“Bless you both. I wish you a long and happy life together,” a couple said, and bowed their heads to us.
The world had gone to shit around us, but people were still paying their respects. It was weird and sweet and…strange. When the last person had left, Sawyer sagged against my side. We stood in the grass, covered in water and blood, and he’d finally let go.
‘Dad,’he croaked in my head, and my heart tore in two as I reached for him.
My mom and dad sat patiently with Mrs. Hudson at the base of the tree while she wept over Curt’s body.
“Why don’t you take your mom back home and have her lie down. I’ll handle… this.” I gestured to the body.
He nodded. “Are you sure?”
There were times in a relationship when one person was hurting more than the other; this was one of those times. Sawyer needed me to step up and I was going to be there for him.
“Yes.”
Sawyer walked over to the tree and my mom and dad backed up to give him space. His mother looked up into her son’s eyes, swimming with tears, and burst into uncontrollable sobs.
“He’s gone,” she wailed.
My chest physically ached to watch Sawyer bend down and place one hand on his mother’s back and another on his father’s chest. Curt’s face was covered with my dad’s jacket, but you could make out where his chest would be.
“He’s with Nana and Papa.” Sawyer leaned down and whispered something in his dad’s ear that no one could hear but him, and then he picked his mother up into his arms like she was made of glass. She clung to him, wailing uncontrollably, and I wondered if they would need to medicate her somehow. That kind of grief was fucking soul shattering.
My mom and I wiped at our eyes as we watched them walk away, then I called Eugene over.
I had to clear my throat a few times before I could speak without my voice cracking.
“Did he have a will? A desire to be cremated or buried?” I asked Eugene.
The big brute looked absolutely broken; his eyes were vacant and yet he still stood strong. “Yes. Buried. In his family plot.”
I nodded. “Can you arrange for a funeral home to prepare his body for burial? Have his personal affects sent to Sawyer?”
We’d need to plan the funeral, but that was something we could deal with tomorrow. He nodded. “Right away.”
Then I turned to my parents. “You guys should get home, lock yourselves inside until Sawyer sends word about the next step.”
My mom frowned. “Honey, you need us, we can stay—”
I shook myself. “No, I need to know you are safe at home while I help Sawyer. Please. I’ll call you later.”
They nodded, hugging me, and my mom took one final weepy look at Curt’s body and left with my father. I sat down under the tree with my dead father-in-law as guards ran all around us barking orders and dealing with the shitshow inside. We had dead and wounded, and even though the fire seemed to be out, the building was still being fully evacuated. It was a nightmare.
I reached out, laying one palm on Curt’s chest. “I’m sorry.” My throat tightened as I swallowed back tears. “I’ll take care of him for you.”
Curt loved Sawyer, jumped in front of a bullet to save him, and I knew he would want to make sure someone was always looking out for him. I didn’t know where we went after we died. I wanted to believe in heaven and God and all of that, but blind faith was hard for me. Still, if his soul was lingering somehow, I wanted him to go in peace.
“Can I sit with you?” Sage asked, and I looked up to see her covered in signs of war and holding the present box with my cuffs in them. Blood, soot, and grime marred her beautiful face.
I nodded and she plopped down next to me.
“Thanks for having my back in there,” I told her.
She looked offended. “I always have your back.” Then she looked over at Curt’s body and swallowed hard. “I can’t believe…” She shuddered. “My dad’s been away on business. He’s going to be devastated.”
I reached for her hand. “I’m so sorry.”
We sat there in silence, guarding the alpha’s body from harm until the coroner finally turned up. He looked shaken by the news, eyes wide as he and an assistant unrolled a canvas stretcher. I didn’t want to shake him up more, but I wanted to make sure he was going to treat the body properly, with respect.
