CHAPTER 4 - TEARFULLY SHATTERING

One week later………

-NIA’S POV-

“I'm so sorry for your loss.” Elder Eunice gave my hands a gentle squeeze. I looked down on the seventy-year-old, gray-haired woman who had previously given a heartfelt eulogy. The inner ends of her black eyebrows raise and pull together on her pale, slightly wrinkled face. Apparently, she had cried too.

I sniffed and managed to pry one of my hands away from her to wipe my sore, red, burning eyes with the white handkerchief that was damped from my tears.

On this sorrowful day, a bunch of mourners dressed in formal black attire flocked and moussed the entire lower floor of my parents’ home. I was standing in the living room, keeping close to my distraught and weeping Mom.

“I wanted to recommend that you bring Kathryn to the community center for counseling sessions. Losing a mate is quite hard, and she’ll need our help for her wolf to recover.” Elder Eunice feebly suggested.

“Yes.” I agreed, patting under my moist eyelashes with the tip of the handkerchief. “Dad’s passing had been hardest on her.”

“I'm here if you need anything.” A female pack member gently touched the center of my back. I swung around to find my short, blonde, forty-nine-year-old neighbor. “My husband went to get our cat. We’ll be going now, but I'll check on you later.”

“O-Okay,” I stuttered. Sniffling, I bit my quivering lower lip, although my chin trembled slightly as I fought not to yield to the tears that filled my eyes.

A week ago, they found Dad’s severely mauled body at the border. The devastating report was that he was drunk when he was attacked by rogues. He was too inebriated to overcome them. Enough of his body parts remained for us to bury him properly. It was dreadfully sad that the wax-patched body in the casket that was now six feet under the burial grounds was a poor representation of him.

Dalton consoled me after delivering the tragic news of my father. In coping with the grief, I sought his solace and he was extremely supportive. Right now, my bellowing heart is leaden with grief to bring up our relationship issues.

He was here at the funeral, but he disappeared at the graveside. I was too busy holding up my grief-stricken Mom to ask where he was going. We met back at the house, although I lost him somewhere in the crowd when his parents arrived to give their condolences.

Elder Eunice captured me in an embrace, patting my back soothingly. “There are no words that I can say to make it better. Your father was a good man, and he's served this pack well. We only have good memories of him.”

I nodded and lost the battle to a lone tear that trickled down my cheek. Then she released me and deserted me to venture over to the semi-circle of people by Mom's side, who sat on the long brown couch. My mother was as dead as the one that was buried.

“Alpha Dalton is working very hard to take care of our rogue problem.” I heard her tell my lifeless Mom who was totally spaced out as if her mind was gone. “Goddess knows that we can't afford to lose any more pack members. Your father was one of the best Betas that ever existed.”

“Thank you.” Mom croaked and muffled a sob, bringing the cream handkerchief to her make-up, running face to dry under her swollen eyes.

Elder Eunice consoled her. As she spoke soothing words, Mom dropped her head into her hands and sobbed louder. Wrecked with melancholy, I walked away needing air. The gloomy house felt so weighty and suffocating. The more my Mom cried, the more I cried. My tears would drown me.

I missed my Dad. I wished he was here. I wanted him back. In this pack, it was only me, Mom, and him. All our relatives resided in other packs. None of them came. So, I didn’t know how we’d make it without him.

Mate.

I kept an eye out for Dalton, needing his comfort. I maneuver through the pandering crowd. So many concerned eyes were on me. They nodded at me with understanding. Some just thinned their lips, sadly.

I caught Elder Audley’s brown eyes. He had the nerve to announce during the service that today was a celebration of Dad's life and achievements. If one more person approached me to repeat that mockery, I'd punch them.

I was passing the stairs when I glimpsed Chase at the top. Maybe he went to use the bathroom up there. The sight of him made me wonder why Dalton wasn’t with him. Surely, if Dalton left my side for pack business, then why isn’t his second in command with him?

