Chapter 147

Cassie

I stood by quietly at the grave side of the mother who had lost her life only last night. I didn't  want to draw attention to myself so I kept back. With my new shadow Kip hovering at my side. He was a talkative boy and had chatted my ear off on the walk down here but he was quiet now. Out of the corner of my eye I saw tears drip down his cheeks.

Catching my stare he wiped at them angrily.

"Did you know her?" I whispered out of the corner of my mouth so I didn't interrupt Scarlett who was talking softly. A small figure in her arms.

I had forgotten that the unnamed woman had already had a child.

"Was she family?" I asked hopefully. The little figure in Scarlett's arms had just lost their mother. They would need family around them. And Kip seemed like a good person. Not that I thought he was old enough to take on the care of a pup but from what he had said about his mother then his family were great people as well.

That little one was going to need great people.

He shook his head , his eyes darting away from the grave as a bundled in white sheets figure was lowered gently into it. "No , not by blood. But she's pack." He whispered. "So I guess that makes Arianna extended family."

I swallowed hard. It made her feel more real now I knew her name. "Arianna?" I muttered and felt my chest tighten. "What was she like?"

I knew asking was dangeous. I couldn't let my thoughts dwell on her life when there was so many other things I needed to concentrate on but it seemed to be importing.

"I don't really know. I know she lost her husband a few months ago. She kept herself to herself. Loved her family and was loyal but I didn't really know her. Sorry your highness." His lips twisted. "I mean Cassie. I can ask around for you."

"Thank you. I just want to make sure her pup is with family and looked after." I turned my attention back to Scarlett and the others who were all bowing their heads over the open grave.

"He doesn't have any family. Just Arianna."

My eyes snapped towards him. "Are you kidding?"

He shook his head grimly. "Not that I know of anyway. But I can ask-"

I cut him off. Turning to him so I could search his face and see if he was lying.

"What will happen to him?" I asked quietly when I could see no lie.

Kip looked uncomfortable. "I don't know. There's normally family but in this situation." He trailed off. "I don't know but we will have to figure something out because there's going to be more pups like him in the coming days, isn't there?"

He was looking at me so hopefully. Like he expected me to tell him he was being silly. But I wasn't going to lie to him.

"Yes probably." I said quietly and fell silent as wolves began to file passed us. All of them looked shell shocked,  but I couldn't see any tears on their faces. They had come to pay their respects and not because they knew and missed her.

Finally Scarlett stepped up to us. "Cassie." She inclined her head. And I nodded back to her.

Two leaders greeting each other.

"I didn't expect to see you here." Her eyes searched my face. "You didn't need to come down. We can manage in the infirmary and you need some time after everything-"

"I'm fine and I wanted to pay my respects." Reaching out I touched the little boys curls. They were silky under my fingers. And they made me miss my own boys more than anything.

"How is he doing?" I asked quietly.

Scarlett shook her head. "He won't speak but he's ok I think. He managed to sleep a little and let me give him a bath." She tightened her grip on him and my eyes widened as an idea started to form.

Kip had been right, there was going to be so many children who would be left as orphans. Pups with no one to love and protect them.

"He won't let me put him down though."

"He needs you." I said quietly. "And I think you need him as well."

Scarlett's eyes widened. "I don't mind looking after him until his wider family has been found."

"He doesn't have family.  Kip told me that his father died months ago."

Pain rippled across Scarlett's face. "Yes I remember. But that doesn't mean he won't have-"

"I think the goddess has given him to you." I said in a quiet whisper and her eyes widened even more.

"Me?"

"Yes Scarlett. He needs you and you need him. This is your chance to be a mother."

She shook her head but I noticed her arms tightened around the small body. "It's not our way. I couldn't,"

She wanted to though I could see it in her eyes.

"Adoption is a normal thing in the human world." I pointed out. "It doesn't always run smoothly but sometimes it works perfectly and we are a people with so many couples that are childless." I continued. "Soon we will have children's without parents and family to love them. If we can just bring them together-" I trailed off.

"I don't know if anyone would agree. There would be so much to arrange. Checks and even if the king agreed-"

"He will agree. I'll make him see how great an idea it is." I said firmly.

It was time for the wolves to step out of the dark ages and into a modern society. The fact that Scarlett was now alpha was a start but looking after our young pups was another one.

It wasn't a huge start to things changing but it was a start.

"What if no one comes forward?"

I stared at her. She had lost her baby and that baby had lost its mother. It was the perfect solution.

"They will." I said firmly. "When they see their alpha doing it. They will all want to help."