The burial ended quickly.
The Alphas filed out in clusters, voices low. Rodrigo stood where he was and let them pass. He had no interest in pleasantries. He had no interest in much of anything at the moment except the fact that she had not come back.
His eyes moved through the thinning crowd.
And Seven was also nowhere to be found.
He remained where he stood, hands clasped behind him, and waited. The grounds were emptying slowly, the last of the mourners peeling away from the graveside in twos and threes.
He was still watching the path when he heard the footsteps behind him.
"Alpha Rodrigo."
He didn't turn immediately. Let one beat pass, then another, before he turned.
Hades came across the grounds unhurried. A small smirk on his lips. The particular smile of a man who had prepared for this conversation long before today and was pleased to finally be having it.
He stopped just slightly too close.
