Chapter 299 What Family Really Means

Alpha Dominic handled all the funeral arrangements himself.

Didn’t say much about it, but Elara knew he’d been on the phone until two in the morning every night for a week, sorting out the casket, the flowers, the whole thing.

He did it so she wouldn’t have to lift a finger.

Elara showed up to the service. She stood in front of the casket for a long minute, just looking at her mother’s face. She didn’t cry. She wasn’t sure there was anything left to cry about.

But Alpha Dominic cut her time short. So did Alpha Hunter and Elizabeth. They all said the same thing. “You’re pregnant. Get out of here.”

Her grandmother backed them up. “The funeral home isn’t safe for you. Let Alpha Dominic handle the rest.”

So he did. He stayed all night. Made sure the service ran right. Made sure there were flowers and chairs and someone to say the right words when no one else would.

He also sent word to the Grant family about the arrangements.

No one came. Not a single person. No grandfather. No uncles. No cousins. No pack members. Just empty chairs and a cold room.

Nadia died completely alone. No pack. No family. Just a handful of strangers who were paid to be there.

But Alpha Dominic made sure she got a proper send-off anyway.

On the day of the burial, Elara stood at the grave with a single white rose. She looked down at the casket and thought about all the years she’d spent waiting for her mother to love her. All the birthdays. All the silence.

She dropped the rose.

“Rest in peace,” she said.

And she meant it.

It wasn’t a happy ending. But it was an honest one.

—

Two days later, Elara was sitting in the living room with her feet up, trying to rest. Alpha Dominic was in his study down the hall.It was the first quiet moment she’d had since the funeral.

Then the doorbell rang.

Elara frowned. She wasn’t expecting anyone. She pulled herself up off the couch and walked to the front door. When she opened it, her blood ran cold.

Her grandfather, Alpha Grant Senior, was standing on her doorstep. Her uncle Tommy was right behind him, shifting his weight from foot to foot, looking uncomfortable.

“Elara,” her grandfather said. No fake warmth this time. Just business. “We need to talk.”

Elara didn’t step aside to let them in. “About what?”

“Your mother. She couldn’t have died with nothing. That doesn’t add up. When she divorced Alpha Enzo, she must have walked away with something. Money. Property. Something.”

Tommy nodded along. “Yeah, we’re just saying. It doesn’t make sense.”

Elara stared at them. Two grown men. Two days after her mother’s funeral. The same funeral they didn’t bother to attend. And here they were, on her doorstep, asking about money.

She laughed. It wasn’t a nice laugh.

“You didn’t show up to her funeral. Not a single one of you. And now you’re here, asking about her money?”

Her grandfather’s jaw tightened. “That’s not the point.”

“Then what is the point? Because from where I’m standing, it looks like you couldn’t be bothered to say goodbye to your own daughter, but you sure as hell showed up fast when you thought there might be something in it for you.”

“Elara.” His voice turned hard. “Don’t test me.”

“Test you?” She crossed her arms. “I’m not testing anyone. If you have questions about her finances, file a lawsuit. Request a court order. Check her bank records, her asset transfers, whatever you want. That’ll clear everything up.”

She paused.

“But you won’t do that, will you? Because you know there’s nothing there. You just wanted to come here and bully me into giving you something. And I’m not in the mood.”

Alpha Grant’s face went red. “Is that how you talk to your elders? Just because you married some big shot Alpha and got yourself pregnant doesn’t mean you can act like you’re above everyone else.”

He pointed a finger at her.

“Let me tell you something. The higher you climb, the harder you fall. Don’t come crying to me when it happens.”

Before Elara could answer, Alpha Dominic ’s voice came from behind her.

“That’s not something you need to worry about.”

She felt his hand settle on her shoulder. He stepped up beside her, calm and steady. His eyes were cold.

“Whether my wife is spoiled or difficult, that’s because I let her be. I like it that way.”

He paused. His voice dropped.

“As for falling, you should worry about yourself. I’ve never seen a father skip his own daughter’s funeral and then show up two days later asking for money. You think she’ll visit you in your dreams tonight?”

“You—” Alpha Grant was shaking. His fists were clenched. His face was purple.

Tommy grabbed his father’s arm. He looked genuinely scared now. “Come on, Dad. Let’s go.”

He dragged the old man toward the car. But he couldn’t help tossing one last threat over his shoulder.

“My dad and I are the reasonable ones in this family. You better watch out for my brother. Jack isn’t as easy to deal with as we are. When he comes for payback, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

Alpha Dominic ’s face went cold.

Jack. He’d almost forgotten about that bastard. The youngest Grant brother. The violent one. He’d been quiet for way too long.

Alpha Dominic pulled Elara closer and kissed the top of her head.

“Let them talk,” he muttered. But his jaw was tight.