Leaving on the 100th day.

Seraphine sat on the wooden bench opposite the fountain.

Tear stains marked the path from beneath her eyes, through her cheeks, and down to her chin.

"Mommy, do you think the Luna will be okay?" A werepup asked. 

His mother squeezed his hand as she looked at Seraphine.

She still wore the dress she had worn for last night's mating ball. Black, with a touch of red, just like Alpha King Alaric loved it. 

"I'm sure she'll be fine," The werepup's mother said to him as she led him out of the garden.

As the duo left, Seraphine’s hand flew to her mouth, trying to muffle her sobs. Fresh tears rolled down her cheeks once more.

She couldn't help but think the mother was wrong. She wasn't sure if she was going to get over his death. How could she?

A week ago, Alpha Alaric had decided to throw a ball in her honor. He wanted to celebrate her being his Luna for a hundred days. 

"Don't be silly, Alaric. Who celebrates just a hundred days?" She asked him.

Alaric laughed as he pulled her closer, gently setting her on his thighs.

"It's not just a hundred days, Seraphine. It's a hundred days of love. A hundred days of having you next to me as my Luna and fated mate," he said to her.

Hearing those words, a flush of pink crept onto Seraphine’s cheeks.

"Besides, I also want to give other single wolves the opportunity to find their mates, just like I found you," he added.

Seraphine smiled as she leaned in to kiss him.

On the day of the ball, he had sent over a present for her. It was a box that contained a gown, jewelry, and a pair of shoes.

Alpha King Alaric had handpicked everything specially for her. 

Seraphine also found a note at the bottom of the box.

"I hope you love what I've picked for you, and I also hope you'll love it when I take them off of you. That's the part I'm looking forward to the most. Love, Your Mate." Alaric had written in the note.

Seraphine couldn't help but smile as she thought about what the night held for her.

When Seraphine finished preparing, she hurried to the ballroom.

As she got to the door, she noticed something out of place. The pack guards weren't at the door, which was weird. They were supposed to be the ones who welcomed everyone to the ball. She pushed the door and walked in.

As she got in, she noticed that the music wasn't playing. The sounds that were heard were gasps and shrieks coming from all over the room as everyone rushed toward the center, forming a large circle.

"Give him space!" Seraphine heard Theon, Alaric's Beta, yell. It seemed like someone had been hurt.

She walked towards the crowd, trying to push through. As people saw who it was, they gave way, staring at her pitifully as they let her through.

Just as the path was completely cleared, her eyes widened, and her mouth went agape as she saw the horror before her.

Alaric was lying in Theon's arms, blood gushing out of his mouth. His skin was pale and as white as snow, his eyes tightly shut. 

Seraphine was about to scream when she noticed that his chest was heaving, but slowly. She rushed towards Alaric and Theon. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she dropped to her knees.

"What... What happened to him?" She asked Theon.

"I don't know. He was addressing everyone when all of a sudden he just started coughing," Theon explained.

Seraphine was confused. 

Why in the world would he cough up blood?

She touched his cheek. He was as cold as ice, which frightened her.

"Alaric?"  She called out to him. But he didn't respond. She turned to the crowd.

"Someone get a doctor!" She yelled, but no one moved.

"We have already sent for one," Theon said, getting her attention.

She reached out for Alaric's hand. It was also cold.

Seraphine panicked.

"You better tell that doctor to get over here quickly or else I'll pull the tail out of his wolf and..."

Before she could complete her threat, Alaric squeezed her arm. She turned to him. He was staring at her.

"Alaric!," She said to him. "Hang in there"

His lips moved, but nothing came out. She leaned in, hoping to hear what he'd say, but no sound left his lips.

As she straightened up, she watched the corner of his lips arch in a smile. She watched as life slowly left him—his eyes shut once more.

Seraphine sat on the hard floor, tears rolling down her eyes.

The man who had promised to spend years with her laid lifeless on the floor. She felt like she was living a nightmare.

"Seraphine! Seraphine! " Someone called out to her, bringing her back to reality.

She turned to find Elara, her step sister running towards her.

Ignoring her, Seraphine turned to the fountain once more.

As Elara got to her, she crouched, hands on thighs as she tried to catch her breath.

"You can't stay here forever, Seraphine. I know it's hard, but you have to get up. You have to bathe, eat, move on, and live your life, Seraphine," Elara said.

Seraphine forced a smile onto her face as she looked at Elara.

"Move on and do what? What important thing do I have to do? Without Alaric, I don't know if I can keep living," she said.

Elara frowned. She sat next to her, pushing some locs of hair that covered Seraphine's face to the back of her ear.

"But you have to, Seraphine. You'll have to get up and lead your people," Elara said.

Seraphine couldn't help but laugh. She stood up, folding her hands beneath her chest.

"Lead my people?! Really? How do you expect me to lead anybody after losing my mate?" She asked, then looked away. "You haven't found your mate, so I don't expect you to understand."

After those words left her lips, Seraphine regretted it. Elara wasn't to blame for her pain, so she had no right to take it out on her.

She turned to Elara and was about to apologize when Elara cut her off.

"That's fine, Seraphine. You can sit here all you want and weep like this is the end of the world," Elara said to her. "But don't say I didn't warn you when someone else takes over what Alaric worked hard for.”