Chapter 102

Chapter 102
Raven’s POV

I feel so uneasy, I pace up and down the kitchen with my coffee mug in my hand, he should be back by now, or maybe sent a message for me.

But this silence is something he's never done, he has never wanted me worried, then why is he so quiet today?

Suddenly, the bond snaps tight in my chest and I drop the mug in my hand. It shatters on the kitchen floor, but I don’t hear it. My heart is pounding too violently, something is definitely wrong.

'Caleb?' I whisper through the bond but I don't even feel him, all I feel is pain, just pain. I must go to him, he needs me.

The pain intensifies, I clutch the kitchen counter steadying myself as my vision darkens at the edges. Then suddenly I hear a scream, he screams for me, he's hurt.

'Baby, I'm coming!' I focus all my power in searching for exact place he is.

The air around me flickers, the lights shimmer, shadows stretch, wind rushes in from nowhere. I teleport to where my heart leads me, to him. Fear grips me as another surge of pain hits me, it pulls a sound out of me I didn’t know I could make. I let out a loud growl as the world collapses into shadows, then reforms so violently that my feet skid across broken dirt and scorched grass. And the first thing I see, is destruction.

Nadine-West’s courtyard is chaos, warriors scattered, bodies unmoving. Smoke rising where lightning struck. Blood-howl wolves struggling against attackers I don’t recognize. Then, I see him, Caleb lying in a crater of scorched earth, half-shifted, barely breathing. His skin is burned, blood streaks down his side.

My heart implodes, “No,” I breathe, stumbling forward. “No, no, no, Caleb…” I call his name in panic, I can't lose him, not now when we are finally happy. He lifts his head barely an inch, eyes unfocused but trying to find me.

“R…Raven…" He calls his voice too weak. "You can't be here... you... have..." he tried to speak.

“What happened?” I whisper ignoring his pleas for me to leave, I sit on the ground and place his head on my lap as I examine his wounds. I can't be weak now.

“Hello, Raven.” A voice I hoped I’d never hear again speaks right next to me and my blood freezes. Caleb's body jerks weakly, trying to reach for me. I turn slowly, and there he stands, Raphael, smiling and everything makes sense now, he did this. How he is alive I don't care, but I'll make sure I finish him off once and for all. His body is glowing with storm energy that corrupts the air around him, his smile is soft.

“Look at you,” he says reverently. “You came right to me.” He smirks as if he anticipated I'll react this way, so this was just a ploy.

Was he the presence I felt at the anniversary party? Definitely. My storm surges, and the ground cracks beneath my feet as wind spirals around me. Raphael’s eyes widen in awe.

“You’re awakening, my love.” I grit my teeth.

“Don’t call me that you bastard.” His expression flickers but returns to normal almost immediately. I can't believe this is the same sweet man who helped me back in Nadine-west, he seems so different like something took him over.

“It’s time to come home.” he hisses trying to bend and grab me.

“I don’t belong to you.”

“You always have and always will.” I have had enough of him, I carefully place Caleb back on the ground and I step between him and Raphael, lightning flickering across my skin as I let out all my power, I've got to deal with him.

“Touch him again,” I whisper, “and I will end you.”

Raphael’s smile fades and his eyes turn cold. He raises his hand and a storm churns over his head gathering. Before he can do a thing, a surge of power floods my veins.

“He doesn’t deserve you.” Raphael screams.

“Maybe not.” I raise my hands. “But at least he didn’t control me.” Lightning erupts from the sky and It slams down between us, cracking the earth open. Raphael staggers back, shock flickering across his features.

“You’re stronger than before,” he breathes.

“I’m stronger because I left you.” His face twists.

“I will kill him.” he threatens and my rage builds even more, I'll be the one to die and not Caleb, I will gladly give my life for him.

I let my power consume me as I take one last look at my man and my vision goes white. I lash it all out on Raphael, hitting him right in his chest. He stumbles back and hits the ground. Caleb coughs behind me, whispering my name in fear but I don't look back.

“Get up, bastard, let’s finish what you started.” I hiss. I charge up to him raining blows on each part of his body, I make sure all the training I did wasn't in vain.

"Stop Trice." He begs, but I don't I make sure he's unconscious before finally leaving him and rush back to Caleb.

"Raven." He whispers, few of his wounds have started healing but he's still in a bad shape. "Morris." he whispers pointing toward a direction, I follow with my eyes and I see Alpha Morris on the ground, he seems hurt as well. I rush to his side and help him up. His injuries are better.

"Can you walk Alpha?" I ask, he just nods. Carefully we get back to Caleb and with all my strength, I open a portal to Blood-Howl, something I never thought I could.

I help them through, step by step, forcing my power to stay steady.

Once Caleb and Morris are safely on the other side, I pull my hand back.

“I have to go back,” I whisper.

Caleb’s eyes widen in panic. “Raven ... no... ”

But I don’t let myself hesitate.

I turn and step back through the portal.

Because this ends tonight.

And Raphael is not taking anything else from me.