Instead of going outside, I detoured and climbed upstairs. My temples throbbed from all the crying I had done. Surely, I wasn’t looking my best. My face was probably puffy and my eyes blotchy. I've barely eaten too. The tragic news was so unbearable that my mind could not process anything much.

I rubbed the frown creases on my forehead as I walked down the hallway. My werewolf’s hearing picked up muffled voices coming from my bedroom until they became clear.

“Go find Nia and keep her distracted.” Gamma Layton dismissed the Beta. “I'm guarding the hallway.”

Layton was a very tall, twenty-two-years-old man with sable black hair and chuck hazel eyes, dressed in a black suit that accentuated his rugged physique.

“Guarding what hallway? You just finished fucking some blonde bimbo.” Beta Chase argued and Layton grinned. “Why isn’t she moving?”

“Teeth and a blow job do not go together. She wouldn’t listen. She kept biting my cock like she thought it was sausage.” Layton complained, bitterly.

No― no. No. Not in my bedroom. It was way beyond disrespectful. I was livid and picked up my steps. But I halted a few feet away from the half-open door at what I heard next, listening keenly and peeping through.

“Besides, I don't like Nia. Why would I want to be around her? Dalton’s going to dump her anyway. You go downstairs and babysit her clingy ass.” Beta Chase refuted, running a hand through his blonde hair.

“You're the reason we're having this damn funeral. We should have burnt the body to ashes and left it out there.” Layton grumbled, got up from my bed, tugging up the waist of his black pants to fasten it with the button.

“No. My idea was better. Kill Stanton and make him disappear. They would have to file a missing person report, and we close the case.” Chase countered. “It would have been clean and smooth.”

My hands clasped over my mouth in shock. They were talking about my Dad's death, and in such a casual manner as if they were talking about a successful business deal. Those cold-hearted bastards!

Layton debated further. “I already told you that without a body, Dalton would have extra work, and that whiny bitch would stress him over her missing father. You and I would have to pretend like we were doing a damn search for days.” He groaned. “We'd have to catch a random rogue and pin the crime on the bugger.”

Chase sighed. “Well, at least the deed is done.”

Layton laughed like a chainsaw. Disdain coated his voice. “Yeah, one down and two to go.”

I gasped in disbelief. They killed my Dad. And who’s next ― me and my Mom?

This can’t be true.

I burst through my room door to confront the two. “You killed my father?”

At first, they were surprised to see me. They exchange glances and then their faces relax, seemingly unbothered.

“Clearly the death of your father has you imagining things.” Layton, being pretentious, came over to me. He held my arm and I yanked it away.

“Don't you touch me!” I hissed, slapping his chest.

He gripped my arm vehemently tighter, intentionally hurting me. His hazel eyes blazed with rage. “Keep your fucking voice down.”

I winced at the dark force of his voice. “Where's Dalton?”

“Taking care of pack business,” Layton retorted with a telling glint in his eyes.

“Where did he go?” I demanded, wrestling to get out of his grip.

“Upstairs, in your attic.” Chase smirked evilly, his mustard irises gleamed mischievously, and he pointed to the ceiling. “Let her go, Layton.”

The Gamma’s brow knitted as he whipped his head at his friend. “Dalton said….”

“Forget that.” Chase lashed out. “Today she'll learn her place.”

Layton shoved me into the door. It slammed shut behind me. I turned quickly, grabbed the knob, opened the door, and bolted out.

I have to tell Dalton. He had to know that his men were murderers and responsible for my Dad’s death. He must give me justice. They can't get away with it.

My heart beat faster as I ran down to the far end of the hallway, taking the narrow stairs to the left. That's when I heard it. A woman's laughter and soft moans. My running feet paused on the stairway. My ears latched on to the sounds.

I distinctly heard my mate's voice coming from the other side of the door. "Take it, baby."

The female laughed through her heavy pants and responded with louder moans. “Ugh! Yes, give it to me. Dalton, oh!”

Shock didn't even sum it up. I froze, and my throat dried instantly.

My heart jolted as if it had suddenly stopped.

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