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We all stood in a circle around Oakley’s coffin. The wood was unfinished, and the grain of the light wood flowed seamlessly together like it had been pulled from the trunk of a large oak tree.

Wolf tradition dictated that a funeral was meant to be held on the east corner of the pack, with the sun setting at the audience’s backs. Doing this was meant to ensure that the spirit of the deceased passed into the ether easily. The coffin was burned at the conclusion of the ceremony. According to Camas tradition, the oldest son usually made the coffin. Oakley didn’t have sons, and that tradition, like many others, would probably be phased out or made more inclusive for women.

Samara, as the oldest daughter, had made her father’s coffin. She stood by it like a sentinel.

Dawn stood next to her with her hand on her shoulder. She and Aiden from our pack had gotten together, and as far as I knew, it was a good match. Next to them were Alpha Leo and his beta Cat. So many things had changed for them