Chapter 178
Drake's POV
I hung there. Wrists burning. Silver chains cutting into my skin.
My feet barely touched the ground. Toes scraped against cold stone. Every breath hurt.
The basement interrogation room smelled like blood and fear. My blood. My fear.
"Fuck," I muttered. Tried to shift my weight. The chains rattled. Pain shot through my shoulders.
This is pathetic, Ragnar said in my head. My wolf sounded disgusted. You can't even handle a simple question from the Alpha.
"Shut up," I whispered.
My neck throbbed. Right where Raven had touched me. The mark burned like fire. Pulsed with my heartbeat.
Thump. Burn. Thump. Burn.
I squeezed my eyes shut. Tried to ignore it.
But Austin's question kept echoing in my head. "Tell me the truth about Elowen and my sons."
My tongue felt weird. Swollen. Like someone had stuffed cotton in my mouth.
Great. Just great.
Low laughter filled my mind. Dark. Mocking.
"Really, Drake?" Raven's voice slithered through my thoughts. "You can't even lie properly."
I jerked. Looked around the empty room. Nothing.
"You're not here," I said out loud. Voice shaking.
"Not physically." His laugh grew louder. "But I'm always watching. Always listening."
My tongue started to swell. Fast.
"What—" I tried to speak. Couldn't. The words got stuck.
My tongue filled my mouth. Pressed against my teeth. Against the roof of my mouth.
Can't breathe. Can't breathe.
Drool ran down my chin. I tried to swallow. Choked instead.
"This is called the Little Devil's Bite," Raven said. Casual. Like we were discussing the weather. "One of my favorites."
Make it stop, I begged Ragnar. Please.
"I told you," my wolf said coldly. "We should have obeyed him from the start."
The swelling got worse. My tongue felt huge. Foreign. Like it didn't belong to me.
"Don't worry," Raven continued. "Just cooperate. Answer their questions carefully. I'll make it go away."
Carefully? How am I supposed to answer anything when I can't fucking talk?
But Raven was gone. I felt his presence fade.
The metal door slammed open.
Austin stormed in. His amber eyes burned with rage. With grief.
"Drake!" He crossed the room in three strides. Grabbed the front of my shirt. "You will answer my questions about Elowen and my sons!"
Behind him, Alaric and Kade stood in the doorway. Both looked uncomfortable. Neither moved to help.
Cowards, Ragnar sneered. All of them. Acting righteous when it suits them.
I tried to speak. "Mmmph—"
Saliva dribbled down my chin. I couldn't form words. Couldn't explain.
Austin's face twisted. "Don't play games with me."
He ripped the cloth gag from my mouth. Yanked it so hard my head slammed back into the stone wall.
White pain exploded behind my eyes. The world spun. Went dark at the edges.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
"Talk!" Austin shook me.
My head lolled. I blinked. Tried to focus.
In my mind, I screamed at Raven. You bastard! I can't take this!
"Endure," Raven whispered back. "Trust me. This will all be worth it."
Then he was gone again. Left me alone with the pain.
"Last chance, Drake." Austin's grip tightened. His knuckles pressed into my collarbone. "What did you do to my family?"
"Aaaahhh..." I managed. Nothing more.
My tongue felt like a dead fish in my mouth. Useless. Swollen. Disgusting.
Austin drew back his fist.
"Stop."
The voice was soft. Feminine. Deadly calm.
Luna Ella glided into the room. Lavender and rain. Her scent filled the space. Soothing. Deceiving.
"Darling." She placed a hand on Austin's arm. "Killing him won't get us answers."
Her blue eyes swept over me. Cold. Calculating.
Austin took a step back. Released my shirt. His chest heaved.
"Thank you," I tried to say. It came out as "Ahhhoo."
More drool ran down my chin. Landed on my dirty shirt.
So humiliating.
Luna Ella circled me slowly. Her heels clicked on stone. Each step deliberate.
"Poor Drake." Her voice dripped with false sympathy. "You lost Elowen to my sons. Must be difficult."
You manipulative bitch.
I kept my face blank. Tried to.
She stopped directly in front of me. Tilted her head. "Is that why you're lying? Because you're jealous?"
"Nuh," I grunted. Shook my head.
