Chapter 52. Chaos

**52. Chaos**

***Third Person's POV:***

"Father, what brings you here?" Rafael asked, gazing at Elliot Delmar, who was sitting on Rafael's chair in Rafael's office and putting one leg on another. Rafael wished to kick him from his room.
He has no right to come here and assert his authority. Rafael's men were ready to tear Elliot's men apart, but Rafael had halted them, wanting to listen to Elliot about what he had come for.
Meanwhile, he had also sent Bryan to collect his army, which had been trained to battle in similar situations. They were adept at taking on formidable opponents. Even if the Elliots outnumbered them, each of Rafael's men could handle five of Elliot's.
Rafael had lost control of himself earlier, just as Rafael and Astrid shared an intimate moment. As he came out of the frenzy, he realized what a huge mistake he had made. He didn't know what he could have done to Astrid if she hadn't stopped him in time. He hated even thinking about yearning after her blood. Determined to keep his distance, he vowed never to taste her blood again. Although she pretended not to be hurt, he sensed otherwise.
Astrid, if given a choice, wouldn't have stopped him. Still, seeing terror in Rafael's eyes made her feel bad
Rafael, who wanted to protect his Astrid from everyone, could not defend her from himself. When she showed no sign of recovering, it added to his guilt.
Astrid was a Lycan, and her injuries would heal in minutes. However, even when they returned, the wound was still fresh. Rafael had no idea that Eva was still caring for it. No matter what she applied, it would exacerbate her condition.
Even though all of her body parts were functioning perfectly, she was experiencing excruciating pain in her shoulder blade.
"Just cover it with cotton and wrap it up," Astrid advised Eva, unable to bear any further exposure to air.
Eva sighed and went about her business.
Rafael was stranded at the hotel when he received Bryan's call; he didn't know whether to talk to Astrid about it or see his father, whom Bryan had notified that he had arrived with five of his men and was waiting, claiming he had something to discuss with Rafael.
Astrid sensed trouble and convinced him to handle it, assuring him she was recovering.
Rafael didn't mention anything about his father's being at the office because he didn't want to add to her concerns. He just asked her to remain in their room until he instructed her differently.
So here they were, father and son, having a regular chat (note the sarcasm).
"Come on, can't I come to meet my child? I am your dad," Elliot said tenderly, though everyone knew he was a terrible father.
"Enough of this nonsense. Tell me why you're here or leave," Rafael said, refusing to listen to his father's nonsense.
"Oh, I see my son has grown up," he grumbled.
"Yet you refuse to give me my kingdom," Rafael replied cynically. 
"Alright, let's get to the point," Elliot said, rubbing his temples. "I know you have your mother's letter." Rafael was surprised that he knew about it but didn't expect Elliot to talk about it.
"So?" He gave him a bored expression. "It was intended for me; I took it," Rafael explained.
"The main deal I'm here for is this: I'd like you to return that letter to me, or..." Elliot sneered.
"Or what?" Rafael challenged. "Whatever you're here for, I won't give you that letter. What makes you think I will?" Rafael hissed, his knuckles cracking.
This man had the audacity to ask for something that was rightfully his. He laughed like a maniac. "I'll take it anyway if you don't give me the letter. My guys are on their way, and if you refuse, we'll have some bodies lying around. Perhaps one of your mates and others' mates," he threatened, earning triggering growls from Rafael and every vampire with a mate.
"Easy there, tiger; we can manage this without the aforementioned criteria, and we will conclude this quietly." His father proposed to him.
"I chose the former; bring your entire 'Army,' and let's see who has the upper hand here," Rafael challenged.
He realized there was something important in that letter, and he couldn't let go of it for the sake of his life. Though confident, he wasn't afraid to confront his father. Rafael might have been overconfident, believing nothing could kill him, but the threat to Astrid, his love, had injected new anxiety. Still, he also knew that harming Astrid would be no easy task.
Rafael and Astrid sparred a couple of times after she got her Lycan; gosh, she has a lot of power. . She wielded immense power, even managing to defeat Bryan and his cohorts. Rafael once even had thought that he was going to surrender to Astrid's strength, but as a royal, he considered it a challenge for her to overcome him.
"All right, let's make a deal: if I win, you'll hand me the letter," Rafael's father offered.
"And if I did, what would I get in return?" Rafael, irritated by his father's plans, asked.
"Anything you ask for," Rafael's father said, shaking his head matter-of-factly, which signaled a smile on his face.
"So, if I win, you're going to give me the throne, and instead of us, your troops will be called 'Varlets,' Rafael remarked, staring at his father.
"As you wish," Elliot nodded. "I'm not going to stab you in the back; it's against my rules, so I'm giving you a head start. Make sure you use it effectively, and we'll meet here tomorrow morning," his father replied.
"Thank you very much." Rafael cynically scoffed.
