Chapter 72. Revelation

**72. Revelation**
***Third Person's POV:***
Rafael wasn't surprised to see Vincent team up with Elliot. In this world, two filthy beings are doomed to have each other's backs.
Elliot and Vincent were astounded to see Rafael waiting for them, surrounded by a massive army. They intended to catch Rafael off guard, but he didn't anticipate them being prepared. But Elliot tried to figure out how Rafael got to know about it, but there was nothing that could give him a hint.
It was a good thing they left Cindy behind, because Elliot would have figured everything out on his own in no time.
Rafael smirked as he observed their stunned expressions. When he saw the first sign of defeat in his father's eyes, he felt strangely satisfied. He needed that boost of confidence, and he got it.
Elliot and Vincent had no idea that Rafael's people were waiting in the shadows, their weapons laced with Rafael's blood, ready to attack them at Rafael's signal.
When a battle breaks out between supernatural creatures, one of the two sides might give the other side an escape. If they accepted that the conflict would finish without a disaster, they would have to compensate in other ways, such as giving up a portion of their land.
Rafael began to approach them. He scrutinized each of them, beginning with Elliot, then Vincent, Edward, and lastly Astrid's parents. Fortunately, the entire pack was not present, which meant they were not committed to whatever decision their Alpha had made. This signified that they were on Astrid's side, which was a good sign.
"I see someone wants to see me die." Rafael grinned and looked around.
"You don't even have a thought, son..." Elliot was about to begin when he was interrupted.
"Don't call me that. I am not your son, and you are not my father." Rafael scoffed. "The feelings are mutual. You are unfit to be called my son." Elliot sighed and rolled his eyes. "You know, Vincent deserves it more. He is exactly like me: cunning, intelligent, and power-hungry."
"I see new relationships blossoming here, and I couldn't agree with you more. If backstabbing is considered intelligence, then I must admit that you are both 'lords of cunningness,'" Rafael chuckled, his voice dripping with venom.
Rafael's demeanor became solemn, as if he didn't want to have any more frivolous chats with his father. He wanted to surprise him right away. "Enough of this nonsense. I'm presenting you with one final choice: either concede and preserve your lives or face the consequences in battle."
Elliot burst out laughing like a lunatic. "You're telling us to back away," Elliott joked. "Perhaps because you're scared after seeing those thousands behind us."

"Numbers don't matter as long as your zeal is greater." Rafael Retaliated.
"I see you still have the guts," Vincent said, "and it will be a pleasure to shatter that."
Rafael fixed his gaze on him. "This isn't your battle, Vincent. There is still time. Do you want to back out?" Rafael inquired.
"Oh, Rafael, I had no idea how stupid you were. This has been my battle since the beginning. Your father is merely an ally rat who came on the way."  Vincent laughed as he approached Rafael.
Rafael was perplexed after learning about Vincent. Yes, they had some disagreements, but after learning that Elliot was the one who killed Fiona, Rafael didn't hate Vincent, but he also didn't like him, and not to mention, Rafael hadn't forgotten the incident where he tried to buy Astrid at that auction, and that was enough for Rafael to hate Vincent for the rest of his life.
Rafael was connecting the dots, looking for anything that might help solve the riddle, but there was nothing.
For the life of him, he couldn't figure out what Vincent was talking about. Vincent laughed when he saw Rafael's puzzled expression.
"Rafael, my buddy, don't stress your small mind about what I mean. I'm here to tell you the truth. After all, I don't enjoy it when my victim dies without understanding the underlying reasons. " Vincent grinned. "After all, you're not going to make it to the end of the day." Cold gusts blew from all directions, forcing the sound to permeate everyone's ears.
Rafael remained silent, but he was sure that Vincent had obtained information, and Rafael wanted Vincent to blow the beans.
"Okay, let me tell you a secret, that is if you don't already know. Your mate Rafael's strongest creation. Maybe you would have figured out that she is a Lycan, right? And she was bound to destroy us all after having you. Before you ask, please understand that we had no idea you were going to be her mate. We simply knew she'd transform into her Lycan form after meeting her mate, so my friend Edward rejected her."  Vincent burst out laughing. "Say we didn't want anybody stronger than us ruling over us."
He went on to describe how they knew Rafael and Astrid's kid would be the strongest creature ever created, and this made them feel threatened, so they decided to limit Astrid's powers.
But Vincent desired Astrid for herself for two reasons: first, she was beautiful, and second, anyone she mated with would be endowed with great power. He wanted Astrid more than anything, which is why he put everything he had in that auction, but he couldn't have her since Rafael had more money than anybody else, so he had to back away.
Rafael tightened his fists when he heard it, yet he kept silent because he wanted to know more.
Vincent has been keeping a tight eye on Astrid and Rafael ever since. It came as a surprise to him that Astrid and Rafael were supposed to be together. Vincent believed Rafael was Astrid's second mate if he didn't know he was Astrid's third chance mate. Rafael had no desire to correct him. The longer he stays in the dark, the better.
Vincent refrained from expressing his sadness at having thrown the chance that had come to him into the hands of the opponent he despised the most.
When Rafael inquired how he managed to get his father's backing, Vincent replied that he was seeking an ally who would know Rafael up close, and the opportunity came to him when Elliot came requesting protection, and they both joined in and started planning.
"I think you're Astrid's mother. She is ashamed of you." Rafael spat while glancing at Astrid's mother in the crowd, but she said nothing.
