Chapter 90

RAVEN'S POV

"Can I see my son now?" I asked, not too kindly, as I half-glared at the doctor standing outside the infirmary. After Terek's death, Dr. Simon took her place. Now, Simon looked at me, turning a gold watch around his wrist. There was something jittery about him; he was nervous, very nervous.

"Yes, Luna, you can. I just needed to run a few tests and make sure that Viper didn't hurt him in any way."

"And your test results?" I asked. He stood at the doorway of the infirmary, and behind him, I could see my son on the bed, wrapped in white blankets. I wanted nothing more than to have him in my arms again.

"He's perfectly fine," the doctor said. "No experiments were conducted on him."

I searched the doctor's face. "That's a good thing, right?"

He gave me an almost pitying look, his eyes dim as he stepped out of my way.

I didn't have time to think about anything, about what his words might mean. Instead, I rushed into the room and picked up Orion, rocking him back and forth at the edge of the bed, tears streaming down my eyes.

This was my son, and he was alright.

I kissed his forehead. "I'll never let them take you away again," I muttered.

I could see Dr. Simon leaving the room from the corner of my eyes, but I didn't care. Viper would pay for what she did, I thought fiercely. Kael could have the battle, but Viper was mine to kill. And I would make her regret every night Orion spent without his real family. I wiped the tears out of my eyes, determination and fury rising in me. I looked down at the small, vulnerable figure in my arms that was fast asleep, his tiny chest rising and falling with each breath. I felt like a larger part of me had finally woken up—the part that couldn't function without him.

"No one is ever going to take him away from us again, Raven," a deep male voice said behind me, one that I recognized.

I looked up as Kael wrapped his hands around Orion and me. I felt the strong, reassuring lines of his chest. He kissed my hair, breathing deeply.

For days now, he had to take the reins, bark out orders, and organize the pack when he, too, was breaking inside.

"I swear, Raven, I'll move heaven and hell before I let anyone touch the both of you again," he promised.

"Alpha," someone called out from the doorway.

Kael sighed and looked up.

Leah stood there, still dressed in battle gear. Last night, after Merrick filled us in, we organized the men and set course for the Order for backup.

We were outnumbered. It must have been pure fury that fueled us on, but we destroyed all the men guarding the Order. They would send backup; we knew. After Jonah and Lukas stepped out last, Vance limping between them, Kael ordered us to fall back and retreat.

Now Leah stood at the doorway, representing the rest of the army as they waited for further instructions.

"Battle," Kael muttered under his breath. It was time for battle planning. I clutched Orion closer to me, like if I held him close enough, then I would protect him from the rest of the world. He stirred in my arms but was too deeply asleep to open his eyes.

Kael squeezed my shoulders. He looked fierce and determined. Every inch of his frame screamed contained anger and a whispered promise.

"No one is coming between me and my family ever again."

"Call a meeting," he said, addressing Leah.

"Everybody downstairs, now. It's time we ended this once and for all."

We assembled minutes later. The hall was filled with people, some in full battle gear, all grim-faced and prepared. I stood at the front. Around me, I recognized my friends: Vance holding Eria close, Jared standing like a wall beside Maya. Lukas stood with Merrick, his eyes on his brother like he was scared if he turned away, Vance would disappear again. The Councillor fiddled with a light pen. I could almost see the nerves radiating off him in a cloud of steam. Jonah stood a little apart from the rest, leaning on the walls looking tired, his face pale and scared.

I moved to stand beside them.

Lukas glanced at the sleeping child in my arms. "He's alright," he breathed in relief.

"Thanks to you guys and Vance," I smiled, perhaps the only genuine smile I gave today.

Kael mounted the platform. His eyes locked on mine for a brief second, then on the rest of the men in the room.

"War is at our shores," he started.

A mumble went through the crowd. These men, I knew, would give their life for the Obsidian Spire and have no regrets.

"A war I long foresaw. The Order has strayed from their sacred mission of maintaining the balance and, instead, turned on their own kind, seeking to control, to manipulate, and to destroy anyone who stands in their way."

Kael spoke very seriously, his eyes blazing with that alpha strength that I saw in him at times like this.

"It was long coming. Darian was only a part of it, but the war won't stop until they surrender. I don't know what Viper wants, but I know it can't be good. She has taken from us, turned our men against us. Tonight, we mourn our dead."

Vance clenched his fist. Images of Paul surged through my mind—turned against us, perhaps by force, but in the end, gave his life for what he always believed in.

"We attend to our wounded," Kael continued, his voice carrying across the hall. "And tomorrow, we fight! And any pack that believes in what we are doing will fight with us!"

"Hear, hear!" the men yelled. The hall exploded in battle cries.

Kael stepped down. The men began to clear out. The hall buzzed with energy. We waited for Kael.

"I sent a message to Thalion," he said. "He's arriving tomorrow."

"Thalion?" I raised an eyebrow. I was too overcome by my grief that I hadn't realized my father was gone.

Kael nodded. "He's at the Moon Pack, trying to get Alpha Santiago to ally with us."

We had formed a small circle around the room. It was time for the actual meeting, where we discussed battle plans.

"But Santiago..." Councillor Merrick began.

"Is less interested, yes, but more approachable than Romanov," Kael cut in.

No one else had anything to say to that.

"Eria," Kael turned swiftly to his sister. Eria stood, her eyes calm, too calm for someone who knew what was now expected of her.

"No more delays," Kael's voice was firm. "You marry Dominic this week."

Vance stepped away from Eria like he had been shot.

"What... what are you talking about?" he asked, barely above a whisper, searching between Kael and Eria.

Lukas stepped forward, placing a hand on Vance's shoulder. "It's what happens when war is near, and we need allies no matter the cost."

"No," he shook his head. "There has to be another way. We already lost Paul!"

"Paul chose his path," Kael yelled, his voice rising. "It's something that has to be done. We don't have to enjoy it."

Vance looked back at Eria. He shook his head, muttering "no" under his breath, and stormed off.

"Are you happy now!" Eria yelled at Kael, her face carefully expressionless. She stared at her brother in hatred before running out of the room herself.

Kael's jaw tightened. He looked like he'd rather be anywhere else. "We hold back," he said, not looking at the rest of us. "Wait for Viper to make her first move."

"Merrick," he called out. I watched as the Councillor followed him out of the room.

That night, I could barely sleep. I twisted and turned in my bed. Kael was out strategizing with the Councillor over maps. Orion was in the bed next to me. None of us felt safe.

When my eyes finally closed, I dreamt of a battlefield of ash, stretching across the plain, blood everywhere, and our men scattered on the ground, dead. I ran up, screaming, searching for Kael, for anyone I knew. Ash rose up from my feet as I ran. This couldn't be it... It couldn't have ended like this.

Then the scene faded to a garden, leaves falling like it was autumn. A white wolf approached me. It was unlike any I had seen, but I recognized her instantly.

"Lysander," I whispered, reaching out for my mother.

"How you must fight, her voice said in my head. You have an ancient bloodline, Raven. There are truths that I could not tell you. Darian is not dead."

"But the battle..." I thought. "We saw him fall. No one could survive that!"

"Darian is not dead," she repeated. "Even now, someone opens the bridge to free him. You must beware, Raven, and be strong."