Chapter 12

A/N: Sorry this has taken so long. I started back to school and between kids, home and class work I just don't seem to have enough hours in the day. I'm not sure if I really love this chapter but I think it went ok. I was struggling on where to take this but I guess it ended well. Let me know what you think. I hope you enjoy this.

MPOV:

It felt like years have passed when it was only days. The funeral was today and the sun was shining brightly in the sky like a polished new penny. That seemed fitting because Rafe was always Sienna's sun. Ah...Sienna, my best friend...no sister. She was hurting so badly and I felt helpless. Completely helpless. She wouldn't let anyone near her except Aunt Gloria. So she stayed behind at the Cullen mansion with Sienna while the rest of us made our way to La Push.

The whole day felt like walking through water. It was like everything around me was muted like colors, voices, people. Everything except for the blazing bright sun. The church service was simple and peaceful. It all seemed to pass in a blur of images. It was hard sitting there and watching my best friend look like a shell shocked zombie. Aunt Gloria had made her eat and shower. I'm just glad she didn't show up in her blood stained shirt and jeans. After Rafe died Sienna laid catatonic on her mother's floor in the Cullen mansion. She didn't eat, move, or talk. She just stayed like that covered in his blood. It took the pack a whole day to get her to let go of Rafe's body. After that she just went lifeless.

We make our way to the cemetery and I walk as close to Sienna as she will let me. So far she has a death grip on Aunt Gloria like she is the only thing keeping her standing upright. Her caramel colored curls have been pulled into a tight bun at the nape of her delicate neck. Her black dress is plain and the dark cardigan and flats make her look like a sad librarian. Her face is scrubbed clean and her once bright hazel eyes are swollen and rimmed in red. She walks slowly behind Emily and everyone is watching her like she's a breakable piece of rare crystal.

The sun is bright, sitting high in the cerulean sky. I watch again as those same free flying birds fly by as if the world had not changed somehow. It angers me slightly that they can be so carefree and above it all while the world I know crashes down around me. It just goes the show me that the earth will keep spinning and life will still go on as if nothing truly tragic had transpired. My life, my pain was only just a tiny fraction of the bigger picture.

We gather around Rafe's coffin. The dark glossy mahogany and polished brass of his casket gleam in the morning sun. This was the worst part. The final goodbye. I huddle closer to my dad while he wraps his free arm around my mother. I steal a glance at my mom and I feel my chest tighten at the sight of the tears running down her smooth cheeks. Leah Clearwater-Call never cries and I mean never.

Billy gives a small blessing before Sam says a few words. Emily is sobbing softly in Rosalie's arms while Dali strokes her hair soothingly. Sam wipes a few stray tears from his eyes before clearing his throat. "My son was a good man and alpha. He...uhh... never wanted to be a wolf but when he did finally phase he took his responsibility very seriously." Sam starts somberly. His ebony eyes are weary and he looks as if he's aged ten years in the past few days. "He died doing what he was born to do, protecting his imprint, his family and his land. Son I know that you are in a better place with your ancestors but I want you to know that for the 18 years I had you in my life you made me a better man." He chokes out as the tears start to flow. The facade of strong alpha melted away and what was left was a grieving father. "When I first held you in my arms I knew...I just knew that I would do everything I could to be the father that I never had. I thank you for giving me that chance. I will always love you son." Sam finishes before he breaks down completely.

Jake goes and hugs Sam tightly and helps him to his seat. I brush away tears as each pack member recounts their fond memories of Rafe. Elijah can only murmur the word brother before losing it while Rocco gives an eloquent and heartfelt speech. The old timers each get up and tell stories of babysitting and caring for the first addition to the new generation of the pack. It was touching to see how loved Rafe is...was.

"Sweetie, do you want to say something?" Rosalie asks Sienna as she struggles to hold in her tears. Sienna shakily makes her way towards Rafe's casket. I tense up watching my best friend looking so fragile and heartbroken. She places both of her tiny hands on the top of the glossy coffin. "I love you so much and I know you would want me to be strong. But I don't know how I'm supposed to breathe without you, to live without you." She moans softly letting the tears run freely down her face. "You lied to me! You promised you would never leave me!" Sienna says harshly while banging her tiny fists against the smooth surface of his casket. "You promised to love me forever but your not here! What am I suppose to do now? How am I supposed to take care of our baby without you? How!!" She yells fiercely shocking the hell out of everyone there.

My heart instantly breaks while she drops to the ground crying hysterically. Jake and the triplets rush over to her. Jack scoops her tiny form into his large arms and takes off towards the Uley house with Caine and Caleb close behind him. Caden strides over to Rosalie and helps her up quickly so she can go and comfort her daughter. The rest of the service finishes quickly. Each member of the family walked up to Rafe's casket and left a single white chrysanthemum on the top of his coffin to pay our final respects to him.

