Chapter 6 - 2

As Zach continued reading, I noticed his voice becoming slightly strained. He paused once, lowered his eyes toward the paper, and took a deep breath before continuing. That was when I noticed the moisture gathering in his eyes. He was trying not to cry, and seeing him struggle to control his emotions made my chest tighten.

Alpha Zach truly loved my father. It was obvious from the way he spoke about him.

When he finished, Zach returned to his seat beside me, taking a deep breath as he tried to regain his composure.

Next, Luna Anita approached the microphone, dressed in an elaborate black gown with expensive jewelry and flawless makeup. I couldn't help wondering why she'd gone to so much trouble to look glamorous at her husband's funeral.

She began speaking about how she and my father had met, how loving he had been, and how wonderful their marriage was. I barely listened to her words. After everything she'd done to me that morning, I found it difficult to believe anything she said.

Instead, my thoughts drifted back to my father. I wondered whether he'd ever thought about me during all those years we had spent apart. Had he ever regretted not being part of my life?

"Olivia."

I blinked and turned toward Alpha Zach.

"Yes?"

"Would you like to go up there and say something about your father?" he asked quietly.

My heart skipped a beat. Me? Speak about Father? In front of all these people?

My eyes moved toward the stage, where Luna Anita was still speaking, before returning to Zach. I opened my mouth to answer, but before I could say anything, Anita's voice suddenly echoed through the hall.

"And before I leave this stage, there's someone I believe should say a few words about my late husband."

I frowned and slowly turned toward her.

She was looking directly at me, with a strange smile spreading across her face.

"Why don't we hear from Alpha Timothy's daughter?"

My stomach dropped as every head in the hall turned in my direction.

For several seconds, I couldn't move. Luna Anita was standing on the stage, smiling at me as though she'd just done something wonderful, but I knew better. That woman wasn't inviting me to speak because she wanted me to honor my father. She wanted to embarrass me, and judging by the way everyone had turned to look at me, she was already enjoying herself.

I could hear people whispering among themselves. I clenched my hands in my lap and looked toward Alpha Zach, who was staring at Anita with a stern expression.

"Do these people know I'm his daughter?" I asked quietly.

He hesitated for a moment before shaking his head. "Not everyone, but some of them must have suspected it the moment you walked in."

I took a deep breath and looked around the hall again. There were so many people here who had known my father for years. What could I possibly tell them? That I'd spent most of my life waiting for him to acknowledge me? That I'd only met him once?

"I can't," I finally whispered, turning back toward Zach. "I don't know what to say about him. I barely knew him, and I don't have any memories to share with these people."

He studied me for a moment before giving a small nod.

"It's okay, Olivia. You don't have to."

I shot him a grateful glance. I wasn't going to stand before hundreds of strangers and pretend I'd shared a wonderful relationship with my father.

Zach turned toward the stage and made it clear that I wouldn't be giving a speech. Anita's smile faltered for a moment, but she quickly recovered and returned to her seat. I kept my eyes forward, refusing to acknowledge the irritated look she gave me.

A few minutes later, the priest finished another prayer and invited the immediate family to approach the coffin to pay their final respects. Alpha Zach stood and turned toward me.

"Come on, let's go see him," he said gently.

I swallowed nervously before rising to my feet. Luna Anita led the way, with Zach following behind her while I walked beside him. As we approached the coffin, my heart began pounding harder, and I found myself gripping the side of my dress.

But before we could reach the coffin, Luna Anita suddenly threw herself against it and began crying loudly.

"No! Timothy, please wake up!" she wailed, pressing both hands against the transparent surface. "Please don't leave me!"

I stared at her in disbelief as two maids hurried forward to comfort her. Perhaps her grief was genuine, but after everything she'd done to me that morning, I found it difficult to believe her tears.

Eventually, the maids helped her away from the coffin and escorted her back to her seat. Alpha Zach stepped forward next, and I watched him stand silently before my father's body.

He didn't cry or say anything. He simply stared into the coffin, his jaw clenched and his hands curled into fists. His eyes were red, and for a moment, I wondered what memories of my father were going through his mind.

After standing there for a while, Zach lowered his head briefly and stepped away.

Then it was my turn.

I approached the coffin slowly, my legs feeling strangely heavy. When I finally looked inside, I stopped breathing for a moment.

Father.

He was lying there in his beautiful white royal attire, his eyes closed and his face peaceful. He looked almost as though he were sleeping, and for several seconds, I simply stared at him, unable to believe that this was the same man I'd spent most of my life wishing I could know.

Suddenly, memories of the only time we'd met came rushing back. I remembered his face, his voice, and the strange feeling I'd experienced standing before a man I knew was my father but who had never truly been part of my life.

My lips began trembling.

Why hadn't he tried harder to know me? Why hadn't he visited? Why hadn't he given me the chance to call him Dad without feeling like I was speaking to a stranger?

A tear slipped down my cheek, followed by another.

I wished things had been different. I wished I'd known him better and spent time with him before his death. I wished we'd created memories together, memories I could hold on to now that he was gone. But I had nothing. No childhood memories of him, no special moments, and no stories I could tell anyone about the kind of father he'd been to me.

More tears streamed down my cheeks, and I didn't bother wiping them away, even though I knew everyone was watching. Standing there beside his lifeless body made me realize that whatever chance we'd had to build a relationship was gone forever.

I remained standing there, unable to move, until I felt a comforting hand settle on my shoulder. I turned and found Alpha Zach standing beside me.

"It's okay," he whispered gently.

I swallowed hard, trying to control my tears, but I couldn't bring myself to say anything. After taking one last look at my father, I slowly stepped away from the coffin.

Instead of returning to my seat, I walked toward the exit. I needed air, somewhere quiet where I could cry without hundreds of people staring at me. I ignored the curious looks following me as I left the hall and hurried outside.

I walked until I reached the quiet pack garden, collapsing onto the grass in a secluded corner. I pulled my knees to my chest, buried my face in my arms, and finally let out all the grief, anger, and heartbreak I had been holding inside.

I didn’t know how long I remained there, but eventually, I heard footsteps approaching. I lifted my head and turned, only to find Alpha Zach standing a short distance away.