The day is calm. The entire member of the Malibu Park gathers upon the beach. The place is lit with ambient lights from one length to the other. Many wears white and most put on black. The late alpha had requested that all his kin and bloodline wear white because there is no reason to mourn. He had lived his life to the fullest and believe they should be celebrating him on this day.

The coffin, a red tinted glass jam built with a large wolf head on the foot end is on a high table closest to the waters. There is no circling of the area. The chairs are arranged from one length to the other in an arc formation.

The wind is blowing cold, the sun bickering from above and everyone around seems to be in a trance, for its barely noonday and the place, with canopies and massive trees which is used for decorations has formed a great shade against the clear. McNeil and Magdalene have taken their positions amidst the family row in the front. The mother of McNeil herself sits to his left, while the only direct kin of the late alpha, Elis sits right next to McNeil’s lady on his right.

Brianna Theophilus has a large white hat over her head. She had a red imprint of a full moon on it, so that as she sits, its visible for all the people behind her. A blood moon is what she is feeling like right now. Her Luna energy getting abated by the moment. She keeps a handkerchief in her left hand. And would look to her son by her side every time her hand goes to her nose, who has the lady he had brought home a few times to introduce to her as his girlfriend, Magdalene sitting next to him in a black dress as she is not in any way related or in any form belong to any park in existence.

The reverend leads the service in a most solemn way, “In this life, we are bound to lose the people whom we love. One thing is there to keep us going, they are not lost but in a better place. This I want you all to see about our dear Theophilus” he said in his words of consolation to the family. McNeil have his head hanging low. Having spent the past few hours trying to accept the situation between him and Magdalene, his ability to persuade her to attend the event, he truly needs some consolation. In his white drape that has goldbeatings cover at the front, he looks a bit thinner for his muscular shoulders.

The face of Magdalene is more serious about the moment than Neil wanted. He is looking at her more often now. His mother had reduced the frequency at which she uses her handkerchief as the reverend continues, “my thought is with you our dearest queen. Brianna Theophilus. Your son Neil is a blessing to all of us. I pray you all live long to see joyous days which I believe are not far away” his face stalks the young man at this point. The middle-aged man looked at Neil with his eyes indicative of chastisement. He had noticed his distraction.

Neil sits up, and his face to the ground. The sweat puffed up around his right eye lashes. He is a bit angry but Magdalene who is playing her part accordingly coughed loudly. He raised his head in an instant and looked at her again. “Why have you come here Maggie? Why didn’t you tell me no when I offered you the money?” he asked in a low voice. Magdalene, finally had a malicious smile on her face responded, “you could have hired a nun. I wasn’t going to let you use me for free. And thanks to you, I will appear in some of the frames eventually.” With her white gloves she used both hands to adjust her hat.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

Elis, who sits to the right of Magdalene heard every word, she looked at the coffin before her with a tough face. Which looks normal for an event like this. She feels the alfa is acting too soft. Remembering what his mother had said earlier, she shakes her head and leaned her head forward, looked towards Neil.

The thing is, earlier in the day when asked by his aunt, if he is considering a Luna Neil had said yes. “Her name is Magdalene, gorgeous and learned. You will like her aunt” he told her. There on the ground floor hallway. As the two were smiling past some guests Brianna was spotted by Elis at the back by the pool. She is conversing with a lady from the fashion designer shop who has brought her dress for the day’s event. “Hey my dearest Bree” said Elis with a teary eye as she walked towards her. Brianna instantly began walking also towards Elis with glowing face that she always has in every situation. Elis didn’t make it to the vigil last night but had all her kids present.

‘My sweet Elis” she said with a shiver. The lady that’s with her walked towards a chair near the stainless steel pillar along the breadth of the pool. “I truly missed you last night” said Brianna. “you were on my mind throughout the day, the flight was delayed. I had a meeting with the top executives of the state and got to the airport early but things happen” replied Elis. She had come from Atlanta where she is an educator.

“I thought I saw Neil with you?” asked Brianna, she looking around. Elis laughed, “He is, look at him with the lady” she pointed towards him near the railings, “Is that Maggie?” she enquired from his mother. Brianna face changed “hmm?”

“Maggie, it’s the name he called his soon to be Luna”

“ridiculous” Brianna scuffed.

“Why?” asked Elis.

“Neil is lying. The two must have broken up. That’s not Maggie. That’s Venus from the fashion house”

“Hmm, interesting” altered Elis who is now walking along the length of the pool.

Neil, seeing the two ladies coming in his direction got up from the chair. Venus also, she bowed “I will be going now Miss Bree” she stated. “Thank you, Venus. Have a good day” said Brianna who faced Venus then looked towards Elis who puts on a face that says ‘seriously?’ in every way. Brianna quickly gestured her left arm to the young lady “how about dinner tomorrow? Would like to have some new samples for next month gala” she said with an affable smile. “Okay mam, I will be here around seven, thank you” responded Venus as she walked away.

“So, you lied about Maggie” Elis without excitation said to Neil. He laughed “how so? Mum always makes her own conclusions”.

Brianna picked the box of her dress, “ah, you smooth criminal. She broke up with him last night at the beach. He returned to the wake keep looking all worn out like a busted tire” said Brianna with a laughter. “I never liked his choices in women, the last one before Magdalene works in a strip club, she added. Elis had her moth wide opened at the statement. Neil looked at her, then at his mother angrily. “Mum, but you know she is not a stripper, she is the manager of the place” he protested and turned away from them mumbling to himself as he goes.

The two ladies stood facing each other, Elis began “He is the alpha now, he is in a face of adjusting to his new role”, “True, he just has to be decisive. I want him to have a Luna for his own good. Someone that belong to a formidable park most likely,” said Brianna.

At the funeral, the crowd rose as the choir had begun singing. Neil, looked carefree towards Magdalene now, and whispers “Why are you so adorable? You have managed to damage my confidence today”. Magdalene laughed a bit loudly, after all, anyone could barely hear them over the sound of the music. Neil is feeling the chemistry, in his mind she is still his girl. Hopefully he might use the moment to get her back to himself. So, been overtly convinced she is still playing her part, Neil attempts to place a hand on her waist. Touching her curves and moving the hand down, when Elis hits him with her shoulder, “focus” she admonished him.