oh dear," Belle stepped forward and hugged Ava tightly with tears in her own eyes, "maybe after some time, we could meet again and have a nice time together, hm?"

"I'd love that." Ava whispered as the women broke the hug, "you're welcome too." She told Iris, trying to be inclusive of everyone as always.

The older Luna blushed a bit before nodding in agreement.

"It'll be best if we take our leave now," Ralph said and I nodded, knowing the mountainous amount of work all of us had to do.

Once they were gone, I said softly, "we've got to go now."

A moment later, she turned around to look up at me. I wiped her wet cheeks with my thumbs gently and she nodded.

Ava was silent as all of us made our way back home. I was worried because she had stopped crying altogether too. Her tightening and loosening grip on my hand assured me that she was with me.

"You don't need to come. You can get some rest, I'll talk to them and if it's going good, I'll call you." I said in a low tone.

"I want to be there." She said softly.

Okay then.

We walked to the council room and were followed by Josias, Silas, Laila, Dimitri, Andrei and Mikhail followed us.

Just when we were settled, the doors opened again and I was surprised to see Max walk in, looking freshly showered.

"Natalia?" Mikhail inquired about his best friend who should still be in her heat.

"She's..." he grinned a little mischievously, looking clearly in a great mood, "passed out from extreme pleasure."

I closed my eyes in exasperation. "Read the room, Max."

That's when he noticed all our sombre expressions and white clothes.

"Funeral?" A look of instant regret crossed his face when we nodded.

"Damn. Sorry." He murmured and took his seat.

"I thought this was supposed to be a 'family meeting'?" Josias said in distaste.

"It is a family meeting. This is our family." I placed my hand around Ava's waist and pulled her closer to me.

I did not trust them.

"I demand retribution." Silas spoke his voice low but his tone angry.

"Sil—" Laila started but closed her mouth when he raised his hand, motioning her to stay silent.

I had two choices. I could deny him and let Ava loose her family, or I can listen to him and be considerate of their loss too and try to build an amicable relationship.

And because I always put Ava before myself, I chose the second option.

"What do you want?" I asked.

"One—my son was decaying in a dungeon for ten years because of her crazy family. For that, I want all ten thousand of the Neos Army. Two—he died trying to save her, on the foreign land of Ovzdusia, for that, want the land of Ovzdusia. Three—he died because of her so she ended up getting all of his powers, I want her to transfer all of those powers to Josias. Four—Javier was almost fucking whipped to his death, trying to save her," Silas threw a scathing look at Ava who flinched and hid behind me a little, "for that, I demand her to be whip—"

I growled, cutting him off before he could even finish the sentence.

All of his demands were outrageous. But he was straight out of line with the last one.

"Remember who you are talking to." I growled. "Remember whose land you are standing on and whose roof you are standing under. Do not stay under the impression that I will let you insult me or my mate just because you are Javier's parents. Consider it my kindness that we even invited you here for the funeral."

Ava squeezed my arm, trying to calm me. It worked, but only a little.

"Do not forget that my son is dead because of you!" He thundered.

Things are about to get ugly.

"The same son you banished from your Kingdom because he wanted to spend his life with his mate!" I hissed back.

Josias had the decency to flinch. But he remained silent.

"He was supposed to be the King! Her mother robbed him of his birth right!" He stood up angrily and pointed his fingers accusingly at Ava.

"It was his choice." I said lowly, my voice filled with menace. It pissed me off that he was dragging Ava into this.

"Valerie had a choice too." Josias intervened. "She chose her pack and her parents— adoptive parents might I add, over being with her mate. Which was why Javier had to leave Voda and come here."

I didn't know the details of what exactly had happened. And they were getting too mouthy for me. I didn't deal with a word fight well, I was better at fighting with my hands and claws.

"Can I take over?" Max asked suddenly, his eyes glowing.

Manipulating people was one of Max's many special talents.

"Go ahead." I flicked my hand. I'm sure I wasn't going to get anywhere arguing with these bull headed people. And for Ava's sake, I didn't want to take drastic measures.

"I would like to request you all to get comfortable in your seats, this may take a while." Max smiled angelically. Silas looked stoic but suspicious of Max.

"I know we are all considered monsters but there is no reason we can't be civil, is there?" He taunted Silas who grunted and took a seat. He was followed by Josias and Laila.

What kind of King is Josias? He has barely said a sentence since we came here.

That's when I realised, he was a king in name only, Silas was still in control. This was the worst thing a country can do. Authority and responsibility were in different hands.

"Let's start from the very beginning, shall we?" Max begun. "One—Javier lost one Kingdom but earned Montana. No loss there. You were the one who banished him, that's your fault. Two— he was in a happy and loving relationship with his mate, Valerie. She got pregnant and she ended up dying. Avalyn ended up losing her mother. Not to mention that Montana lost its sole heiress. So our loss."

Josias and Silas started getting angrier by the second but they had no choice but to remain silent.

