300 Days With The Alpha Beta Triplets
BURIAL RITES

Bella:

I struggled for a while to get myself as my entire body went weak. My hands could barely grasp my phone as I stared at the picture of Hazel and Sebastine together with a huge smile planted on their faces. Was he the guy she met during the break? It couldn't be.

Mentally, I tried to pull myself away from the darkness from a few months back, but the shock on Sebastine's face as he watched his mate die remained vivid.

"Bella."

Ryder's voice pulled me back as he placed his hand on my thigh.

"The car stopped about five minutes ago, and our parents are already inside." I shut my phone when he said this, then I opened the door, getting out of the car while he got down from the door which was already opened for him. He walked over to me, taking my hand in his. "We need to be strong for Finn and Kai. This is going to be very difficult, but if we are this sad, then what about them?"

When he said this, my mind was fully drawn back to the occasion. There were cars littered around the house, signifying a lot of people present. We were here to mourn the death of the beta's wife, which left me wondering why everything had to come at me at once. I was just having the time of my life for the first time in a long time, and boom everywhere, bad news.

"You... you are right," I said to him as we made our way towards the front door of the finely decorated house ahead of us.

The door was opened by a man in uniform, and as we walked in, all we could hear were piercing screams and cries from the living space. My heart sunk at once, and the feeling of guilt returned at once, making me wonder if there was something I could have done to prevent what had happened.

There was so much going on inside me at the moment, and I wished that I could give it out to someone. Ryder's touch was warming, but it wasn't convincing enough to burden him with my problems.

"Come on, they are not there," I said to Ryder as we made our way to the living room which had relatives seated on the couches, and the Beta in isolation, staring into thin air.

Ryder and I made our way upstairs, which was accessible by a corner in the room. After a while of walking down the long hallway, we found ourselves in front of a door which bore the scent of the twins. He opened it, and we walked into a large room, adorned with white furniture. Everything, including the finely laid out brushes and combs in front of the dressing table, was white. The bed was draped in white linens, and the curtains were a sheer, delicate fabric that allowed light to filter through softly. A large white wardrobe stood against one wall, its doors slightly ajar, revealing neatly organized clothing inside. The room had an ethereal, almost otherworldly feel, with the only splash of color being the green plants that dotted the corners and the delicate floral patterns on the bedspread. I didn't need anyone to tell me it was their mother's room. Finely preserved.

There in the room sat Finn by the white couch in a corner, while Kai sat on the bed with his head buried in his lap. They both looked at us at once as we rushed towards them. I went for Kai who was closer to the door, pulling him into a hug which lasted for a long time as he grasped hard on my clothes, burying his skin inside mine. Then I turned to Finn who was still with Ryder. We soaked up in a hug.

**

The burial rites of the Beta's wife were observed almost immediately according to the pack traditions. It was a matter of days, and we were all gathered at the Beta's house, burying her in the family plot behind the house. The day was gray and overcast, matching the somber mood of the gathering.

Finn and Kai were dressed in traditional black attire, their pale faces looking even more ghostly against the dark fabric. Their eyes were hollow, filled with a grief that seemed to age them beyond their years. As the ceremony proceeded, their hands trembled slightly, clutching each other for support.

After the rites, everyone moved to the garden where tables were set up with food and drinks. A line of people formed, queuing up to get their share. The five of us were gathered at a spot with the twins who wouldn't speak as they were still in disbelief that they had to bade their mother goodbye forever.

"I will always be here for you guys," I said, throwing my arms around both their necks, kissing their cheeks simultaneously.

After that, I got up to leave, and Hazel came after me, which wasn't what I needed at the moment. There hadn't been time to get me mentally out of the entire event for the week, and she was part of the reason.

"Hey," Hazel greeted with a tight smile on her face, but a glance could tell she was cracking down. She had lost both her parents, and being here seemed to have opened untold wounds. "Bella! How are you holding up?" she asked, trying to steady her voice.

I threw my arms around her, then let out a long sigh.

"It's tough, but we're managing." I pulled away, then grabbed her shoulder. "How about we grab some drinks and maybe sit out on the driveway?" I suggested, and she nodded.

We informed the guys that we were going to step out for a moment, and only Ryder responded while Finn and Kai wouldn't even look at us, which I understood. After we had gotten drinks, we made our way out of the large gates that encircled the Beta's house, replaceing our way to a slab on the street filled with cars of family, friends, and pack members.

We opened up our drinks, the sound of cans cracking open breaking the silence, then we sipped in silence for a while.

"I would give anything to get out of this space. It reminds me a lot!" she groaned in frustration, then I remembered the pictures she sent. "Tell me anything, Bella, please," she pleaded.

"I saw the pictures you sent me," I said, trying to keep my tone casual. "You looked like you were having a great time. Who's the guy you were with?"

She breathed in relief.

"Oh, him?" she smiled, a faint blush creeping up her cheeks. "His name is Sebastine, and he is the guy I told you about. We met during the break, and he's... interesting."

"Interesting? How so?" I probed, trying to keep up with my casual tone even though my heart was pounding.

"Well, he's charming, a bit mysterious. I don't know much about him, but there's something about him that draws me in. I wish it could be something serious, but we'll see," she said, her eyes sparkling with a mix of hope and uncertainty.

My stomach churned. She had no idea who Sebastine really was, the darkness that surrounded him. I forced a smile, nodding as if I understood. "I'm happy for you, but just be careful, okay?"

When I said this, she placed her drink on the ground, looking at me intently.

"You know, you had this situation with Noah, and it would be best to totally move on from him before you..."

"Bella, I am fine," she cut me short, and I gaped for words before gulping down my drink, then placed the can on the ground.

She grabbed my hand.

"I love how you care for me, and I am not stupid. I will be careful," she promised, giving me a reassuring smile, which did little to calm my worried heart.

We sat there for a moment longer, the weight of everything hanging between us. I wanted to tell her the truth, to warn her, but the words wouldn't come. Instead, I leaned into her embrace, hoping that somehow, everything would turn out okay.