Hello, everyone! Welcome back to another chapter of Heart of a Wolf. Sorry for the delay. Let's get started!

Chapter 8

"I'm surprised that you weren't dishonorably discharged, Ymir." Eren took a beer that Armin handed him as he sat down in a chair next to him and Krista.

"You know, that's not the first time I've heard that." Ymir sipped her own beer and wrapped an arm around Krista's shoulders. "Even my C.O. told me that as he gave me my papers."

"Me and Eren were placing bets on your discharge, which reminds me." Mikasa held out her hand to Eren. "Pay up."

Eren glared at his sister and pulled a twenty out of his wallet. "Don't tell me you guys weren't thinking it too." he said, handing the bill to her.

"I wasn't." Mikasa smirked and put the bill in her pocket.

"Anyway," said Armin, changing the subject. "when's the wedding, Krista?"

"Don't know yet." she said. "We haven't talked about it much since Ymir got back."

"We were too busy fu-" Krista put a hand over Ymir's mouth before she could finish her sentence.

"Don't you dare finish that sentence." Krista scolded with a hint of a blush.

In the next few hours, the group had gotten caught up on everything from Ymir's trip back to how Annie came into the group. Though, only Ymir and Annie, now forgiving Armin for hitting her, found it funny.

"How the hell did you manage to hit her?" Krista asked, a little angry.

"It was an accident!" exclaimed Armin.

"Well, there goes your good driver discount!" said Ymir, still laughing.

"What good driver discount?" asked Annie. Ymir kept laughing at Annie's statment, but Armin didn't think she meant that as a joke rather than being confused on what it meant.

"Well, it's getting late." Mikasa stood up. "Better get home before we sleep in late and miss the bus to work."

"Hey, I can get Armin to take me to work." said Eren, walking to the door with his sister. "You're the one who decided to work 5 miles away from home."

"Yeah, yeah. Bye guys." Mikasa and Eren left, shortly followed by Ymir and Krista after saying their goodbyes.

Armin sighed softly a few minutes after they left and went to lock the door. But, as he went to lock it, something banged loudly on the door. Armin backed away quickly and Annie got up off the couch.

"What the hell?" Armin thought aloud.

Annie sniffed the air as the banging continued. She sighed and walked up to the door. Armin was about to protest when Annie spoke.

"You do know how to open a door, right, Sasha?" Annie opened the door to reveal the brunette in her wolf form.

"Yeah, yeah." she said. "I don't feel like morphing." Sasha looked behind Annie to see Armin, who was confused and a little frightened.

"Who's that?" asked Sasha, walking into the house and sniffing the air around Armin.

"I'm guessing she's lycan too?" asked Armin, clearly getting uncomfortable.

"Yeah." Annie had her head in her hand. "Sasha, that's Armin. The human who's housing me."

Sasha stopped sniffing Armin and wagged her tail. "I thought you smelled familiar." she said. "You're the one who helped Annie out, right?"

"Yes." Armin said.

"Cool. I'm surprised that she didn't tear you limb from limb." Sasha said.

"Sasha," Annie stood next to Sasha. "while I'm glad to see you again, I must ask what you're doing here?"

Sasha looked up at Annie with a sad look on her face. "I came to get you." she said. "It's time for the pyre."

Annie was now sharing the same look. "Where?" she asked.

"Same place where Erwin...yeah." Sasha's ears folded back against her head.

Annie looked over at Armin. "I'm going out. I'll be back later."

Before Armin could protest, Annie morphed and ran out of the house with Sasha, leaving Armin confused and a little worried.

"It's about time you two showed up." Annie and Sasha walked up to the clearing where Reiner and Connie were. Everyone was in their wolf form, as of tradition in a lycan funeral pyre. Connie met the two girls as they walked into the clearing. "Reiner's been waiting for you."

"Sorry for keeping the prince waiting." Annie said annoyingly. "He's not my pack master anyway. Erwin was."

"I know, but keep that to yourself. We have new recruits here."

Annie nodded and walked towards the pyre. Lycans were not allowed to talk about the past pack master to new recruits. It would paint a picture in their head of something that they would never see and blind their judgement. At least that's what Erwin said to Annie.

The three walked over to the fire where Reiner and a few other weres were sitting with their heads bowed towards the fire.

"...and may we hunt together again in an other life. Vale, dilecto" Reiner had finished the prayer said by the beta wolf of the pack. He looked up and saw Annie. He stood and walked passed her with a certain growl in his voice. (A/N: "Vale, dilecto" = "Goodbye, our dear friend." It's Latin)

"Say your prayer and goodbye and leave." he said, purposely bumping into her as he passed her. She growled lowly, but let it go.

"Come on, Annie." said Sasha. "You lead us in the prayer."

The three weres sat around the fire. Annie bowed her head and said the prayer said by the deceased packs master's closest friends and allies.

"Erwin Smith, alpha wolf and pack master of thirty-two years. We send a prayer to you as your soul has left our world to rest in The Eternal. We pray that you watch over our hunts and our very lives as we continue to live without your presence. May you serve the gods well in their hunt and that we will join you when we pass over to The Eternal. Vale, dilecto"

"Vale, dilecto." Connie and Sasha repeated. The three stood and walked away from the fire. Annie was about to walk back into the woods when Sasha stopped her.

"Hey, Annie." she said. "I know you're living with that human and all, but if there's anything you need, you come talk to me."

Annie sighed. "I appreciate the offer, Sasha. However, I highly doubt that Reiner would allow that."

"I don't care about him." she said. "I'll deal with it if he calls me out on it. Until then, anything you need, name it and I'll see what I can do. Ok?"

Annie was surprised. Sasha didn't exactly go against the pack for anything, but here she was doing exactly that.

Annie smiled. "Alright." she said. "I'll find you if I need anything."

Sasha nodded. "See you around, Annie." she said, and walked away with her pack.

Armin was awoken by the sound of a closing door. He sat up on the couch and saw Annie locking the door with a sigh.

"Welcome back." he said.

Annie looked over at him and nodded her hello. Armin could clearly see that something was wrong.

"You ok?" he asked her.

Annie didn't respond and walked down the hallway and into her room.

Alright, I'm gonna leave the chapter here. I hope you all enjoyed! See you on the flip side! Peace!