Chapter 2

      Janet's heart raced as she made her way towards the main Alpha palace. She had never been inside before, and the grandeur of it all left her awestruck. But her nervousness didn't stem from the architecture. Instead, it was the thought of seeing Oliver's father, Alpha James, who lay on his sick bed inside.When she finally reached his room, Janet's heart sank at the sight of him. He looked frail, his eyes barely open and his breaths coming in short gasps. She approached him slowly, unsure of what to say."Alpha James," she said softly, "it's Janet. I've come to visit you."Alpha James stirred slightly and turned his head towards her. But his gaze was distant, and Janet realized with a pang of sadness that he didn't recognize her."It's me, Janet," she repeated, a little louder this time. "I'm here to take care of you."Suddenly, Alpha James' eyes cleared, and he focused on her with a clarity that made Janet's heart skip a beat."Janet!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with warmth. "I've missed you, my dear. Come closer."Janet moved closer to his bed, taking his hand in hers. She could feel the coolness of his skin, and her heart ached at the thought of losing him.Alpha James smiled at her, and the lines on his face seemed to soften. "You know, Janet," he said, his voice barely above a whisper, "I always thought of you as my own daughter. Oliver was always so fond of you, and I can see why."Janet felt her eyes fill with tears at his words. She had always felt a strong connection to Alpha James, and hearing him say that he considered her a part of his family only strengthened that bond."Thank you, Alpha James," she said, her voice shaking slightly. "It means a lot to me."Alpha James nodded, his eyes closing briefly. "I'm afraid my time is running out," he said, his voice barely audible now. "But I'm glad you're here with me. Will you stay and take care of me until the end?"Janet squeezed his hand, her heart breaking at the thought of losing him. "Of course, Alpha James," she said, her voice firm. "I'll stay with you till the very end."For the next few days, Janet stayed by Alpha James' side, tending to his every need. She could see the life slowly draining out of him, but she refused to let go. She talked to him, telling him stories of her life and reminiscing about the good times they had shared.Despite his weakened state, Alpha James remained lucid, and their conversations were filled with warmth and love. Janet could see that he was at peace, and it gave her comfort to know that she had been there for him in his final moments.On the day of his passing, Janet was with him till the very end. As his breaths became shallower, she held his hand, tears streaming down her face. And when he finally took his last breath, she knew that a part of her had gone with him.But even in his death, Alpha James had left behind a legacy of love and warmth. And Janet knew that she would always cherish the memories of their time together, no matter how short it had been.Oliver was devastated by the passing of his father, Alpha James. He felt like he had lost a part of himself, and the weight of the responsibility of being the new alpha weighed heavily on his shoulders. He spent most of his time in his room, mourning and trying to come to terms with his new reality.Janet was by his side, offering him comfort and support. She had lost her own father years ago, and she knew how hard it could be to cope with such a loss. She listened to him as he talked about his father, sharing stories and memories of their time together.One day, Oliver decided to leave his room and join the rest of the pack in the main hall. He knew he couldn't hide away forever, and he needed the support of his pack to help him get through this difficult time.As he entered the hall, he was greeted by the rest of the pack members. They all looked sad and solemn, each of them feeling the weight of their loss in their own way.Oliver took a seat at the head of the table, and the rest of the pack members followed suit. Janet sat beside him, her hand on his shoulder, offering him a silent reminder of her presence.For a while, the room was silent. No one spoke, each lost in their own thoughts and memories of Alpha James. Finally, one of the pack members, a burly werewolf named Marcus, spoke up."I remember the time Alpha James took us on that hunting trip," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "We were all so young then, but he treated us like adults. He taught us so much about hunting and tracking, but he also taught us about life. He taught us to respect nature, to be grateful for what we have, and to always look out for each other."There were nods of agreement around the table, and then another pack member spoke up."I remember the time Alpha James saved my life," said Sarah, a young werewolf with bright green eyes. "I was just a pup then, and I got separated from my mother during a hunt. I was lost and scared, and I thought I was going to die. But then Alpha James found me, and he took care of me. He didn't have to do that, but he did. And I will never forget it."The pack members continued to share their memories of Alpha James, each story more touching than the last. Oliver listened intently, tears streaming down his face as he heard how much his father had meant to his pack.Finally, Janet spoke up. "Alpha James was more than just a leader to this pack," she said, her voice soft but strong. "He was a friend, a mentor, and a father figure to all of us. He taught us how to be strong, how to be brave, and how to be loyal. And even though he is gone, his legacy lives on in all of us."There was a moment of silence, and then Marcus spoke again. "We will honor his memory," he said, his voice firm. "We will continue to uphold the values he taught us, and we will make him proud. That is the best way to honor him."The rest of the pack nodded in agreement, and Oliver wiped away his tears. He felt a sense of pride and gratitude for the pack members he led, and he knew that they would get through this difficult time together.As the meeting ended, the pack members hugged each other and offered their condolences to Oliver. He felt a sense of relief and hope, knowing that he had the support and love of his pack behind him. Together, they would honor the memory of Alpha James and continue to thrive as a pack. Later that night, the Alpha Pack members gathered together in the clearing outside the pack house. They were all somber and silent, still mourning the loss of their beloved Alpha, James. Oliver stood at the center of the group, his shoulders slumped and his eyes downcast."Alright, everyone," he said finally, breaking the heavy silence. "We need to start planning the burial for my father."There was a murmured agreement from the group, and they began to shuffle closer to Oliver."What kind of ceremony do you want to have?" asked one of the pack members."I want it to be big and memorable," Oliver replied firmly. "My father was an incredible leader, and he deserves a send-off that reflects that."Janet stepped forward and placed a hand on Oliver's arm. "We'll help you make it special," she said softly.Oliver looked at her, gratitude written all over his face. "Thank you, Janet. I couldn't do this without you."The group began to brainstorm ideas for the burial. They talked about music, decorations, and rituals that they could include. One pack member suggested a traditional howling ceremony, while another suggested a feast in honor of the late Alpha.Oliver listened intently to each suggestion, nodding his head thoughtfully. Finally, he spoke up. "I like all of these ideas," he said. "But I want to do something that's never been done before. Something that will truly honor my father's legacy."The group fell silent, waiting for Oliver to continue. He took a deep breath before speaking again. "I want to release a pack of doves during the ceremony. Each dove will represent a year of my father's life, and they'll all fly away together, symbolizing his journey to the afterlife."The group was stunned by Oliver's suggestion, but they all agreed that it was a beautiful and fitting tribute to the late Alpha.Over the next few days, the pack worked tirelessly to prepare for the burial. They set up a large tent in the clearing, decorated with flowers and colorful banners. They cooked a massive feast, with plenty of meat and vegetables to feed everyone in attendance.As the day of the burial arrived, the pack members gathered in the tent, dressed in their finest clothing. Janet stood at Oliver's side, offering him comfort and support.The ceremony began with a traditional howling ritual, each pack member adding their voice to the chorus. Then, Oliver stepped forward, holding a cage filled with the doves.He spoke briefly about his father's life and legacy, before opening the cage and letting the birds fly free. The doves soared into the sky, their wings beating in unison as they circled overhead.The pack members watched in awe as the birds disappeared into the clouds, their spirits lifting with the knowledge that their Alpha was now at peace.The feast that followed was lively and joyous, a celebration of James' life and legacy. Oliver smiled through his tears, grateful for the support of his pack members and for the memory of his father that would always be with him.