Chapter 102
Drake's POV
Those red eyes burned into me. I couldn't move. Couldn't breathe.
"Should I kill him?" The stranger's voice was flat. Dead. He turned to Jessica.
My heart stopped.
"How much extra?" Jessica asked. Casual. Like she was ordering coffee.
The stranger's mouth twisted. Not quite a smile. "One gold coin."
I pressed harder against my bleeding shoulder. The pain kept me grounded. Real. This was really happening.
This feeling... this terror crawling through my veins... I'd given Elowen this same feeling. Made her feel this helpless. This small.
Fuck. What had I become?
"I'm her partner," I said. My voice came out weak. Pathetic. "We're working together on this."
Jessica's head turned. Slow. Those cold, calculating amber eyes glowed in the darkness.
"Partner?" She laughed. Sharp and cold. "Drake is my daughter's ex-boyfriend. Nothing more."
"Fiancé," I corrected. My hands shook. I clenched them into fists. "The contract makes her my—"
"That worthless piece of paper?" Jessica cut me off. "You really think that matters now?"
The stranger moved closer. His scent hit me harder. Metal. Incense. Blood. Wrong. Everything about him was wrong.
"The girl with the chestnut hair," he said. His voice was smooth now. Curious. "Golden highlights. Freckles across her nose."
He was talking about Elowen.
"She's taken," Jessica said quickly. "Marked by the twins. You saw them at the ball."
The stranger's red eyes flickered. "Did I?"
I couldn't stop staring at him. His eyes... they weren't just red. They moved. Shifted. Like flames behind glass.
"You're reading my thoughts," I whispered. Horror crawled up my spine. "You're in my head."
"Your head is loud," the stranger said. He looked at me. Through me. "Full of weakness. Jealousy. Pathetic desires for control you'll never have."
"Raven." Jessica's voice was sharp. Warning. "Focus."
Raven. His name was Raven.
"Is the job done?" I asked. A tremor ran through my words. "Did you... did you actually—"
"Payment," Raven said. He moved toward Jessica. Extended his hand. "Now."
Jessica pulled out a small velvet bag. Dark red. She tossed it to him.
Raven caught it without looking. The bag vanished. Just... disappeared in a puff of red smoke.
What the fuck was he?
The muffled sounds from above suddenly sharpened. Footsteps. Running. Heavy and chaotic.
Then screaming. High-pitched. Panicked.
"Something's wrong!" a distant voice shouted. "Upstairs!"
More footsteps. Closer now. The sound of people rushing toward something.
"What's happening?" another voice yelled. Confused. Terrified.
"I saw someone near the Alpha's body! Dark clothes!"
Another voice. Younger. Shaking. "I think... I think it was Casper! He was just standing there!"
"What? That's impossible!"
"I saw him too! He was covered in—"
"Casper killed his own father!"
The words echoed down to us. Clear. Damning.
I stared at Jessica. At the woman who'd used me. Manipulated me. Led me into this nightmare.
"Jessica," I choked out. Horror cracked my voice. "You're fucking insane. You hired this... this monster to kill our Alpha. And you framed Casper for it."
Jessica didn't deny it. She just smiled. Cold and satisfied.
"Watch your mouth," she said softly. "You're already on thin ice."
"Thin ice?" I laughed. Hysterical. "You just murdered the Alpha! You destroyed the pack! And you're threatening me?"
Raven raised one finger to his lips. The gesture was gentle. Almost playful.
"Shh," he whispered. "Someone's coming."
Footsteps. Light. Quick. Running toward us.
I knew those footsteps. I'd heard them a thousand times before.
Elowen.
"She's looking for you," Raven said to me. Those flames in his eyes grew brighter. "How sweet."
The door burst open.
Elowen stood there. Her dress was destroyed. Ripped. Covered in blood. So much blood.
Her wild, desperate amber eyes locked on me.
"Drake?" Her voice trembled. "I need to know about Ethan—" She stopped, her eyes widening as she finally took in Jessica, and the terrifying stranger standing beside her.
Her whole body went rigid.
I opened my mouth. Nothing came out.
"Who is he?" she demanded. "What's going on?"
Raven studied her. Those red eyes traveled up and down. Slow. Deliberate.
"Does she belong to anyone?" he asked. His voice was different now. Interested.
"She's marked," Jessica said quickly. Too quickly. "By the Alpha's sons. You can't—"
"I didn't ask about marks," Raven interrupted. "I asked if she belongs to anyone."
Elowen's hands clenched into fists. Her nails... they were getting longer. Sharper.
"I belong to myself," she said. Her voice was cold. Strong.
Pride swelled in my chest. Stupid. Wrong. But there it was.
"You need to leave," Elowen said. She stepped into the room. Her voice was steady now. Commanding. "Whoever you are. Whatever you are. You need to leave. Now."
She said it so casually. Like she was dismissing a waiter. Not challenging a demon.
Fear shot through me. This thing... this creature... was going to hurt her.
I moved before I could think. Grabbed Elowen's wrist. Pulled her behind me.
"Don't," I whispered urgently. "Don't challenge him. You don't know what he is."
Elowen jerked her arm away. But I held on. Tighter this time.
"Drake, let go—"
"No." My voice was firm. "Not until he leaves."
Raven's eyes changed. The red faded. Shifted to gray. Cold. Empty.
He smiled. It wasn't human.
"You said what?" His voice dropped. Dangerous. He took a step toward Elowen. "You want me to leave?"
The smile widened. Showed too many teeth.
"How fascinating," he continued. "The marked girl who thinks she can give orders to me."