Chapter 54: Wans and Saraif incident.
Raphael’s POV
"If that’s what you want, I’ll do it."
Those were the last words I said before leaving Ava’s room. The weight of them hasn’t left me since. Grey was right, she’s far stronger than she looks. My wolf had sensed it before I did, had seen in her the strength I had been too blind to notice.
It’s no wonder she looked so lost the day we met in the woods. The betrayal she’s endured, the things she hasn’t told me but that I’ve seen by glimpsing into her mind, are beyond comprehension. Ava was reborn that day she woke up from the dream, she had returned to the past, carrying with her scars and memories as vivid as if they’d just happened.
How is such a thing possible? The doubts, the fears, the torment she hides... I’ve seen it all. And I swear, I’ll never be the cause of her pain again. If she wants revenge, I’ll give it to her. Even if it means going after Theresa’s son or bringing Moonstone Pack to its knees.
If, by some twist of fate, I meet Theresa in the afterlife, let her blame me. Her son is a monster who tormented my mate. Her pack, the one Ava once loved so fiercely, offered her only cruelty.
I sent a mind-link to Caleb. "I want to see you."
He responded almost immediately. "I’ll be there, my king."
True to his word, Caleb arrives a few seconds later, his expression unreadable, though I can hear the irritation beneath it. I glanced through his mind like I usually do, "What now? This better be good," he mutters silently, unaware that I can read his thoughts.
If I were in a better mood, I might’ve laughed. But there’s nothing amusing about this situation. To discover that my mate was reborn and was once tormented by my nephew, who was once her mate, the same man that violated her with glee; that her own mother fed her wolfbane to bound her wolf; or that her sister ended her life in the most brutal way imaginable...
The memories she shared earlier, coupled with the glimpses of images I had seen in her mind, are burned into me like brands. They’re vivid, raw, and unrelenting, as though I witnessed them firsthand.
Ava had fallen asleep in my arms, exhaustion pulling her under. I left her side not because I wanted to, but because I needed to clear my head and talk to Caleb.
"My king?" Caleb’s voice cuts into my thoughts, his tone gruff and impatient. "You called for me?"
He’s looking at me like I’m a nuisance, though he masks it poorly. I catch the flicker of annoyance in his thoughts as I read through them; "Why can’t he let a man rest? What now?"
Normally, I’d tease him about his lack of decorum, but not today. Today, there’s no room for levity.
"I need you to send warriors to the Moonstone Pack," I said, my voice low but firm. "I want a detailed report on everything, territory, alliances, weaknesses. And I want them to investigate the Beta family specifically."
Caleb raises an eyebrow but nods. "Yes, my king."
He hesitated for a moment, his thoughts flitting across my mind like whispers. "Did something happen? Should I ask, or just do as I’m told?"
I decided to answer his unspoken question. "Moonstone touched what’s mine. I’m going to give them something to cry about."
First, I’ll deal with Theresa’s husband. He’s unworthy of the title Alpha. Then I’ll make sure the rest of Moonstone feels the weight of their actions.
Caleb’s eyes hardened at my words. "Yes, my king. I’ll see to it immediately."
Without another word, he strides out, his usual curiosity tempered by the seriousness on my face.
As I watch him go, my resolve hardens. Ava’s pain would not go unanswered. For every scar that has been given to her, I’ll leave tenfold on those who wronged her.
And when I’m finished, the Moonstone Pack will regret the day they crossed me.
A few days later, the report I had requested arrived. It also contained news of the Wan and Saraif family's mansions being burned to the ground. The Witch's Clan and the Sword-master Clan had suffered significant losses, with many warriors killed in the attack.
Everyone in the kingdom knew who was responsible, yet there was no proof to hold her accountable. She was untouchable, at least for now, until someone decided otherwise.
With the report came an invitation from the Witch's Clan to attend the coronation of their new queen, Laura Saraif. I doubted Gwendolyn would let that ceremony happen without a fight.
“My king, that’s all the information we’ve gathered so far,” Caleb said.
I had spent most of my time cooped up in the palace, attending to royal matters and, admittedly, avoiding Ava. I didn’t want her to feel pressured to accept me, but that didn’t stop me from sending her a constant stream of flowers and notes. Little reminders that I was still here, waiting.
“Yes, Caleb, that will be all. Though…” I leaned back in my chair and folded my hands, watching his expression carefully. “There’s one additional matter I’d like you to look into, discreetly.”
The moment I said this, Caleb’s face shifted into a subtle frown. I didn’t need to guess what he was thinking; I read his mind effortlessly. 'Another task? This man never lets me rest. A beta can’t catch a break under an employer like this! Not at all.'
Suppressing a smirk, I gave him a pointed look. Caleb’s inner thoughts never failed to amuse me. “Yes, my king. Anything for you,” he said with exaggerated politeness, though his mind raced with creative ways to silence me permanently.
“You’ll investigate the witches who’ve been destroying different packs from the Other Realm,” I instructed, ignoring his feigned enthusiasm. “They were involved with the Moonstone Pack. Start there. If you dig deep enough, you might find a good lead into what’s really happening.”
Caleb nodded, although we did try once sniffing out those bastards and failed. This time, Ava's story had given me an idea of what we might have been missing.
Caleb's reluctance was obvious despite his obedience. “Understood, my king,” he said before turning on his heel and storming out of the room.
Lazy man, I thought with a shake of my head. Still, I trusted Caleb to get the job done, grumbling and all.
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