The Merciless Alpha(erotica)

“Greatest movie of all time,” I said. “Tomorrow, I’ll lay out the options to Susan Miller and we’ll see if Todd will be a stand-up guy for his family or not.” Our meeting broke up and we went to bed early; tomorrow was going to be draining.

The FBI might think the threat was over, but I knew better. Luna Brenda was still out there, and I hadn’t heard back from my brother. He might even be dead by now.

Breakfast started at six and was unusually quiet. Brent, Mike, Anita, Liv and I were leaving for the church early to set up the memorial tables and make sure security was set. The rest of the Pack and our allies from would caravan from my house, making sure Sharkbait stayed safe. Alpha Doug and Luna Jennie were bringing every warrior from the Winona Pack up in a show of force.

Liv had found some things in the boxes she had packed, but she needed to stop by her apartment to get the rest of her grandmother’s items. I waited in her Acura while she and Anita got what they needed, with Mike and Brent covering the front and back of the apartment. Fifteen minutes later, she put a box in the rear and we were on our way.

The funeral home had worked with the Pastor at Crossroads Church before and would be bringing the cremated remains in at seven-thirty for a private family viewing. Liv had done a lot of planning with the church over Skype, and volunteers would be there to help out. The main hall where the service would take place had a raised stage; on the screens, photographs from her life would be shown on a loop. They left a lectern in the center of the stage, and the girls set up Natalie’s photos and awards from her teaching career.

In the common area outside the hall, the kitchen was getting ready to serve coffee and snacks. I parked my scooter near the front door, waiting for the arrival of the remains. Natalie had been cremated two days ago, and Liv could not attend due to her shift. The parade of cars showed up shortly after the setup completed, and the wolves spread out to make sure it was safe before Vicki was escorted in. She went into the offices with her Mom to wait. When the hearse pulled up out front, I called for them to come out.

I knew a talented woodworker in St. Paul who specialized in cremation urns, and I’d given Liv the Nelson Woodworks website. She worked with him to design what she wanted; it was a solid cherry chest, with Natalie’s wedding photograph laser-engraved on the top. Liv had given her grandfather’s ashes to the funeral home, and they placed her remains in the large box with her late husband.

The funeral home director waited until Liv and Vicki were ready, then he placed the chest on a cart and rolled it in. Liv was crying and holding on to Vicki’s hand while her other hand stayed in contact with the chest. No one said anything as the vessel was moved into the sanctuary and placed in front of the lectern.

The pastor led a prayer for the family, and we all had places reserved in the front row. I sat next to Vicki, while Brent had the other side of Liv. Larry and Donna, and Alpha Doug and Luna Jennie were in the same row. We had people throughout the room and at all the exits before public viewing began at eight.

As soon as the doors opened, the parade of mourners began. Natalie’s long teaching career was remembered by coworkers and students alike. I think Brent spent more time handing Liv Kleenex than anything else over the next two hours.NôvelDrama.Org owns © this.

A few minutes before the service was set to begin, Liv brought Vicki to the restroom. When she returned, she froze when she saw a couple in their forties in the front. The woman was on her knees, crying out, while her husband tried to pull her away. “Mom,” she cried out as she buried her face in his chest.

Liv waited until they had moved off to a seat in the back corner of the room before she came back to our row. “I can’t believe they had the gall to show up,” she sent.

“Your parents?”

“Yes.” I let our Pack know over the link what was going on so they could be watched, and Larry passed the same to all the Winona Pack members. The last thing we needed was for them to ruin this service.

The memorial service itself I barely noticed, as I was too busy watching Vicki and making sure she and her mother were all right. Her former principal and a coworker eulogized her before Liv stood to say her goodbye. She spoke about her grandmother’s endless love and compassion and what it had meant to her students and her family. “She was the best woman I’ve ever known, and now she’s gone. I love you and I miss you, Grandma.” She put her hand on the urn one last time as the pastor helped her off the stage. The service closed in prayer, and we were lead out first into the common area reception line.

I made sure the girls had food and drink available as they talked to people before they left. I didn’t notice Vicki had moved away at first, but I was relieved that Anita was following her. She walked across the room to where Liv’s parents sat, where Liv wouldn’t see them, and they didn’t have to look at her. “Link me what happens, and step in if you need to,” I told Anita over the bond.

Vicki went to stand in front of the couple, not saying anything until they looked up. Of course, they knew who she was, but they didn’t reach for her, no matter how much they wanted to. I could see a tear in Vicki’s eye as the little girl looked up at Liv’s mother. “Am I a bad girl?” Her grandmother didn’t even raise her eyes from her hands. “Why can’t you look at me?”

Her grandfather was shaking, and finally, her grandmother reached out her hand and touched Vicki’s face. “It’s complicated,” she said.

“My Grandma is gone, and you don’t love me,” she said. “I just want a Grandpa and Grandma!” Before they could respond, she turned and ran back to her mother. Liv glared at them as she picked her daughter up, holding her tight as she cried on their shoulder. “I’m sorry, Momma.”

“I’m not,” Liv said. “I have you and the rest of our family. I regret doing some things, but I’ll never regret having you. I love you, Sharkbait.”

“I love you, Mommy.” Neither of them noticed when the couple left quietly out the back door.