Two days.

It had been two days since we left the dock, two days since we buried the boy, and two days since Reece refused to speak to anyone.

She was sitting on the deck, her back against the side of the ship, and staring up at the stars with a dazed look on her face. There were dried trails of tears on her cheeks that she hadn't bothered to wipe away.

I could not imagine the amount of pain she was in. From what I had been told, her wolf was breaking down because of the loss of her mate, and it was going to be a battle to get her out of this heartbreaking turmoil.

I sat down in front of her and gently pushed a tray of food toward her. She did not move a muscle as I stared.

"Reece," I said softly, "You haven't eaten in two days. Please try eating a little. This isn't healthy."

Nothing.

I sighed and stood up, "I'll leave this here in case you want to eat anything."

As I turned and started walking back to the cabin, there was a low croak from behind me causing me to spin around in shock.

"You killed him."

My lips parted, but I had nothing to say to her because it was true– I had killed her mate, even if it was unknowingly.

Her head turned to the side so I could see the angry tears that flowed from her red-veined eyes, "How could you kill him?"

I stayed silent as she stood up unsteadily, gripping the rail.

"You–you could have chosen any other spell, but you picked–you picked that one," she hiccuped, choking on her tears.

My heart was breaking for her. I was well aware that I wasn't at fault, but a part of me still felt guilty for the heartache she was experiencing. It was tearing her apart and driving her insane, and she had kept it bottled up for two days. It had been only a matter of time before she let her rage come through.

"Reece, I wish I could–"

"Shut up!" She screamed hysterically, flinging the tray at me, causing the components of the sandwich to scatter across the deck.

I managed to step out of the way of the tray as it crashed into the wall of the cabin and shattered to pieces. That seemed to grab everyone's attention because the crew quickly filed out of the cabin to see what was happening.

Reece fell to the floor, her sobs turning into breathless gasps for air, "H-he's gone. I've waited my whole life for him and he's gone."

My own eyes filled with tears, and I found myself dropping to my knees and wrapping my arms around her as her loud cries continued to echo through the air. Her body was shaking furiously, and her warm tears soaked through my jacket.

I rubbed her back and squeezed my eyes shut, trying not to let any of my own tears out when I felt something furry graze my hand. My eyes fluttered open, and I saw a huge black wolf laying curling up against Reece's side.

Alrik.

After he had settled down, more wolves started to appear in my line of vision. They sat in a semi-circle around Reece, making sure at least one of their paws or snout were touching her.

This was what a pack was.

They were not just a group of wolves who lived in the same area, ruled by the same person.

They were a family who shared the joy and pain of one of their own. They stood by each other's side through the good and bad moments.

And at this moment, I knew all of them could feel what Reece was going through and were trying to use their bond to give her the comfort that she would not find in me or in anyone else.

Her cries came to a stop, and she slumped against me.

It was quiet as everyone wallowed in their own thoughts, and after a minute, Alrik lifted his head and let out a long howl.

Then, the night air was filled with a symphony of howls as the rest of the wolves followed his suit, letting the Moon Goddess hear their devastation for their grieving pack member.

***

"I thought I would find you here."

I jumped in surprise as Alrik entered the bridge with a tray in his hands. He sat down beside me and placed the tray of food on the table, "You did not eat and I wanted to make sure you were not tramautized after what happened with Reece."

"Tramautized?"

He nodded, "I'm used to seeing those sorts of breakdowns when a wolf loses his mate. There will be several of them until their wolf comes to peace with the loss."

Being a wolf in a relationship sounded so difficult. They dealt with more emotions than I could ever handle.

I took the fork from his hands, "I'm kind of glad I don't feel the bond as much as you do. It seems overwhelming."

"You may not feel it as much now, but you will when I mark you."

I choked on a mouthful of noodles, and Alrik frowned, "I hope you know that I will mark you eventually. It is part of being my Luna."

He brought up milestones in our relationship so casually as if he was not talking about biting my neck so I bleed and feel a much stronger connection to him.

"You make it sound like I'm a tool for your pack," I said, narrowing my eyes, "Do you think of me as just a Luna?"

"Yes and no. If the mating part of our relationship does not work out, we will have a professional Alpha–Luna relationship," he said, watching my reaction carefully.

I slurped my noodles quietly, rolling his words in my head.

I was alright having a professional relationship if it didn't work out, but I wanted to be able to find someone to love and that wouldn't be possible if he marked me.

"I have a favor to ask," I said, putting my fork down, "Well, actually two."

"Yes?"

"One, I don't want you to mark me until I want it and I am aware that both of us are staying in this relationship for the long term. Two, I am not giving up the Coven."

He raised his eyebrows, "I'm appalled that you think I will mark you against your consent. I'm not that sort of evil. As for your second request, it is not much of a favor. I never expected you to abandon your Coven. That would be like you asking me to abandon my pack. It will never happen."

Was it just me or did he become even more attractive after he said that?

The five o'clock shadow on his face, his casual attire of black jeans and a sweatshirt, and his messy hair sticking up in different directions made him look so much younger. I was surprised he even had normal clothes because every time I had seen him, he had been wearing formal shirts and pants.

"I can smell your arousal."

His blunt nature was not so attractive at times.

I rolled my eyes, "I'm a grown woman. I know what I like. Are you saying you never checked a woman out?"

He leaned back in his chair and put his hands behind his head, "Maybe a century ago when I was a teen. I've only started again recently after I met a certain bitchy witch."

I gritted my teeth. I hated how smooth he was with his insults and compliments.

"No smart remarks? Have I made you spellbound, Jaslynn?" He said my name in a raspy growl, and my insides felt like someone had flipped me upside down. I could almost see his smirk get larger because the smell of my arousal was most likely stronger.

Without any warning, I tackled him off his chair, kicking the tray in the process and causing it to fly over our bodies.

My lips devoured his roughly, and I hummed in satisfaction at his shocked state.

I was the one with complete control.