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I remained by her grave until it got dark. On my way back to Talon’s mansion, saw them–Talon and Lily. He was supporting her fragile form, and in Lily’s hands, she cradled a small urn.
“It’s close to my home, Talon,” she whispered, her voice frail. “If I bury him here, it’s like he’ll never be far from
- me.
The urn held the ashes of a small dog–a pet she had adopted a while ago. Seeing them together, a deep ache settled in my chest. I tried to walk past them unnoticed, but Talon’s sharp eyes caught me immediately. His expression soured.
“Sloane, are you following me?” he asked, his tone irritated. His accusing gaze burned into me. How could he not
understand why I was here?
Lily stepped forward, her voice as soft ast
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ever. “Sloane, my son died. Talon stayed to help me with the burial. Please don’t misunderstand.” Her words were sweet, but her eyes held the same smugness I had always known.
“Oh, you’ve got yourself a truly loyal mate,” I muttered.
Talon’s frown deepened. “Sloane, show some sympathy. Lily’s been through a lot. You don’t need to make this harder.”
I had no more energy to argue. My mother was dead. I had no patience left for them.
“It’s not necessary. I’ll be leaving now.”
I walked past them, ignoring the confusion. on Talon’s face. But he wasn’t done with me yet. He rushed after me, grabbing my arm. “Are you still upset about the ceremony?” His voice was casual, like it was no big deal that he had failed to show up for our union.
“I don’t care anymore, Talon,” I said
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coldly.
He sighed, exasperated. “Lily needed me. I couldn’t leave her alone when her dog died. But your mother will forgive me, right? Tell her I’m sorry, and we can set a new date for the ceremony.”
I stopped in my tracks. The Alpha of the Nightclaw, the one I’d given seven years. of my life to, didn’t even know my mother had passed.
“There’s no chance,” I said, my voice. barely above a whisper.
Talon reached for me again. “I was wrong. But your mother treated me like her own son. She’ll understand. Let’s just reschedule the union. It’s not too late.”
But it was. It had been too late the moment mother died. “I won‘ t marry you, Talon,” I said, shaking off his hand.
my
He stood there in stunned silence as I
walked away. Knowing that he was about to lose me, Talon took out his phone and
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called his Beta.
“Nico, help me apologize to Sloane‘ ‘s mother, and tell her that I will give Natalie a grand wedding in two days. Send her soem gifts to sooth her.”
Before I leave the cemetery gate, the call came in–someone was digging up my mother’s grave! I turned on my heel and sprinted back toward her grave. Before my mother passed, she made me promise not to engrave her tombstone with words of sorrow but with, “May my daughter live a safe and happy life.” That was her only.
wish.
As I get close to the gravesite, I saw Lily and Talon again. Two of the Nightclaw‘ s pack scout were burying the dog Lily called her ‘son‘ in my mother’s gravesite. My mother‘ s urn had been carelessly cast aside.
“What do you think you’re doing?” I yelled, and rushed toward them. “Who told you to desecrate her grave?”
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“Oh, Sloane, this is where I chose to lay my son to rest. The cemetery manager was notified. I saw the engraving, and it touched me. Such a loving message from a mother. I thought it appropriate for my son to have such a peaceful place.” Lily smiled softly, but her words meant the opposite. “I’ll compensate the family–surely they won’t mind. Why are you looking at me like that?”
I ignored her and grabbed the nearest shovel and began digging frantically, undoing the damage they had done.
“Sloane, stop!” Talon‘ s commanding tone. cut through the chaos as he tore the shovel from my hands.
“How could you, Talon?” I screamed, shoving him away and falling to my knees, clawing at the freshly packed earth with my bare hands.
“Stop her! Oh my, my poor son,” Lily gave signal to the two pack‘ s scout with them earlier.
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Before I could even think of a retort, they grabbed me, and pinned me down.
“Apologize, Sloane,” Talon commanded, hist voice low and dangerous.
“Never!”
Lily desecrated my mother’s grave just to bury her dog, and the thought of it made me want to rip her apart.
“Talon, you’ve always said she’s a good girl. But I think she’s only pretending to be sweet in front of you. You saw how unhinged she was just now. If you actually marry her, you’ll be the laughingstock of everyone in the pack.”
“Who would dare laugh at me and my woman?” Talon‘ response clearly irked Lily, but she didn’t let it show–deception was her specialty.
Talon then turned to me, his expression hard. “Slone, I can’t believe you‘ re
acting out over a grave. I expected better from you. Just apologize to Lily, and maybe
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I’ll consider forgiving you.”
“What if I won‘ t?”
I clenched my jaw, refusing to back down.
