BEASTLY INFERNO: 10

Thank you spirit mother for accepting their bodies and i know in you they will find peace'

~Alpha Dimitri

I broke out of my trance when I heard a scream. Whipping my head around, I saw Johanna struggling against the hold of two women who were trying to restrain her. She was frantic, her cries piercing through the silence of the lake. She clawed at the air, trying to break free, her eyes locked on the water as though it held the answer to her despair. Before she could do anything reckless, two men approached swiftly, taking over and leading her away. Her screams faded into muffled sobs as they disappeared into the distance.

"Come on, let's go," Tristan said sharply, grabbing my hand and pulling me toward his car. I followed wordlessly, too stunned to argue. The drive back to his house was quiet, the tension between us thick and unyielding.

As soon as we arrived, Tristan parked the car and got out, slamming the door behind him without so much as a glance in my direction. I blinked, startled by his abrupt departure, and sat frozen for a moment before stepping out myself. The house felt eerily quiet when I walked in, and Tristan was nowhere in sight. Frowning, I debated whether to look for him but decided against it. Instead, I settled on the plush couch in the parlor, my mind racing with unanswered questions.

Minutes passed in silence before I sensed movement. I looked up to find Tristan standing at the doorway, his damp hair clinging to his forehead, dressed in a black top and grey sweatpants. His eyes met mine briefly as he walked over and sat beside me. He said nothing, and the silence grew heavier with each passing second. Unable to take it anymore, I decided to speak.

"I'm sorry about your friend, Theodore," I said softly, breaking the quiet.

Tristan nodded and took a deep breath, his gaze fixed on some distant memory. "Theodore was my best friend," he began, his voice low and raw with emotion. "He was the nicest person I've ever known. But he wasn't strong, not like the rest of us. He was a late bloomer, and his wolf... his wolf was small, weaker than most. The pack members used to bully him for it."

He paused, his jaw tightening as he continued. "But Theo... he had a pure heart. He kept to himself most of the time, never wanted to cause trouble. Everything changed when the Alpha organized that trip to Canada. That's where he met Johanna, during one of his hikes. One look at her, and he was smitten. She was his mate, his everything. Even though she was human, she accepted him for who he was—wolf and all."

I listened intently, my heart aching at the fondness in his tone. Tristan's hands clenched into fists as his voice grew darker. "He was happier than I'd ever seen him at their wedding. And when Noah was born..." His voice broke, and he stood abruptly, pacing the room like a caged animal. "They didn't spare that baby," he spat, his voice trembling with barely contained rage. "They slaughtered him, a defenseless child. Death," he growled, "is only the beginning."

A chill ran down my spine as the air around us seemed to grow heavier. I swallowed hard, trying to focus. "What did Dimitri mean when he called Johanna's survival 'unfortunate'?" I asked hesitantly.

Tristan stopped pacing and turned to face me, his expression unreadable. "That's Alpha Dimitri to you," he corrected, his tone sharp. "You must always address him properly. It's a punishable offense not to."

I tensed, unsure if I had overstepped. "I mean... what did the Alpha mean by that?" I clarified, my voice barely above a whisper.

For the first time, I saw something akin to sadness flicker across Tristan's face. "When wolves mate, it's for life. Their spirits are bonded, even in death. But for their souls to reunite in the afterlife, they both have to die of natural causes. If one dies prematurely, the gateway closes." He paused, his voice lowering. "Johanna is human. She can't be with them now—not in this life, and not in the afterlife. It's the cruelest punishment."

My heart sank at his words. "So... what happens to her?"

Tristan's shoulders sagged. "When she dies, her spirit won't cross over. It will float, lost. In human terms, she'll become a wandering soul, neither here nor there. A walking dead."

A shiver ran down my spine. "That's horrible," I murmured. "Surely, there's something you can do... someone who can change the rules?"

He shook his head. "No one can. The rules were made long ago by someone far more powerful than us. Lord Raven," he said, his voice heavy with disdain. "He set those rules to punish two lovers who betrayed him, and he won't change them for anyone."

I sat there in stunned silence, my mind spinning. Before I could respond, a knock at the door interrupted us. Tristan went to answer it, and I braced myself for more bad news.

"Beta Tristan," the man at the door greeted with a bow. "What is it?" Tristan asked curtly.

The man hesitated before delivering the blow. "Mrs. Johanna has passed away. She was found in the storeroom... she used a knife to..." He trailed off, unable to finish.

My heart broke at the revelation. Johanna's grief had consumed her completely.

Tristan nodded solemnly. "Her body?"

"It's been transported. She'll be buried in the human burial site."

Tristan dismissed the man and locked the door behind him. I watched him warily as he returned to the couch. "You're not going?" I asked softly.

"She'll be buried in human lands," he replied simply, his tone devoid of emotion.

He sank into the couch, and after a moment, he looked at me. "Are you tired?" he asked.

I shook my head, but before I could say anything, he scooped me up effortlessly and pulled me onto his lap. His hand rested on my waist as he leaned back, his chest firm against me. "My parents..." he started, but he didn't finish the sentence. Instead, he turned me to face him, his eyes searching mine before he leaned in and kissed me. It was brief, but it left me breathless.

When he pulled away, he set me on my feet. "You're tired," he said softly. "Go take a nap."

It wasn't a suggestion but a command, and for once, I didn't argue. Emotionally drained, I trudged to my room and collapsed onto the bed. The weight of the day bore down on me, and I couldn't hold back the tears. I missed Ellie. I missed the comfort of normalcy. As my eyes closed, exhaustion claimed me.

In the hazy realm between wakefulness and sleep, I felt warmth envelop me. I sank into the sensation, the steady rhythm of a heartbeat against my cheek. It felt safe, comforting, and I allowed myself to drift deeper into that solace.