Her Revenge Contract
Chapter 12

Katherine's POV

"Are you serious?" I asked, surprised, as Elder Elsa walked closer with a huge flower arrangement in her hands.

"We all are," she said and gestured to the group of she-wolves following after.

"You have no idea what this means to me," I said, and grabbed Elder Elsa around the neck. She has taken on the role of a substitute mother, and because she is mated to Richard, and every pack member trusts and loves Richard, the pack members slowly but surely started to talk to me. "Where do you want these flower bouquets?" A youngish she-wolf asked.

"Right over there," I answered and gestured, "thanks..."

Elder Elsa mentioned to her mate, Councilor Richard, that she couldn't remember if I ever had the privilege to pay my last respect to my diseased parents...

Councilor Richard immediately suggested we have a gathering and that the whole pack should attend, them too giving their last respect to the fallen Alpha and Luna...

I was surprised at the suggestion... even stunned... but Elder Elsa told me that I shouldn't be afraid and that she and some of the she-wolves would help me arrange the event.

"It's stunning!" I gasped out and pressed my hands together over my mouth, tears built up behind my eyes which were threatening to spill over, "they would have loved this..." "Wait until the candles are lit," Elder Elsa said and winked.

"Thank you for doing this," I said, feeling the warm tears rolling down my face, betraying my feelings.

"Any time, Luna..." Elder Elsa said, and gestured for the women to leave and give me a few minutes alone.

My gaze moved over all the different colored flower arrangements set up in a wide circle in the center of the pack assembly point.

Huge photos of my parents in frames smiled back at me.

"This is for you..." I whispered to the photos, "And the pack is coming to pay their respects..." I swallowed hard, "to..."

"Who hung that!" A familiar screeching voice sent a cold chill down my spine, and my blood started to boil in my veins. Really?

Couldn't they just stay away a bit longer?

"Well, which inconsiderate pack member would arrange a funeral at this time of night!" Erika shouted.

I saw red... I will not allow them to ruin this assembly!

"Remove the flowers now, take them down now! Take it down immediately!" Rose yelled. At that very second, a vase broke and scattered on the ground.

Anger burned me inside my veins, and hatred pumped like poison through my mind. I didn't give her a chance to break and ruin the second flower arrangement and stormed toward the edge of the circle toward the noise.

I grabbed Erika's wrist just in time as she started to push the second flower arrangement over, and stopped her.

"Kate!" She yelled out surprised, seeing me, and she tried to yank her wrist out of my hand. My anger was more potent than hers...

"What are your intentions about having a funeral among the pack members?!"

"I just want to worship my family..." I answered coldly, "My parents just died, and I can't remember if I paid my respect to them..."

I turned toward Rose.

"The council suggested that I set up the funeral here so that they could join them and give their respect too... they were the leaders after all... should I ignore the pack?"

Rose watched me in silence, blood had left her face, and it looked like she was about to faint any second.

I noticed that she refused to look at any of the two photos of my parents...

"Kate!" Erika roared and pulled her wrist from my grip. She threw her head back, ready to shift into her wolf, and was unconcerned that her mother had just dropped to the floor.

She started to take form, and as soon as she was fully transformed into her wolf, she pounced toward me.

I moved out of the way, turned, and slapped Erika so hard that I sent her beast toward the forest floor...

"If you need to say something," I yelled at her, "do so, but don't try to intimidate me by using your weak pathetic wolf on me..."

Erika whimpered out of fear, her eyes suddenly widened when she moved her gaze toward my face.

"I suggest you leave..." I growled, "And take your mother with you!"

I watched as Erika shifted, and ran to her mother's side. Her face was red on the left-hand side. I must have slapped her wolf so hard that the marks were now embedded on her face.

I gave Erika one more look and walked toward the flowers Erika destroyed and picked them up.

"Oh Goddess, Luna, what happened here? Are you alright?" Elder Elsa asked as she and a couple of pack members entered the area.

"All is fine," I answered and smiled, "I misjudged myself and lost my balance, and I accidentally knocked over the vase..."

Elder Elsa lifted a grey eyebrow, yet she didn't say anything. I had a feeling she knew I was lying.

I ignored her and kept on cleaning up the mess.

One of the she-wolves brought me a new vase with water, and I thanked her and placed the flowers in the vase.

Ten minutes or so later, Councilor Richard appeared at the entrance of the circle holding a torch with the rest of the pack gathered behind him.

The old wolf's face lit up as soon as he saw me moving toward him.

"Evening, Luna," he said and handed me the torch and a younger wolf rushed toward us, handing Councilor Richard a match.

Councillor Richard lit the torch for me, and I turned and started to light the candles...

Elder Elsa did the same on the opposite side.

When the candles were finally all lit, the sight around us was breathing...

A warm feeling enveloped me, and for a few seconds, I believed that my parents' souls were hugging me goodbye...

"Good evening everyone," Councilor Richard started the proceedings, "It is with great honor to be asked by our future Luna to say a few words..."

Councillor Richard swallowed hard.

"Alpha Andrew King and Luna Lidia King were one of the best leaders this pack had ever had.

Alpha Andrew leads with his heart. He was always kind and considerate, had empathy with his pack members, and was reliable and brave. He believed in fighting for what was right... He was a great leader, and we as a pack will remember him and he will miss him dearly...

Luna Lidia King was a whole different kind of Luna. Even though she was a beautiful and proud she-wolf, she could change a negative mindset to a positive one. She was very optimistic, intelligent, innovative, calm and she had a sense of humor... she too would be greatly missed..."

There wasn't a dry eye in the audience...

For once, I could understand why my father was so loved and respected... it is just a shame that his brother was the one who betrayed him...

After I said a few things and thanked everyone for coming, I thanked everyone who helped me set up this beautiful memorial service...

I arrived back home just before midnight, and I was surprised to replace Rose standing and waiting outside my bedroom door.

"Aunt Rose," I greeted, "is something the matter?"

"No, no, no..." she said and stopped me from entering my room. She then hesitated for a moment, before she continued.

"I would like to take you out for lunch tomorrow..." she said, and searched for my gaze.

When I didn't say anything, she sighed and continued, trying hard to convince me...

"I want to apologize and make amends for almost spoiling the memorial service..."