Eddy's POV

I can't believe I reacted so childishly, troubling everyone. Tyler and Adrian had to come looking for me while I was hiding in the corner. They didn't even get the chance to rest properly and to look after me, but I just... I did not have the courage to face anyone at that moment. I needed some time and space to collect myself but that only happened when Adrian was by my side, maybe I should have started with that. But it just seemed unfair to depend on my mate when I was the reason for someone losing theirs.

Maybe I am a little selfish as I don't want to stay away from him. He gives me strength and goddess knew I don't have mine even to stand on my own two feet. Even though I had blocked all the links he somehow still knew how I was feeling and what I needed. I do feel like falling apart but I know that everyone's need of their alpha to be present is more important than my... mine taking a second to breathe.

Dad is staying with Raven for the night, he understands her pain more than any of us and I think dad had found a daughter in her. It's good for both of them they can keep each other company for a while. I totally understand and respect her decision of not having me at the funeral, but others are having a difficult time to come terms with that demand. I understand both sides and I know that Jay would understand my choice. He was always understanding.

"Baby, get out of your head and finish your meal or I would start feeding you like I used to do with my sisters," Adrian's voice breaks through my thoughts and I nodded.

I looked down to see I barely had started eating and seeing no point in worrying him any further I picked up the fork and tried eating, but I hand kept trembling. I don't know if it's trembling from fatigue or from the mess of thoughts that is in my head. Adrian sighed and take the fork from my hand and start feeding me. He patiently feeds me as I take my time.

After feeding me till he was satisfied with the amount of food I had consumed he gave me some pills. I guess some of them must be painkillers as I felt less in pain and drowsier. He picked me up to take me to our room, he carefully changed my clothes and put me in bed.

"Hang in there just a little longer then I will let you cry and fall apart and I promise I will be there to hold you. I will always be here for you. Always and forever," he said and kissed my temple and I felt myself drifting away.

Something woke me up and I groggily looked for the reason only to find an empty place where my mate should be sleeping, and I don't know why the first thing that came to my mind was that someone took him away making me jerked into a sitting position. The pain made its presence is known due to sudden moment maybe it's the reason for me waking up. I took a deep breath to calm myself enough to look for him. After looking around the room, I found a faint silhouette sleeping on the couch and instant calm spread through my body. But why is he sleeping there, it must be so uncomfortable? And I want him here where I can touch him or feel him. I decided to go there to bring him back to bed, we still have hours of time to sleep, perks of going to bed early.

I pulled my legs from the blanket and put one on the floor. "Fuck" I mentally screamed as sharp pain spread from my leg to whole body. How could I forget about that and put myself in this situation? I can't stay like this and I definitely can't move. I closed my eyes and take some deep breath in order to subdue some of the pain or at least make it to the point from where I could do something... anything.

"Eddy? What's wrong?" I heard his husky sleepy voice, it distracted me enough to open my eyes and look in his direction. He had sat up and was looking at me with concern.

"Why are you over there?" I cried out my question as another wave of pain shot through me.

He half ran and half walked to me and sat on the floor slowly caressing my aching leg, his touch having the cooling effect.

"Sorry, I didn't want to accidentally hurt you while sleeping. But what were you doing, you didn't think that you walk all the way to there when your legs are in this condition?"

"I...I don't know what I was trying to do, all I know is that I wanted to be near you. Please lay by my side, nothing would happen."

He carefully laid me down without disturbing any wound and lay down next to me.

"Better?" he asked and I nodded as I drifted back to sleep.

____

"Are you sure Eddy?" Adrian asked me again to chick if I have changed my mind on attending Jay's Funeral.

"Yeah, I am sure, she didn't want me there and she already had a lot on her plate I don't want to add more. But you should hurry, one of the alpha should be there."

He looked at me again thinking about leaving me alone when I can't even move one step with my bandaged legs. He sighed dramatically and with the weight of the world he left. He didn't want to go either; he didn't want to leave me alone and also not want to anywhere where I wasn't welcome. And it took a good half an hour to make him look it has the duty of an alpha.

The morning wasn't easy for him, as no matter of closing the link some of the pain still managed to escape making him feel guilty. He feels guilty for not finding me sooner and I think it was stupid and selfish of me to run away in the first place. But what's done cannot be undone and we can only take responsibility and move on. He helped me a bath and did all dressing of the wounds. He again had to feed me as my body was still not ready to cooperate. Then he spent some time trying to convince me about him not going, it is important for him to attend the funeral. I don't want it to look disrespectful and ungrateful for all he did for us, I just want to respect his mate's wish and that's why Adrian's attending his very important.

I am sitting in all black for the funeral of all the warriors. Their funeral is held after Jay's and I am waiting for someone to come pick me up. I hate feeling helpless but some of it is due to my stupidity and my healing is all over the place. Some of the small wounds are healed but there are so many of them that it is taking more time than necessary. I feel so tired right now even though I didn't do anything since I woke up. And painkillers are making me drowsy. I will close my eyes just for a second.

I felt hands shaking me lightly making me open my eyes. I found Tyler standing there. Adrian was going to pick me up but he is not here.

