Chapter 95: The burial

Erick was whistling as he drove his way back home. He had just left Amber's house and seeing how tired she was, he thought that he would give her time to rest. She has been working day until night.

A few minutes later, he arrived at home and suddenly, he felt something weird vibrating in the air. He could feel the tension and the uneasiness running through him. He felt as if something terrible had happened. He swiftly parked his car near his house and was about to enter his house when he noticed that no one was home.

Standing before his front door, he stood there silently. He looked over at Hamish's house and saw it was a bit quiet as well. Even Hamish wasn't at home. He grabbed his phone from his pocket and began to dial Hamish's number.

He frowned down at his phone when he saw that Hamish rejected his call. Few seconds later, there was a text message coming in. It was from Hamish.

'To the packhouse. Now.'

Erick's eyes widened as his heart began to thump fast. Did something happen to his parents? He had just met his mother in school. Could something have happened while he was at Amber's?

He quickly slipped his phone back into his pocket and began to run towards the packhouse, his thoughts jumbling in his mind.

When he arrived at the packhouse, he was surprised that everyone at the pack was there. He noticed that everyone was either crying or comforting the ones beside them. He frowned, feeling confused. He turned his head towards the packhouse and could sense his mother was inside.

He pushed himself in, mumbling apologies as he went.

Shortly after, he stood inside the meeting room. He looked even more surprised at the scene he was looking in front of him. All the tables and chairs were gone as many people stood around with a grave look on their faces. Three female shifters were on their knees, bawling their hearts out. Their clothes were torn as if they were about to shift. But he could tell that they were about to shift since he noticed that their claws were showing.

He looked over to the side and saw Hamish standing beside his mother, with his arms around her comfortably. The three shifters nearby looked up and saw Erick. One of them walked towards him and placed his hand on his shoulder. "Erick."

Erick raised his head. "Latham, what's going on?" he asked, still confused.

Latham let out a sigh and said, "We'll be conducting a funeral later. We're waiting for the Alpha to arrive."

With his eyes widened, Erick asked again, "What had happened?"

Latham looked around him and then led Erick out of the room. He then began to tell him everything that had happened. From the homeless killings and the killing of packmates.

Erick clenched his fists as he gritted his teeth. He knew the dead packmates. He once hung out with them before at the police station when he was young as he was waiting for his father to finish work. He knew them even before they were mated. He recalled the fun times that they did to entertain a young pup like him. It saddened and pissed him off due to the fact that they died at the hands of a cruel killer. And that he did not have the chance to say goodbye.

The two of them returned back inside. It was then he saw that his mother was one of the people who were sitting on the floor, trying to calm the grieving mates. She whispered soothing words as she rubbed the back and the arm of the shifter.

Shortly after, Fergus came in with several of the packmates. They were all still in their police uniforms. All of them gave the grieving mates a small bow of a head, in respect of their grief.

Everyone was quiet. And those who were waiting outside the packhouse, stood still as they awaited their Alpha, their faces streaked with tears.

Soon after, the Alpha arrived with Paccia beside him and a couple of other shifters who were carrying the dead bodies. The grieving mates sensed their dead mates and rushed out of the packhouse. They bawled and dropped down on their knees once more when they saw their mates covered with a white sheet.

Lachlan told the shifters who were carrying the dead bodies to bring them to the meeting room. The shifters nodded and brought the bodies to the meeting room, followed by the crying mates.

Lachlan looked up and his gaze softened as he saw the tired look on his mate's face. He walked over and brushed a strand of her hair over her ears lovingly. He placed his forehead against hers. He always felt calm whenever she was around. And now with her being close, he doesn't feel tired anymore. He raised his head and turned around to his pack and announced that they will give time for the grieving mates to be with their mates. Once they are done, they will proceed with the funeral.

"Yes, Alpha!"

A few minutes later, the grieving mates walked out of the packhouse with their eyes still with tears. They were rubbing their eyes, still could not accept that their mates were dead. The wolves inside them were much worse as they howled, scratching to get out and wanting to die together with their mates. Luckily, the women were strong, thanks to the other women's consoling.

Lachlan immediately gestured to some of the male shifters to bring the bodies out for burial. A few minutes later, everyone in the pack was standing in rows in an area not too far from where the young shifters had their training. It was a burial ground for the dead shifters.

Although it was not the first time someone in their pack had died, it was always a sad and horrible day for them. And that day was no different.

The funeral proceedings started off with the Alpha giving his condolences to the grieving mates and that in this time of need, the pack will always have their packs. He then began his talk of remembrance of the three good shifters, talking of their good deeds to the pack and the town.

Tears slid down on almost everyone's cheeks as they listened to Lachlan's talk. Luella hugged one of the grieving mates in her arms, soothing her as the woman grieved, bawling her heart out. The other two women also cried, their handkerchief soaked from their tears.

The funeral proceedings lasted until midnight. Some of the pack members went back home after the proceedings and some, specifically those who lived in the packhouse returned there. Luella, Mary and the other female shifters decided to stay behind at the packhouse to accompany the grieving women.

The Alpha, the Beta, the triplets and the elders, on the other hand, went straight to the meeting room. Inside the meeting room, the furniture was already arranged in place.

Inside, all of them were quiet as they sat in their seats, lost in their own thoughts.

Lachlan then broke the silence by turning towards Latham. With a serious look on his face, he told the latter that the training will continue on. And that he will give him permission to arrange any mission for the young shifters. He requested one of the elders to give a hand to Latham.

Aizel, one of the elders, raised his hand and offered his cooperation to Latham. He was a bit larger than Reginald with a thick and long beard, reaching below his chin. His eyes were dark, similar to his jet black hair, with a streak of grey hairs on the side.

Latham stood up and gave a little bow of respect towards Aizel, appreciating his help.

After he had sat back down, all of them began to talk about the killings. And Lachlan invited Paccia to speak about her findings, which made the others look solemn, once she was done.

By the time Paccia finished giving her report, everyone fell silent once more. They did not expect that the situation had turned to worse. Apparently, the way of killings were similar to how Roel had encountered during the abandoned barnyard.

Unfortunately for them, they do not have much clues to know who was behind the killings and their reasons. And the rogue that they had imprisoned back then had died without leaving any crucial evidence, which left them to square one.

Just as Lachlan was about to speak, someone had knocked on the door. Everyone went quiet and turned to the door where it opened to reveal one of the packmates. He gave a little bow of respect and announced, "There is someone here to see you, Alpha."

Narrowing his eyes, Lachlan frowned as he discreetly sniffed the air.

'What is he doing here?'