Denzel was struck by a sudden numbness that seeped into his bones. Cordelia helped him to his feet, and he stumbled to a nearby chair, collapsing into it."Nira...my Nira," he whispered, his voice cracking.Cordelia knelt beside him, her eyes red-rimmed from crying. "She's at peace now, Denzel. She's at peace."Denzel's gaze drifted to the floor, his mind replaying memories of Nira. He remembered her smile, her laughter, her fierce determination."Why did she have to die?" he whispered, his voice barely audible.Cordelia's hand closed around his. "She died saving you, Denzel. She gave her life to protect you."Denzel's eyes snapped up, a fierce anger burning within him. "I don't want to live without her," he growled.Cordelia's grip tightened. "You have to, Denzel. Nira gave her life for you. You have to honor her memory by living."Denzel's anger slowly faded, replaced by a deep sorrow. He knew Cordelia was right. He had to keep going, for Nira's sake.With a heavy heart, Denzel slowly rose to his feet. Cordelia stood beside him, her eyes shining with tears."What do I do now?" Denzel whispered.Cordelia's voice was barely audible. "You keep fighting, Denzel. You keep fighting for what Nira believed in."Denzel nodded, a sense of determination growing within him. He would honor Nira's memory, no matter what lay ahead.As Cordelia's words hung in the air, Denzel's world crumbled around him. He felt like he'd been punched in the gut, his breath knocked out of him. He couldn't speak, couldn't think, couldn't feel anything but a numbing pain.Ronald and Jason entered the room, their faces etched with concern. "Denzel, what's wrong?" Ronald asked, but Cordelia's tears and Denzel's shattered expression told them everything."Nira...she's gone," Cordelia whispered, her voice barely audible.Ronald's eyes widened in horror. "No...no, that can't be!" He stumbled forward as if he could undo the truth by sheer force of will.Jason's face crumpled, his eyes welling up with tears. "Oh, Denzel...I'm so sorry, man." He reached out, but Denzel was beyond comfort.Denzel's body shook, his sobs tearing through the room like a hurricane. Cordelia held him, her own body wracked with grief. Ronald and Jason joined them, forming a circle of sorrow, their tears mingling as they mourned the loss of their beloved Nira.The room was a blur of pain, the air thick with anguish. Denzel's heart felt like it had been ripped from his chest, leaving a gaping hole that could never be filled. He couldn't imagine a world without Nira and couldn't bear the thought of living without her by his side.As they held each other, their wails echoed through the mansion, a haunting chorus of grief that seemed to shake the very foundations of their world.At that moment, they were no longer warriors, no longer alphas or pack members. They were just broken, shattered remnants of a love that had been cruelly torn from them.Their sorrow was a living thing, a beast that consumed them whole, leaving nothing but ashes and despair in its wake.As the tears flowed, Denzel knew that he would never be the same again. A part of him had died with Nira, and he couldn't find his way back to the light.The darkness closed in, a suffocating shroud that threatened to snuff out the last flicker of hope.Denzel's sobs slowly subsided, replaced by a numbness that threatened to consume him. He looked up at Cordelia, his eyes red-rimmed and pleading."Where is she?" he whispered, his voice cracking. "I need to see her. I need to hold her."Cordelia's face contorted in sorrow. "Denzel, I don't know if that's a good idea. You're not ready-"Denzel's gaze turned desperate. "Please, Cordelia. I need to say goodbye. I need to hold her one last time."Ronald and Jason exchanged a concerned glance, but Cordelia nodded slowly. "Okay, Denzel. I'll take you to her."She led him to a quiet chamber deep within the mansion, where Nira's body lay on a soft, white bed. Denzel's heart shattered anew as he approached her.Nira's face was serene, her eyes closed as if in peaceful slumber. Denzel's fingers trembled as he reached out to touch her cheek."Oh, Nira," he whispered, his voice breaking. "My love, my heart, my everything."He gently lifted her into his arms, cradling her against his chest. Nira's body felt cold and lifeless, but Denzel didn't care. He held her close, inhaling the scent of her hair, feeling the softness of her skin.Tears streamed down his face as he rocked her back and forth, whispering his final goodbye."My love, I'm so sorry. Sorry, I couldn't protect you. Sorry, I couldn't save you. You gave your life for me, and I don't know how to live without you."Ronald and Jason stood in the doorway, their faces etched with grief. Cordelia joined them, her eyes welling up with tears.Denzel's anguish was palpable, a living thing that filled the room. They watched, helpless, as he poured out his heart into Nira's lifeless body."I promise to keep fighting," Denzel whispered. "I promise to honor your memory, to make you proud. You'll always be with me, in here." He pressed her hand to his heart.As Denzel held Nira, the weight of his grief threatened to crush him. But in that moment, he knew he had to find the strength to carry on, for Nira's sake, for their pack's sake.With a heavy heart, Denzel gently laid Nira back on the bed, his fingers lingering on her face."Goodbye," he whispered. "Rest now."Denzel turned to his friends, his eyes empty, his soul shattered. "We need to prepare for her funeral. We'll give her the sendoff she deserves."Ronald nodded, his voice barely above a whisper. "We'll make it happen, Denzel. We'll honor her memory together."As they left the chamber, Denzel knew that his journey through grief had just begun. But with his pack by his side, he'd face the darkness and find a way to keep moving forward for Nira.
