"She was a good warrior... the best aunty, the mother to those who needed one, a daughter and friend to many. She played her role so well that the other side has a special seat for a saint like her. May you find your safe haven, dear friend."
Outside Martha’s house sat the people who knew her, along with other guests. Eriko, Kaye and Paye were present, as well as Faye and Princess with their pups, Malo and two of his siblings, Henry and Kali, Sasha and Haley.
Kiara and Beam were also there because they were supposed to meet up with Princess, so she had shared her location with them.
"Dear beloved family and friends, it’s time for our final goodbye," Pali said. His broad chest rose with a massive, heavy sigh, his deep voice carrying over the silent gathering as he cleared his dry throat.
He placed an item Martha had given him into a small wooden box. His rough fingers held the object tightly for a single second, his heart pounding a heavy beat of grief before he set it inside the carved container.
Everyone who wished to do the same stood up and placed something inside the box. One by one, they stepped softly across the grass, quiet gasps and small hitches of breath filling the air as each person stepped forward to drop their memory into the dark wood.
Afterward, it was buried in Martha’s vegetable garden.
Some people left while others stayed behind.
"I still can’t believe Dre hasn’t come back with the body," Faye said as she handed drinks to Malo and Pali.
"She must have taken Martha to the place she always wanted to be... the beach. I’m sure she’s letting her rest there," Pali said. He took a slow sip from his cold glass, his broad shoulders dropping as he released a weary, quiet breath.
"Do you think she’ll come back? We need her," Malo said, reminding Faye why all of this had started.
"Even if she does come back, is she still going to help us? Martha is gone, and the deal was for her to survive." Faye pointed out, her jaw tightening firmly into a rigid line as her mind raced through all the terrible possibilities.
"So... we have to go inside that place," Malo muttered, his breathing turning shallow and fast at the horrifying thought.
"Wait. None of you should go in there," Pali said firmly. He took a fast step closer, his eyes narrowing into a fierce, protective stare as his chest swelled with a hard, dominant breath. "I know Dre. She’ll come back. I’ll find a way to convince her to help you guys, but entering a Night Walker den is suicide. None of you will come out alive, and you’re not strong enough to face them. Not even your two Betas could take them on. So wait... and trust that Dre will return. She just lost her her wife..."
The two friends decided to trust Pali and hope Dre would eventually come back.
Meanwhile, Faye noticed Princess entering Martha’s house with the pups.
"Hey babe, what are you doing in here? Everyone’s outside," Faye asked as she walked inside.
Princess was holding a picture frame.
"I wanted to show the kids around the house... maybe repay your debt of bringing the pups to see the late Martha. Then I found this picture." Princess explained softly, her voice smooth and sweet in the quiet room.
She showed Faye the photograph of Martha and Dre together.
"That’s Martha and her wife, Dre," Faye said. She already knew Princess recognized Dre. She took a tiny step forward, her breathing remaining careful as she watched Princess’s expression closely.
"That’s the girl who ripped my heart out months ago at my previous workplace," Princess said.
"Yeah, I know. I don’t like her either, but she was a good wife to Ms. Martha, and we also need her for our work. Don’t worry... she means no harm." Faye reassured her quickly, reaching out to gently touch Princess’s arm to settle her breathing.
Princess wanted to ask more questions, but she and Faye had only just reconciled after everything that happened.
She swallowed her curiosity. She let out a soft, quiet exhale through her nose, forcing the tension out of her shoulders.
"Okay... just be careful. Night Walkers are dangerous. Don’t trust them." Princess warned, her eyes locking straight onto Faye’s ones with absolute seriousness.
"Yeah, I’ve heard the history lesson over and over since my first day of detention," Faye replied with a smile. "But it’s only one Night Walker."
After the funeral, Faye was back at the cottage, packing her belongings and the babies’ things into the van with the help of Malo and Kaye.
Kaye pouted the entire time. He stomped his shoes against the dirt path, his bottom lip sticking out in a dramatic, grumpy thrust while his lungs let out loud, dramatic sighs with every small box he carried.
He wasn’t happy that Faye and his cousins were leaving because he had really enjoyed having them around. He especially loved it whenever Faye drove him to school instead of Eriko, who liked talking nonstop during the drive. The boy let out another huff, his arms crossing tightly over his chest as he glared at the back of the van.
Meanwhile, Eriko and Paye were secretly watching Faye. They leaned against the porch railing, their lungs pulling in long, quiet drafts of air as they kept their eyes glued to the girl moving back and forth.
She had originally said she would stay away for six months. The thought made both men feel a little ridiculous, their hearts beating in uncomfortable, quiet rhythms.
The two men had even made a bet.
Eriko believed Faye would go crawling back first.
Paye insisted Princess would be the one begging before the first month ended.
Now neither of them knew how to ask who had won. They exchanged a quick, awkward glance, their jaws locking tight as they cleared their throats in complete silence.
Mostly because Faye was still upset with them for slaughtering and eating the goats, sheep, and chicken from her baby shower while she was away. Every time she looked at them, her eyes flashed with a dangerous, terrifying heat that made their wolf instincts shrink back.
They had blamed everything on Henry.
Unfortunately, the evidence had been impossible to hide, she found out when Eriko later offered Faye some goat goulash, she remembered she had goats and sheeps.., even though she had almost forgotten about the gifts.
The two men wisely stayed quiet and agreed to call the bet a draw rather than risk another lecture from the mother of four.
Inside The Clubhouse
While waiting for Faye to finish packing, and returned home Princess watched Beam leave.
Then she quietly cornered Kiara, who was still playing game.
"Kiki... how did Dre get hold of Khushi’s book?" Princess asked, folding her arms.
"What are you talking about?" Kiara asked smoothly, blinking her eyes in fake innocence while her lungs pulled in a fast, guarded breath.
"Come on. Don’t play dumb. I know you used a Night Walker to tamper with Beam’s memory. Was it Khushi’s book you used for the payment?"
"How did you know?" Kiara gasped softly, her confident posture wavering for a split second as her breath locked up in her throat.
"I saw Faye holding the book at the late Martha’s house. It’s turned out the walker was married to her.... What were you thinking? You gave a Night Walker a book that could be used to create more Night Walkers. If more of them start invading Oakland, Leo is going to be pissed because it’ll affect his precious business." Princess scolded in a harsh whisper, her heart hammering against her ribs as her lungs heaving with frustrated, heated gasps.
"Relax, girl." Kiara rolled her eyes. She let out a long, dramatic exhale, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear as she recovered her composure.
"Leo should know the Night Walkers would eventually want their underground tunnels back since it was originally their home. Besides, that’s not our problem anymore. We don’t work for him."
"Even if we don’t work for him anymore, my grandfather won’t be happy when he hears Night Walkers are living here in Oakland."
"And he won’t be happy when he finds out his favorite daughter’s daughter impregnated a Moon Wolf and is now happily living under the same roof with her, playing family, huh.. But he is going going to be proud that you banged and tamed the moon wolf...." Kiara teased. She smirked, her head tilting with a playful, arrogant rhythm as she watched Princess’s reaction.
She immediately stopped when she saw Princess’s deadpan expression.
"Also, whoever has the book can’t create any more Night Walkers." Kiara added quickly, clearing her throat to break the terrifying silence.
Princess raised an eyebrow. She didn’t say a word, her chest rising in a slow, expectant wave as she waited for the explanation.
"Because I burned two of the pages," Kiara said with a smug smile. "Without those pages... every ritual is doomed to fail."