23 Twenty three

Warm water poured down on my weak body as I cried in the shower. Nothing like a good ol' shower to get you prepared for your brother's funeral right?

I didn't think I would ever lose my brother. I didnt even know what I was gonna do after this. I mean, for my almost my whole life I've been following my brother around and he's taken care of me, he was my father figure.

I suppose I'd stay with Carter and possibly become.. more with him. After I kill the man that brutally murdered my brother, of course.

After I finished cleaning myself and stopped crying, I got out of the shower and threw on some clothes I found in the closet and walked outside my room. I was taken aback by the herd of kids running past my room, kicking a soccer ball. The last one to run by stopped in front of me and smiled, scratching the back of his head, "sorry miss! Good morning!"

I smiled back to him and nodded. "It's all right. I had my fair share of sports when I was younger too."

He lifted his eyebrows and crossed his arms, "really? Do you think you could beat me though?" He smirked. Before I could reply I was beaten to it by a voice I knew all too well.

"She probably can't, but I sure as hell can, pup." Carter walked next to me and wrapped his arm around my waist as if he's done it a million times. I'd never get used to it.

"Pup? Come on Carter I'm only a few years away from shifting! Did I tell you that I sensed my wolfs presence in my mind yesterday?!" The boy replied

A smile spread on Carter's face, "really? It appears the little pup is growing up. But will he ever be as strong as me?" Carter brought his arm up and flexed it, making us all laugh.

Carter made me feel at home and for a spilt second I forgot why I was even here. I slipped into my thoughts and my mind could only focus on my past mate. I could see partial parts of memories with him flooding back in my mind, but it was as if his face was blurred out from them permanently.

A small voice echoed in the back of my head, it was saying my name.

"Madison.." the voice sounded sad, and weak. Could this have been my mate trying to contact me from whatever was left from our bond?

All of a sudden I was brought out of my thoughts from Carter shaking me. He was now standing in front of me with a worried look on his face.

"Are you okay? What happened?" He worriedly asked.

I nodded and looked down for a spilt second. "I'm fine. I just spaced out… can we go plan my brother's funeral now? I want to start now…"

Carter rubbed my shoulders and brought me in for a tight hug. For some strange reason he knew exactly what I needed at the exact time. I slowly wrapped my arms around him and fell deep into his comforting arms.

We had to have been there for at least five minutes. Just enjoying each other's warmth.

Eventually I let go and sighed. "Feel better?" He asked. I nodded and we intertwined hands before walking outside of the pack house. The funeral was going to be held a little further up from the pack-house in the woods. It was near the dandelion field. I vividly remembered it.

There were at least 10 pack members already setting up the decorations and placing the seating for the soon arriving guests.

As I scanned the area my eyes zoned in on one girl.

Isabella.

Anger filled me. How dare she come here to plan MY brother's funeral? She has no right! I marched up to her and before I could get to her she spun around and her green eyes met mine. They were puffy and I could tell she had just finished crying not too long ago.

Ever since Isabella betrayed me when we were young I have never gone easy on her. I blamed her for years and never stopped to consider that what she was doing was for love.

She was in love with Joseph and now she's here to attend to him, even after he has passed. We stared at each other and I walked closer and spoke up. "Isabella.. hey.."

She wiped her eyes and a small smile formed on her lips, "Madison. I haven't seen you in awhile… how are you?"

I scratched the back of my neck. To be honest? Terrible, I'm a wreck.

"I'm holding up." I replied, "and you?"

She nodded. "Same. Look, I just want to apologize again for betraying you in order to get to Joseph. He was- he was my mate and I.. I couldn't help myself," she took a deep breath to refrain from crying, "you were my best friend and I never wanted to hurt you. Could we move past from this? Please? I need my best friend."

I quickly engulfed her in a hug and allowed her to cry on my shoulder. I knew that Joseph and Isabella were close but I never knew they were mated. His death had to have affected her ten times the amount it did me… I've been such a selfish asshole, trying to separate my brother and his mate.

"I'm so sorry Isabella. For everything, seriously."

She shook her head and sniffed. "It's my fault truly, I should've been honest. Joseph wanted to tell you sooner but I was too nervous. I didn't want to hurt you and that's what I ended up doing."

"No more secrets okay?" I clarified. She pulled back and nodded, agreeing. "I have one last.. secret."

Oh God, what could it be now.

"I'm pregnant.. with Joseph's baby." She stated with a small smile on her lips. She moved her hand to his stomach and rubbed it gently.

My eyes widened and I looked down at her. "Pregnant?"

She smiled even harder and replied, "yes. It's been the only thing keeping me alive after Joseph… died. I found out one week ago and I was prepared to tell him until I was told that, that asshole of an alpha murderer him." She clenched her fists and took a deep breath.

"What alpha? What is his name?" I sternly asked. Here was the moment. I was going to finally figure out who killed my brother, so I can seek out revenge.

"Alpha Asher." She replied.

There was that name again. Carter asked me about him but it was like he was completely wiped from my memory. He stated that we were close.

Then it clicked. I completely forgot about my mate and I also forgot about Asher and Carter kept asking about him and I as if we were a couple. At that exact moment it was as if all the memories of him came back to me. I could see his face, I remembered every moment I spoke to him.

Asher killed my brother.

And he was going to pay for it.