"No?" Her perfect eyebrows raised. "Then why did you claim Elowen betrayed her mate bond? Why spread such vicious rumors?"
Because Raven made me. Because I'm an idiot who thought I could control the situation.
I couldn't say any of that. My tongue was a useless lump.
Luna's smile turned sharp. "Or perhaps..." She leaned closer. "You're angry that she chose power over you. That she picked the Alpha's sons instead of a simple Omega."
Ragnar stirred in my mind. Women. Masters of manipulation.
I almost agreed with him.
The door burst open again. Sarah stumbled in.
Her red hair was a mess. Makeup smeared. The tight dress she wore looked ridiculous in the cold basement.
"Luna!" She rushed forward. Stumbled in her heels. "I can speak for Drake. He—he was just confused. Elowen seduced him. Made him say those things."
Her voice turned whiny. Pathetic.
And this is the woman I slept with?
My stomach turned. The nausea mixed with the taste of blood in my mouth.
Austin didn't even look at her. "I want to hear it from Drake. Now."
He grabbed my chin. Forced my head up. "Drake Reid. Tell me. Did you lie about Elowen and Drake?"
"Aaahhh... uuuhhhh... ssss..."
The sounds were gibberish. Humiliating.
Saliva pooled at the corners of my mouth. Dripped onto Austin's hand.
He jerked back. Disgust crossed his face. "What the hell is wrong with you?"
Everything. Everything is wrong.
Sarah whimpered. "He looks sick. Maybe we should—"
"Silence!" Austin roared.
The room went quiet. Except for my ragged breathing. And the steady drip of drool hitting the floor.
I felt it then. The presence.
Raven's attention turned back to me. Not speaking. Just... watching. Waiting.
My lungs burned. I couldn't get enough air through my nose. Panic clawed at my throat.
I'm going to suffocate. Going to die here like a dog.
"Pathetic," Ragnar muttered.
Luna Ella studied me with those cold blue eyes. "He's hiding something. Or someone is making him hide it."
Smart woman. Too smart.
Austin opened his mouth to respond.
The door slammed open a third time.
Cassian stood in the doorway. Ice-blue eyes sweeping the room. Taking in everything.
His lips curved into a cold smile. "Quite the gathering." He strolled in. Hands in pockets. "Though I'd suggest standing back from Drake. He looks ready to drool all over you."
Despite everything, I felt a flash of rage.
Smug bastard.
Cassian's gaze met mine. For a second, something flickered in those cold eyes. Curiosity? Recognition?
Then it was gone.
"Cassian." Luna rushed toward him. "Thank the Goddess you're—"
"Where's Casper?" Austin interrupted. "And Elowen?"
"Close," Cassian said vaguely. He turned to the door. Gestured.
Casper entered. His amber eyes immediately locked on me. Cold. Assessing.
Behind him, Elowen hesitated in the doorway. Her hand rested protectively on her slightly rounded belly.
Luna Ella's breath caught. She took a step toward her sons. Arms outstretched.
"Mom." Casper's voice was gentle but firm. "We need to talk first."
"But you're safe—" She reached for him.
Casper raised a hand. Stopped her. "Please. This is important."
Cassian moved to his brother's side. They formed a wall. A united front.
Elowen stood behind them. Protected.
Austin frowned. "What's going on?"
"Everyone needs to leave," Cassian said. His tone left no room for argument. "Except our father."
Alaric and Kade exchanged glances. Both headed for the door without protest.
Luna hesitated. "Surely I can—"
"Mom." Casper's amber eyes met hers. "Please. Trust us."
After a long moment, she nodded. Left.
Sarah lingered. "But I—"
"Out," Casper said flatly.
She scurried away. The door closed.
And I was left hanging there. Chains biting into my wrists. Tongue swollen. Helpless.
Just my fucking luck.
In my head, Ragnar laughed bitterly. "They can all leave. But not you. Never you."
Alaric paused at the door. Turned back.
He walked to me slowly. Deliberately.
Got close enough that only I could hear.
"Your wolf could break those chains easily, Drake." His silver-white hair fell forward as he leaned in. Those pale blue eyes saw right through me. "Stop pretending you're helpless."
My heart stopped.
How does he—