Omega's Rebirth-Chapter 897: Toast To Ease ()

The burial procession was modest but elaborate. A few Alphas had been assigned the task to properly send off the Rauls and all resources had been provided for the task to be carried out.

Neveah stood at the terrace, watching the procession below.

She had never thought there would come a day she would watch the people she’d called family laid to rest in such a manner.

Their cruelty considered, they had ruled the domain for decades. It was not an honour they deserved, but Neveah had thought it necessary.

She felt a presence approaching even before Kaideon called.

"Veah."

She didn’t need to glance over. Kaideon came to stand beside her, also peering down at the procession below.

The frost on his brows was an indication that he’d most likely spent the entire morning down in the ice chamber, as he often did these days, only venturing out to check on Neveah.

"Are you alright?" He asked, his tone just audible enough for her hearing.

She didn’t respond immediately, thinking over the question.

She wished more times than she could count for their deaths. For their souls to rot in whatever abyss lay beyond this realm of existence.

But now, she didn’t particularly feel any sense of gratification. She was relieved, yes.

She did feel much lighter, like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. But was it pleasant to watch and to know that she was the one who made it out at the end? That, she wasn’t sure of.

"I am." She confirmed,

Kaideon nodded slowly. "You know, it’s okay to feel some kind of way... seventeen years don’t just go away."

She knew that.

She’d spent more years with the Rauls than she had anywhere else. It had shaped a considerable part of her journey...of who she was.

And beyond that, Alessio was her mate. In an ideal world... things could have been different.

"I just..." She trailed off, contemplating her words, "I just don’t know what I’m supposed to feel."

"I should be jumping for joy. But I gave them a damned bejewelled casket." She murmured, "I must be losing it. To do any of this."

Kaideon chuckled quietly. "Maybe."

Neveah threw him a glare, but her lips twitched slightly. "I know how much you detest him. For all he did to...to Eira. To us. Am I doing this wrong?"

Kaideon’s expression was pained, but he shook his head. "You’ve done nothing wrong, precious."

"In your heart, you know what you truly need to do. You always have."

"It doesn’t matter if it’s not the result you expected, or envisioned before this moment. You can only tell in that exact moment, the path to take...to leave no regrets."

"No one has the right to determine what closure means to you. That’s entirely your prerogative."

She was quiet for a moment.

"Closure..." She murmured,

The word sounded completely foreign. Too far fetched.

She wasn’t certain she could ever get closure. There were still too many things she couldn’t understand. Too many words that had been left unsaid.

But if it was up to her, then she would get as close to it as possible.

____________

The scent of wine and fresh roast reached Neveah long before she arrived at the hall.

Vincent was waiting outside and his eyes lit up as she turned the corner. He quickly jogged over, but stopped short when Xenon came into view behind Neveah,

His eyes widened but he was quick to regain composure, inclining his head to a bow.

"We didn’t think you’d come." He admitted, chuckling awkwardly.

Neveah smiled slightly. The Eclipse Alphas were hosting a feast to officially announce the participants in the Alpha games, as well as move beyond the discord that still lingered between a few packs.

With the Rauls gone, it was imperative the domain posed a unified front. And alliances amongst shifters were fostered over food and drinks.

Colleen had sent over an invite. One Neveah had not planned to honour until the last moment.

"I didn’t think I would either." She muttered,

Vincent nodded in understanding, gesturing towards the hall where the sounds of laughter and music already echoed.

"Everyone will be delighted." He said, passing a look to Xenon who had barely spared a glance his way.

Neveah turned to him, "I think this is far enough. I’ll be back shortly."

Xenon’s brows furrowed slightly, visibly reluctant, but he nodded.

The tension between the Eclipse and Winter wolves was one thing. But that with the dragon lords was a whole other thing entirely.

Neveah had learnt it was much safer to keep both sides as far away from the other as possible.

She was already the reason the dragon lords had lingered this long, she hated the idea of causing any more conflict than what it already was.

Neveah followed Vincent’s lead to the hall. As they stepped in, the hall quietened almost instantly.

She didn’t pay any attention to it though, heading over to the table occupied by Alphas Dane and Lucas.

Colleen jumped to her feet, nearly knocking over the table as she hurriedly pulled Neveah into a hug. "We’re right under the same roof but it’s such a task to see you these days." She lamented,

Neveah laughed quietly. It was wise of them to stay away since the wing of the palace Neveah recuperated in was entirely occupied by dragon lords.

And they didn’t favour any of the Eclipse wolves any more than they did Alessio himself.

Greetings were quickly exchanged. Seating at the table was Lucas Varleston and his wife, Dane, Colleen, Vincent and a few others Neveah wasn’t familiar with.

"Veah, sit, sit." Dane gestured to a vacant seat at the table and she took it.

Vincent also sat next to her, handing her a goblet.

She took it, setting it down with a small smile.

"Right. You shouldn’t be drinking." Dane guessed, looking apologetic.

"It’s not a big deal." She dismissed, "I hear the contestants are to be announced. Tell me, is it acceptable that I anticipate an Alpha King from this table?"

Dane chuckles lowly, "That will be left to the young Varleston. I did not express interest."

Neveah raised a brow, "Oh?"

Dane shrugs, "Leen and I... we’re hoping to have easy days going forth. The pack is more than enough responsibility for me."

Easy days... 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

The words sounded foreign to Neveah’s ears. But she completely understood the desire for ease after all that had already happened.

"Very well. I’ll toast to that. I hope you both have simple days, easy smiles and light-hearted laughter." She lifted the goblet, a small smile on her lips.

Her gaze strayed to Lucas who tilted his head slightly. "May we speak? For a moment?"

She nodded once. Getting up to her feet.