Chapter 93

Chapter 93
Caleb’s POV

Raven sleeps against my chest, her soft breaths fanning me, I still can't believe she is here with me. I don’t dare to move even an inch. Not even when my legs start to ache, not when the room cools and the night deepens. I’ve learned the hard way that moments like this don’t last unless you guard them with your life.

Her breathing evens out, slow and steady, but my wolf doesn’t rest. The bond hums alert, Something’s not right.

I lift my head slightly, careful not to wake her, and focus past the walls of my room via my bedroom window. I feel something foreign, not too close but not far either. Someone has definitely crossed the outer wards.

I feel it like a wrong note in my spine, a subtle pressure just beneath my skin. Whoever it is isn’t careless enough to barrel through. They’re testing us, or they are trying not to be noticed. I think I know who it is, and he's trying to get to her, but not this time, I won't let her go. She is finally able to remember me, and she came back to me, so I'm going to hold onto her.

I shift as carefully as I can, sliding Raven so she’s fully supported against the pillows without breaking contact. She murmurs softly, brows knitting like she’s slipping through uneasy dreams.

“I’m here,” I whisper instinctively, and her breathing steadies again.

I keep one arm around her and slowly extend my senses farther, past the hall, past the stairs, into the night beyond the house. I feel more than one intruder. Raphael knows better than to come alone, but I am not going to go easy on him tonight.

Then suddenly, a spike of pressure slams against the southern boundary. A strong pull not on me, but on Raven, Raphael is trying to use his bond to pull her in. Raven shifts suddenly, gasping, her hand flying to her chest.

“No,” she whispers in her sleep. “Don’t ... please..." I growl low in my throat before I even realize I’ve made the sound. Are they trying to take her again? Something seems so strange. Why is there always a fuss about her? This is not just about Raphael's bond. There is definitely more to it.

I sit up fully, gathering her into my arms once more, and press my lips to her forehead. The bond brightens just enough to drown out the pull.

“Beta Caleb.” I hear a voice outside my room, and my head snaps up.

"Get in." I say, knowing fully whose outside. Nashon stands in the doorway, silent as shadow, eyes glowing faintly with restrained power. He takes in the scene in one glance, Raven wrapped in my arms, and his expression hardens, but he doesn't say a word.

“You felt it too,” I ask quietly.

He nods. “Three signatures at the perimeter. One’s Raphael, and the other two aren’t even wolves .” I conclude it must be Raven's parents. I curse under my breath, I know we have to finish this once and for all, or Raven will never be fully safe.

“Keep them out,” I say immediately. “No one gets past the perimeter, no matter what.” I command, but I know it's of no use. Since Raven could enter the pack, I'm sure Raphael is capable as well.

“And her, how did she get here, I mean after all that time?” he asks, lowering his voice. I look down at Raven as she stirs again, brow furrowing, lips parting like she’s fighting something unseen. My hand slides into her hair, grounding her with a steady, familiar touch.

“I'll explain later, but she stays here,” I say. “With me.” I add. Nashon hesitates only for a second. Then he bows his head. “As you command.”

He disappears just as the pressure intensifies harder now, more deliberate. Raven jolts awake with a sharp gasp, fingers digging into my arm.

“He’s here,” she says, eyes wide, pupils blown. “I can feel him.”

“I know,” I answer calmly, even though my blood is on fire. “He can’t get to you.”

“They won’t stop,” she whispers. “ Until they get me back, I feel like there's more that they want from me.”

I stiffen. “What are you talking about?”

She shakes her head, breathing fast. “I don’t know. It’s just that I can’t really explain it, though I can feel it."

I tilt her chin up gently until she’s forced to look at me. “Listen to me. Whatever is out there, whatever they want from you, they answer to me tonight. You don’t fight this. You don’t reach back. Just let me hold it.” Her eyes search mine, and then she nods. She straightens her neck and places a soft kiss on my lips. My whole body goes rigid, and for a moment, I forget everything happening, she pulls away as fast, though. I let out a cough, I want more, but I know I can't in this situation.

Outside, a howl splits the night and echoes through the pack. Rage rises inside me, He should have stayed back in Nadine-west, Raven exhales shakily, pressing her face into my chest again.

“I’m scared,” she admits. I wrap myself around her, protective down to the bone.

“I know,” I say. “But you’re not alone, I'm here and so are my brothes. We won't let anything happen to you."

'I think he somehow got it because he isn't outside anymore.' Nashon links me.

'Fk.'

"He's inside, baby." I say to Raven. She looks up at me and nods.

"Can I have something to wear, please?" She asks. I get up and hand her my t-shirt, and she puts it on and gets ready for the fight.

"We have to finish this tonight." I say to her, and she nods in agreement.