29

After the death of his parents, Alpha Gerald fell into a profound depression. It was a devastating blow for both him and me as I had to step in and cover for him in public appearances. I understood his pain, but as time went on, the pressure became too much for me to bear alone.

The people, too, began to mutter. They questioned why Gerald had withdrawn from his duties, not realizing the weight of his grief. I knew that he still had responsibilities to fulfill, and although I empathized with him, I couldn't help but feel the mounting frustration within me. It seemed as though he didn't care about anything else anymore.

One day, my frustration reached a breaking point. Joan was visiting and it didn't take her long to notice my distress. She came up to me at the kitchen counter and remarked,

"Relax your shoulders Lizzy, it seems as though you've been carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders. Is there something bothering you?"

Unable to hold my emotions back any longer, I poure