He jerked his head away from us and toward Olivia's body. Her dark crimson blood covered the once-white carpet as she laid face down in it. The blood pooled under her neck. She looked like a doll thrown carelessly down on the floor. Xavier needed her just like I needed Blaine. I couldn't imagine the pain he was going through.
Xavier let out a whimper as he crawled toward her body. He held her head, careful to not let it fall back as he flipped her over and cradled her close. He kissed her head as he sobbed into her hair.
I turned away from them. It was too intimate, too heartbreaking to witness. "Take all the time you need." I hesitated at the doorway. "Call me when you're ready."
Blaine and I walked out of the room and closed the door behind us. His face said it all; he was just as unsure as I was about what to do next.
I mind-linked the rest of the pack to notify them of Olivia's murder and to tell them not to bother Xavier. The pack had the same question I did, do we retaliate? I didn't know. I sure as hell wanted to for Xavier and Olivia, but was it the best decision? Lockhart's pack was aggressive and downright evil. Their Alpha had no known weakness, and if he did, he didn't show it. Starting a war with them would be suicide and I wouldn't do that to my pack.
Blaine wrapped his arms around me and kissed my head. "We'll figure out what to do after the funeral. Now is the time to be mourning."
"You're right." I buried my face into his chest and inhaled his scent. "I just hope Xavier will be okay."
The classic piano melody filled the pack house with heartache as I walked through my saddened pack members and toward Xavier who stood motionless beside Olivia's coffin.
I wiped an angry tear away from my cheek. "I'm so fucking sorry."
He lifted his head to meet my eyes. "It wasn't your fault. I know you did everything you could. I just miss her so much." He balled his hand into a fist and hit the middle of his chest. "It hurts here. Like a hollow pain. I've never felt something like this before."
I swallowed hard and pulled him into a hug. "It'll take time, and a lot, but one day you won't feel it as strong."
"That's exactly what Caroline said." He squeezed me tight before letting go.
"Yeah, she told me she lost her mate too."
His bottom lip quivered, but he ran his hand across his face to stop it. "I didn't know either. Till she told me. This pain is unbearable, and I wouldn't wish it on anyone."
"I know how you feel." Ivy pushed past me and wrapped her arms around Xavier's stiff torso. "It gets better. You just need to focus your attention on someone else."
He stiffened and pulled away. "I don't want anyone else."
"Well, too bad. She's not coming back. Once you accept that, the faster you can move on." She smiled, patting his shoulder.
His face scrunched up in vehemence. "What the—"
"Hell is wrong with you?" I interrupted, grabbing her upper arm and pulling her away.
I mouthed sorry to Xavier as I dragged her into a spare room.
"Let me go! Your grip is too tight!" She pulled her arm away and massaged it.
"Shut your mouth for two seconds!" I turned around and began pacing. "Do you not realize how insensitive you just were?"
She rolled her eyes. "Your mate hasn't died. You don't understand."
I stopped, pivoting to face her. "Seriously? Xavier fell head over heels for Olivia. She was his mate and his true love. She was murdered in front of him two days ago and you're suggesting for him to move on! Who does that?" I threw my hands up.
"Someone who's been there." Ivy patted her swollen stomach. "It's difficult but the only way I could forget Jackson was by replacing him with Nolan. He will never be Jackson, but he at least fills that void." A tear trickled down her face, and she wiped it away.
I shook my head and pinched the brim of my nose. How could she think that way? Why didn't our parents get her therapy for what happened with Jackson?
"You need to be more sensitive," I said. "I know Olivia's death probably brings up memories of Jackson and I'm sorry. But try to be more in tune with other people's feelings."
"How about I just not say anything at all then?" She pursed her lips and crossed her arms.
"If you can't try to empathize, then you might as well not."
"That's not fair!" Her heel stomped on the carpet.
"Just don't talk to Xavier anymore today. You're making it harder on him." I walked over and opened the door.
She huffed, nodding, as she walked out of the room. "Okay, fine."
"Thank you," I whispered before leaving the room and joining Blaine in our designated chairs.
"What was that about?" He nodded his head toward Ivy who was pouting beside Nolan.
"She said some shitty things to Xavier."
He grunted. "Doesn't surprise me."
I inhaled a deep breath before letting it go. "I wish I could help him more."
His hand slid into mine and he interlaced our fingers. "There's nothing else you can do."
I squeezed his hand and nodded. "I know, you're right."
Xavier stood in front of the pack; his hands were trembling as he stared at the coffin that held his mate.
"Thank you all for coming. I know only a few of you were able to get to know Olivia on a personal level. That's because she just came to the pack a month ago and I was keeping her to myself." He sniffled and rubbed his eyes with his left hand. "Point is, she was your Gamma Female, and she was fucking precious to me. I'll sure as hell never be the same but I can't thank you enough for you all to come and pay your respects to her."
The pack clapped
