Sold as the Alpha King's Breeder
Chapter 1239 - 150 : Never Letting Go

Chapter 1239: Chapter 150 : Never Letting Go

*Rion*

I held Daphne close, rubbing her arm soothingly as we stood before the line of caskets up onstage.

After narrowly surviving Varge’s latest sinister plot, a pall of mourning fell over our pack. While we were all ecstatic to finally be free of the deranged zealot, it wasn’t without a great loss.

It was extremely necessary for us to honor the brave warriors who sacrificed their lives to rescue my family from a dark, twisted fate.

While the Moon Goddess healed Eva’s condition as well as the injuries she and Daphne had sustained during Varge’s final attack, my mate and sister were still among the shaken survivors who were undergoing the difficult process of healing from the trauma and finding closure after the harrowing ordeal.

There was a stillness that fell over our land, and we decided that it would be appropriate to spend the next several days properly mourning the loss of our warriors as a pack family.

We closed the academy as well as most of the shops, aside from the vital ones like those providing food and necessary supplies. Funeral rites were held daily for the first few days as we laid our warriors to rest and gave each hero the recognition they deserved.

It was an appropriately cloudy day on the final day of our scheduled funerals. Jasper, Eva, Daphne, and I stood together, holding hands as we watched the final casket be lowered into the ground.

Jasper and I watched somberly but with great respect for each fighter. Eva had cried delicately but became simply crestfallen by the time we laid down our final warrior. Daphne sobbed brokenly through every ceremony.

I watched with concern as Daphne slowly and robotically got ready for bed later that night. She had been strong for the children, forcing a smile onto her face as we tucked them in for the night. Now, she seemed a shell of herself as she sat at her vanity, listlessly running a brush through her long, golden-brown tresses.

I watched her for a long moment before crossing the room and wrapping my arms around her shoulders from behind. The brush froze and Daphne’s empty, hazel eyes locked with mine through the reflection of the mirror. I kissed her cheek, my heart splintering at the broken look on her face.

“You didn’t fail, Daphne,” I murmured gently to her. “You need to stop blaming yourself.”

It was a conversation we had had a few times since the first day of funerals. Lives were lost and in turn, families throughout our pack were now broken after the loss of their loved ones.

Daphne’s eyes filled with tears, and she ducked her head slightly. “Rion, those men were fathers and brothers and sons,” she said brokenly. “And they were our pack brothers.”

“That’s why we held these ceremonies for them, Daphne,” I told her, rubbing her shoulders, trying to help her release some of the tension in them. “They’re resting now. We can continue to mourn, but I don’t like the way it seems to be destroying you.”

She bit her lower lip, and I could tell by the way her eyes moved that she knew I wouldn’t like what she had to say next. “It should have been me.”

I gritted my teeth and gently but firmly turned her around, dropping to my knees in front of her so I could lock eyes with her. “You don’t believe that,” I ground out. “I know you don’t. The Moon Goddess intervened so that you and Eva would be saved. Those men knew that they might not come back, and they died heroes.”

Tears suddenly gushed from Daphne’s eyes as she began to sob. “I know. I’m sorry, I don’t believe that, but I just wish we didn’t have to lose so many.”

I wrapped my arms around her again, pressing her close to my chest. “We’re going to get through this together, as a pack. I’m really proud of you. You’ve been so strong, the perfect Luna to our people. I believe we’re still holding on largely because of you.”

I felt her relax in my hold and at my words. “Thank you,” she said, her voice still thick from crying. She pulled away slightly to give me a watery smile. “But you’ve been even more of a strong Alpha. Our pack depends on your strength and unrivaled leadership.”

“Thank you,” I said, brushing her cheek with the back of my fingers tenderly.

I was relieved when she smiled and leaned into me. We were quiet for several moments as we just held each other. Eventually, Daphne leaned away from me. “I think we should hold another ceremony.”

I felt my eyebrows crumple with confusion. “Another funeral, you mean?”

Daphne shook her head and her hazel eyes brightened. “One to praise the Moon Goddess for saving us all.”

As usual, Daphne knew exactly how to restore the spirits of our pack. She truly was a beloved leader, the firm foundation that kept all of us hopeful for the future.

“I think that’s a wonderful idea,” I told her.

***

We spent the next several days organizing an elaborate ceremony for the Moon Goddess. Jasper and Eva were more than eager to help and along with several other pack members, we started to plan the grand celebration of the Goddess’ kindness.

The day of the ceremony really did serve as a stark contrast to the somber funerals. We collected hundreds and hundreds of colorful wildflowers to decorate the entire plaza, hanging them from the shops and the lampposts.

The flowers gave the whole pack community a sweet, floral scent. There were brightly colored ribbons and bows hanging everywhere as well.

We encouraged our pack members to dress formally but in brighter colors to symbolize a hopeful future.

As the whole pack was gathering in the central plaza, I grinned at Daphne, who was standing up on the stage next to me. Eva and Jasper were on my other side.

