CHAPTER 2 - Great-Grand Luna Catherine

“Alpha!”

Clayton turned when he heard him being addressed. He frowned when he saw Lily McAllister, his Beta and best friend’s fraternal twin, running towards him anxiously with a look of concern on her pretty face.

She never calls him Alpha, and he made sure of that since he considered her as one of his closest and trusted friends. The fact that she suddenly addressed him that only meant that something serious has happened.

It has been over three months since he took over as Alpha. And as what he had promised his pack, he served them with all that he has. He made sure that their welfare always comes first. He judges any conflict with fairness and always made sure that he is available for any emergencies.

Over the short course of his leadership, he had also started intensive training for his warriors. Under the leadership of his Delta, Jacob, he had started a thorough and extensive training for defense from any attacks and for combat. It received a huge positive response from the members even with the females, that Jacob had to request Clayton for two assistants to help him.

Clayton was more than happy to comply with the request. He was glad that his pack members also felt the same way in protecting their territory. He was even surprised that they took the initiative to implement stricter border patrol and he was more than proud of their actions.

“What is it, Lily?” He asked patiently, checking his watch. He turned his body completely towards her and gave her his full attention. “It’s still early in the morning for some errands to be made. Or did you go for an early run?”

Lily stopped, catching her breath while she is shaking her head vigorously.

“It’s your grandmother,” she finally answered. “She’s asking for you.”

She hesitated for a few seconds.

“I don’t think she’ll have more time,” she said softly. “She’s ready to cross, Clayton.”

“I’ll go see her now,” he replied seriously. “Will you tell Liam?”

Lily nodded.

“I’ll have him follow you there,” she answered as she pushed him to go gently. “Go, Clayton. She wants to see you the most.”

Clayton turned and started running on his feet as fast as he can, his pace picking up just to get to his beloved grandmother in time. Every pack member he passed by, called out a greeting but seeing that their alpha didn’t return their greeting and his motion of urgency, they knew why.

It has been reported to the members, that Catherine Fine-Langston, their former beloved Luna and Great Grand Luna, will soon be crossing over. They knew the close bond of the older woman and the alpha, who had taught him well enough to always show kindness and compassion.

Clayton has finally reached her small, house and he felt dread rising in his body at the number of his pack members outside who are holding a vigil. He knew deep inside his heart that his Grandma Cat will be leaving soon.

“Mom,” he said when he entered the door.

Evangeline Langston walked towards him and gave him a comfort hug, rubbing his back. She pulled away and looked at him calmly, her one hand on his cheek. “It’s her time, Clayton. Just be there for her. Hold her hand and tell her that everything will be okay. Let her passage be smooth and peaceful,” she whispered softly. She turned when she heard the door to her room open and saw her husband come out. “Go on in. She wants to see you the most before she goes. Her wolf, Constantine has already passed on. You don’t have much time.”

He nodded and his father, squeezed his shoulder before he went inside his grandmother’s room, closing the door behind him gently.

“Clayton?”

“I’m here, Grandma,” Clayton answered, and he immediately went to her side. He sat on the floor and took her frail hand, clasping it gently and bringing it to his lips. “You know that I’ll always come whenever you call for me. No matter how busy I will be.”

Catherine turned and smiled at him.

“Constantine’s gone,” she whispered slowly.

“Yes, mom just told me,” He replied as he brushed her hair off her forehead lightly. “I’m sure that Wyatt has already met up with her and they can run freely as much as they want.”

“She sure has been a joy, huh?” She asked.

He nodded and he smiled as he recalled the number of times when Constantine will let him ride on her back when he was still a small boy. As she starts to pick up her pace, Clayton will then sit up straight, raising both hands high up and happily feel the wind hitting his face.

“She will always be my favorite wolf,” he assured her softly. He looked at her lovingly and dropped a kiss on her hand. “And you will always be my favorite person. Remember that. I love you, grandma Cat.”

She smiled weakly and she reached out with her other hand to touch his face.

“Clayton, the wolf less child story…” She started, her breathing starting to get ragged. “Do you know it?”

