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 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 my mother died. “I won’t marry you, Talon,” I said, shaking off his hand.
He stood there in stunned silence as I walked away. Knowing that he was about to lose me, Talon took out his phone and 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?"
"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.