Noah POV

I stand near the front of the amphitheater, watching the funeral procession. Every breath hurts. Every heartbeat is agony.

The sky is gray. Heavy clouds hang low overhead. A cold drizzle falls, light but constant. It matches the mood perfectly. Even the weather mourns Chloe. Pack members file in slowly, their faces somber. Some are crying. Others look straight ahead, stone-faced.

The pack put so much effort into organizing this funeral. It shows.

Daisies are everywhere. Chloe's favorite flower. White daisies mixed with brown decorations. I know it is not easy to find daisies this time of year, but someone made it happen. For Chloe.

Rows of seats are filled with guests. Pack members. Allied pack representatives. Everyone who loved her.

Everyone who will miss her.

My chest tightens.

I remember finding the clearing. The scene.

Blood. So much blood soaked into the earth. Dark and thick. The metallic smell of it mixed with the stench of rogues.

Her dress—that beautiful blue dress she wore that night—torn to shreds. Scattered across the ground like discarded rags.

Chunks of her blonde hair. Ripped out. Thrown everywhere.

Claw marks gouged deep into the trees. Signs of a struggle. Signs of terror.

And no body. The rogues did not even leave me that. Nothing to hold. Nothing to bury. Just blood and pieces and emptiness.

The last time I saw Chloe alive, she smiled at me. She kissed me and said she had a surprise for me. That she would tell me next time we saw each other.

I will never know what that surprise was.

I will never see her again.

My future mate. My future Luna. Gone.

We never even got to experience the mate bond. Not really. Not the way it is supposed to be.

Three months. In three months, Chloe would have turned twenty. Our wolves would have confirmed it. The bond would have locked into place.

I would have claimed her. Marked her. Taken her to bed and made her mine in every way that matters.

Instead, I am standing here at her funeral.

All those plans we made. The future we talked about. The pack we were going to lead together.

Gone.

The anger burns hot in my chest.

This is not how it was supposed to be.

And it is all Zoe's fault.

Zoe played everyone. She played with that boy Jake. Led him on. Made him think they had something. Then she lied about it. Dragged Chloe into the forest to cover for her. To fix her mess.

Her promiscuity. Her recklessness. Her lies.

That is what killed Chloe.

My hands clench into fists.

The past twenty-four hours have been hell.

I have not slept. Every time I close my eyes, I see that clearing. I smell the blood. I feel the emptiness where Chloe should be.

I have not eaten. Food tastes like ash. My stomach is a knot of grief and rage.

My body aches. My wolf aches. Everything aches.

And the anger—the anger has nowhere to go.

It sits in my chest like a living thing. Hot and vicious. Demanding release.

But I cannot release it. Not here. Not now.

So I force myself to breathe. To stay calm.

The only thing that brings me any relief is thinking about later. About making Zoe pay. About making her understand what she has done.

That thought is the only thing keeping me together right now.

I stare at Zoe.

She is sitting with her family. Her head is down.

She is still wearing that dress. The brown party dress from morning. The birthday dress.

'She has not even changed. Like she is still celebrating. Like this is still her special day.'

My jaw clenches.

I have always known Zoe and Chloe were different. Chloe was sunshine. Bright. Warm. Everyone loved her.

Zoe was quiet. Reserved. She always seemed so proper. So well-behaved.

I thought she was a good girl. Boring, maybe. But good.

I was wrong.

Underneath that quiet exterior, she is manipulative. Promiscuous. A liar who plays games with people's lives.

And now Chloe is dead because of it.

Today is her birthday. Her sixteenth birthday. The day she was supposed to meet her wolf. The day that was supposed to be hers.

'Are you happy now, Zoe? Is this what you wanted? You got your special day after all. Everyone is here. Just like you planned.'

I know it is petty. I know I should focus on Chloe.

But I cannot help it.

I keep staring at her.

Her face shows no sadness. No tears. Nothing.

'She does not even care. She got Chloe killed and she does not even care.'

My anger rises. The heat spreads through my chest. My jaw clenches.

'Calm down.' Finn's voice cuts through my thoughts. 'This is not the time.'

'Look at her. She is sitting there like nothing happened—'

'You need to focus on the ceremony. On Chloe. Not on her.'

I grit my teeth.

Finn is right. I know he is right.

But it does not make it easier.

The funeral begins.

The pack priest steps forward. He raises his hands and the crowd falls silent.

"We gather today to honor the life of Chloe Mitchell. Beloved daughter. Cherished sister. Future Luna of our pack."

His voice carries across the amphitheater.

He leads us in prayer. We bow our heads. We ask the Moon Goddess to guide Chloe's spirit. To welcome her home.

The rituals follow. Offerings of flowers. Candles lit in her memory. Speeches from those who knew her best.

My father, Alpha Owen speaks about Chloe's promise as a future leader. About her kindness and strength.

Beta Thomas speaks next. His voice breaks multiple times. He talks about watching Chloe grow up. About how proud he was of her.

Diane sobs through the entire speech. Cole has his arm around his mother, trying to hold her together. Maya stands beside Cole, tears streaming down her face.

The ceremony will last for hours. There are more prayers. More speeches. More rituals to perform.

I try to focus. Try to be present.

But my eyes keep drifting back to Zoe.

She shifts in her seat. Uncomfortable.

Her mother notices. Glares at her.

Zoe leans over and whispers something.

Diane's expression hardens. She whispers something back, sharp and quick.

Zoe stands up. She walks out of the ceremony.

Just leaves.

Rage burns through me.

'Her sister's funeral and she cannot even sit through it.'

'Let it go,' Finn warns.

'She does not deserve to just walk away—'

'Not now. Not here.'

I force myself to stay still. To stay seated.

Finn is right. This is not the time or place.

But there will be another time.

I will make Zoe answer for what she did. Make her feel a fraction of the pain she caused.

And I need answers. Why she played Jake. Why she dragged Chloe into her shit. Why she destroyed everything.

The thought steadies me. Gives me focus.

I will make sure she pays. And that knowledge—that certainty—is the only thing keeping me sane right now.

But not today.

Today is about Chloe.

I close my eyes and take a deep breath.

When I open them again, I look at the daisies. At the candles flickering in the drizzle.

'I am sorry, Chloe. I am so sorry I could not protect you.'

The priest continues speaking. The ceremony goes on.

I will not lose control today. I will not let Zoe ruin this too.

Chloe deserves better than that.

But after today?

After today, Zoe will learn what it means to take everything from me.