Part 6

When Laretta’s eyes opened slowly and she just stayed in the bed, thinking. Today was Saturday, the day of the funeral. Today was going to be hard for everyone, especially Richard. No matter how today would go, she would be stay by his side.
Slipping from the warm bed, she hurried to the closet to choose an outfit for the day. Once it was lying on her bed, she rushed to the shower, quickly washing. Laretta had started dressing when a loud thunder clap shattered the silence. Sounds of rain pattering against the window pane brought a sad smile to her lips.
She had met Mrs. Bell once, but that day would forever be with her. It was shortly after she and Richard met, and when he found out that she wasn’t going home for Christmas break, he convinced her to return with him. And Jon. At first, she wasn’t sure if Richard’s family would like her coming unannounced, but Mrs. Bell had dispelled that idea almost instantly. That Christmas was the best memory she had tucked away in her mind. It was one of her most treasured possessions.
Slipping the black dress over her head, Laretta looks at her reflection. A ghost of a smile played across her lips as she noticed that she was finally starting to look like her old self. Her eyes dropped to her neck and the smile faded in a blink of an eye.
A wide, thick scar ran down her collar bone and disappeared under the shoulder strap of the dress. The angry pink color of it told its age. She knew that she needed to cover it up, to keep it hidden. A black scarf was added to the outfit, and with a curt nod of her head, Laretta slowly slipped from her room.
Soft sounds of voices drifted up the stairs and Laretta found herself walking towards them, her heart sinking with each step. She had just reached the last step when Richard's deep voice sounded throughout the halls. A feeling she couldn't describe shot up through her body, making her heart race. Several of the wolves looked at her curious as they heard the change in her heart beat, but other than a deep blush, Laretta kept her face empty.
She had noted the longing for Richard that seemed to intensify last night when she woke from her night mare to find him sitting on her bed. The look of worry that colored his eyes had her longing to ease it somehow. And what surprised her the most was the longing to have him wrap his arms around her tightly and never let go. Shaking her head, Laretta slowly made her way to Richard's office, trying to keep her strange thoughts pushed away. She would deal with them later.
Knocking softly, she waited until she heard a voice. bidding her to enter. Pushing the door open, she came face to face with a distraught looking alpha-male wolf. Her heart went out to her friend and she quickly entered the office, shutting the door behind her. Taking a seat in front of his desk, she waits patiently.
"I can't go Laretta." Richard's voice was so soft that she barely heard what his said. "I can't go and watch as they lower her body into the ground." Her heart broke in half as she watched tears run down his tanned cheeks. She had to blink rapidly to clear her own away. "I understand Richard I do ... " Biting her lip, Laretta edged closer towards the desk.
"When I was younger I was taken from my family. I don't remember who took me, I can't remember the faces of my parents, and I don't remember how long I was kept. What I do remember, however, is that the day after someone told me I turned eight, someone found me and took me away.
"Those memories of what I went through during those years are blocked from my mind. And I can only surmise that what happened to me during those years has made me weary of others ... " Laretta stopped speaking as she let her eyes meet Richard's. "No matter what happens today, I want you to know that I'm here for you. I will not leave your side.”
The haunted look cleared from Richard's face as he gave her a small smile. Smiling back, Laretta stood and slowly moved towards the door. "Now come on," she said as her smile grew a bit. "You're pack is waiting on you ... They need you to be strong for them today as well; just as I'm being strong for you." As Richard stood and followed his mate from his office, he had to suppress the urge to hug her deeply. One day soon he would tell her just what she was to him, but until then, he would take it slow.
Richard had made sure that Laretta rode with him to the pack graveyard. Without her being with him, he knew that he would be even more of a wreck. As he hurried around the truck to open Laretta's door, he couldn't help but notice just how full the graveyard was.
Many of the faces around him were familiar. He had grown up with most of them, but there were still many more that he did not recognize. Laretta fell in step with him as he began to slowly make his way towards the cherry wood casket. His eyes darted towards the grave marker, landing on his father’s final resting place.
Richard knew that his mother was finally at peace, she was with her mate again. Steeling his shoulders, he walked forward, coming to a stop before the deep grave. Laretta stood just a few feet to his left, but her presence settled over him, making peace flood his sorrow-filled heart.
“I want to thank each and every one of you for attending today. Many of you have come a great distance and I know that my mother would be very happy that you came.” Richard spoke loud and clear, making his voice drift out and reaching everyone that was gathered around the grave of Tyler Bell. With his body straight, his head held high and his eyes unusually bright from unshed tears, Richard Bell was a sight to behold.
Many of the unmated women in the crowd felt their hearts racing at the sight of him. “My mother was an extraordinary woman. She had a true mother’s heart that ran over with love.”
Laretta stood quietly as she listened to Richard talk about growing up, how his mother faced the loss of his father. Feelings that she had never felt in her life flooded her body. The pain could clearly be heard in his voice, and it made her heart hurt that much more. She longed to close the gap between them and hug the hurt away, but she didn’t move.
Laretta watched as people began to pass by the casket, laying flowers and little mementos on it. The smell of tears filled the air, causing many to wrinkle their noses slightly. Time passed slowly as those that had known Tyler Bell gave their last goodbyes. Laretta didn't move from Tommy's side as he watched with a heavy heart. Finally, when the last of them were gone and only the two remained, Richard spoke again.
"She loved you, you know? Whenever I spoke with her after that Christmas, she was always asking about you." A small smile graced his face. I think somehow she knew just how special you were to me." Richard's statement puzzled Laretta but she let it pass.
"You're very special to me too Richard." His eyes met hers as if he was trying to find something in her soul. Time stood still for them as they just stared at each other. It wasn't until a cold raindrop fell on Richard's face that the spell between the two was broken. Looking around, he noticed the dark clouds and the shift in the air.
Taking his jacket off, he offered it to Laretta before ushering her back to his car. The thankful smile that she shot his way gave a jumpstart to his heart causing the peacefulness to spread throughout his chest. With one last look towards his parents, Richard quickly entered his car and drove back towards his pack house. He would give himself a week before he told Laretta that she was his mate.