Chapter 133 No safe ground

Chapter 133 No safe ground
Chapter 133

DARIUS

"I am going home," I told Dorian as soon as security released us from questioning.

Dorian immediately shook his head. "Going home alone is not the best idea at this moment. You know that, right?"

"I know. But I need to check on things back there."

"What things?"

I ran my hand through my hair. "My father has not contacted me. Neither has my mother. I am beginning to get worried for my mother's safety. I cannot fully trust my father to protect her properly."

Dorian studied my face for a moment. "Then I am coming with you. That way I can be sure you will not make any rough decisions."

"You do not need to—"

"I am coming," Dorian cut me off firmly. "End of discussion."

I nodded. "Alright. We will take my bike through the woods. It is faster than driving on the main roads."

We set out immediately, the motorcycle roaring beneath us as we tore through the forest paths towards Mooncrest territory.

"Did you see Samantha this morning?" Dorian asked over the wind.

"No. Why?"

"I have been trying to reach her but she is not answering her phone. I am getting worried."

"I saw Ravenna though," I offered. "During the fight in the classroom."

"I saw her too," Dorian replied. "But I could not get close enough to ask her where Samantha was. There were too many people fighting between us."

FLASHBACK

The memory from last night hit me suddenly.

I had woken up around midnight to Atlas going absolutely crazy inside my head. His distress and anguish had been so strong it physically hurt. He had sensed Ravenna was in danger. But he could not pinpoint where she was.

"Find her!" I had ordered internally. "Tell me where she is!"

“I cannot locate. You know damn well the bond is too weak. You have not marked her.”

Atlas had become angrier with each passing minute. His rage and panic flooding through me until I could barely think straight.

“Darius care about her for once!” Atlas had roared. “She is our mate! If she dies, we lose a mate for the second time!”

I had gotten out of bed and started pacing, trying desperately to get some kind of direction from the bond.Nothing. Just overwhelming fear that something terrible was happening to her.

"Atlas, get me a location!" I had yelled out loud.

“I cannot! The bond is not strong enough! You refused to claim her!”

That was when Dorian had woken up in the next bed. "What is wrong? What are you shouting about?"

"Atlas is at it again," I had muttered. "Something is wrong with Ravenna."

Dorian had immediately suggested checking their room. We went there but found the door locked from the inside, which meant they were probably in the lounge and safe.

But I could not track her location through the bond properly. And that had driven Atlas absolutely insane. I had not slept the rest of the night. Just paced and waited and tried to sense anything through our connection.

Then this morning, finally, I had felt Atlas grow calm meaning Ravenna was safe.

And when I walked into that classroom and saw her standing there in the middle of the chaos, debating whether to join the fight or leave, relief had washed over me so powerfully I nearly stumbled.

She was alive. She was okay.

END OF FLASHBACK

"Do not worry," I told Dorian now. "If Ravenna is fine, then Samantha will be too."

"How can you be so sure?"

"Their relationship has been tight since Ravenna joined the academy. Even though Samantha is human, Ravenna has proven countless times that she would give up her life for her. If there was danger, Ravenna would protect her."

Dorian sighed. "I am still worried about her."

"I know the feeling," I replied quietly. "We will check on them both once we get back to the academy."

We drove in silence for a while longer.

Then we crossed into Mooncrest territory. What I saw hit me like a physical blow.

The woods that normally surrounded our lands—the beautiful, thick forest that had stood for generations—was burnt down to ashes. The trees were black and covered in soot and ash.

The houses near the border that had once lined the entrance to our territory were destroyed.

"What the hell happened here?" Dorian breathed behind me.

I did not answer. I just drove faster, my heart pounding.

We reached the middle of the pack where the main pack house was located. I barely waited for the bike to stop properly before jumping off and running towards the entrance.

"Mum!" I shouted. "Mum, where are you?"

A servant appeared from one of the side rooms. "Young master, your mother is in the hall room. There is a meeting happening right now."

I turned to Dorian. "Make yourself comfortable in the sitting room. I will be back."

I did not wait for his response. I just ran towards the hall room and barged through the doors without knocking.

Everyone inside turned to stare at me. The room was filled with pack elders, council members and warriors. And at the head of the table, my father.

Richard's eyes widened in shock when he saw me. Then his expression immediately hardened into anger. "What are you doing here? You are supposed to be at the academy!"

"Where is Mum?" I demanded, ignoring his question.

"How dare you interrupt this meeting—"

"Where is my mother?" I repeated louder.

A door on the side of the room opened. My mother stepped out.

I ran to her immediately and pulled her into a tight hug. She wrapped her arms around me and held on just as tightly.

"Come on," she whispered. "Let us go outside."

She led me out of the hall room whilst my father glared at both of us. I could feel his anger burning into my back but I did not care. Once we were out of the room, my mother closed the door behind us.

"What happened?" I asked immediately. "Why is the territory burnt? What is going on?"

My mother sat down on the sofa and gestured for me to sit beside her. "The Silverthorn pack attacked us last night."

My blood ran cold. "What?"

"We woke up around midnight to one of the pack members reporting that the border was on fire. By the time we got there, it had spread to several houses."

"How bad is it?"

"It took about five hours to control the fire completely," she explained quietly. "It destroyed a lot of our territory. The houses, buildings, and even the crops were all destroyed. But thankfully, no lives were lost. Just properties."

I let out a breath I had not realized I was holding. "No one died?"

"No one died. Your father made sure everyone evacuated safely."

"And now? What is happening in that meeting?"

"The elders have come together with your father to plan how to retaliate against Silverthorn. They want revenge for the attack."

I leaned back against the sofa. "The academy is not any better. A fight broke out this morning during class. Most of the students were killed or injured."

My mother's hand flew to her mouth. "Killed?"

"Yes. Caleb started it by killing a Mooncrest student right in front of everyone. Then it turned into an all-out war between the two packs."

"Were you hurt?"

"No. I am fine. But it was bad, Mum. Really bad."

She pulled me into another hug. "I am so glad you are safe."

"What about you? Are you safe here?"

"Do not worry about me," she reassured. "The security at the pack house is very tight now. I am more worried about you being at that academy with all the fighting."

"I can handle myself."

"I know you can. But a mother still worries." She pulled back and looked at me seriously. "If any situation arises here, I want you to promise me you will not do anything reckless."

"Only if you promise to call me immediately if anything happens. Do not try to handle things alone."

She smiled. "I promise I will always call you now."

She stood up and went into the kitchen. A few minutes later, she returned carrying a large wrapped package.

"What is this?" I asked.

"Food supplies of course. Things you and Dorian might need." She handed it to me. "Are you still affected by what happened with Selene?"

I actually laughed. "Selene is old news, Mum. I have moved on completely."

"Good. That girl was never right for you anyway." She walked me to the door where Dorian was waiting. "Both of you be careful and look out for each other."

"We will," Dorian promised.

My mother turned to me one last time. "Promise me you will not risk your life unnecessarily."

"Only if you promise not to risk yours for Father."

She smiled sadly. "That is not possible, Darius. Richard is my husband and I love him even when he makes terrible decisions, I still love him."

"Mum—"

She held up her hand. "Do not worry about me. Instead, I want you to focus on something else."

"What?"

Her expression turned cold. An expression I had rarely seen on my gentle mother's face.

"When you see the opportunity," she spoke clearly and deliberately, "I want you to kill Caleb Nightshade. And send his head back to his pack as a message."