Chapter 161
Elowen's POV
"Wouldn't she?" Raven circled me slowly. "The pack needs a Luna. Casper and Cassian need a mate. If you can't fulfill the role..." He trailed off meaningfully.
Rage exploded in my chest. Hot and fierce and all-consuming.
"If she thinks someone can take my place, she can go to hell." The words came out as a snarl. "They're mine. Casper is mine. Cassian is mine. Those babies are mine. And no one—not a goddess, not some backup Luna, not anyone—is going to take that from me."
Raven's smile grew wider. "There she is. There's that fire I've been waiting to see."
My chest heaved. My fingernails had lengthened into claws without me noticing. The wolf in me pushed at my skin, wanting out, wanting to fight.
"I can help you keep them," Raven said. His voice wrapped around me like smoke. "I can use my power to make Selene think you rejected the bond. The magic will fool her senses. She'll believe her conditions are met. And you? You keep everything."
"Why would you help me?" My voice shook. "What do you get out of this?"
"Payment, of course." He shrugged. "I don't work for free."
"I don't have money. I don't have anything you'd want."
"Oh, I wouldn't say that." His eyes traveled down my body. Not in a sexual way. More like he was cataloging my parts. It made my skin crawl. "But we can discuss payment later. First, you need to agree to the plan."
Tears burned my eyes. I refused to let them fall.
"I need to talk to Casper and Cassian first. This affects them too. We're a team. We decide things together."
"No."
The single word hit me like a slap.
"What do you mean, no?"
"You can't tell them. Not yet." He moved closer. Too close. I could see flecks of red in his brown eyes. "Selene is watching. Always watching. If you discuss this plan in the earthly realm, she'll know. She'll stop it before it begins."
"Then how am I supposed to—"
"The only place she can't see is here. In my domain." He gestured around at the cathedral. "This is why I brought you here, sweetheart. To make our deal in private."
My throat closed up. "We're a team. I don't make decisions without them. That's... that's how you get manipulated. That's how people drive wedges between you."
He studied me for a long moment. Then he sighed.
"You know, most people would jump at the chance to save everyone they love. But you..." He shook his head. "You're stubborn. It's admirable. And annoying."
"I'm not doing this without them," I said firmly. My hands were still shaking but my voice stayed steady. "Bring them here. We'll talk as a group. Or the deal's off."
"You don't have much negotiating power, sweetheart." His smile turned cruel. "I've already shown you my good faith—I saved your friend when I could have let him die screaming on the ground. But every act of mercy has a price. And the longer you stall, the more expensive this becomes."
A chill ran down my spine. The memory of Ronan's tortured screams still echoed in my mind. In my fury at the threat to my mates and children, the immediate horror of what I'd witnessed had been momentarily eclipsed. But now the guilt crashed back over me like a wave. The image of Ronan's broken body, the sound of his agony—it all came flooding back.
My hands trembled. "Please." The word tasted like ash. "Just... let me talk to them. Find a way. You're powerful enough to bring them here, aren't you? Without Selene knowing?"
He tilted his head. Considering.
"You know what?" His hand reached up. Before I could react, he pressed his finger against my lips. "Shh."
His skin was ice cold. I froze.
He leaned in. His forehead touched mine. The intimacy of the gesture made my stomach flip. This close, I could see that his eyes were fully red now. Glowing.
"You drive a hard bargain," he whispered. His breath smelled like copper. "But I like you. You're entertaining. So here's what I'll do..."
He pulled back just enough to look into my eyes.
"I'll bring your precious twins here. We'll all have a nice chat. They can hear my proposal. And then you three can make your decision together." His smile turned sharp. "But sweetheart? Make no mistake. This offer expires soon. Very soon. And when it does..."
He didn't finish the sentence. He didn't need to.
Then he blinked. And vanished.
I stood alone in the cathedral. My heart pounded against my ribs. My legs felt weak.
I sank down onto the nearest pew. Put my head in my hands.
What had I just agreed to? What was I getting us into?
But the alternative was worse. The image of some other woman taking my place, raising my children, sleeping in my bed with my mates...
My hands curled into fists.
Over my dead body.
I would find a way to make this work. We would find a way. Together.
Because that's what we did. That's who we were.
I just hoped Casper and Cassian would understand. I hoped they'd forgive me for getting pulled into this nightmare.
I hoped we'd all survive whatever came next.
The cathedral remained silent. Waiting.
And so did I.