Chapter 0284

The doctor's words hit me like a thunderbolt. Seraphina was pregnant. My first thought was whether she'd known before the battle and kept it from me. Relief flooded through me when I learned she'd only discovered it after that strange encounter with Gregory, who somehow brought her back to me. The hows and whys didn't matter - I owed that man everything.

Nathaniel had taken charge of the funeral arrangements while Seraphina was unconscious. We'd agreed on three days of mourning. The Nightshade Pack was drowning in grief, but every member deserved their chance to say goodbye.

I'd spoken with Adrian about his losses. After Evelyn's power surge, I wasn't sure how many of Blackthorn Pack had survived. Nearly a hundred were gone, along with their mates. Miraculously, Evelyn's blast had only knocked out their warriors, unlike the vampires who'd been obliterated.

That kind of power terrified me. It made me wonder about Seraphina's untapped potential. If losing Gregory could trigger an explosion like Evelyn's... perhaps she just needed the right catalyst. Once things settled, we'd discuss this with Oberon.

After a week of mourning, we traveled to Blackthorn Pack for Gregory's memorial. Evelyn had been hospitalized since the battle, and Alistair needed time to heal before this final farewell. Seraphina planned to speak with Evelyn - to tell her about Gregory's post-death visitation.

The entire Blackthorn Pack attended, along with many from Nightshade. Over the past month, my warriors had come to respect Gregory deeply. He'd been an exceptional Guardian, devoted father, and honorable man.

Adrian gave the eulogy, honoring Gregory's sacrifices for family and pack. Then he opened the floor for others to share memories. Elders recalled his mentorship in their youth, while younger warriors spoke of recent lessons learned.

Alistair sat between Evelyn and Seraphina Grey in the front row, head bowed. Even without seeing his face, I knew his eyes would be bloodshot. Their bond had been brotherly - not quite a mate bond, but close enough to shatter a man.

My breath caught when Seraphina rose unexpectedly. She hadn't mentioned speaking, not that she needed my permission.

"I didn't know Gregory long, at least not as the person I am now," she began, voice steady. "When I arrived here, I was broken - years of abuse had severed me from my wolf and Guardian spirit. Gregory didn't care. He took me in, pushed me to rebuild myself stronger. He helped me reclaim my wolf and Guardian powers. Treated me like family - like another daughter."

She paused, composing herself before meeting Evelyn's gaze with a soft smile. "He found me when I got lost after the battle." Evelyn's head snapped up. "I woke in an unfamiliar forest, disoriented. He appeared, told me it wasn't my time yet, and guided me back to Sebastian. True to form, he didn't leave until he was certain I was safe."

The air thickened with unspoken implications. Around us, pack members exchanged glances, some wiping tears, others clutching their mates tighter. Seraphina's words carried more than grief - they carried hope.