The next couple of weeks passed in a hazy blur, he had hardly eaten and sleep was ever more elusive. When Malachi returned to his room he had raged and destroyed his whole room, not even his bed had been salvageable.

The room was quickly cleaned up the next day but had no replacement for what he destroyed. A bed was accounted up so he may have a place to sleep by his room still stayed empty. Malachi didn't have the energy to deal with it now, he pushed it to the recesses of his mind.

They held the funeral two days after his wife was brought back and plans were made about informing her parents of her passing. Malachi had let Cid taken over the majority of the paperwork while Gray handed the daily patrols and training with the pack. 

Now he had more time to concentrate his efforts into dealing with the culprit who has dared to touch what was his. Rage overtook him at the thought of the other Alpha. In do time he would rip out the throat of the Alpha responsible. 

He also made more time to spend with his two precious treasures his wife left in her wake. Aya and Lucas now slept snuggled up together on his bed next to him. Sometime during the night they snuck in and he hadn't had the heart to turn them away.

Both the little ones missed their mother terrible, little Aya was often found hovering in front of Mara’s room as if she were waiting for her mama to come out. While Lucas on the other hand would seek out his mother's favorite armchair and wrap himself in the throw blanket.

Malachi's only found solace in his children and his need for retribution. Her passing left him feeling raw and exposed and nothing could heal his festering    wound. 

His heart would race uncontrollably every time he thought of her or when the remanence of her sweet scent assaulted his nose. Which happened often since his pups always came to curl up with him carrying her sent.

He longed to hold her once again, nuzzle the crook of her neck the way he used to every morning. She would bat him away playfully berating him about the children seeing. 

The memory brought a smile to his lips and an ace to his heart. Swallowing a lump in his throat he got up, tucking his covers around the twins and kissing them on the head, he headed out of the room.

A second funeral was arranged to be held the following week to honor her at birth Packhouse. Her ashes would be scattered over the rocky shores of her homeland like her ancestors before her. 

After the funeral he decided to stay a few more days. The young pups could spend more time with their mother's family and strengthen their family bond.

Once they returned the children went back to their daily routine, the only difference was they now slept together drawing comfort from one another.

After three weeks of his mate’s absence he had expected the Pack to be in disarray, the presence of a Luna was often vital in packs as large as his. But the pack ran smoothly, which slightly irritated Malachi for some reason. Certain everyone was grieving over the loss but life just bustled along.

Malachi had felt Balthazar’s rage for days now, he screamed for vengeance. His need to sink his teeth into the throat of the one responsible made Malachi’s teeth ache. 

Blaming his fist down on his desk Malachi called for Cid and Gray, within minutes both stood in front of him ready for any order he gave. Malachi leaned back in his chair one hand on his desk as his fingers were drumming away.

One of the scouts Cid had placed to keep an eye on Campbell’s Pack had sent a message to inform them of the Alphas whereabouts. He was home.

Malachi smirked so the fucker was finally home, he signed to ready the men they were heading out tonight. They would arrive by mid morning or mid afternoon at the latest. 

An hour later they set out, Malachi brought 20 oh his strongest members he had left both his Beta and Delta behind should something go astray and he didn't return. That wasn't very likely but better to play it safe the regret it later.

Malachi gave in to his body as his bones snapped and shifted under his skin. He could feel Balthazar taking over as his smooth skin turned to sleek black fur and his pupils elongated changing his perception around him. Finally, Balthazar had full control and he let out a deep howl. The whole pack answered his call.

The sun just bearly peaking through the waste forests around them when they had exceeded the halfway point. Balthazar was eager to push on, faster harder! Malachi convinced his wolf to slow and take a rest. The men wouldn'tbe any good to them if they were exhausted by the time they arrived.