Chapter Fifty-three
Faelen’s POV
The day had been a blur of emotions for me. Thoughts of what happened in Hunter’s office still swirled through my mind, replaying in a continuous loop.
I couldn’t shake the weight of it all. I had barely been able to breathe when it was over. The tension between us had been thick and suffocating, leaving me broken and confused.
By the time the sun went low, I was in the garden outside the estate, trying to find some sense of calm amid the chaos. And that’s when I saw her… Raven.
I froze, my heart racing. She stood between two large trees, her gaze cautious and piercing, as if she had been watching me for some time.
“Faelen,” she called on to me softly, her voice cutting through the evening air.
Glancing around to see if anyone was watching, I took a hesitant step towards her when I saw no one around, my pulse pounding in my ears.
Raven’s presence always made my skin crawl with unease, a reminder of the danger I was putting myself in.
“Yes?” I replied, trying to keep my voice from trembling.
I knew I couldn’t show fear around her, but every time we met, I felt like I was shrinking in her presence.
She tilted her head slightly, a small, almost mocking smile spreading on her lips. “Meet me at the same place as last time. And the same time.”
I nodded quickly, the memory of our last meeting flashing through my mind. It had been in the dead of night, under the large tree behind the servants quarters.
She’d given me instructions that night, tasks I was supposed to complete. But I hadn’t managed to gather any of the information she’d asked for.
It wasn’t because of lack of trying, but because I was completely distracted by Hunter. Thoughts of that caused a rush of shame in me as I recalled the embarrassing encounter earlier.
“Raven,” I started, my voice quiet. “I…”
“Midnight, Faelen,” she quickly interrupted, her gaze narrowing slightly. “Don’t be late.”
With that, she turned and disappeared into the woods, leaving me standing there, the dread curling in my stomach like a living thing.
I lingered for a moment, then forced myself to head back towards the main estate. Dinner was being prepared, and I knew I had to go through the tasks, act like everything was fine.
But inside, I felt like I was being pulled apart. If Raven found out I hadn’t made any progress… I shuddered, not wanting to imagine what she would do.
She didn’t seem like the type to give second chances, and I’d seen firsthand what happened to those who disappointed Alpha Zodd.
Back inside, I tried to move through the evening calmly. I joined the others for dinner, my hands trembling slightly as I picked at my food.
I was surrounded by people, but I felt completely alone, like I was trapped in a trap of my own anxiety and fear.
The voices around me just blurred all together in my head, becoming a distant noise as my thoughts spiraled.
What am I going to tell her?
I’ve got nothing to show… Nothing to give…
I could feel eyes on me every now and then, curious glances that I ignored. If I was acting strange, no one commented on it, and for that, I was grateful.
I forced a few bites down, but everything tasted tasteless in my mouth. When the meal was finally over, I mumbled something about feeling sick and excused myself, slipping away as quickly as I could.
Back in my room, I paced restlessly, my mind spinning with panicked thoughts. I sat on the bed, then stood up again, then sat back down.
I couldn’t settle down or focus. My hands twisted the sheets as I tried to think of what I could say to her.
But the more I thought, the more blank my mind became. Nothing sounded good enough, nothing sounded safe enough.
I lay down, staring up at the ceiling, willing myself to sleep. But just sleep wouldn’t come.
Every noise in the quarters, every sound of voices outside felt like a warning, a reminder of the danger that awaited me tonight.
Raven was expecting results, and I felt she wouldn’t accept excuses. But I had nothing.
I turned onto my side, then onto my back again. The hours passed, but I didn’t feel them slipping away. I was too wrapped up in my own fears, caught up in my thoughts.
Midnight became closer and closer, and I still didn’t have an answer to give.
Hours later, the bells sounded in the distance, signaling midnight. I closed my eyes and sighed heavily, forcing myself to gather my thoughts.
I had gone over this moment a thousand times in my mind already, and I still didn’t know what to say.
Raven would want results, and I didn’t have any. All I had were excuses and a tangled mess of feelings I couldn’t sort through.
Just tell her you need more time, I told myself. Tell her that Hunter and Caleb are being too secretive, that they’re on edge. She’ll have to understand.
But even as I thought that, doubt crept in the back of my mind. Would Raven really be so easy to lie to?
She’d seemed more serious the last time we met… more so than usual. I could still remember the way her smile had vanished as she gave me my orders, her voice dropping to a low, serious tone.
