Chapter 467
Four hundred and sixty nine
Veronica POV
I woke up feeling strangely heavy, as though I’d barely slept at all. I lay there for a while, staring at the ceiling, waiting for the feeling to pass. It didn’t. Instead, my eyes began to sting, and before I could make sense of why I was crying, the truth settled in.
Zachary was dead.
I tried not to mourn him. After everything he had done to me, from locking me in that attic to stripping my dignity and letting his mistress degrade me, I told myself I shouldn’t waste a single tear on him. But I couldn’t help it.
My son’s father was dead, and now I would be raising Jake alone.
Maybe the grief wouldn’t have hit me so hard if I hadn’t gone to the estate two days ago and seen him lying on that bed, emaciated and hollow-cheeked, a shadow of the man he once was. Maybe then I could have stayed numb.
“Vee p>
Haley stepped into the bedroom carrying a tray with a mug of tea. She set it on the nightstand and sat on the edge of the
mattress.
“I’m fine,” I rasped, wiping my eyes with the back of my hand.
Haley sighed. “You’re not fine, Vee, and that’s weird to me. If someone had to pay for that dark magic, who else could it have been? Should it have been you, or Jake, or Alexander, who was innocent all these years p>
“I’m not saying Zachary didn’t deserve consequences,” I said. “I know what he did. But he was ignorant. He never asked his mother to bind him to a cult as a child. He didn’t even know his whole life was a lie p>
Haley shook her head. “I’m sorry, but I feel nothing p>
She stopped speaking, but from the defiance in her gaze, I knew she wanted me to feel the same nonchalance.
“That bitch Mina just vanished,” she huffed. “She hasn’t been caught yet, which makes me wonder if Meridian will ever truly be defeated. Zachary’s guards have vowed to kill her on sight. I hope they find her. She’s the one who deserves death p>
We went out to the stone patio and leaned against the railing as the cool breeze swept through the pines.
Haley watched me with a growing smile.
“Spit it out,” I mumbled, not in the mood for jokes.
“What about that hottie, Alpha Charlie p>
I shot her a sharp look. “What about him? I am literally preparing to go to my ex-husband’s funeral tomorrow, and you’re asking me about Charlie p>
Haley rolled her eyes. “Please, Vee. As if you and Zachary were happily married p>
“It’s not about loving Zachary or missing him as a husband,” I said, wondering why it was hard for her to understand. “He was the father of my child. I’m allowed to feel upset about how it all ended p>
“That doesn’t mean you should let grief blind you,” Haley insisted, leaning closer. “Charlie is a catch, Vee. He’s powerful, he can protect you, and you two clearly have chemistry. Imagine Jake having Charlie as a father figure. That’s a massive upgrade for your son. You need to get serious with him p>
She had a point, but I shook my head.
“I just want things to happen naturally. No rushing p>
As if on cue, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out and saw Charlie’s name on the screen.
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Haley smirked and nudged my arm. “Speak of the devil p>
I swatted her arm away and stepped down the patio stairs.
“Hello p>
“Hey, Veronica. I just wanted to check if you were doing all right p>
“I’m holding up,” I answered, leaning against a pillar. “Grief has a strange way of showing up when you least expect it p>
“That’s completely normal. It would be strange if you didn’t feel anything, regardless of what he put you through. You’re human. I also can’t believe my friend’s life was cut short p>
“Haley thinks I’m being ridiculous,” I said.
Charlie chuckled.
“Haley is looking out for you in her own way. The funeral is tomorrow. If it gets to be too much, you have every right to step away. Nobody will blame you for leaving p>
“Why so soon?” I asked, stunned.
“The tribunal wants to make sure no Meridian loyalists tamper with Zachary’s body. They’re burying him in the family plot beside his father p>
“Thank you, Charlie,” I said. “You’ve been the support I never knew I needed. Zachary would be so glad you’re looking out for
him
“You don’t have to keep thanking me,” he replied. “Instead, maybe you’ll let me take you out to dinner after the funeral p>
I paused, feeling a flutter in my chest.
“Only at your own pace,” he assured me. “No pressure p>
“Okay,” I said with a smile. “Dinner p>
The next morning was gray.
I stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the collar of my black dress. Jake ran into the room and looked at me from head to foot.
“Mommy,” he said, tilting his head with the curiosity of a three-year-old “Why are we wearing black today? Are we going to be ninjas p>
A laugh escaped me despite my mood. The poor boy didn’t realize what was happening.
