Merrick's POV
I stood beside my mother as she fielded several questions from the elders present, they knew what Henry's absence meant for the Nash family and how demoralising it was for mother that he wasn't here and like vultures to the carcass, they had descended on her, trying to smell any weakness upon which they might capitalise. Mother had held strong, not wavering in her defence of her son's grief. Welford had made the most pronounced attack on mother and her continued defence of Henry, the old werewolf didn't exactly see eye to eye with father before he had passed and he might have viewed his death and Henry's absence as the perfect opportunity to undermine our influence among the packs gathered here at the muster.
"You must discuss this issue no further Welford, we are gathered