She’d warned me not to waste her time, and I was afraid that’s exactly what I’d done.
Taking a deep breath, I listened carefully for any sounds outside my room… any footsteps or murmurs that might signal someone was awake.
Nothing. The estate was as quiet as a grave.
Slowly, I eased myself out of bed and slipped on my shoes. Moving as quietly as I could, I pushed open the door and crept down the hall, taking care to avoid the creaky spots I’d memorized over the days.
It didn’t take long to reach the back of the servants’ quarters. The tree appeared up ahead, its long branches casting a huge shadow against the moonlight.
I strained my eyes further, and there she was… Raven, standing with her back to me, her form dark and sneaky in the dim light.
I swallowed hard, trying to steady my racing heart as I made my way over.
Before I could even utter a greeting, she spun around, her eyes narrowing as they locked onto mine. “What have you found?” she demanded, her tone sharp and in a rush.
I froze, caught off guard. Raven wasn’t smiling like she usually did, wasn’t giving me that sarcastic, almost teasing look.
Instead, her face was tense and her gaze hard. I could feel my heart hammering forcefully in my chest.
“I…” I started, but the words stuck in my throat.
Say something, dammit!
“I, um… I need more time,” I stammered finally, feeling my face flush with embarrassment. “Hunter and Caleb… they’ve been more secretive lately. I… I think they might be suspicious. I haven’t been able to find out anything concrete yet.”
Raven’s expression darkened at once, her eyes flashing with irritation. I took an involuntary step back, my hands trembling slightly..
She took a deep breath, and for a moment I thought she might explode. But then she let it out slowly, her shoulders relaxing just slightly.
“More time,” she repeated softly, almost as if she were speaking to herself.
Her gaze then shifted, staring off into the distance, and I could see her jaw clenching and unclenching.
When she finally looked back at me, there was a coldness in her eyes that made my blood run cold.
“Faelen, listen carefully,” she said, her voice low and dangerous. “I don’t think you understand how critical this is. We’re running out of time. Alpha Zodd is planning an attack soon. His using the Steeprock pack. You need to find out more!”
Her words hit me like a physical blow in my belly. Attack? Using Steeprock? My mind flashed, the pieces suddenly clicking into place.
Steeprock had always been aggressive, always looking for a fight, but I’d never suspected they were being backed by Belladonna, by us… until now.
“W.. What?” I stammered, trying to process what she was saying. “But that means… Belladonna is behind all this?”
Raven’s lips curled into a bitter smile, her eyes gleaming with something that looked almost like satisfaction. “Exactly. Alpha Zodd is bold enough to make a move on Howle Wulf because he thinks we have the upper hand. But we need to be certain about so things and that where you come in.”
My thoughts raced with both shock and fear. I’d known there was tension between the packs, but I hadn’t realized how deep it was, or how close we were to the brink of war.
And now, everything made sense… why Raven had approached me in the first place, why she’d been so insistent on getting information.
“But… why come through Steeprock?” I whispered, more to myself than to Raven. “Why not just take Howle Wulf directly?”
“Because the Alpha wants to keep Belladonna’s hands clean,” Raven replied. “He’s been planning for Steeprock to do the dirty work, and then we’ll swoop in and finish what they started.”
I swallowed hard, the weight of the situation pressing down on me like a heavy load. If I didn’t get her the information she needed… No. I couldn’t think like that. I had to focus. I said silently to myself.
“I’ll… I’ll do better,” I said quietly, meeting her gaze as long as I could. “I promise, I’ll find out more. Just give me a little more time.”
Raven studied me for a long moment, her expression unreadable. Then, slowly, she nodded. “Fine. But this is your last chance, Faelen. I don’t care how you do it, but you will get me what I need. And if you fail…”
She trailed off, but I didn’t need her to finish. The threat was clear enough. Nodding quickly, I took a step back, trying not to let my fear show.
“Understood,” I murmured.
Without another word, Raven turned and disappeared into the night, leaving me standing there alone, the weight of her warning settling hard in my chest.
An attack on Howle Wulf… and I’m needed to make it happen
The thought chilled my body. I stood there for a while, my mind racing. Then, taking a deep breath, I turned and made my way back inside.
I had to find out more… no matter what it took. My pack depended on it. And so did my life.