“No, sweetie. Not today p>
I left Jake with Haley, who was taking him to stay with my mother for the day. I hugged him one last time and told him I loved him before stepping outside to the waiting car.
The guard drove me straight to Iron Wells.
The family burial ground sat on a ridge lined with trees, away from the main estate house. Several pack leaders and council representatives had already gathered near the freshly dug grave.
I didn’t join the crowd right away. Instead, I stood beneath an oak tree near the perimeter, keeping my distance.
Footsteps crunched against the grass beside me. I turned and looked up at the man standing there.
I blinked in surprise. The last time I had seen Alexander, he was barely alive. Now he looked strong and composed. If not for his intense blue eyes, I might not have recognized him.
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1 gathered myself and offered a smile.
“You look great p>
His smile was faint. “Looking great cost someone his life p>
“Don’t blame yourself. I heard the whole story It wasn’t your fault p>
Alexander looked toward the grave.
“It’s a good thing you found a way to forgive him. Holding on to resentment toward a dead man will only hurt you p>
He was right.
“The scars he left will stay with me, even if they fade,” I said. “But I have to move on p>
“Come on,” Alexander said, gesturing toward the group. “We should join them.
We walked toward the burial plot together. I spotted Charlie standing near the front of the crowd. The moment he saw Alexander walking beside me, his eyebrows drew together in a scowl.
Alexander scoffed.
“I’d better move to the other side of the grave,” he muttered, leaning toward me. “Before someone kills me with a glance p>
I looked between the two men, wondering what had caused the rift.
The service was short. As Zachary’s casket was lowered into the ground, Charlie stepped beside me and reached for my hand, lacing his fingers through mine.
I squeezed his hand and leaned against him as the reality sank in.
Zachary was six feet under.
It was over.
“There has to be something we can do to end Meridian permanently,” I whispered, staring at the grave. “What if Mina strikes back p>
“She won’t get close to you,” Charlie said.
“It’s not just about me,” I insisted, looking up at him. “What about other families? What about our children? What if this dark magic resurfaces years from now p>
“Then we’ll protect them as best we can,” Charlie replied, stroking the back of my hand with his thumb. “We stay vigilant p>
After the burial, Charlie led me down the path toward the main courtyard, where his father, Alpha Kieran, stood beside a town
car.
Alpha Kieran turned and smiled as we approached.
“Veronica. I’ve heard so many wonderful things about you p>
My cheeks warmed. I glanced at Charlie, wondering what he had been telling his father about me.
Alexander walked past us a moment later and stopped to exchange a few words with Alpha Kieran. I caught his eye and nodded.
“Congratulations in advance on reclaiming your rightful place, Alpha,” I said. “I assume I’ll be receiving an invitation to the coronation p>
Alexander smiled. “Of course, Veronica. You’ll have a front-row seat p>
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Charlie cleared his throat and shifted his weight. Alexander gave him a glance before heading toward his vehicle.
That evening, Charlie took me to a restaurant on the edge of the territory, then invited me back to his house for drinks. The sadness of the funeral gradually eased as we talked and laughed. Our fingers brushed across the table, and his hand rested against my lower back as he led me inside.
By the time we reached his bedroom, my hesitation had faded. We made love, finding comfort in each other after the events of the past few months.
I woke the next morning to sunlight streaming through the blinds.
I shifted beneath the duvet and found the other side of the bed empty Charlie stood near the window, wearing pajama trousers with his shirt unbuttoned, his phone pressed to his ear.
I pulled the sheet up to my collarbone, suddenly self-conscious.
Charlie turned and caught me staring. He smiled.
“Give me just a second,” he murmured into the phone. “Mom, I’ll call you right back p>
He ended the call and walked back to the bed.
“Why are you hiding half your face beneath the sheet?” he asked, amused.
“God, do I look awful? Is it completely slutty to be in your bed the morning after my ex-husband was buried p>
Charlie burst out laughing and sat on the edge of the mattress. He pulled the sheet away from my face.
“He was your ex-husband, Veronica. And you aren’t slutty p>
“It feels so fast,” I mumbled, though I couldn’t suppress my smile.
“This wasn’t just some random encounter, Veronica,” Charlie said, leaning over me. “This is the first of many. Get used to it p>
He kissed me. I wrapped my arms around his neck, letting go of the guilt that had lingered since Zachary’s death, and settled against his chest.
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