A Gift from the Goddess

Chapter Fifty–Two It was another two days before Myra‘s funeral was held. 

The event was held outdoors and, though I tried my best to hide my more distinguishable features to not stand out, I still took precautions by keeping a distance from those attending anyway. I didn‘t want to face anyone, let alone speak to anyone on this day. 

Something easier said than done with the large turnout. 

So many people here had cared for and loved Myra; so many people that she had touched with her gentle nature. It ranged from family, teachers and even some of the older children who lived at the orphanage. And whilst I couldn‘t see them from where I stood at the back, I knew Aleric and Cai were in attendance somewhere too. 

So many people were grieving now just as I was... It was a difficult thing to come to terms with given I felt so responsible for taking her away from them. Was this how the families cried when I had killed innocents in my past life too? 

As the sun began to set, the funeral began. 

Werewolf ceremonies took place at night or as close to that as possible. This being so the Goddess, Selene, could witness. Not that she really cared or did anything to intervene anyway. 

In terms of funerals though, the time of day usually was set for when the final light would soon die. This was both for symbolic reasons, but also for the practical side that would allow us to bury our dead. without the need for torches. 

I went and took a seat in the back corner. However, in doing so, I made one mistake. As I spared a glance out towards the people around me, my eyes fell on a pair of golden ones staring right back. Eyes that I hadn‘t wanted to see. It had been just for a second, but that had been all that was needed. In just that one moment, I felt overwhelmed over how such a small, insignificant glance could say so much between two people. 

I quickly averted my eyes away in the hopes that it would be enough. Enough that he wouldn‘t want to come over and talk to me. Because I couldn‘t deal with that today. I couldn‘t handle anything else. Whatever had happened with Cai had been a mistake and I definitely wouldn‘t be addressing that now. 

Thankfully, it seemed as though Cai got the message as he didn‘t approach me. 

I kept my head down after that, trying to listen to the nominated Elder conducting the funeral. It was hardt o hear what they were saying though. I knew I needed to be here but it was increasingly becoming more difficult. Every breath was feeling harder to take than the last as the anxiety and pain inside me festered. 

Finally, once everything was over, I couldn‘t help but exhale sharply from relief. I stayed until almost everyone had left before I took the opportunity I needed, walking up to approach the coffin. 

I was grateful it was a closed casket since I didn‘t know what I would do had I‘d been forced to look upon her face once more, reliving the memories of when I‘d found her in the park. 

I placed a hand gently on the lid and closed my eyes. 

“I‘m so sorry, Myra,” I said quietly. 

Suddenly, I could feel the hand of someone touch my shoulder and I looked up quickly to see Myra‘s parents there. 

*Thank you for coming,‘ her mother told me. ‘We know our daughter loved you very much. It would mean a lot to her knowing that you came today.” 

i gulped, clenching my jaw for a second, and could feel a wave of nausea hit my stomach as I listened to them naively praise me. 

*I‘m sorry...,” I said weakly. 

They both smiled at me, clearly misunderstanding and thinking I was apologising for their loss in a general way. 

“Thank you, dear,” her mother said, gently grabbing my hands in hers tenderly. 

second before looking to Myra‘s father and nodding; both silently agreeing on

with you...,” she started slowly, unsure of herself. “Ah... Well, it

looked at me with large, hopeful eyes, full of such sadness and belief that I could maybe give their daughter one last final

thought to be true, what they had been raised to think, just as I had once stupidly believed myself in the past life. And I knew I

queasiness that told me not to do this and gently placed my hand back on Myra‘s coffin. It was all bullshit, I knew that... but

my throat before

Great Mother, Selene, our Goddess who gave us life and strength. We ask you today to

shouldn‘t be doing

her mother

Um, whose

once more in comfort

can‘t,” I whispered.

and started to walk quickly away from everyone remaining at the funeral, feeling a sensation

trees and bushes. It was perfect for what I was looking for. Without stopping, I immediately beelined towards it, throwing myself over the public trash bin as I purged the little contents

else was nearby as they leaned against a tree,

like shit, Aria,” they finally said bluntly, after

I replied feebly, turning my

walked over until he was standing next to me but I could tell he was leaving a distance between

he‘d noticed how his sudden show of affection the other day had only made me

be honest, if I hadn‘t just seen you throw up

at my mouth with the back

“I‘m fine.” 

he said with a tone of disapproval. “I was there that night, don‘t lie. I heard what you said. It‘s obvious what‘s going on when you put two and two together.”

you understand that much then you should be focusing the search to find the girl, Thea, not a

argued. “I’m talking about you blaming yourself

what I did!” I

responsible for leaving her alone with someone you‘re convinced killed her. But we don‘t have any evidence yet, Aria, so

responsible, Aleric!” I hissed.

each other, both of us with an intensity in

of someone clearing their throat, alerting us to

probably having caught the last part of our argument. “I‘m sorry to

turned our attention to the young warrior who stood before us. He looked terrified at having to b e the one to

taking a

description the Beta heir gave us. The girl Myra was

in my throat.

turned to look at me. “I believe so. A patrol team spotted her

right up to him and grabbed his jacket in my hands, my body moving on its own from disbelief.” Where? Where

grasp on him. “Oh.. um... South. She‘s south of town. Not far from

of the warrior and started walking towards the car