There was a broken boy

Who loved a broken girl

And they were broken together.

Many Years Later...

The wind was sharp and terse against the tears on my cheeks, which felt like frozen droplets of ice in the bitter air. The crisp smell of snow that pervades my senses, a scent that once comforted me with the smell of winter, only allows my sobs to be swallowed by the breeze.

All those around me follow my lead, and the dams of their eyes break loose, seeing their Luna sob.

Over the death of their alpha.

The disease caught him too quickly, yet too slow at once, one day transforming him from his sanity to a crack. But I still loved him. Love, him. Even as I stare at his bluing cheeks and nose as his casket perches against the six feet deep whole. His hair is gelled and neat, and I want to run my red and numb fingers through it.

He looks too neat, too sharp.

The crisp black suit wrapped around his body covers the purple and red veined scars over his chest, his neck, his entire body.

And it killed me in the process.

My son and daughter stand at my sides, Xander's large and strong hand wrapped around my gloved one. And the other, holding the hand of his mate, her golden hair glistening against the snow. May, my daughter, her eyes drowning in salt tears, presses her face into the chest of her mate, his jaw tight and taut.

I force myself to look away from their broken eyes and I stare instead at Klaude, his entire face blotched and red in a silent agony. Pilar, his mate, is wrapped in his arms, staring blankly at the casket, in disbelief.

I felt selfish for wanting them to leave. For wanting to be alone with my grief.

Misery loves company save in the case of death.

"Luna." Reverend Banks lightly places a hand on my shoulder, and I jump slightly. "It's time for you to say a few words."

No words can express this feeling that is eating away at my chest like a starved dog in front of a sheep herd.

But I simply nod, clearing my throat, moving to the podium. I cannot feel my legs underneath me. Is there air entering my lungs? Do I care?

I cough slightly, and all eyes snap to mine and I gulp. I will never grow accustomed to the feeling of hundreds of waiting and eager eyes on me. Depending on me.

"Octavius-" my throat cracks slightly and for a moment I am swallowed by tears. "-Octavius lived through pain."

My voice is the only thing heard along the mountainside.

"Octavius lived through war. Torture. Betrayal. He lived through me."

Don't break, not now. You owe it to him.

"The first time I saw Octavius, I was convinced he was my enemy. I was horrified that he was my mate. But far too quickly, I discovered that behind a hard exterior, Octavius was a gentler soul than anyone I've seen. He knew how to laugh and how to act. He knew how to lead. And he was his own teacher. He had no one when he so desperately needed someone. I whole heartedly believe that people come into our lives for reasons. Octavius came into my life in a time when I didn't even know I needed someone. And I love him for that, and for everything else he did for me. Including my children, my grandchildren. My family. My pack. Octavius had the power to move masses and to part seas. And he had the power to put me back together. To put this pack back together. He was...is, the strongest man I know."

My voice broke for a moment, and I placed a hand over my mouth, the white fabric of the glove absorbing the tears that hung at the corners of my lips.

"I love you, Octavius. That will never change."

And, in unison, the congregation in front of me begins to sing:

"Goddess take care,

To watch from the skies

To protect the dead

To cover their eyes

With roses of red

Oh Goddess, take this love

To the green and thick forest

To a blue sky above

To bring them to peace, in which they may rest"

I had lost so many people: mother, father, Aunt May... And now.

He's gone.

I stepped off of the podium, Xander's hand wrapping around mine once again, and May holding my other. My beautiful beautiful children.

And we walked together towards the casket, reaching to the ground to grab a handful of dirt. My tears begin to water the earth in my hand, the speckled texture transforming to mud. How quickly things can change.

And together, we sprinkle the dirt over Octavius' casket. There is a finality in the air, the soft thuds of the dirt against the metal casket sounding like the ending beats of a heart before it flatlines.

But that is what we all are, right? A walking, talking, kissing, crying, screaming heartbeat. It rises and falls with us like a small boat in a storm.

But eventually, we all flatline.

It's the bitter truth of time.

Sorry.

To everyone reading this, I would like to thank you for taking the time to read this. Writing is my passion, and through this book, I am able to share and express that in the most amazing place.

I never expected this story to become as popular as it did, reaching #1 in werewolf, 4.1+ million reads. And 7k+ followers.

Each and everyone of you had a hand in making this happen and I am so grateful for that.

This is the end of Octavius.

Thank you for being patient with my late updates, my computer technical difficulties, and my insanity.

My heart goes out to everyone of you.

Please please please leave your final comments about Octavius in the comments. I love reading them so much and I want to connect with all my readers as much as I can.

And now, I will be mainly updating the sequels to Octavius (TITAN) and (KLAUDE) and my teen fiction novel (OUR SANDBOX) and my romance novel (GUNS&ROSES).

And please I love fan art and quotes so please send them to me if you make them, or tag me in them on Instagram @/noenoehen

I will be doing a final Q&A for ANY AND ALL QUESTIONS you have for Octavius so please comment them below or send them to my ask.fm

Thank you so much for this journey,

Love,

Noelle