Page 10 of Sanctuary

“What is it?” he asked quietly, so not to startle her.

He watched as she searched him out and as the cloud moved, exposing the moon, he saw the worry on her face. “Why are you sleeping on the ground?”

“I prefer to sleep outside under the sky. Plus, I’m bigger than my back seat,” he replied as he stood slowly. “What’s wrong?”

“It’s Luna.” Her voice lowered, and Eric knew it wasn’t good. “She’s not doing well. She’s close to….”

Eric knew when he had touched the old wolf it wouldn’t be long. “I know, Gemma. I’m sorry.” Her eyes glistened, but he refrained from pulling her to him.

She nodded, then cleared her throat. “I don’t want her to die in the enclosure.” A small sob escaped when she spoke. “And I don’t want to let her out to wander off and die alone. Could you…?”

He understood exactly what she was asking him and without hesitation, he knew he would do anything for her. “Go to her enclosure and say your goodbyes. I’ll be there in a second.”

Again, she nodded before turning. After two steps, she stopped and looked over her shoulder. Her eyes slowly rose to his as tears rolled down her cheeks. “Thank you.”

A lump formed in his own throat as he watched this woman mourn for an animal. If he wasn’t certain he loved her before, he knew it now. Not all mates were a love match. But he knew for a fact his would be.

After she once again turned and walked away, Eric began to undress. He would give way to his wolf, who knew how best to soothe another in this time. He had done it before, and it was a comfort to have another of their kind with them as they exited the earth. His change was fluid and swift. It felt good to be in his wolf form. He enjoyed both forms his body took, and if he were in one too long, he became restless. Shaking his body, Eric headed toward the enclosure, briefly wondering what Gemma would think of his wolf form. It never bothered him before what others thought of him, but it did now.

******

Gemma cried all the way back to the enclosure. Wiping her eyes with swift swipes, she opened the gate and walked in. Luna lay with her head down, but her eyes found hers. Kneeling in front of the old wolf, Gemma touched her soft head then lay down beside her.

Wrapping her arm around Luna, to give not just the wolf comfort but herself as well, Gemma buried her face in Luna’s fur. So many nights Gemma had found herself outside in Luna’s enclosure just to feel the comfort of a warm body next to her. Luna had offered her a special friendship, a friendship she would never find again.

“I’m going to miss you so much,” Gemma whispered into her fur as her tears began to flow. “I want to be selfish and keep you here, but that’s not fair. Eric is going to take you somewhere safe so you can be at peace.”

Noise at the gate had both Luna and Gemma looking that way. Gemma gasped as a huge black wolf walked into the enclosure, its golden eyes solely focused on her. She slowly sat up, her hand still buried in Luna’s fur. She knew it was Eric and felt no fear as the wolf stalked toward her. It wasn’t an aggressive movement, and Gemma instinctively knew that was how this alpha wolf always moved, with purpose, always with purpose.

The wolf, Eric, stopped in front of her, and they stared at each other for a long minute. Finally, Gemma reached out and touched the side of his head. His fur was soft and warm, welcoming, and she really wanted to bury her face into its softness as she wrapped her arms around his neck, but she refrained. This was Luna’s time.

“Thank you.” Gemma felt a lone tear cruise down her cheek and let it go. She turned to Luna, who struggled to stand. Gemma helped her up and then again, knelt in front of her, giving the wolf a long hug. “I will never forget you, friend.”

Gemma stayed where she was as Luna followed Eric out of the enclosure. The elderly wolf turned once to look at her before they both disappeared into the darkness.

The tears became hard, wracking sobs, and then all around her, the wolves howled, saying their own farewell to Luna.

******

Eric made his way back to his SUV. Dawn was only a few hours away, and he was exhausted. The old wolf had been ready, more than ready, and he knew for a fact Gemma had been right. Luna hadn’t wanted to die in the enclosure and for a human to realize that was something very special.

After finding a secluded spot for Luna to die in peace, he had sat watch by her side as comfort. It had been quick. Once she was gone, he had rushed back, shifted, and dressed before heading back to Luna. In fear that other animals would dig her up, he’d found some broken tree limbs and made a makeshift bed to lay her on before he’d set it on fire. It was a burial of respect, and he’d been sure to stay until the fire was embers.

Now back at his SUV, he couldn’t stop thinking of Gemma and if she was okay. Since sleep was out of the question, he headed toward the house, but as he passed Luna’s enclosure, he spotted Gemma curled up in the corner with her head resting on her arm.

Rushing inside, he knelt in front of her and noticed her cheeks still wet. She hadn’t been asleep long. “Gemma.” He reached out, touching her hand. Slowly, her swollen red eyes opened to stare at him. She would know what seeing him meant.

“She’s gone.” It wasn’t a question; it was a moment of reality.

“It was quick and peaceful,” Eric assured her and watched as she sat up.

“I wasn’t ready to let her go.” Gemma swiped at her eyes. “I hate this part. I care for them all so much, but Luna was special. She was truly the only friend I have. She listened to me always, and I know she understood me. These wolves are my family, my friends.”

Eric nodded, letting her get it all out. She was hurting. Hell, he hadn’t even known the old wolf, but he had felt her spirit and knew she was special. Her passing had even gotten to him a little.

“Did you bury her deep enough so nothing can get to her?” Gemma frowned with a sniff.

“After she passed, I came back and shifted. I went back to her and built a makeshift bed and gave her an honorable burial by fire,” Eric replied, hoping she wouldn’t be upset. “Nothing can get to her, and it is a burial of respect among my kind.”

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