Xena''s POV


    We walked toward the entrance together, greeting each guest as they entered the tent. Pack members arrived one by one. Samuel''s bodyy at the front, and I deliberately kept my focus on the back of the tent. Only after everyone was seated did we see Ryder and the high-ranking members of his pack enter.


    William walked straight to Ama. She copsed into his arms, breaking down in tears once again. Ryder came to my side, cing his hand on the small of my back.


    "Are you okay?" he asked in a low voice.


    "Barely holding on," I answered truthfully.


    Ryder shook hands with Leonard and Logan, and the others followed suit. When Ama finally released William, he joined the line of those offering condolences.


    My body instantly stiffened when my father and Martha approached with Samuel''s father. My heart raced, my throat tightened, and a sense of foreboding spread through me.


    Samuel''s father stopped in his tracks when he saw me. His face was


    expressionless, his ck eyes like bottomless pits. My father whispered something in his ear, and he lowered his head, walking straight past me toward the front.


    But I wasn''t lucky enough to escape Martha.


    "You have some nerve showing up here," Martha hissed, hands on her hips, eyes filled with hostility.


    A sharp pain shot through my chest, shame and anger rising simultaneously. I knew in their eyes,


    I should be held responsible for Samuel''s death. Perhaps they were right-the


    thought had taken root in my mind, making it almost impossible to breathe. "Enough, Martha," Logan stepped in front of me.


    "Watch yourself. He won''t always be around to protect you," Martha red at me before walking away.


    In truth, I weed Martha''s humiliation as punishment I deserved, epted willingly.


    "Maybe I should stay in the back," I whispered to Logan, my voice filled with uncertainty. I didn''t want to cause more conflict, didn''t want to make Samuel''s funeral any more tense because of my presence.


    "No, you''re sitting with us in the front row," Logan looked furious.


    “Logan.....” I hesitated, feeling incredibly vulnerable.


    "Xena, no, you need to be there," Ryder put his hand on my shoulder.


    I looked up at him, his furrowed brow and the determination in his eyes making it


    impossible to refuse. I gripped Logan''s hand for support as we walked down the aisle. I


    forced myself to keep my head high, though it took every ounce of strength I possessed.


    Each step felt like a battle, fighting both the fear inside and the pressure from outside.


    My father, Martha, and Samuel''s father sat on the left side, while we sat on the right.


    After we were seated, my father stood up.


    "Today, we gather to remember one of our own. He left us too soon, but he died a hero.


    Samuel was a son, brother, and friend to many of us. Samuel touched many lives, and the courage he disyed will continue to inspire us. Samuel''s sacrifice has earned him our highest level of respect, and we will nt a white ash tree in his honor." Everyone stood,


    apuding enthusiastically.


    My eyes stung, tears threatening to spill over.


    "The family has decided to open the microphone for those who wish to say a few words."


    Logan stood, adjusted his suit, and approached the microphone. He cleared his throat and began to speak.


    "Samuel was like a brother to me. We grew up together, learned to throw a football together, learned how to talk to girls, how to be men. He stood not only by my side


    but by my sister''s side as well. The three of us were inseparable. Then Ama joined us, and


    after that, Leonard. The five of us became more than just friends. We were family."


    As I listened to Logan''s words, my mind drifted back to those carefree days. Theughter, the shared secrets, thete-night talks-all of it came flooding back with crystal rity.


    Don''t Poke the Luna