赤裸裸的滑稽故事

Summer’s gates were open.

By now, the story of what had happened to Alpha Caleb had spread far and wide. Wolves from all over the territories had come to honor him. Even some from outside the territories.

For several days before the vigil was scheduled to be held, leaders from every pack arrived. Burning Ember and Broken Crag were two of the first to arrive. Both Sofia and Landon wished to offer their help in any way they could.

Winter arrived the day before the vigil. Corrine immediately joined in the final preparations, attempting to send Fiona away to rest.

Fiona insisted that she would handle everything until the final moments. It was clear to anyone that she was worn out and had likely slept only a few hours in the two weeks leading up to the vigil.

Fiona was placing the last decorations in one of the halls when Corrine saw her slip and almost fall. She rushed to her side. But Fiona pushed her away, insisting that she was okay.

“Fiona,” Corrine called to her gently. “Please, you have done enough. You need rest before tomorrow.”

“I am fine, Corrine,” Fiona insisted with a growl. “This is for my son. After what he did for the rest of us, I can at least do this much!”

Corrine took a deep breath. She was about to try again when someone stepped between them.

Fiona felt a firm hand on her arm. She turned with surprise to see Alpha Landon standing beside her. He gave a soft smile and gently pulled her away.

“Thank you, Luna Corrine,” he said with a nod as he moved past her. “I will escort Luna Fiona to rest.”

Corrine smiled and nodded.

“What are you doing?!” Fiona shouted when they had gotten down the hall away from prying eyes, and she had finally gotten past her initial confusion.

She tugged her arm away from his grip and stared back angrily.

Landon looked at her silently and then tilted his head just slightly.

“You are a strong woman,” he said, his eyes moving down to her leg. “You have faced the weakness of your body and made yourself even stronger to move past it.”

Fiona clenched her jaw. She had made great strides in rebuilding the strength in her leg since her accident. Now she hardly ever had to use the cane to get around. She took pride in that, but what right did he have to comment?

“Finding strength from our weakness is a core belief of Broken Crag,” he continued lifting his gaze to her once more.

“Yes,” she sighed with annoyance. “I’ve heard all the speeches. I don’t particularly care about your opinion of my recovery. I want to know why you dare to interfere with my son’s vigil!”

Fiona growled angrily; Landon did not react.

“I do not interfere with Alpha Caleb’s vigil. I honor and respect him. He was a great man,” Landon replied.

“Yes, he was,” Fiona said, still angry. She turned away and began to leave. “And that is why I will ensure he is honored properly.”

She took only a few steps before the pain in her leg shot through her like a bolt of lightning. Fiona fell forward with a groan, and to her surprise, she did not hit the ground but was instead caught by a pair of strong arms.

He kept her from falling but held her in place, preventing her from moving away from him. Landon leaned forward, bringing his mouth to her ear as he held her tightly.

“True strength comes not just from overcoming your weakness,” his warm breath whispered against her ear, “but from accepting your limitations as well.”

Fiona felt a warmth flow through her body at the heat in his words, followed almost immediately by the rage of her wounded pride.

“Let go of me,” she growled. “Now.”

Landon let out a soft chuckle and pulled her back to stand upright before slowly removing his arms around her waist.

Fiona moved away from him, catching herself against the wall as the pain in her leg flared again.

She clenched her jaw and took a deep breath through her nose.

“I didn’t know him well,” Landon said gently, “but I do not believe that Alpha Caleb was a man that would feel honored by your pain.”

Fiona closed her eyes and pressed her forehead against the cold wall. She thought she was past this point. Months ago, she had accepted the loss of her son. She had cried for him, mourned him.

But something had changed after the phone call with Ashleigh two weeks ago.

Fiona had thrown herself into the planning and preparation of the vigil. Doing as much of it on her own as possible to keep her mind occupied.

She knew she was wearing herself down, but she hoped that if she could just get through the vigil, she would be able to let go of this cold emptiness in her stomach and the painful grip around her heart.

‘I’ll be there.’

That was all Ashleigh had said. She didn’t fight or argue. She didn’t insist on being given more time. She just accepted it.

Fiona took another deep breath, letting her shoulders sag as she exhaled. Had she been holding on to some hope that Ashleigh would find him? That she would bring him back and this day would never come?

Fiona took in a shaky breath. The pain in her chest was suddenly far greater than that of her leg.

“Alpha Landon…” she whispered.

He took a step closer.

Fiona swallowed.

“It seems… I will need to take you up on your offer of an escort,” she said quietly, with a heavy sigh. “I am not sure I can walk back on my own.”

“It will be my privilege,” Landon replied quietly.

Fiona pulled her head back from the wall and nodded. She turned, intending to take his arm for support.

“What are you—!” Fiona cried out as she was suddenly lifted off the ground into Landon’s arms.

“Hold on to me,” he said, looking forward as he began to walk down the hall.

Fiona clenched her jaw in frustration, but she put her arms around his neck.

“This is inappropriate,” she said quietly. She looked away from him, biting her lip to hold back the tears that were fighting to fall from her eyes.

“Don’t hold yourself back, Luna Fiona,” he whispered. “My shoulder has the strength of a mountain, and your tears will not wear it down.”

Fiona shook her head with a gentle laugh.

“You are just like Jonas,” she sighed. “He always said ridiculous things too.”

Fiona took a deep breath, then laid her head on his shoulder, letting the tears fall.

Landon held her close, a soft smile on his lips as he carried her back to her room.