"Oh, you assumed she was doing everything on her own as if she was just treating Astrid cruelly because she loathed her?" Vincent shook his head and clicked his tongue. "She's under my spell," Vincent said, smirking in a deadpan voice
"What!" Rafael was taken aback, which was a fresh realization for him. Both he and Astrid believed that Astrid used to irritate her mother's eyes, which was why she despised Astrid.
"I tell her to walk. She walks. I tell her to speak out,  and She does. " Vincent moved in closer to Rafael. His face was almost touching his. "I instruct her to mistreat Astrid, and she does. I instruct her to put her up for auction. She does. Not just she, but every member of her family, is a puppet in my hands. Her brothers, until lately, were not. Instead, they backed her up.  I had to cast a spell on them to make things work in my favor." Vincent burst out laughing. 
Rafael clenched his teeth and grabbed Vincent by the collar. "You moron." He was going to hit him in the face.
"Umm... umm. umh," Vincent crooned, "you know what I'm going to do with your baby Rafael." He burst out laughing. His nasty chuckle resonated across the ground.
Rafael's hold on his collar relaxed. He couldn't understand how Vincent knew Astrid was pregnant.
"W-what are you on about?" Rafael attempted to appear unaware, but Vincent had devised a sound strategy.
"Don't pretend to be innocent, Rafael. Would you want to know how I found out about Astrid's pregnancy?" Vincent raised an eyebrow, pulling Rafael's hands away from his collar.
He stepped back and signaled with his hands, and a man who Rafael had never seen before walked forward.
"This is James, one of my most loyal spies, and let me tell you, I drew the veil of your realm, and James was living among you all, and my magic had sealed his identity, and he appeared to be one of you, and boy was that tough to achieve.  Anyway, he was the one who stayed among you all, and no one suspected him of being an outsider, and he successfully obtained information regarding Astrid's pregnancy." Vincent laughed.
Rafael clinched his hand in rage as soon as he heard that. Azael was threatening to seize control, but Azael had to keep his cool. He couldn't be vulnerable in front of these mutts, and he'd need Azael later.
Rafael's fist made contact with Vincent's jaw. "You bastard, you are going to even regret attacking us." He signaled for his forces to attack Vincent's men, and they were ready to do so when Vincent opened his mouth again.
"You should have seen Astrid pleading for my forgiveness. Her screams sounded like a melody to my ears." Vincent laughed like a madman.
Rafael immediately signaled to his soldiers to come to a halt. He was puzzled. He thought Vincent had gotten a hold of Astrid and had her in his prison right now. Rafael heaved a sigh of relief as he mind-linked Cindy and asked whether Astrid was safe and with her, and she confirmed that they were.
"What are you talking about?" Rafael glared at Vincent, full of confusion.
"I should have killed her.  That was the idea, but I was to kill her before her Lycan arrived. If I couldn't have her, I wouldn't let anyone, but right before her Lycan showed up." Vincent shook his head in dismay.
When Alice noticed Rafael's perplexed expression, she stepped in. "Permit me to explain, your highness. This gory leech is referring to her highness's period in a coma. Remember how I said she was attempting to break away but was being held captive? This bastard was the one who did it," Alice snarled.
"How could you call me such a derogatory name?" Vincent cast magic, and a spark of blue and red shot towards Alice, but she was quick to notice and dispel it with a spell from her side, exactly like Cindy had thought.
They had all plotted to eliminate Astrid and prevent the birth of a Lycan, and they were almost successful until Scarlet appeared at the appropriate time and saved Astrid, thwarting Vincent's plan to murder Astrid in her coma. He had successfully captured Astrid, but fate had other plans for her.
Rafael's fury let loose when he heard everything, and he kicked Vincent in the stomach with such force that he stumbled backward.
He waved his hand, and those present and visible on the ground began charging Vincent's soldiers. There was soon turmoil everywhere. Even from afar, all that could be heard were snapping heads, tearing hearts, reciting spells, and groans of misery.
Rafael effortlessly attacked several men and was on his way to Elliot. He intended to eliminate him first. Bryan's eyes twitched quietly, informing Rafael that he would kill everyone on his side so that Rafael could kill Elliot.
Rafael turned his back on Elliot and determined that now was the moment to kill him. Rafael drew out the blade in one hand and the locket in the other with his vampire speed.
Rafael took a deep breath, quietly thanking his mother for leaving her blood for him to utilize in such dire circumstances. He opened his eyes and broke the seal. He was ready to pour the blood on the dagger when Elliot turned around and saw what Rafael was doing. Before the first droplet of blood could touch the knife, Elliot yanked Rafael's hand, spilling the contents of the capsule on the ground and stopping the few drips that were about to fall onto the dagger with his palm.
Rafael grumbled and swiftly reinserted the blade inside his pants, fastening it so that no one could steal it from him. He was unhappy because he had squandered his one chance to kill his father. When Vincent and Elliot took advantage of the chance to grip Rafael from both sides, he was still focused on being taken off guard by looking at his mother's blood, which was strewn on the ground.
Rafael could have easily taken both of them, but the cry for additional men to constrain Rafael proved too much for him. He could even push them, but Vincent began reciting spells that made Rafael weak.
Elliot began approaching him with a knife that they had made. He was about to plunge that dagger into Rafael when Elliot suddenly screamed, dropping the dagger on the ground and clunking his head. Vincent followed, and one by one, everyone who was holding Rafael collapsed to the ground, similarly holding their heads, and some of them began bleeding from their ears.
Rafael quickly stood up and realized what was going on.
"Little Dove" Rafael clenched his teeth and closed his eyes as he turned around. Astrid was standing there, as predicted, glaring at everyone who had detained Rafael.
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