Alpha's One Night Bride
Alpha’s One Night Bride – Chapter 51

The news of Anderson’s death was shocking; he was one of Jonathan’s best friends. One of the kindest and strongest wolves that Jonathan had the pleasure of knowing. It’s been about a week since the news of his death, and it still didn’t seem real.

Graham allowed Jonathan to come and collect Anderson’s ashes; that way there can be a proper burial in Anderson’s town, Paletooth. There were about 200 or more wolves that attended the ceremony. Anderson was a well-known and very liked wolf; even Rock and Melissa attended the ceremony.

Marian was wearing a black gown that draped around her feet; the lacy fabrics falling around the ground like a wedding gown. Her dark auburn hair grew a bit more than her usual pixie hairstyle and was pulled back in a black beret. She wore a dark blush on her upper cheekbones and red lipstick that brought out her fair features. Her eyeliner and mascara were smeared under her eyes as tears fell down her cheeks.

Jonathan had known Marian for years and this was the first time he’s ever seen her shed a tear. She was known to be rough around the edges and difficult to please at times; Anderson often complained how difficult she was to read and that she always kept her nose deep in her work. She spent most of her days in the office and not enough days at home. But Anderson understood her in ways that most couldn’t.

Anderson had told Jonathan when he first met Marian, she wanted nothing to do with him. Their attraction at first glance was obvious, but Marian was such a corporate woman and engrossed in work that she hardly gave Anderson the time of day. It took a lot of convincing for Marian to go on a date with him. Once they were finally able to go out, Anderson saw a side of her she doesn’t reveal to just anybody.

She laughed at his jokes, she danced, she sang, she got so drunk she nearly passed out in the middle of the bar. At the end of the day, he tucked her away in his bed and allowed her to sleep until she was sober enough to go home.

On their second date, Anderson was surprised that it was Marian who had asked him out. Anderson said that that’s how he knew Marian was meant to be his mate.

Jonathan was his best man at their wedding; Marian looked beautiful in her white wedding gown and her bouquet of white roses. Jonathan doesn’t remember a time when she was ever that happy.

Now he was seeing her, wearing all black, standing in front of her husband’s grave. Marian was typically a thin woman; she was always on such a strict diet and was picky about what went into her body. However, she looked as though she thinned out much more this week.

Arina stood beside Jonathan; she wore a loose-fitting black gown that rested above her ankles. Her blonde curls were pulled back in a low ponytail; her pale green eyes filled with so much dread. She was staring in Marian’s direction, a small frown placed on her naturally pink lips.

She bit onto her bottom l*p to keep herself from crying. Jonathan wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her close to him. She fell into him automatically. Her stomach was beginning to round out and was growing painful for her; he saw her wince slightly at the sudden movement, but she tried to hide it from her face.

“Hey…” Jonathan whispered to her. She peered up at him; her features were thinning out and it was beginning to worry him. “How about tomorrow we call Dr. Emily over?” He asked.

She gave him a faint smile and nodded, burying her face against the side of his body as he tightened his hold around her.

“I just can’t believe Anderson’s gone,” she whispered; her voice sounded broken.

“Yeah…” he said, gazing over at the spot they were burying Anderson in. “Me neither.”

The sun had set long ago, and the moon was rising to the peak in the sky. Around this time, the luna of the deceased would set the bonfire in the center of the town. The different variations of packs would gather around the bonfire and transition themselves into their wolf forms. They would unite with one another and howl to the moon together in honor of the deceased.

Arina couldn’t transition due to her pregnancy, so she and Jonathan were just going to stay in their human forms.

Marian lit the match to the bonfire, and they watched the stacks of hay and wood flakes ignite, lighting up the night sky. Sparks of fire poured from the flames, flying around the air like lightning bugs. Some sparks made it high enough in the sky where they almost appeared to be like falling stars.

Jonathan could feel the warmth from the fire on his features; the late winter air was frigid, so the fire felt nice on his skin. He breathed in the calming and sweet scent of the burning leaves.

One by one, wolves of different shapes and sizes appeared around them. As the moon entered the sky’s peak, the howls began to erupt. Despite not transitioning, Jonathan and Arina joined in the howling. As they joined the others, their wolf’s aura illuminated through their skin and brightened the louder they embraced their wolf selves.

