12. Matilda

I was absolutely floored by our four pack members' death. I wept along with everyone else, especially on discovering they had been buried where they were found. Too savaged to be given back to the Goddess via the funeral pyre. What their final moments must have felt like was the fuel of my nightmares.

We all came together in the town square of Cragstone. Donning black and offering blessings and wishes to their parents and siblings. All this took place without our Alpha. Jackson was not able to preside so my father, Beta Kharkov found himself taking on more duties.

Nobody wanted to talk about it but it seemed as though Jackson had reached his limits. Losing his eldest son had left him fragile, under the care of his wife and daughters.

With the packhouse not having Cillian in residence there were no large meetings to cater for, the place felt abandoned and empty. From having four large personalities in residence, constant noise and activity it was unnerving to see it so quiet.

It mean