As soon as we returned to the pack, we slowed to a jog, scanning the area for any patrols that had been on duty while we were away. However, no one was in sight. Axel attempted to reach out through a mind link, hoping for any response, but received nothing.
We moved cautiously through the forest until the packhouse came into view, and it was immediately evident that something was terribly wrong. A clear sign of a struggle surrounded us; windows were shattered and doors lay ajar, splintered from forceful entries.
Exchanging worried glances, Axel and I urged the others to check on their families. Together, we approached the packhouse slowly, mindful that his mother was inside with a few servants.
Once inside, we discovered that the house had been ransacked; blood smeared across several