Jonathan noticed a small light appearing in Arina’s features. Pregnant wolves can’t transition to their wolf selves, which makes them feel weak and tired. However, when they are 18, are at their full wolf strength and wolf compacity. Their bodies can heal much faster than a newer, aka young, wolf. So, the damages done during their pregnancies, are usually healed quickly by their inner wolves, regardless of how weak they are.

Arina doesn’t turn 18 for a few more months, so she hasn’t reached her final stages of adulthood yet. She isn’t a fully developed wolf; therefore, she doesn’t have the healing compacity of a fully developed wolf. Damages done to her during her pregnancy won’t get healed as quickly as Jonathan would like.

It wasn’t supposed to start happening until a few more weeks, but apparently, this child is an early bloomer and is growing much quicker than expected. Arina is already showing in her stomach region and the baby is developing her wolf’s feet, which is destroying Arina’s insides.

Jonathan hated seeing his happen to her; she was facing so much pain as is in everyday life. Emotional pain with family, and losing friends, and now she must deal with the physical pain of bearing a child.

Despite everything though, she still managed to get herself out of bed and join the packs to celebrate the life and death of a beloved friend.

Jonathan watched as the aura of her wolf lightened her features and made her appear stronger than she ever has before. He loved watching her glowing; at that moment, there were no pain, grief, or worries. It was just her and her wolf, being reconnected as one and singing in a harmony like no other.

That was his luna.

His love.

She stopped howling when she noticed that Jonathan was staring at her. She almost looked shy at first; she gave him a sheepish smile as a little pink crossed over her cheeks and lightly freckled nose.

“Was I too loud?” She whispered; glancing around the streets at the others who were still howling at the moon.

All howling, except for Marian who was staring at the bonfire. Her auburn fur matched the flames to a point where Jonathan almost didn’t notice her.

He looked back at Arina, her eyes big and curious for him to answer.

Kissing her forehead, he shook his head.

“No,” he answered. “You were perfect.”

“I miss it,” she told him gently. “Being able to transition and letting my wolf free. I know it’s because I’m pregnant. But I miss it.”

She had a bit of sadness in her voice. He wrapped her in his arms and held her close; embracing her as she melted into his arms and found her comfortable breathing rhythm.

“I know,” he responded.

Soon the howling grew quieter; the town began getting less crowded. Most wolves went off to hunt for the night, others went home. Marian still stood in the same spot, staring at the bonfire before her.

“She hasn’t moved,” Jonathan told Arina.

She followed his gaze over to Marian and sadness washed over her face.

“She lost her mate,” Arina said softly. “If I lost you, I wouldn’t move either.”

“Do you think we should say something to her?” Jonathan asked.

Arina thought about it for a moment and then shook her head slowly.

“No. There’s nothing we can say that will make this better for her. She needs time,” Arina answered.

Jonathan knew she was right, but he also knew that Anderson wouldn’t want her to stay there all night and be this broken. He would want someone to walk her home and make sure she got to bed alright.

“Maybe we should walk her home at least,” Jonathan said.

Arina nodded and smiled up at him.

“Alright,” she said. “Before we go, should we say goodbye to Anderson?”

Jonathan nodded.

The two of them walked closer towards the bonfire. Marian noticed them approaching and gave them a small smile through her misty eyes. Her body was trembling as she struggled to keep herself together. Arina walked over to her first and held onto her hands, giving them a gentle squeeze.

“We’ll take you home,” Arina told her.

“I can’t leave him,” she whispered; her voice was hoarse.

“He’s not going anywhere,” Arina assured her, staring over at the small mound of dirt that Anderson’s ashes were buried under.

Jonathan knelt beside the mound of dirt; he rubbed his fingers across the softness and patted it down. His heart broke for his friend and for the pack he left behind. He felt a presence from behind him; he didn’t have to turn to know that it was Erick. Another presence appeared in front of him, looking up he saw Greggory. Jessica appeared next to Arina, and Ronnie appeared on the other side of Arina. Jess appeared next to Jonathan; all of them had the same look of grief as they stared at the dirt mound.

Their group no longer felt complete without Anderson.

They stayed silent for a long while; quietly mourning for their fallen friend. A brave man who risked his life to help a friend.

One by one, each began walking away.

Jonathan was the last to walk.

With a final look at the grave, Jonathan spoke in a soft tone that only Anderson would be able to hear.

“Goodbye friend.”