Chapter 172
Elowen's POV
Raven's words cut through me like knives.
My amber eyes filled with tears. My fingers trembled against the cold stone beneath me. Every syllable he spoke made me question everything I thought I knew.
Was Casper's wolf really a demon?
I couldn't look at him. Not now. Not when doubt crawled through my chest like poison.
"This can't be true," I whispered. The words felt hollow even as they left my lips.
My thoughts fractured into jagged pieces. Fear. Doubt. Terror. They all swirled together until I couldn't breathe properly.
"Cutie." Casper's voice broke through the chaos. That nickname he always used. The one that usually made my heart skip.
Now it just made my stomach twist.
I turned my head away. I couldn't meet those deep golden amber eyes. Not when Raven's accusations still echoed in my skull.
Through our mate bond, I felt Casper's confusion. His pain. It sliced through our connection like broken glass.
"She hates when you call her that, you know." Raven's voice dripped with malice. "Doesn't she, sweetheart?"
"Fuck off," Casper snarled. His voice was hoarse from fighting against whatever magic held him. His reddish-brown hair stuck to his forehead with sweat. The veins in his neck stood out as he struggled.
Raven laughed. That sound made my skin crawl.
"Such language. And you wonder why she doubts you?"
"Elowen—" Cassian's voice cut through. Pain laced every syllable.
I looked at him. His ice-blue eyes stared at me through the darkness. Pleading. Desperate.
My chest ached.
The emotional flood threatened to drown me. Tears blurred my vision. These men—these wolves—they were supposed to be my rocks. My shelter in this dangerous world.
The thought of losing them made my spine turn cold.
My hand moved instinctively to my stomach. Protective. The twins were there. Growing. Innocent.
Trust them, Juno growled in my mind. Trust our mates.
But how could I when everything felt like it was crumbling?
"Poor princess!" Raven's voice came closer. "Look at you, torn apart by doubt."
I had to stay. I had to protect the ones I loved.
Even if it meant facing this monster.
"I can feel it," he purred. "The pain in your chest. The betrayal. Casper kept secrets from you."
The room fell silent.
"Elowen?" Cassian's voice cracked. Those ice-blue eyes never left mine.
Through the twin bond, I felt his desperation. His fear that I might actually believe Raven's lies.
Time seemed to freeze.
My hands were still on Ronan's injured body. But my mind was spinning. Caught between what I knew in my heart and what Raven wanted me to believe.
I wiped my tears away with trembling fingers.
My jaw tightened. Defiant.
"You're wrong," I said. My voice shook but I didn't care. "You're fucking wrong."
I wouldn't back down. Not in front of this demon.
I stood up slowly. My amber eyes started to glow gold as Juno pushed forward. My chestnut hair with those golden highlights seemed to shimmer in the dim light.
"Is that so?" Raven tilted his head. That infuriating smile spread across his face.
He shrugged, like this was all just a game to him.
"Quite the contrary, actually."
The way he invaded my private thoughts made rage burn through my fear. I felt his cold presence in my mind. Rifling through my memories like they were his to see.
He was showing me my own fears. Magnified. Distorted.
"Get out of my head!" I screamed.
Raven's dark laugh echoed through the cathedral.
I took a step forward. Cassian called out behind me, begging me to stop. But I ignored him.
"You think the pain I feel is because my mates 'hid' something from me?" My voice rose with each word.
I took another step toward where Casper was trapped. Each movement was steady. Determined.
"The pain I feel is FOR them!" I pointed at Casper and Cassian. "For my mates! I know what family betrayal feels like—remember?"
My hand pressed against my stomach again.
"They deserve better! We all deserve better!"
Casper's deep golden eyes filled with tears. I saw them through the darkness.
Through our mate bond, I felt both of them. Their emotions crashed into me like waves. Love. Relief. Desperation.
We were reconnecting. Our bond strengthening despite Raven's interference.
My mind drifted to Jessica. To Drake. To all the decisions that had been made without my consent. I couldn't understand how anyone could do what they did.
But I knew one thing with absolute certainty.
I would do anything to protect the people I loved.
I would kill for my children.
Without hesitation.
Juno roared in agreement. Her support flooded through me like fire.
"I'm telling you the truth," Raven said. His tone shifted slightly. "I promise you that."
He raised an eyebrow. Challenging me.
"I told you to stay out of my fucking head," I snarled back.
I felt Casper's warning gaze on me. That look that said be careful, don't push him too far.
But I didn't care about rules anymore.
Fuck the rules.
This bastard wasn't playing fair. Why should I?
My amber eyes fully shifted to gold. Juno was right there with me. Ready to fight.
The cathedral started to shake. The stained glass windows hummed with vibration.
Everything in me screamed that we were about to explode into violence.
Raven's expression changed. The mocking smile faded. He looked... surprised?
Like my reaction wasn't what he expected at all.
Good.
Let him be caught off guard for once.