The Werewolf King’s Mate
Chapter 81

Cory's

POV:

The kingdom was on the brink of ruin, but after a few days of tireless efforts, it was finally on the road to recovery. The people were overjoyed to see their beloved kingdom restored to its former glory. Imagine the joy and relief families felt when they finally reunited

and returned to the comfort of their own homes after the grueling war.

However, on this day, we take the time to honor and remember the loved ones we have lost. As I descended the stairs, I could feel the coldness of the atmosphere - silence and sobs filled the air. *Before the Present*

After Lucas brought me the news about Silas, he tracked down the others and informed me that it was safe to go out. Eventually, a group of guards arrived at the hideout and kindly ushered everyone outside. They made sure to assist each person with getting out safely and efficiently.

We ensured everyone felt alright by giving them a quick check-up to see if they were experiencing any aftershocks. I met everyone - Iris, Elias, Ellie, and Tommy - at the medical hub. Aside from Elias, who was also gravely injured, everyone was inflicted with a couple of bruises on their body. As I stepped into the medical center, my heart filled with relief as Iris and Ellie sprinted toward me, screaming my name and enveloping me in a warm embrace. "Cory!!"

"Iris! Ellie! Oh, my goddess! I'm glad you're here! How are you?"

"Oh, Cory! We were so worried. Are you OK? Is the pup hurt?" Ellie asked as she eyed me from head to toe, checking for any injuries.

"I'm OK. How about you? Elias and Tommy? Where are they?"

With a weary sigh, Iris began to speak,

"Elias was severely

injured. He had a broken arm and bruises on his face, torso, and legs. The doctors said that he could recover in a few days. If..if... had been a little late. I don't know what would have happened to him." As tears streamed down her face, her body shook with sobs. "I'm sorry, it's just that if something worse happened to him, I would regret how we parted.

I..."

"He's going to be OK, Iris. You had better makeup once he recovers, hm?"

"We will."

"How about Tommy?"

"You have nothing to worry about! He's doing well. I wouldn't call him my twin brother if he were that weak." Ellie, as usual, was doing her best to keep things light-hearted in this situation. "That's good to hear."

"But Cory, about Silas..."

"Lucas informed me before coming here." All of us felt dejected after bringing up Silas' name. Do they know? Did Lucas tell them about Lola? But before I could ask, we heard a loud crashing sound.

Curious, the three of us rushed inside to see what all the commotion was about. We could only catch a glimpse of the hospital bed partition and couldn't tell who was on the other side. We couldn't believe our ears as we drew closer - the unmistakable sound of Lucas's voice filled the room!

"You have to stay in bed! I understand your feelings, but you can't move your body yet!"

"Let go of me, Lucas! Let go! I need to see her. I need to confirm it with my own eyes." That voice - Silas. "Silas..."

"Please! I need to see it for myself... The bond could be wrong...Lola's not gone, right? Lucas, as my friend, I'm begging you." Ellie and Iris looked surprised at what they heard and immediately ran to where Lucas and Silas were.

"Wha-What do you mean Lola is gone?!" Iris was still trying to comprehend what she had heard.

"No! I do not accept this!" Silas refused to believe the truth until he laid eyes on Lola in person.

"Silas.." I quietly spoke. "I was there when it all happened."

As I recounted the events that took place in the hideout, I described the discovery and subsequent attack by the rogues, the intense battle that ensued, and the heartbreaking sacrifice made by Lola. The sudden hush that fell upon the room was deafening as if the air itself was holding its breath in anticipation.

"I wish to be left alone," Silas said, breaking the silence.

"Understood." Lucas nodded his head and signaled us to follow.

Ellie and Iris were going through a tough time, still trying to process everything that had happened. One of them was crying all day, unable to hold back the flood of emotions.

As the hours ticked by, Lucas couldn't help but worry about Silas' well-being. He kept a watchful eye on him, checking in occasionally to see how he was doing.

"He's just...there, staring at the ceiling." Lucas ran his hand on his face and let out a frustrated sigh.

"Let's give him more time. This is not easy," Iris said.