“Of course, I do, Grandma,” he said calmly. He looked at her intently, gauging her breathing and he gently tightened his grip on her hand. “Lily always talked about it.”

“She always loves that story ever since you, kids were young.”

He smiled at that remark. “Lily will always be a hopeless romantic, grandma,” he explained patiently. “She became like that from being always with you. Do you know that she’s dreaming that whoever will her mate be, it will be like a prince charming of sorts?”

“Your granddad has been my prince charming ever since we’ve met,” she argued lightly.

Clayton watched as his grandmother took a long, deep breath.

“You don’t need to talk, grandma,” he said calmly. “I’m here. I won’t let go until you tell me to. I’m not going to leave your side.”

“My time is almost up, Clayton,” she insisted weakly, and she took another deep breath. “Your grandpa Fred will be here soon to fetch me. I can’t wait to be with him again.”

“The story is not just a story. It’s a prophecy made a long time ago,” she continued with a hint of urgency in her voice. She looked at him intently. “Fifty or more years ago. Your parents know about it. Ask them, okay?”

Clayton nodded and he felt his heart squeezed tight when he saw breath with extreme difficulty.

“Find the girl, Clayton,” she said weakly. She squeezed his hand weakly, but Clayton felt the urgency of her request. “Find her and when you do, help her. You must protect her with your life. And please do this for me. I know you’re angry but find Conrad and help him, too. That’s the only way that can help you and the prophecy.”

He remained silent at the mentioned of his older brother. After he had banished him and his followers from the pack, despite keeping tabs on them for a while, Clayton had finally lost traces of where he is now. Despite his anger over Conrad, he could only hope that they are doing well in whichever pack they entered.

“I will do my best to find Conrad,” he answered lightly.

“The girl, Clayton…”

“Do you have an idea of who she is or to which pack she belongs to?” He asked calmly, looking at her carefully. “Or where I can find her?”

Catherine shook her head once.

“There’s a Sigma that…,” she whispered, stopped, and then she suddenly turned, lying on her back. A soft, loving, and warm smile appeared on her face. “Frederick, you are here.”

Clayton stared to where his grandmother is looking.

“I am ready, Freddy,” she whispered again. “I’m coming home with you.”

He looked back at his grandmother and before she had closed her eyes and took her last breath, he saw that her face became calm and serene, a loving smile plastered on and her eyes sparkling again like they always had.

There was a moment of dead and peaceful silence and Clayton closed his eyes, dropping his head on the bed, squeezing his grandmother’s hand tightly. He let his tears fall profusely for a long while. He let out all his emotions that he always had in control.

Finally, after a long while, he gathered himself, wiping his tears away and finally stood up. He placed his grandmother’s hands on top of her stomach, clasping them together. She looked like that she is only sleeping, and Clayton is glad that there are no signs of strain on her face.

“I love you, grandma,” he said with feeling. He bent down and kissed her on the forehead lovingly. “You are in my heart always. I promise that I will do what you asked of me. I won’t let you down.”

Clayton then walked towards the door and quietly opened it.

His parents, presence met him when he stepped outside. Evangeline is sobbing on Theodore’s chest, and he is hugging her in comfort, rubbing her back gently. Liam is also hugging his sister, Lily, whose tears are running furiously down her cheeks. She buried her face on her brother’s chest.

Clayton nodded at his father, and he finally went out from the small house and stood at the deck, looking at his pack members, who were holding a vigil outside.

“Our great-grand Luna Catherine Langston has passed as well as her wolf, Constantine,” he announced, his voice breaking a bit. He took a deep breath before looking back at them. “We will observe our five days of mourning. Let us all remember with love in our hearts our beloved Luna. She will be sorely missed.”

He then immediately transformed to his wolf, Kragen. He let out a long howl that could be heard all over their territory. A howl filled with sadness and sorrow. A howl of losing a loved one that means so much to the person.

A resonating howling echo also filled the air as the pack members one by one started to mourn the passing of the great-grand Luna. It became like that for the next few hours as the observation of mourning has begun.

Thousands of miles away, a sixteen-year-old girl suddenly turned as if she felt someone had just passed by her like the wind.

She only shrugged when she saw no one.