We make our way solemnly to Sam and Emily's home. Rachel, Kim and Gloria cook and clean up while Emily rests in her bed. I sit in the living room with the pack while the wolf girls gossip in the kitchen. We cry and laugh as we remember our fallen brother. I had the guys in stitches when I recount the time I hit Rafe in the head with Aunt Emily's cast iron skillet. To quote one of my favorite movies Steel Magnolias, laughter through tears is one of my favorite emotions. It feels good to smile at all the good times we had with Rafe instead of dwelling on the sad. I know he would want it that way.

I head into the kitchen to sit with my mom while Emily talks to Sienna about the newest edition to our family. The last piece of Rafe that will be in this world. "You won't have to do this alone. You have your family and the whole pack to help you." I say to my best friend. Sienna jumps up and hugs me tightly. I hug her back just as fiercely. She's my best friend and I know I'll do everything I can to help her through this horrible time because I know she would do the same for me.

I leave to go home and my parents decide to stay and spend some time with Emily and Sam. The original pack and the Cullens gathered around to talk about the past and the help ease the Uley's grief. I walk up the drive to my home when I notice Caine sitting on the steps in only a white wife-beater and his black dress pants and shoes. His face softens a little when he sees me. "Hi." I say a little softly. "Hi." He says just as softly.

I walk up to him and extend my hand. He looks up at me with his gold flecked brown eyes and takes my hand. He stands gracefully still holding tightly to my hand. I unlock my door and lead him silently to my room. We don't say anything as we both undress. He strips down to his black cotton boxers and lies down on my bed. I strip down to my white sports bra and black tiny yoga shorts. I turn on the fan in my room and climb in bed next to him. This seems to be our little ritual since the battle. We lie together and hold on to each other as if we need to know that the other will still be there in the morning. My parents don't say anything because they know that we aren't doing anything other than just sleeping.

I lay my head on his smooth chest and he wraps his strong arm around my waist. "Thank you." Caine says his voice thick and scratchy from crying all day. "For what?" I ask while I lazily run my fingers over his stomach. "For being a good friend to Sienna. She's lucky to have you." He says and places a soft kiss on the top of my head. The triplets have always been very protective of their baby sister.

I can feel my eyelids begin to droop when a piercing erratic howl rips through the silent night. Another howl follows close after the first. Caine and I jump up and race outside. "What the hell is going on?" I ask as I struggle to keep up with Caine's long strides. "Fuck if I know." Caine says and phases on the fly. I look down at my shorts and sports bra and shrug my shoulders. I can always get new ones. I keep running and let the familiar fire ripple down my spine till I'm on all fours.

The mind link is chaotic at best. I'm still in Rafe's pack because I thought it would be best to not have to share a mind with Caine all the time. A girl has to have some secrets. I can hear two unfamiliar voices in my head as well as Elijah, Yas, Rocco, Brady, and Collin.

Wha...what's going on? A familiar voice says that I can easily pick out as Nico's honeyed voice.

Nico? Is that you? I ask just to be sure.

Moxie? How the hell can I hear you? Nico nervously says. I can feel the quiver of confusion in his mind.

Calm down. We're on our way. I say just as another voice hits me full force.

Shit...fuck...I have fur. I have fur. Fuck. The new voice chants over and over again. I suddenly recognize it as Remy's smooth timber.

Easy. Stay calm. Elijah utters in his new found alpha voice.

I follow Caine to the back of Nico's house. Just barely in the woods is a large mocha wolf. Caine informs Caden we found one of the new wolves. I watch as Nico paces nervously around trying to figure out what is going on. He's shaking his large head as if he's in some kind of dream and he's trying to wake himself up. I just know this is going to be a long night.

Elijah informs me that they found Remy deep in the woods near the old treaty line. I get Nico's attention and coax him towards Remy and the rest of the pack. Caine heads over towards Caden, Caleb and Elijah. Poor Elijah, he's only been alpha for two days and he already has to deal with two new wolves. I pad my way over to Rocco and flop down next to him. I curl up into him and let his warmth relax me.

I can already tell Elijah is trying to get Remy and Nico to phase back, but it could take hours and even days for that to happen. The night air is cold and damp and the grief of today has taken it's toll on me. I scan the mind link and from the looks of things this will definitely be an all nighter. Remy and Nico are both in denial and the rage both feel towards my family only adds fuel to the fire.

I tune them out and prepare to get some rest. Yas and Zev curl up together and settle in for a long night as well. Collin and Brady run the first patrol around La Push while the rest of us get some much needed down time. I'm surprised there is only two new wolves since the place was crawling with leeches not too long ago. I have a sinking feeling this is just the beginning. Welcome to the wolf pack. Is the last thought I can muster before sleep takes me.

A/N: Please Review. Next up Caine and Moxie finally get some alone time and a few new wolves join the pack.