Diamonds and Ice

It takes four weeks for the sun to gather its strength back and start showing off. The rays are long enough to reach the ground and chase away the snow in an exodus of streams. Soon enough, all of the ice and snow will completely melt away and fill the shallow nearby creeks. The returned song birds don’t waste a moment and fill the trees’ bud bearing branches with their cheerful melodies. The wolf pack doesn’t lose any time either and carry out the last step of the plan. That is when I get to see Mika again. This is when I find out that the day for us to vanish without a trace has come.

The newborn happiness of spring that’s all around, but this day feels like the darkest one of the year. Now that the frozen ground is thawed out, the village can hold a double memorial. The temporary warmth gives just enough time to dig the two graves.

“This is so weird,” I stand on a road from afar, watching the grave diggers lower me purely for ceremonial purposes coffin eight feet below.

“Life is stranger than fiction,” standing next to me, Mika watches as they lower his coffin at the same time.

“Way too strange,” I can’t help but notice the huge difference in how many people showed up to see us off into the afterlife.

Mika’s entire family is here - mother, father, brothers, uncles and aunts, cousins and friends. I’m surprised to see my stepmother and stepsisters come see me off. My guess is that they had to since Oksana and Irina are married to the Midof brothers.

“I’m done watching this,” Mika turns away and climbs back into our carriage.

It must be difficult for him to see this and leave so many people behind. For me on the other hand, there aren’t any family who are difficult to leave behind. The only living person who I’m leaving behind is Liam. Leaving my father’s name is just as difficult.

“It’s time,” Liam places his hand on my shoulder.

“I know, I just want to be a Sterling for a bit longer,” I look down at my feet, realizing that in a way I did die.

“Remember, your name is Christina Cane now. The man traveling with you is your newly-wed husband, Jaxon Cane. You’ve just got back from you honeymoon and being new money, you’re moving to your new home in the city of Bridgelin,” he delivers the necessary documents to back up those names.

“I understand,” nodding, I accept the folder of false proofs.

All too well.

Prepared?

Now, that a whole different animal.

“Wear this,” next, he places a small black box in my hand.

“What is it?” I open it.

“Umm, it’s... it’s your wedding ring.”

“My wedding ring,” I repeat, stunned at the sparkle and size of the rock.

“Mika’s gold band is in the folder.”

It’s a lovely princess cut diamond, but this is not how I dreamed of getting a wedding ring from Liam.

“Do I have to wear it?” its sparkle reflects against my tears.

“Yes, I’m afraid you do,” he does what I can’t and places the jewel on my left finger. “A married woman not wearing her wedding ring will raise juicy rumors in the high society and will spread like wildfire. A scandal will be the last thing you want.”

“You’re right,” I admire the light gliding across the jewel’s edges, pretending that he’s giving me this under much different and happier circumstances.

“Will I ever see you again?” with all remaining courage, I ask the hardest question of my life.

“When things quite down, I’ll find you,” his touch cups my face and I sink into its warmth.

“Promise?” my heart grows desperate for assurance.

“Yes,” he smiles trying to ease my heartbreak. “Until then, hold on to this and I promise to come back for it,” he let’s go to undo a button on his wool coat and reaches for his blazer’s collar.

“Here, keep it safe for me. It’s my most prized heirloom,” his hand places something small in mine.

My palm opens, revealing a little red rose. I remember it from the Winter’s Ball, but I don’t remember those leather petals being so small and delicate. I don’t recall them being so precious.

“Until then,” a weak smile breaks my pattern of tears.

“Until then,” he smiles back.

“Until then,” Scarlet agrees, and so do the rest of the wolves.

The few youths are here, and the rest are back at the Governor’s Mansion busy figuring out what the pack’s future looks like.

“Take care of yourself,” wrapped up in emotion, Scarlet hugs me.

In respect to his mate, Chance shakes my hand.

The always fashionable Gabriel gives me the tip of his silk black hat. “Stay out of trouble, if you can.”

Marie, the Omega, the last in rank is the last one to bid me farewell. Her hug is tight. Cheek to cheek, I feel her warm breath tickling my ear. The words she whispers are anything but. When she lets go there’s nothing else left to do but disappear and it may stay that way forever. Marie will make sure of that.

‘When he tries to find you, make sure he doesn’t,’ the echo of her earlier words keep bouncing in my skull.

Mika stares out the window, lost in a sad haze. Oh, how I wish he didn’t want to come with me. How I wish he returned to his dear family and speared them and himself from such bitter sorrow.

But he’s not alone and this isn’t easy for me either. Looking back through the carriage’s back window, I savor the last of Liam’s face until his shape fades away completely. I pray to see him again. To have my arms around him and have him hold me in return, to taste his kiss, to walk about the gardens arm in arm, to argue over his stubborn ways.

Until then, the simple warmth of his memory will have to see me through.

The End.

Thank you so much for reading this story, but wait! There will be more! Victoria’s life journey continues when I start the second book “Rubies and Fire.”