We spent the first hour singing praises to the Goddess, lifting our voices up to her, and thanking her for not just saving us from Varge but for always watching over us and for giving us countless blessings over the course of our lives.

It was a joyous and heartwarming time. Our entire pack sang with one voice, the melodic sound seeming to shake the ground.

Several of our people had their eyes closed as they worshipped. It was clear that they were losing themselves in their love for the Moon Goddess. The sun shone brightly on us, and since it was still early spring, there was a crisp coolness in the air that made the warmth pleasant.

By the end of the time of musical worship, our pack was beaming and raising their hands up high, eyes bright and brimming with tears of gratefulness.

We gestured for everyone to quiet down so we could begin. It took a couple of minutes for the members of our pack to dial down the cheering. When they finally did, Eva stepped forward.

“Thank you for that beautiful time of worship,” she exclaimed, grinning widely. “As you are well aware, we are here to give our most heartfelt thanks to our kind and loving Moon Goddess. She not only saved us from the wicked Varge, but she has been so faithful and attentive toward us even when we were unaware of it.”

The crowd murmured happily in agreement, several of them lifting their hands up in praise once again.

Daphne stepped forward next, smiling warmly at the group. “When all seemed lost and it looked like things were going to take a dark turn, our benevolent Moon Goddess appeared out of nowhere and brought justice and peace.”

More cheering and clapping followed.

Jasper was next, waving enthusiastically as he stepped forward. “Let us continue to show our gratitude toward our selfless Goddess. We owe her much.”

I clapped Jasper on the back as I made my way in front to face our pack.

“We’ve decided to use this celebration as a golden opportunity to recommit ourselves to serving the benevolent Goddess,” I said. “May we always follow her ways of light from now on.”

The most boisterous of all the applause sounded through the plaza at that moment. Dozens of our members came forward with gifts for the Goddess.

We descended the stage and helped place the bundles of flowers and baskets of fruit on the stage below the altar we had made to honor her.

Our talented artists created a gorgeous sculpture in the likeness of the Goddess, and since we had seen her with our own eyes, Daphne and Eva were able to give advice as to how to make the Goddess as accurate as possible in the statue.

In mere minutes, the statue seemed to be smiling down at all the gifts as the sun illuminated her kind, stone face. We all stood with our hands linked once again as we gazed up at the sculpture adoringly.

The rest of the day was spent singing and dancing around our likeness of the beloved Moon Goddess. I grabbed Daphne’s hand and spun her around ecstatically.

She giggled as I twirled her around, and I was suddenly taken back to when we first met, during that party at the palace when I had abducted her.

I marveled at how much had happened since then. She had just been a spoiled princess in my eyes back then, and an enemy of my family. It was still hard to believe that she was my mate, my Luna, my wife, and the mother of my children.

She was everything to me.

Daphne met my heated gaze and blinked in confusion for a brief moment before her hazel eyes warmed, and she took the couple of steps that were separating us so she could wrap her arms around my neck.

I dropped my arms so I could loop them around her waist, which I had done a thousand times by this point.

“What brought on that look?” she asked with a smirk, peering up at me.

“You,” I said simply. “Always you.”

Daphne just gazed up at me but didn’t ask. She tiptoed so that she could press a kiss to my mouth. “I love you,” she whispered when we pulled apart.

“I love you so much,” I said, bending with the intent of kissing her more deeply, possibly to drag her away from the party to find some privacy.

But before I could, Eva’s voice cut through the music and the crowd. “The Goddess has granted me the ability to use my powers without endangering my health,” she announced, grinning widely. Her smile grew when her pronouncement was met with boisterous applause. “And with such a generous gift, I would like to ensure our safety even further.”

Before anyone could ask what she meant by that, Eva jumped up onto the stage, spread her arms wide, and tilted her head back slightly, shutting her eyes.

Suddenly, a sparkly translucent shield started to rise around us. Daphne gasped in astonishment as it continued to climb upward like ice freezing over the top of an enchanted pond.

“A shield,” Jasper murmured from next to us, his light eyes widening.

The whole community was watching in stupefied shock as a sparkling dome formed over the entirety of our lands. As quickly as it had appeared, it flickered several times before disappearing.

Eva opened her eyes and smirked at all of us. “This shield is infused with protective wards. It should keep us secure from future threats.”

Choruses of thanks rose up, and Eva blushed before descending from the stage, landing lightly on her feet before running over to join us. We hugged one another, gratefulness at the new sense of safety and security almost overwhelming.

“Daddy!”

Daphne and I turned to see our children rushing toward us, their arms wide as they jumped into our arms. We all laughed together as we picked them up and spun them around.

Eva and Jasper were holding Aster, Tarik, and baby Lumina as they danced around happily.

I felt a rush of emotion as I gazed at my family. I pressed a kiss to Daphne’s temple and then one to little Lucian’s head before hugging my daughters tightly. I glanced over at the Moon Goddess statue, murmuring my thanks once again.

All was well and everyone was finally safe, I realized as I held my family tightly.

I was never letting go.

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