Chapter 4: Chapter 4

I stand beside Alpha Blue as I watch the caskets with my parents inside get lowered into the ground beside each other. It has been three days since the accident since the death of my parents and the loss of my sibling.

“Let us remember Maxwell our beloved Beta and Carrie our beloved Head Tracker as they return to the Moon Goddess’ side.” Alpha Blue says, sadness etched into his voice. His words soon become white noise as the graves are slowly filled in. Everyone cries around me, but my eyes were dry. I could not cry anymore as I stood there emotionless. My siblings had disowned me three days ago and no one my age came near me in fear that I would also cause their death. Leo even ignored me when I needed my best friend the most. He would even go as far as push me away from him and yell at me if I did eventually find him.

My thoughts wander slightly to the notion that I as an orphan now. An outcast to the wolves my age and unwanted by any family I have left. I was alone.

“Come on Amber lets go pack your things.” Alpha Blue nudges me from my thoughts as he takes my hand, my eyes scanning the crowd as I see looks of sympathy from the older wolves and distain and hatred from the younger ones. Many held their words because the Alpha has taken it upon himself to raise me now and giving me protection. I am led away from the funeral and taken towards a path that is too familiar, the forest quiet and still. Alpha Blue and I knew of the plans Zack and Mia have to burn the house down tonight leaving only a small amount of time to finish packing up everything. If I did not gather my parents’ things they would be lost forever.

“Hey Amby Bamby how are you feeling?” Axel, the new Beta, asks as he picks me up. Axel was the Second Beta my father had chosen and trained. He is like an Uncle to me and I could not help but cling to him and burry my head into his shoulder.

“I understand.” He sighs, knowing my silence and action were enough as he slowly rubs my back. Axel is joining Alpha Blue and I with a few other trusted wolves to pack up everything before Mia and Zack get here. I am happy to feel some sense of security with him around. He carries me the rest of the way to the house while talking with Alpha Blue, settling me down by the front door and letting me take the lead for what needs to be done.

“Can we do my room first?” I ask, hesitating at the open door.

“We can do whatever you want sweetie.” Axel smiles as ruffles my hair, giving me a small nudge. I lead the wolves toward my room passing by Zack and Mia’s. Their empty rooms remind me that I am alone now, and a small tear slips down my cheek.

For the next six hours we slowly pack up my room, my parents’ room, and anything that my parents kept in the house. My father had a large book collection that he was proud of. He kept it in his study and would always let me sit in the window seat to read. Or attempt to read. I asked Axel if I could have them placed in the shelves in my new room. Everything that would not fit into my new room would be stored in a trailer that Alpha Blue attached to my father’s treasured mustang convertible. It was a nineteen-sixty-nine model and my mother always complained he loved that car more than her at times. It is now mine.

“Looks like everything is packed.” Alpha Blue exclaims with a sigh, getting into the mustang. He would be driving it to a shed at the edge of the pack property in his name. This way everything would be safe and hidden from the pack.

“I’ll get Amber settled in at the pack house. My mate should be finished with organizing her room.” Axel volunteers, his gaze catching mine as I cling to a suit case. The Alpha nods before driving away and leaving Axel and I in front of my house.

“What do you have there Amberle?” He asks as he sits beside me, my hands trying and succeeding at opening the case.

“Mom’s tracker uniform. I want to use it when I become a Head Tracker like her one day.” My voice is quiet as I run my fingers over the fabric, her calming scent wrapping itself around me. It would fade away soon.

“That’s a good idea. Think I can hold it for you while we head to the pack house?” Axel is always asking if he could do certain things. It’s why I was happy to have him stay with me when the Alpha couldn’t. I nod and close the case back up, letting him take it before reaching out to hold onto his free hand. We make our way to the pack house and up the many stairs until we reach the attic. Blue knew that I would be living in the pack house with him and a few members. The attic used to store some party equipment but after making room in the basement a few pack members took it upon themselves to renovate it into my room. It was the biggest in the entire pack house and my own personal world away from the real world.

Serena, Axel’s mate, had spent the day organizing my things that were sent to the house as we packed up my old home. She smiled and envelopes me in a big hug when I step into the room.

“Want to see your new room sweetie?” She asks, brushing a stand of hair away from my face. Her eyes did not hold the pity like all the other wolves did. Instead she looked at me the same way my mother used too – she held eyes filled with love and care.

“Yes please.” A small smile covers my lips as I take Serena’s outstretched hand and let the Beta female lead me around my new room. The shelves along the far wall already held the many books from my father’s study with a reading nook by the large window that let in a lot of sunlight. My bed was tucked into another large nook that gave me lots of room to add in a larger bed as I got older, but I was happy with the pink princess bed. My favourite was the big office desk with a lot of art supplies that faced the floor to ceiling windows as a bigger smile bloomed on my face as I looked at Axel.

“Your dad always raved on and on about how you loved art and planting any plant you could get your hands on. The Alpha was not happy when we demolished the wall for your windows, but I figured this would make a good surprise for you. You can be as creative as you want here and plant any flowers you want.” An embarrassed look crosses his face as Serena chuckles as her mate, pulling him closer for a quick kiss. The tour ends with Serena showing me my own bathroom room and walk in closet. Her idea considering that the only washrooms in the pack house were communal and she thought it would be nice to have my own private things away from all the wolves who resided here.

Serena and Axel help me decorate my room to finish making it feel more like home to me. The two made my aching heart hurt less with how they treated me. They were not afraid to get closer to me like the other wolves were and even made me giggle and laugh with how normal they acted.

“I left food on your desk for when you get hungry. If you need anything just link us.” She says, tucking me into my bed. It had been a long day but having Axel and Serena here helped.

“Thank you.” I whisper out, the feeling of love from them making the ache in my heart dull more but not completely. The new Beta pair leaves me after making sure that I knew where their room in the pack house was, the room becoming quiet and solemn without their presence. Snuggling into my stuffed rabbit mom had won me at a festival in town I finally release the tears I have been holding in and cry my heart out. I am afraid of being alone, but I had a feeling that for a while I would be nothing but alone. I must work harder now that my family was gone. With determination and sadness mixing in my heart I find darkness creeping in as I cry myself to sleep.