Winter

"I like you in white," Wyatt says, once I come out of the bathroom fully clothed in the long white dress. It reminds me of the dress I wear in my dreams, but Alex wouldn’t have known that when she brought it to me. I left my long brown hair down, and it circles around my arms as it stops at my waist. It’s perfectly straight and frizz free, someone needs to learn how to sell this vampire hair shit. They would make a fortune.

We both walk out of Jaxson’s room and through the house. Lucinda, Jaxson and Freddy are in the kitchen when we walk in. 

"Lovely as always, lass," Jaxson says and stops cutting up sandwiches to come over to me. He kisses me gently and moves away.

“Blood sucker,” Freddy mutters and goes back to playing with his phone. I hold in a chuckle when Wyatt glares at him. 

“That’s very rude, young laddie. It’s like calling us a dog, we don’t like that,” Lucinda tells him off and takes his phone from him.

“Give it back,” he says.

“No, Prince Wyatt, here you go. When my nephew decides to be nice, you may give it back,” Lucinda says and Wyatt takes the phone. He holds it up with a smirk and slides it into his shirt pocket.

“So unfair,” Freddy says and I give him a warning look as he looks at me. I’m not helping him, no matter how cute he is.

"Where's Atti?" I ask while stealing one of the sandwiches Jaxson is cutting up. Jaxson laughs as I quickly move out the way when he tries to take the sandwich I took back. A girl has to eat. I move next to Wyatt as he stands the near the door.

"With Dabriel, Freddy can take you to them," Jaxson replies and Freddy jumps up.

"Let’s go winter," Freddy says and grins at me. Waving goodbye to everyone, Freddy and I head outside.

I follow Freddy past the training cabin, which looks full of wolves fighting, in both their human and wolf forms. It’s interesting to see. We pass several wolves, all of them bowing to me, and I have to remember they see me as their queen now. All of them are in white and some are tying white ribbons around the trees.

“Is that Leigha and Harris fighting?” I ask Freddy, when we come around the other side of one the cabins. There are several wolves watching as Harris and Leigha fight with swords. They’re both good as they circle each other and keep coming back for blow after blow. Harris knocks Leigha’s legs out from under her and somehow gets her on her back with him kneeling over her. His sword is pressed against hers over her neck.

I never thought I’d see anyone beat the warrior princess. They both don’t move as they stare each other down.

“They’ve been fighting every day; I think he likes the vampire. Gross,” Freddy says.

“You do realise I’m part vampire, right?” I ask Freddy.  Harris helps Leigha up and they both talk quietly as the wolves who were watching walk away.

“Yeah, but you’re different.”
“No I’m not. Wyatt isn’t that bad and I love him Freddy. I know you don’t trust him but do you trust me?” I ask and he watches me carefully with his bright blue eyes.

“Yes.”

“Then give him a break. Not everything is as it seems,” I say and he hugs me. I press a kiss on his forehead.

“Come on, they don’t seem to have noticed that we’re here,” I say as he lets go. I watch as Harris lays a hand on Leigha’s arm and she blushes. Actually blushes. Holy crap, the warrior princess has a crush on a wolf. I have to admit that Harris is hot. He has that sexy, wavy, blonde hair and massive build you expect to see on a surfer. I know he did well with girls at the university we went to. The girls would all talk about the hot guy that sometimes came to parties. Even Alex had her eye on Harris before she met Drake.

Freddy walks us through the woods until we see Dabriel and Atti in a clearing.

Dabriel is talking quietly to Atti, who is on his knees in front of a white casket. It's decorated beautifully in lots of white flowers and little lights. Dabriel places his hand on Atti’s shoulder and they both stare at the coffin. My heart breaks for Atti.

"Freddy go back, and thanks for bringing me," I say.

"Sure," he says and hugs me before running off.

I walk over and Dabriel lifts his head as I get closer. Atti goes tense but he doesn’t face me. They’re both dressed in white. Dabriel’s large wings are resting close to his back, now that I’m so near I can see the slits in the back of his shirt that make room for them. Dabriel’s unusually bright purple eyes watch me; sadness is written all over him.

"Winter," he says and I rest my hand on his arm as I get close.

"Can I speak with Atti alone?" I ask. I glance down at Atti, his hair is a mess and he has a beard now. The effect suits him; his clothes are in better condition than how I’ve seen him in the last two weeks. Atti has been drinking himself silly and passing out. The guys have taken turns watching him. I tried at the start to be there for him but he just disappeared on me every time I got close. I don’t think he could stand me being near him. It wasn’t my fault his mother died, but if he wasn’t looking after me, he could have saved his mum. At least that’s what I think.

"Okay, Winter," Dabriel says and steps away after kissing my forehead. I watch as he spreads his large white wings and flies away. I've never seen him fly before; it's pretty cool. I wait until he’s just a white line in the trees before I look back at Atti.

I go to my knees next to Atti and slide my hand over the one on his knee.

"Atti," I say gently.

When he finally turns to look at me, his face is filled with pain and grief. I place my other hand on his cheek and he leans into it. We don’t talk as we stare at each other like this, I want to be there for him in any way I can.

"The last time I spoke to her, she told me to be with you. I think she knew her death was coming," Atti says gently into my mind. I wish I could talk back into his mind so I don’t have to break the strange silence that has happened between us.

"Tell me about her," I say as quietly as I can.

“My mother was strong. So strong. She told me once that she slapped my father when they first spoke. He was a rude king and she didn’t want anything to do with him. The rest of the women at the court would do anything for him, and she wouldn’t. She told me that my dad said he fell in love with her the moment she slapped him.” he says out loud, his voice still quiet.

I chuckle and he continues,

“My mother said they were so happy when I was born. The castle shook that day, and when it stopped, the castle was full of flowers. They were everywhere and every witch said the castle glowed like a rainbow.”

“The war was still happening and my mother won it. It was at the cost of her mate, my dad. Most people would have given up, but she didn’t. Oh no, she won her throne in the arena and brought me up. She was a great mum, even with her responsibility to the city.”

“She sounds like a strong woman.”

“The strongest I’ve ever known. Sometimes acting normal is the hardest thing to do, and she did it well. I always knew she was sad.”

“I am sorry Atti.”

“I know.” He whispers and pulls me onto his lap. I rest my head on his shoulder and wrap my arms around him as he holds me.

We don’t move for a long time. He’s silent, and I just don’t know what to say anymore.

I watch as Jaxson, Dabriel and Wyatt walk over to us from the trees. They stand behind us and I see Alex, Drake, Leigha and Freddy standing near as they come over.  The rest of the wolves stand in the trees, holding little white lanterns and bowing their heads. They’re bowing for a queen they didn’t know, a queen that wasn’t even theirs. It’s a sign that one day we can work together, all of us.

"It's time," Atti says. I get up, and offer him my hand to help him up. He accepts and kisses my cheek before he moves away from me. Atti walks up slowly and places his hand on the wooden coffin. The coffin is wrapped in white cloth and flowers are spread all around. The top of the coffin is a crown made out of wood. I have a feeling Jaxson made it for Atti.

"May the true light guide your way, may you find your home, and may you always know peace." Atti says the words slowly, every word filled with pain and hope.

 He steps back and raises both his hands. The coffin bursts into a slow fire, the fire turns white as we watch and little white lights fly out of it into the sky. We all watch as they fill the sky. The wolves start howling quietly, the noise filling the sad day.

I move forward and hold Atti’s hand as silent tears run down his face. 

“Goodbye, my strong mother, I will avenge you," Atti’s voice whispers in my mind. The resounding howls tell me he told everyone that thought.

I hope the dark witch queen heard it, too.