"Eddy, you forget me since you find your mate and now you are looking hurt after finding me here. You broke my heart."

I tried moving close to him to beat the drama out of him but he was standing a little too far from my broken and bruised body and only managed to catch air with the small distance I managed.

"Come here. Tyler, please come close."

"So, you could beat me. No thanks."

"You deserve it. Okay, I won't hit you. Please help me up."

He took a movement or two to think if I were speaking the truth, I think he decided to trust me as he came and pick me up on his back. I used to take a piggyback ride with Kyle and Jay when we were young, it brings back the memories of good old days, when things were simple.

"Adrian couldn't come because he had to go with the pack for other funerals. Everyone was asking about you so he told them about your wounds and told them you would attend it but not for too long as you still need rest."

"Tyler do you also think that I was wrong not to go there and for respecting her wish? Do you think that he would be mad at me?" I asked Tyler knowing he understands me and this situation or maybe I just needed some reassurance.

"You did the right thing and he couldn't even get mad at you when you did something wrong and you are not wrong here. And that is why I came to take you to Jay before we go to the funeral of other warriors."

"But..."

"Don't worry everyone left. I myself checked," he assured me knowing full well who I wanted to avoid and start walking.

We talked all the way, mostly him distracting me from anything that is happening and soon I found myself standing in front of his grave. I never thought I would have to see it so soon, hell I never even thought of any of us dying like we were invincible. But here I am standing at your grave and still struggling to believe that you are not here with us. All those time when we fooled around causing trouble as children and when we were happy with just being us, kept flashing in my mind.

"Still hard to believe. Right? He isn't with us anymore," Tyler's voice breaks through those memories and brought me back to present. I hummed and notice a blanket near probably for me.

"I knew you would want to spend some time with him alone and I can't trust you with standing on these two feet of yours. So, I arranged this," he said as he carefully put me down on the blanket and walked away.

"I am sorry Jay. I couldn't protect you. But I will do everything to make sure Raven is safe and happy even if it meant that I would have to avoid her. It's not a big problem, we didn't get time to build a bond between us, so there is nothing to be broken and you don't need to be hard on her for doing this, she is doing what she thinks she needs to cope with. She needed someone to blame and I would rather have it be me than you. She can hate me all she wants, I don't mind. I'll pray moon goddess to give her a second chance for happiness, you should do that too. Now that you are with her you have a better chance of persuading her than anyone else. You be happy, we will be fine. I promise."

I barely noticed tears running down my face and I barely noticed Tyler standing beside me.

"Come on Eddy, don't break your promise so soon. He wouldn't want to see you cry and honestly who would want to. You look hideous while crying."

Should I kill him? I grabbed what I found and throw it at him which happened to be a candle which may or may not be lit. Unfortunately, he ducked just in time as he laughed at his own joke. He takes minutes to settle down while I take a deep breath to stop myself from hitting him with something else.

He picked me on his back again and we went to attend the funeral of other members. It was almost over when we reached there. Adrian was standing there with pack members looking a part of them like he belongs there as much as I do. He was comforting them with his calm and sincere presence. He was fulfilling the alpha duty well and pack respect him. He sensed my presence and turned to face me and smile on his face grew ten times making others to look at me too. Tyler moved us closer to them and Adrian came to us to bring me to his embrace. I heard a faint "I missed you" from our link. After attending the funeral, I was too exhausted to attend the cremation of blood moon warriors. Even though I wanted to be there to show respect but, in the end, only Kyle, Tyler and some of their own pack member attended it. Adrian brought me back home and I fell asleep in the way home.

___

I have called Blood moon pack for meeting to decide on their future. The earlier it gets resolve better it would be for everyone. I don't want to keep anyone in cells longer than necessary but I cannot trust war prisoners enough to let them roam freely in my lands. I have discussed what I am going to do with them with others. And now I am waiting for their escort to deliver them here in the conference hall.

It has already been a long day and those pills that barely do anything except making me drowsy are wearing off and body is aching all over. Thankfully, Adrian has taken it up to him to carry me everywhere, he doesn't even want me to put one foot down. As much as I appreciate his concern, I can't help but feel like a nuisance to him.

The door open and in walked five members of Blood moon pack with two of our warriors. I can clearly sense their fear and discomfort, they don't know what is going to happen to them and their family. Not wanting to increase their fear I get straight to the point.

"I called you guys here because I wanted to discuss your packs future with you. I want you to be an independent like you were before and I will help you in any possible way to make it possible. But keeping the recent incident in mind, I would monitor your pack to make sure that there is no type of discrimination and no one is being bullied because of being different or physically weak."

My statement brought hope on some faces but some are still sceptical which is natural their people have chosen them to decide the fate of their pack. One wrong decision can cost them not only their lives but also the lives of the whole pack.

"But who would lead our pack. Our alpha and beta both are dead and alpha had no successor," asked the one who gave the energy of gamma, maybe he belongs to the gamma family of the pack. But plus point is that they are not questioning my conditions.

"Stephen you could be their alpha," I suggested.