Chapter 25: Chapter 25

They returned from the conclave meet and Blake remained with Ivy. Who knew the Vampires would cause a commotion in the conclave?

"Hope you're okay." He asked.

"Yes, I am fine. We're done for the day, right?" She asked because she needed to take a shower and rest her nerves.

"Yes. We'll see later." Blake smiled.

"Okay." She smiled back and left.

Blake sighed and ran his hands through his hair. Since he didn't see Ian or Neil, he figured they might have gone to freshen up. He should also do the same as a result of the fight that took place in the conclave.

Later that day, Blake came out so he could still for the evening when the commotion broke out in the pack. At first, he couldn't understand what was going on, but everything became clear when he saw Ian's lifeless body lying on the ground. Ivy had come out with Meredith when they heard the screams of people. They gasped when they saw Ian.

"What happened?" Blake yelled and rushed to hold Ian up.

"We don't know. We just saw him passed out at the back of the mansion." One of the guards answered.

"Ian, Ian, you can't do this. Stand up, please." Blake shook him vigorously.

"How did this happen?" Ivy asked and turned to face Meredith, who was trying not to cry.

Neil came and knelt beside Blake as he looked at Ian. "Ian, if this is a joke, please stop it. I know we don't get along but please stand up, okay? We still need to iron things out right?" Neil shook him.

Blake felt his pulse, but there was nothing. He placed his hands on Ian's nostrils to see it he could catch any breath, but he felt nothing. That was when it dawned on him. Ian was dead!

"No!!!" Blake growled in sorrow and anguish. The pack growled at him. Blake buried his face in his hands. He didn't talk or move. He just sat down there beside Ian's body. Why would Ian die now? Why should his most trusted man die now? No matter how much Blake tried, he couldn't place his hands on what had happened?

The guards present took Ian's body in order to prepare it for burial. Blake stood up and dragged his feet to his study. He couldn't believe that he had lost his beta in such a cruel way. He cursed death and kicked the table in his study. He would make sure he gives the culprit a slow and cruel death.

Neil walked into the study and sat down facing him. He had a very sad look on his face and dropped a paper. The sound the paper made was what arose Blake from his reverie. Blake stared at the paper with a blank expression. When Neil saw that Blake wasn't ready to ask him any question, he cleared his throat and took the paper.

Neil had more news concerning the Omega. He had worked on it with Ian before his death. He had brought it to Blake so as to tell him they believed it was the work of a creature they hadn't heard of or known before.

Neil considered that this was not the best time to discuss something like this. They had just lost an important member of the pack. The case of the Omega can wait. Neil stood up and left the study.

***

It was time for the burial of the Beta. Blake made them prepare an elaborate funeral ceremony for his Beta. The whole place was filled to the brim with people. The coffin in which the beta was placed was made to rest on four wheels. It was decorated with a red velvet ribbon. A black rose laid next to the coffin. There were many other colors surrounding it including reds, pinks, blues, greens and even whites. All of these colors together added to the color of the roses.

Ian's picture was placed by each corner of the coffin. Everyone wanted to say goodbye to Ian. Some cried while some spoke in whispers about how much the Beta loved them and how strong he was. Most of the tears weren't caused because of what happened. But they were tears of sadness and sorrow that someone dear to them was dead.

All Blake had wanted since he saw Ian's lifeless body was to kill whoever killed him. Someone would pay for killing Ian. His wolf whimpered with the anger he felt about Ian's death.

It was time to say goodbye to the Beta. Everyone made way for Blake to speak first. Blake dabbed the corner of his eyes with a handkerchief and began,

"I still can't believe that Ian would leave us so soon. Ian was a fearless warrior, devoted to work, open-minded and very competent. He was like a brother to me and he also treated me as one. He was always there to calm me down whenever I get annoyed..." Blake trailed off as people wept. After the weeping died down a little, he continued, "His advice was like food to my soul. I don't know why he has to die this well, but the moon goddess should know better. Rest well, Ian."

Blake finished his speech and an old woman came out with tears in her eyes. "I should have died in your place, Ian." She muttered, but people heard it which deepened their sorrow. "Ian was a wonderful soul. He was like a son to me. I can remember the day the roof of my house fell off. I looked for people to help me but they turned me down. Ian was the one who single-handedly fixed my roof and now he's gone!" she wailed and threw herself on the floor.

"I'm still finding this hard to believe. Beta Ian was a nice man and a fierce warrior. He has helped me a lot, and it pains my heart to believe that he is actually dead." A man said as the people wailed.

Ivy watched everything from the sidelines. She could testify that Ian was very fierce and wasn't the type to easily get manipulated. She remembered the first time she came to the pack, and Ian didn't trust her. He would look at her now and then with those eagle eyes that seemed to always bore into her soul. Even though she and Ian weren't close, his death still made her sad. Judging from what people said about him, he must be a very good man.

Meredith,who stood with Ivy, was sad as well. She was sad that the beta had to die this way. She was using all the strength she could gather to stop herself from running to that coffin and bringing him out. Ivy rubbed her back as she clutched her chest.

After everyone had talked, it was Neil's turn. Neil sniffed. "He was a man of competence and integrity. It is disheartening that Ian had to leave us in such a way. I am really going to miss him. Even though we didn't get along, I've always known that deep in his heart, he loved me and he has shown me that love in many ways. Rest well, Ian." With that said, Neil buried his face in his palms and sobbed silently.

The remaining palace guards lined up in front of the coffin and put their hands on their chest. After a while, they bowed and moved aside.

They took the coffin and headed for the place they would lower it into the ground. When the casket was being lowered, the cries of the people increased.

They mourned and started throwing flowers over the coffin and crying loudly. Some cried out in grief.

Blake remained silent throughout. He just closed his eyes and kept his arms crossed behind his back. Tears flowed down his cheeks as he looked at Ian's resting place. Once the lid of the coffin was lowered, he sighed with his shoulders lowered. He had lost a great companion and friend.

When the place was finally covered in sand, Blake howled sorrowfully. The rest of the pack joined in the howling, showing that they were mourning a very important member of their pack.

After that, the people began to disperse one after the other until there was only Blake, Neil, Ivy and Meredith. After comforting Meredith, Ivy went ahead to comfort Blake. She understood what they were going through, losing someone very close to their hearts.

"Everything will be fine. I am sure Ian is in a better place," Ivy said.

"It isn't fair at all. Why the cruelty, huh? Ian does not deserve any of this. I am sure he has wronged no one." Meredith sniffed as she wiped tears away from her eyes.

"It is true, but you have to take heart. It is going to be well sooner than you think," Ivy said.

"I guess you're right." Meredith answered.

Blake sighed and walked away from there. He started to imagine how his life was going to be now. Things weren't going to be the same without Ian. Blake scoffed sorrowfully. If someone had told him that Ian would die, he wouldn't have believed it or he would have kept Ian closer to him, then this wouldn't have happened. But it was already too late and there was nothing to be done.

The entire pack mourned the death of Ian as they howled in whispers, expressing their grief.