"Three— Javier is Avalyn's father and it is his responsibility to protect and provide for his daughter. He failed and she ended up being a captive for a psychopath for ten years. Four—we were the ones who fought against the Gonzalez, regained control of the Montana pack and saved Javier's life."

"Five—Nikolai was the one who encouraged Javier to go build a relationship with his family again. You should thank him and he came back to Voda at all. Six—Javier went to Ovzdusia not because he was asked to, he went to save his daughter, like any decent, child- loving father would. It was a series of unfortunate events that led him to get caught, which was highly likely, and not to mention that he must have already known the consequences before he encroached Ovzdusia's territory."

"Seven—And as for the transfer of Avalyn's powers to Josias. Let me teach you a thing or two about Monarchy. Javier gave up his position at his own will and since you banished him, you are no longer entitled to anything he owns. And if you still claim that he is the King of Voda, then since the heir of assets is the child of the King, it was right that Avalyn got his powers— if we're considering them assets that is, and according to that, Avalyn should get the entire Voda Kingdom too. She should be the Queen of Voda."

I had never seen someone as pissed as Silas and as appalled as Josias and Laila.

But the one thing common between them all was that all three of them lost colour.

But I suspected that Josias's reaction was for a different reason. It was his position that was at risk now, Silas was past his prime.

"Oh and I forgot the eight and the most important point—," was there even anything else left to say? "You should thank Nikolai that he got there before Javier was actually whipped to death. At least he will be known as the father who died a martyr, trying to save the virtue of a his own daughter. And not as the son of father who killed his other son's mate." Max finished.

What? Was that even true? If so, how the hell does he even know that?

"What?" Josias hissed.

"So if you think you deserve retribution, think again. It is you who needs to compensate us. You had three reasons to demand retribution, we have seven." Max continued, ignoring Josias.

If it were me, I would slit my father's throat if he had killed Ava. No regrets. But I must be biased. Not everyone thinks of their father as their mortal enemy.

"Is that true?" Josias snarled at Silas.

"Jo—" Josias raised his hand, shutting his mother up.

I'm pretty sure Mom would have given me an earful if I dared to do that to her.

But then, like father, like son.

"Is that true?" Josias yelled at Silas.

"She was a werewolf!"

"Not this same shit again!" He hissed, his canines extending and the veins under his eyes popping. "You already lost one son over this and you still don't realise it do you? How the fuck did you even know that she is my mate?"

"Watch your tone." Silas hissed, his canines extended too.

"I am the King." Josias snarled.

"The fact that you have to proclaim that doesn't say much about you being a King." Silas glared at his son.

"I'm tired of your shit. And yours too." He glared at his mother. "You never say anything Mother! You didn't even say a fucking word when Javier was leaving. What is wrong with you?" He screamed, his eyes flashing red.

Ava didn't need this right now.

"I always had the suspicion but I never asked. Are you even each other's beloved?" Josias asked, his tone low.

"Josias." Laila had tears in her eyes. Josias looked at his mother, his eyes filled with haunting questions and her filled with devastation.

"It will be best if you take your problems home and talk about them privately." I said, my voice hard. Ava was literally shaking in my arms.

I saw Laila look Ava, her eyes filled with longing and hurt. And then I saw Silas look at her, his eyes angry. I wondered how both of them spent centuries together when they weren't each other's mates. How is that possible? I can barely stand a woman that's not Ava for a couple of minutes.

"He is right." Josias said and stalked out of the room, fuming. Silas gave us a last glare before he too followed his son.

"I'm sorry." Laila gave Ava a teary smile before she glanced at me and then left.

I looked at Max, impressed and truthfully a little fearful of his skills. He winked at me. "I'm sure you're wondering how I knew that?"

I nodded.

"During my... bloodlust days, I made a lot of questionable friendships. One of my contract killer friends was paid a handsome amount to kill an average looking she-wolf— whose only identification he was originally given was if she would be attracted to a t-shirt that smelled like a powerful male vampire with affinity to water elements. We were curious upon the receiving this unusual case so we did some digging and found out the whole story." And then snorted ironically, almost in self-loathing, "and earned some extra cash to keep quiet too."

He looked in deep thought as he said that. His entire demeanour shifted when he talked about those days.

And I know he was balancing on the verge of sanity and bloodlust right now, having seen so much blood in Thrane--the human city, having killed so many people on his way back to the palace and then being induced in a sex marathon with his mate in heat. One wrong word could tip him off the edge—either way. It was better to let him do his thing when he was like this, in his after bloodshed stage.

And I know Mary wasn't here to instigate his bloodlust anymore but I knew that it was addictive to vampires, especially after they've had a taste of how it feels. Very few can control themselves and gain their sanity back, the rest have to be put down.

And then a maniacal grin covered his face, "Talia just stirred awake, later fuckers. It's fucking time." And then he zipped out so fast that he disappeared in the next second.