His father rushed out of the room without saying anything. "Daniel, make sure they get out of our boundaries safely," Rafael asked his backup since Bryan was busy getting everyone ready. He feared his father might try a stunt, so he dispatched several to keep him from wandering around the estate.
He exhaled a sigh. He was trying not to show any weakness in front of his father, but he was irritated, and as soon as he was out, Rafael rose to his feet. Angrily, he shouted and tossed everything on his table aside, attempting to release his pent-up rage.
Rafael despised endangering his people. Though he was immortal himself, his soldiers were not. They were always ready to sacrifice for him, but he refused to let them.
He struck the table's glass surface, causing it to shatter into fragments. His hand bled for a fraction of a second, but new skin quickly replaced it. He pounded the wall once more. He could have avoided this dilemma at any cost if he hadn't given up something so essential to his father. Rafael had a feeling it carried something that might end their lives.
"What are you doing, sir?" Though several Varlets were witnessing the devastation Rafael was causing, no one dared to stop him until Bryan stepped in.
Rafael came to a halt and sat in the chair. It was high time for him. Bryan knew that giving him some water wouldn't help, so he sent everyone out and poured a glass of blood into a glass from Rafael's office's refrigerator. That's what Bryan used to do, and it helped Rafael relax a little.
Rafael's veins had sprung out of his neck. Bryan was relieved that everyone was out because it would have scared them even though they had seen it, but they hadn't seen Rafael sucking blood since it would have triggered their own hunger. Rafael avoided getting blood on his hands in front of Varlets.
Rafael pulled the glass from Bryan's grasp and sipped the drink, which he found bitter.
"What type is it?" Rafael grumbled and held out the glass to Bryan.
Bryan trembled and said, "O. Your favorite one."
Nothing tasted as delicious as Astrid's blood had since Rafael first tasted it. He craved more, yet the very notion of his frenzy troubled him deeply. Rafael's concern for Astrid had intensified, and he found himself lost in thought when his eyes suddenly flared.
"No, that can't be," Rafael said, shaking his head.
"Sir, what happened?" Bryan asked.
"What if my father knows that Astrid is a Lycan?" Rafael's voice quivered with fear.
Everyone in Rafael's coven knew Astrid was a Lycan. Still, he didn't want to share that information with the outside world, for reasons only Rafael understood.
Now, the unsettling thought gnawed at him – what if his father had discovered Astrid's secret? The secret that could jeopardize Rafael's existence.
Rafael rose from his seat, and despite Bryan's confusion, he did not challenge Rafael.
He went to speak with his soldiers and told them to be ready and to take their families to safety. He also asked them to arm themselves with the best weapons they could find and prepare.
Rafael approached Astrid and found her seated on the bed in a turtleneck. Rafael had no idea Astrid was trying to conceal her wounds. His whole attention was focused on the what-ifs and what-nots of the forthcoming predicament.
"You seem worried," Astrid observed, rising from her bed and approaching Rafael.
"Yes, there is a problem," Rafael said, cautiously pulling away from Astrid after the previous incident.
"Don't push me away," Astrid sneered, fully aware of Rafael's guarded intentions.
"I am not," he said, shaking his head, but Astrid held him tightly. "My father was there," Rafael said before going into detail.
Astrid was taken aback. She was at a loss for words.
"What will happen now, Rafael?" she asked.
"Promise me that you won't leave this place," Rafael said.
"No, I'm coming with you, and I'm going to fight beside you," Astrid said, shaking her head.
"Little dove, don't make things tough for me. I won't be able to concentrate when it comes to your safety, so remain here and watch the coven. No one's mate should be injured. They will be counting on you as their queen," Rafael explained.
Astrid considered it, sensing unease in her stomach, and made Rafael promise. "Promise me you will return to me," she pleaded, tears streaming down her face.
"I am immortal. I will definitely return to you," Rafael assured, but for the first time, he wasn't sure what he was saying. He kissed Astrid's forehead and pressed her forehead to his. "Remember, my little dove, that you are strong and don't need anybody in your life. I love you," Rafael said.
Astrid reciprocated, hesitant about the farewell undertones. "I love you, too. Come back safe, okay?" she implored again.
Rafael let go of Astrid's hand, which she refused to let go of.
When daybreak arrived, they were all gone. The problem with vampires is that when their mates are harmed, they can also feel it. Astrid's heart became unsettled, and disregarding Rafael's caution, she went to see if he was okay.
She got to the battlefield, and Scarlet abruptly transformed.
Everyone, including Elliot Delmar, halted as they saw a massive white lycan emerge from behind Rafael.
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**There is still more to this scene. Will it be okay if I elaborate on it in the next chapter? Or do you want me to skip the scene?**
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