A lot of things were happening around her, but the ringing in Theo’s head was the loudest.

She couldn’t stop the tears even if she tried, and Seraphina was probably the worst amongst the two of them in this case. A wailing wolf who remembered everything, and Theo, who didn’t remember a thing, but felt every emotion bleeding through her wolf.

She held Liam like she wouldn’t let go of him. However long time had passed behind her she didn’t care, even if it were just mere minutes. She couldn’t bring herself to believe he was actually gone.

Even as his warm body gradually became colder.

Around her, many more were also dead and a lot more were critically injured. There was not a single wolf around her who hadn’t suffered a fatal blow.

Blood and limbs and groans of dying wolves filled the ground and air.

Healers were exhausted.

Then, the earth shook again.

Theo didn’t bother to look up. She didn’t seem to care.

That was until a shadow fell over her—one with a pressing presence she couldn’t ignore.

When she looked up, she saw a man standing there. He had grey eyes and blonde hair, and he looked strikingly similar to William.

He was also blood-soaked and wounded, but was in a much better condition than the other Alphas here.

Ashbourne and the others had travelled all the way from the east down here, as fast as they could, but everything was over before they arrived. But at least now that they were here, less injured, more wolves would be attended to and the void Moon’s effect would lessen once again.

"Let me see him," Ashbourne said commandingly.

Theo had Liam wrapped to her chest, and then she softly shook her head, forcing back a strangled sob.

Ashbourne sighed deeply, then he came down on one knee and placed a hand on her shoulder, squeezing softly. "Let me see my son," he said, his tone softer.

She almost shook her head again, because she didn’t want to. She was still trembling with disbelief and was scared that if she pulled back and stared at Liam’s face, it might all crash into her with a force too powerful.

"He’s not...," Another sob shook her foundation, and she bit her lips so hard to stop herself from crashing till she drew blood.

Ashbourne closed his eyes for a second, a muscle twitching in the back of his head. He knew this day was coming, and as much as a father could brace himself for what was to come, he could only hope he wouldn’t end up going on both knees and breaking down completely.

"We both have to face the reality of things, Theodora, and it’ll hurt," He squeezed again, opening both eyes, "Now, let me see my son,"

She shook impossibly, her sobs coming out faster as she slowly pulled him away from her chest.

Ashbourne’s other knee hit the ground hard, and both hands slammed palm-first into the earth. His strong eyes shimmered with unshed tears, and he struggled to breathe.

He forced out a ragged breath and cupped his son’s face.

Cold. Dead. Silent.

"He saved me," Theo said, her head down.

"I’m not surprised," Ashbourne replied, trying to keep the shakiness out of his voice.

Moments passed.

"I’ll be taking him back with me to the west. We will hold a funeral for him once everything has settled. You’re welcome to attend," Ashbourne said, reaching out to take William away from her.

She snatched his hand before she could touch him, "Wait...," She sniffed, "You can’t...," She swallowed, "I don’t remember him. I woke up and I...," Another swallow, "If you take him away now, I...,"

The grief in his chest twisted harder.

"Theodora," he said quietly, "Taking him away will not erase him,"

Theo shook her head weakly, tears sliding down her chin, "You don’t understand," she whispered. "I don’t remember him. Not even a little. If he’s gone before I do... then what if he’s just... gone forever?"

Ashbourne’s jaw tightened. For a brief second, he looked down at Liam’s face again, brushing a thumb over the dried blood on his son’s cheek.

"He won’t be," He then said.

Theo didn’t move.

Ashbourne exhaled slowly, steadying himself before speaking again, "My son was many things," he murmured. "Stubborn. Reckless..." A faint, broken smile touched his lips, "But if there was one thing he was certain of, it was you,"

Theo’s grip tightened unconsciously around Liam. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

Ashbourne noticed.

"My son has made a few friends in the past, they didn’t quite last. Your friendship might have been one made from Cain’s manipulation toward him, but it turned out to be the real kind of friendship. Despite the twisted situation he found himself in, he still tried everything he could to protect you," he continued, "Even when you hated him,"

Theo’s shoulders shook.

"And if there is one thing I know about William Sinclair..." Ashbourne said softly, "It is that he would hate to see you like this,"

Her breath caught.

"He would hate knowing that the last memory you have of him is his death," Ashbourne said. "He would rather you remember the good parts. The laughter. The warmth. The friendship you two were so proud of breaking the world’s rules for."

Theo’s lips trembled harder.

Ashbourne reached out again, but this time his hand hovered instead of grabbing, "You may not remember him today," he said gently. "But memories have a way of finding their way home."

Theo slowly lifted her tear-blurred eyes to him.

"And when they do," Ashbourne finished quietly, "you will not need his body here to know that he mattered,"

Silence hung between them for a short while, and then, with shaking fingers, Theo looked down at Liam’s still face one more time, and her thumb brushed weakly against his cold hand.

A final tear fell onto his chest, and then, slowly... painfully, she loosened her hold so Ashbourne could carry his son.

As Ashbourne walked away, his eyes slowly drifted to the feminine figure hovering by a shattered tree. She looked different from what he remembered. She looked away the moment their eyes crossed, wiping an eye with the back of her hand.

Once Ashbourne was out of range, Ava walked up to Theo and sat down on the bare floor next to her. She stretched her legs out and lifted her head to the dark moon.

"You know something crazy about that?" Ava started casually, pointing at the moon.

Theo weakly followed her sight of gaze.

"Everyone believes it affects all wolves, but weirdly, females aren’t affected one bit by it," She chuckled, "It’s only the males that feel like their bones and muscles are being crushed into pieces. It’s the one night when the females get the upper hand - Bummer it only happens once in a thousand years,"

Ava looked at her.

"I can’t imagine how you feel. Waking up to all...this," Ava continued, gesturing around them, "Smell of Blood. Smell of Death. Demons. Wolves. And then, someone precious dying in your arms,"

"I feel useless and empty," Theo admitted.

"Useless? I don’t think so," Ava replied, "You don’t remember now but you see the hundreds of girls standing here? You’re the reason they’re here right now. You were Lyra for a short time, but the impact you made was huge. You inspired them all in mere hours, and women have been downgraded all their lives. To achieve such a feat, you cannot possibly be useless, Theo,"

Theo blinked, "I...inspired them?"

Ava nodded, "And trust me when I say, you could never be empty, either," She gently nudged her shoulder to Theo’s, "Not when you have two obsessed men standing right behind you,"

Theo blinked.

"No like seriously," Ava glanced behind him to the two tall figures that were standing behind Theo like bodyguards made out of shadow and fire, "Even if you wanted to be empty, they would never let that happen,"

"Oh!" Theo also looked back, and her breath stuttered as she found a pair of blue and dark eyes staring at her, "Uhmmm, h...hi there...,"