~LILY’S POV~


    The sun dipped below the horizon. Its reflected prisms shone like a warm, golden glow over the somber gathering. It was the day of my mom’s burial, and the forest clearing where we held the ceremony felt heavy with grief. My family, friends, and pack members stood together, paying theirst respects to my mother, who had been a pir of strength and love for all of us.


    It hadn’t really processed within me yet. I was grief-stricken andpletely empty. This feeling was worse than the worst pain I had ever felt my entire life and I just wanted it all to be over.


    As the ceremony continued, my mind drifted back to the conversation Tyler and I had earlier. He had told me about his father, Rex, who had passed away some weeks before I came back. I couldn’t believe I had been so consumed by my own life that I hadn’t even known about his father’s death.Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    Guilt gnawed at me, and I felt regretful for not being there for Tyler in his hard times. I had been so preupied with my own problems and the search for the ring of Lythian that I hadn’t even realized it.


    Tyler must have sensed my turmoil because he looked at me with understanding. “Lily, you couldn’t have known. You shouldn’t feel bad,” he said gently.


    I nodded, wiping away a tear. “I’m sorry I didn’t know or ask you…I…now I feel the pain, I imagine what you could’ve been through,” I replied. My voice was choked with emotion.


    “It was tough,” Tyler said sympathetically. “But dwelling on our loss doesn’t make us want to keep on living and we have to keep on living, for those who we’ve lost.”


    As I stood there, my heart ached. I felt his hand on my shoulder. Tyler’s eyes were filled with sympathy and sorrow. “Lily, I’m truly sorry for your loss,” he said softly.


    I nodded, tears welling up in my eyes. “Thank you. I still can’t believe she’s gone,” I whispered.


    “I know it’s hard, but we’ll get through this together,” he replied, his hand squeezing my shoulder gently.


    But before I could respond, Adrian came up to me, wrapping his arms around me in aforting embrace. “Lily, I’m here for you too,” he said in a soothing tone.


    Tyler had quickly taken his hand away and stood aside.


    I leaned into his embrace, finding momentary peace in his presence. Adrian had been a constant source of support throughout these difficult times, and I was grateful to have him by my side.


    Tyler stood beside us, watching but not saying anything. He understood my pain and so did Sarah who came to hug me too.


    “You’ll be alright, babes. You’ll be alright.” She rubbed my back as she spokeforting words to me.


    I heard Tyler say, “Now we need to focus on supporting each other and protecting the pack.”


    He was right. The pack needed us now more than ever, and I knew I couldn’t afford to dwell on my loss, though it pained. My mom would want me to be strong and to continue fighting for the pack’s safety.


    As the burial came to an end, we stood together as a pack, holding hands.  My mom’s spirit would live on in each of us, guiding and watching over us as we continued our journey.


    We all sang songs in honour of her legacy and everyone said one thing my mom had done to impact their lives. Jaxon, Theo and Don were absent for their health reasons. Aunt Belinda recounted how she and mom always argued with each other because of their personality sh, which lightened the mood for a while, but theyter went on to be very close and she referred to mom as “The only sister inw I’d ever want.”


    As the pack members slowly retreated back to camp, I remained. Adrian asked if I woulde with them but I told him I wanted to stay a little. He understood and told me to be safe, then left with the others.


    My dad was kneeling beside her grave. I walked up to him and held his shoulder. I was on the brink of tears. It was like a part of him had left him. When he looked at me, I saw no soul in his eyes. I hugged him tightly and broke into tears.


    “Father…please don’t leave me too. Please…”


    He rubbed my back and finally said, “I know she’s in a better ce now but I didn’t want her to leave so early.”


    I continued crying on his shoulders and he continuedforting him.


    “Promise me you won’t leave me too. Promise me, father…”


    He didn’t answer me. He continued stroking my back and we remained there for a while before he escorted me back home.


    ??????????


    .


    The night was eerily quiet as we huddled around Theo’s body. The mes from thentern were the only source of light for our worried faces. My eyes were puffy from the previous days of crying, partial starving and inadequate sleep. The loss of my mom was still a fresh and open wound and I was fighting hard against myself for it not to swallow me. If you took a look at me, you’d see I was losing it.


    Sarah’s eyes were red-rimmed from crying, and her hands trembled as she clutched a steaming mug of tea wanting to ce it on Theo’s lips. Theoy nearby, tossing and turning in his sleep, his once vibrant eyes now clouded with fear and pain. His eyes colour changed from ck to red to green to ck. He wiped the mug out of Sarah’s hand and she shrieked back in pain.


    “Theo, no!”


    Sarah had called us that Theo had been acting up and we came as fast as we could. I nced at Adrian, who wore a deep frown, mirroring the concern on my face. “What do you think is happening to him?” I asked quietly.


    “Make it stop, please!” Sarah squealed.


    Adrian sighed, his brow furrowing with worry. “I’m not sure. But it seems like something is seriously wrong with his blood.”


    Sarah nodded, “I-I think he’s turning into a vampire,” she whispered and tears welled up in her eyes. “He started convulsing and acting strange asionally after that vampire attacked us.”


    My heart sank at her words, and I exchanged a worried nce with Adrian. The possibility that Theo was turning into a vampire was terrifying. We needed to do something to quickly save him.


    Adrian ced aforting hand on Sarah’s shoulder. “You need to calm down. We’ll figure this out, Sarah. We won’t let anything happen to him,” he reassured her.


    I nodded, determined to find a solution. “You’re right. We have to talk to Ethan and find out what he did to Theo that day,” I said and immediately regretted it afterwards.


    Adrian’s face darkened at the mention of Ethan. “Ethan? It was Ethan who attacked them?”