Chapter 61
Xavier
I portal back to the grand hall just before Noah steps in beside me, his shirt slightly askew and a spark of satisfaction still lingering in his expression. Haiden and Levi are already here, and they’ve clearly been busy. Our mate is half–dressed and fast asleep, curled in Haiden’s lap like she belongs there, and we all know she does.
“I thought we said we were going to wait until this afternoon?” I say dryly, arching a brow.
Haiden raises the hand that was resting casually on Evelina’s bare waist and tosses it into the air with mock surrender. “Hey, I didn’t start it. I just happened to pop in to find a very interesting scene, and there’s no way I was going to just stand there and watch. Not after you all ruined my chance at fun this morning.”
I narrow my eyes at Levi, who’s currently fastening his robe with a smug little grin, eyes dancing. “I couldn’t help it,” he says unapologetically. “Flint wanted his mate.”
I pinch the bridge of my nose. “If we gave in every time one of our wolves wanted our mate, we’d never leave the bedroom again.”
“Fine by me,” Haiden mutters as he gently tucks a strand of Evelina’s dark hair behind her ear. His touch is soft, reverent. Protective.
“There should be a bedroom around here somewhere,” I say with a pointed look. “Find it. Put her down to rest. Then we all get to work cleaning up this backlog of souls. It’s not going to sort itself.”
Haiden mock–salutes with his free hand while Levi leans in and carefully scoops our mate from Haiden’s lap, cradling her against his chest like she’s made of spun glass. The moment shifts, just slightly, from teasing to tender, and for a beat, we all simply watch her breathing. Then they vanish from the hall, and the weight of duty settles on me again like a mantle. Noah pats me on the shoulder as he heads toward the basement, where the older, more fractured souls are waiting. “I’ll start cross–checking the fragmented ones,” he says. “You taking the top of the list?”
“I’m taking the pack first,” I reply, already flipping open my tablet.
Technically, I’m supposed to begin with the oldest souls–the ones who’ve been waiting the longest. But I’m not just Death. I’m Alpha. And if there’s anything I’ve learned in both roles, it’s this: you take care of your own first. The digital fist unfurls before me in tight, neat rows of names. I sort by pack and age, then pause when one name catches my eye: Marie Atkinson. Fifty–eight. Rogue attack. I know that name. Everyone did, once. Marie was an omega who used to work at the Red Moon pack house when I was a boy. She made the best shepherd’s pie I’d ever tasted, let us sneak spoonfuls of cake batter, and always smelled like thyme and flour. She was… kind. One of the few adults who never looked at me like I was already a monster. I portal out, scythe in hand, the heavy fabric of my
1/3
Chapter 61
reaper’s robe curling around my legs as I step into the mortal realm. It’s early evening at Red Moon. The pack is active, training, cooking, tending to the pups. Life continues around me, utterly unaware of the death standing in their midst. They can’t see me like this, cloaked as I am. I move to the far edge of the grounds, behind the pack house. Beyond the barbeque pit we used last week, there’s a stretch of land where vegetable patches grow in careful rows. I remember crouching here with Marie as she guided my clumsy hands through the dirt, teaching me how to pick carrots without breaking them. She’s here. Or rather, what’s left of her is. A misty echo of Marie kneels among the carrot tops, humming a soft, tuneless melody as she works. Caught in a memory loop, unaware of what’s happened.
“Miss Atkinson,” I say gently, stepping forward and pulling back my hood so she can see my face.
She looks up, smiling warmly. No fear. No confusion. Just kindness. “Yes? How may I help you?”
“It’s me, Marie. Xavier.”
She tilts her head, squinting. “Nonsense. Xavier’s just a wee boy. Sweet thing.”
I smile sadly. “Marie… you died. It’s time to move on now. Will you come with me?”
Her laugh is soft, dismissive. “I did not die. Don’t be ridiculous. I’d remember something like that.”
I sigh and move closer, placing my hand on her shoulder. “You don’t remember because you weren’t ready,” I call on the power within me, letting it unfurl like mist from my fingertips. It slips into her, coaxing memory from where it was buried. Her entire body stiffens. Then her breath catches like a
gasp.
“I… I died,” she whispers, voice trembling. “What am I doing here, then?”
“You were waiting for me.”
Her eyes search mine, finally seeing me clearly. “Xavier,” she says again, this time with aching familiarity. She lifts her hands and cups my face like I’m still the boy she used to feed scraps to. “You’ve grown into such a handsome young man.‘
“Are you ready to go, Marie?”
“Where are we going?”
“”
“I’m taking you to Haiden, He’ll explain the rest, and we’ll find you somewhere to rest.”
She hesitates. “Okay,” she breathes.
“Close your eyes for me.”
When she does, I raise my scythe, the blade glowing faintly as it draws her soul forward. She fades
2/3
Chapter 61
softly, a shimmer of light trailing with me as I portal back.
I reappear in the reaping room, catching Haiden mid–sip of his coffee. He startles, nearly choking. “Dammit, warn a guy next time!”
I ignore him for now, stepping aside so Marie can appear fully. Her expression is equal parts wonder and confusion. The room looks different. Haiden’s clearly been busy. The walls are now painted a soft ivory, lined with plush chairs and glowing sconces. Fake windows show blue skies and clouds, giving the illusion of a sunny day. There are vending machines, a water cooler, and even TVs playing feel–good movies. It feels more like a waiting room than a purgatory.
“Remodeled already, brother?” I ask, impressed.
“Yeah. The dark, creepy vibes weren’t exactly comforting to the newly dead. I might add some inspirational posters later. Maybe something with puppies.”
Marie spots him and lights up. “Haiden! Oh, goodness gracious. Look at you! There had to be something in the water you boys were drinking. Aren’t you just a pretty thing?”
Haiden preens, blushing. “I know. I’m very cute. Come in, I’ll explain everything. We’ll get you a room and
be some tea.”
rumbles, “Hey, there’s a line!”
his eyes. “Shut it, Rick. You’re not going anywhere until someone explains why you still
ou’re a chicken.”
Marie chuckles and takes Haiden’s hand, offering me a warm, lingering hug before following him
inside.
I watch her go, heart full and strangely heavy. One more soul home. One less forgotten.
I portal back to Red Moon, the scent of th
This work, Goddess of the
property legally con
outside Novel
copyrigh
lingering in the air.
dan Hartin, is an exclusive intellectual k. Any reproduction, distribution, or upload 6, and Readink is unauthorized and constitutes
18
POST COMMENT NOW
<SHARE
