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Selene’s tree was in the middle of the clearing. It was large, much larger than any other tree Blake had ever seen. The tree had grown under Selene’s protection and the magic of each wolf that had ever been laid to rest here gave the tree the strength to grow unnaturally thick and large. The branches spread over the clearing like a roof over a house and the grass surrounding them was overgrown with beautiful wildflowers.
“It’s beautiful,” Niev said breathlessly.
She gazed around the clearing, her eyes still wide open with a bright smile on her face. At least, until her gaze fell on the bodies of the fallen men that were laying by the roots of the tree. Tears once again flooded her eyes and her grip on his hand tightened.
“Take your time, beautiful.”
“I didn’t know them, yet it feels like I’ve lost someone very close to me.” Her voice shook, and tears started spilling down her cheeks.
“It’s the pack bond. We’re your family now. A loss like this affects us all.”
He took her hand and slowly walked her to the side of the path. She watched in silence as the pack assembled and the ceremony started. Her eyes were fixated on the dead bodies as the families said their last goodbyes.
His father came forward, speaking with his alpha authority. “We’ve lost three strong wolves–three men that will be greatly missed. Selene has blessed us all with them and now she’s calling their souls to come back to her. May you go in peace and find your way to our goddess, the mother of all wolves.”
His father, alpha of the pack, freed their souls from the pack bond, and a small part of his soul could feel them leave. Niev must have felt it too. A shiver ran down her spine and goosebumps appeared all over her arms. Confused and worried, she looked up.
“I felt something.”
“My father set their souls free. They are now no longer bonded to the pack and are able to return to Selene.”
She nodded and turned her attention back to the tree. Everyone watched in silence as their bodies were laid to rest in the deep ground surrounding the tree. After they were buried, most pack members started to leave. Niev, however, didn’t move. Her tears had ceased, yet her grip on his hand was still tight.
“You don’t mark their graves?”
“No, they become part of the earth. The plants and Selene’s tree will soak up their magic. They are no longer with us, so there is no need to mark their graves.”
“So, this was a celebration of their journey ahead?”
“Yes. We do miss them and mourn their lives here on earth, but their journey hasn’t ended. One day we will all rejoice,” he explained and reassured her again.
“That’s beautiful,” she sniffed as she looked at their graves.
“Would you like to go on a walk?”
She nodded and he led her into the woods onto a small path.
“Would you like to walk beside my wolf?”
He knew she loved his wolf. It always seemed to cheer her up to be close to him and cheering up was exactly what she needed.
Her eyes started glowing and a smile radiated over her whole face. “Yes, please.”
He quickly took off his clothes and let his wolf take over his body. His four paws sank into the ground, his fur slightly wafting in the wind. He turned his head to Niev who was already reaching for him and started scratching him behind his ear.
“You look breathtaking, as always,” she praised and leaned forward, kissing his forehead. He leaned down and was about to grab his clothes when she reached for them. “I’ll take them. Your teeth are so pointy they might rip them.”
He nodded and started walking down the path. It was hardly used, so he let her have the tiny path and forged his way through the trees. It wasn’t far to where he wanted to lead her and after twenty minutes, they reached their destination. It was the clearing in which could be their future home, if Niev deemed it fit. He quickly shifted back into his human form, Niev already handing him his clothes as his two feet felt the ground beneath him again.
“Where are we?”
“Your future home if you like one of these houses. I know they don’t look great right now. No one has lived here in a very long time.”
He watched her closely as she looked around. The clearing was barely a clearing anymore–the forest had reclaimed it, and the houses looked run down.
She pointed at the bigger one of them both. “You think we can take a look at that one? It seems bigger.”
“Of course.”