"Yeah, and *sob* you know what our ancestors said, losing your mate *sob* felt like losing half of your heart. *Sob* It will feel like you're dead as well." Ellie said in between cries.

We might not know how it felt back then, but through Silas, we understood what our ancestors were trying to say. Our hearts sank as we all gathered in the hospital corridor, unsure of how to help poor Silas. As the days went by, Silas remained motionless in his bed, his gaze fixed on the ceiling above. The rest were already discharged from the hospital and resting at home while Lucas was preparing for the funeral of everyone who had left this world. *The Present*

Lucas stood in the dias and faced everyone - the family and friends of the kingdom's heroes. I looked around, and my heart broke for the parents who lost their child, mates who lost their other half, and children who lost a parent. As for Silas, he was nowhere to be found in the crowd. He was discharged a couple of days ago, but he refused to show his face to anyone. He locked himself in their room and only opened the door for meals. Despite Lucas's best efforts to reach out, he found himself unable to connect with him, leaving him feeling frustrated and defeated.

"Today, we gather to honor and pay our respects to the brave soldiers who sacrificed their lives for our kingdom.

Let us bid them farewell and remember their heroic deeds that will forever be etched in our hearts. The battle between the witch and the rogues claimed the lives of some truly brave men and women. They fought valiantly. To the families and friends of these brave soldiers, we join you in honoring their ultimate sacrifice. Your loved ones will always be remembered with the utmost respect and gratitude. On behalf of the whole kingdom, I, Lucas Dacre, salute the soldiers. You gave your lives to fight and protect this land and people. You hold a special place in our hearts, and your memory will always live on."

As Lucas finished speaking, a solemn silence fell over the crowd. But, as soon as the caskets were lowered onto the ground, families and friends started crying and placing flowers on top of the coffin. We stood there and watched as the soldiers carefully covered each casket with soil. I didn't want to look, but I couldn't tear my eyes away from the scene. After the funeral, the King leads his people on a pack run up to the peak of the mountain. Lucas led the way, and we eagerly followed, our hearts pounding with excitement. As we reached the summit, we let out a collective howl to honor the fallen. I stared at the full moon and made my final goodbye to Lola.

Thank you, my dearest friend, Lola. You have been my light and support from when we were young. Without you, I might have never met Lucas and everyone else. I am here because of you. We will keep an eye on Silas, so rest in peace, my friend.

The air was thick as the howling died down, signaling the end of the ritual. As the day came to a close, each person made their way back to their humble abodes, taking in everything that happened today. We left the mountains with a heavy heart. As soon as we stepped in, our eyes fell on Silas sitting on the living room couch - quite an unexpected sight!

"Silas!" We all quickly approached him.

"We're glad you decided to come out of your room."

Silas remained silent, leaving me to wonder what was going on in his mind. We were all eagerly waiting for his response, but instead of saying anything, he just fixed us with a tight smile on his face. "Silas..."

"Lucas, I need to speak to you privately."

"Very well. Let's go to the study room."

The rest of us were left in the living room, wondering what Silas wanted to talk about. The night went on. We had a light dinner - soup and a loaf of bread - as everyone did not have an appetite after all the events. After a long and tiring day, everyone finally retired to their respective rooms to catch some rest-still, no words from Lucas or Silas. The night went deeper, and by the time I was almost drifting to sleep, I heard the door open. As soon as I turned to Lucas, his face caught my attention, and I could see the hint of sadness in his eyes. Curious, I asked him what was going on.

"Hey, your talk took longer than expected. How did it go? Is Silas alright?"

"Yes. We had a pleasant dinner together, and he has gone back to his room already."

"Is everything OK?"

Lucas breathed deeply and started to tell me what they talked about. I was in complete shock, but at the same time, I understood where Silas was coming from.

"So, you agreed to it? Is that why you looked sad?"

"Yes. I think this is what's best for him. And as his friend, I am willing to support him.

"I gave a nod to show that I agreed

Looking out the window, I saw the bright moon and the shining stars in the dark sky. It made me realize that the people in our lives are like the sun and moon. They leave when it is time but will always come back to signal new beginnings. I look forward to the time when we meet again.