Chapter 58 FIFTY-EIGHT
Ravena glanced at her younger brother and let out a heavy sigh. Raven looked different now—almost unrecognizable. His beard had grown out, giving him an unkempt appearance. He had lost several weight, his frame thinner than before. All he seemed to do these days was drink, drowning himself in alcohol because they still couldn't find Brienne. There were no calls for ransom. They had no idea where she was being held. The last clue they had was finding her phone, but that was it. Mielle couldn’t provide any more help.
"Raven," Arthur called his son, but Raven continued drinking without looking at his father.
"Arthur, please," Cecil said, pulling her husband's arm, but Arthur gently removed her hand and approached his son. He grabbed Raven by the collar and pulled it harshly.
"What is fcking wrong with you?!" Arthur yelled, throwing the bottle of alcohol against the wall. It shattered with a loud crash. Raven, his eyes lifeless, looked at his father and reached for the glass, but Arthur swatted it away.
"Raven!" Arthur yelled once more.
"Arthur..." Cecil whispered, crying. She felt sorry for her child. Why did this have to happen to her son?
"What do you want from me, Dad?" Raven asked, reeking of alcohol. Arthur let go of him.
"Fix yourself, Raven! Do you want Brienne to see you like this?" Arthur asked. At the mention of Brienne's name, Raven's demeanor shifted. His lips quivered as he sank to the floor, unable to hold back his emotions. Raven buried his face in his hands, his shoulders shaking with quiet sobs.
"D-Dad, what do I do?" he stammered, his voice breaking with every word. "I miss her so much. No matter how hard I try, I can’t find her. I think about her every single day. Is she okay? Is she eating? Where is she?" Tears streamed down his face as his voice cracked with desperation.
Ravena blinked back her own tears and turned away for a moment, trying to compose herself. Seeing her brother in so much pain broke her heart. None of them deserved this suffering.
Cecil, their mother, stepped forward and sat next to Raven as she gently wrapped her arms around him, pulling him close. She held him tightly, her own heart aching for her son.
"It’s going to be alright, Raven," she said softly, her voice filled with love and reassurance. She pressed a tender kiss to the top of his head. "We’ll find her. I promise, we’ll find her," she added.
The door burst open, and Carter stepped in, his face a mix of confusion and concern at the scene unfolding before him. Ravena walked toward after wiping her tears off her face.
"Let’s go outside, Carter," Ravena said, reaching for his arm, ready to pull him away. But Carter stood his ground.
"Wait, I need to say something. Rave... there's someone outside looking for you," Carter began, his voice serious. "He says he knows where Brienne is," he added.
Raven froze, his best friend's words sinking in. His heart raced as he turned to Carter, a flicker of hope lighting up his face.
"Where is he?!" Raven demanded, his voice trembling with urgency.
"Outside. By my car," Carter replied.
Without wasting a second, Ravena bolted out of the room. Outside, a man stood leaning against Carter’s car, dressed in a black hoodie with a face mask concealing most of his face. Raven stormed up to him, grabbing him by the neck.
"Where is she?!" Raven shouted, his grip tightening as he lifted the man off the ground. The stranger tapped at Raven's hand, his breaths turning into panicked gasps.
"Raven, stop it!" Arthur’s voice boomed as he rushed forward, pulling Raven away. "What are you doing, son? Are you trying to kill the one person who can lead us to Brienne?" he added.
Raven hesitated, his chest heaving with anger and frustration. He let go of the man, who stumbled backward, coughing and struggling to catch his breath. Arthur’s stern glare softened slightly, but his words carried weight.
"Control yourself," Arthur said firmly. "We need him alive if we’re going to find her," he added.
Raven took a step back, running his hands through his hair as he tried to steady himself. His eyes stayed locked on the man, his desperation clear.
"I... I will tell you everything I know about your woman," he said.
"Let's go inside, everyone," Cecil ordered. Once they were all settled inside, the man removed his mask and pulled down his hood.
"I'm Jao," he said, introducing himself. "I know where she was taken, but on one condition. I need you to help me too," he added.
"Do you have proof?" Ravena asked, crossing her arms. Jao took out his phone, scrolled through it, and then handed it to Raven. Raven cursed, tears streaming down his face. It was really Brienne in the photo. Raven's hand trembled as he touched the screen.
"Y-You've become thinner," he whispered.
"What's your condition?" Arthur asked. Seeing his son fixated on the screen, he turned his attention to the man named Jao.
"Help me get my family out of Red Moon Pack," Jao pleaded. Arthur’s eyebrows drew together in confusion.
"Red Moon Pack? That doesn’t ring a bell. What about you, Carter?" he asked. Carter shook his head.
"No, Alpha. Never heard of it. Maybe it’s a small, isolated pack that slipped under our radar," he said. Arthur turned his attention back to Jao, his expression serious.
"Alright, tell us everything." Jao hesitated but took a deep breath.
"Alpha Derrick, the leader of the Red Moon Pack, has a vendetta against you. All the rogue attacks on your pack—every one of them—he orchestrated," he began. Cecil’s eyes widened in shock as she turned to Arthur. He reached out, placing a steadying hand over hers.
"But he’s a rogue," she said softly, her voice filled with disbelief.
"He still is," Jao explained. He never acknowledged Derrick as his Alpha, but his hands were tied. "Years ago, he kidnapped the Alpha’s daughter. After killing her father, he seized control of the Red Moon Pack," he added.
"Wait a second," Raven interjected, leaning forward. "Why would he kidnap Brienne? What does Brienne have to do with this?" he added.
"It wasn’t Derrick that took her," Jao clarified. "It was his son, Jasper. Jasper and Brienne used to be together," he added.
"He's dead! I saw the news report his death in prison. You're fcking lying!" Raven yelled, standing up abruptly. Carted immediately moved to his side, ready to stop him from doing anything rash.
"I am not lying! Why would I risk myself and my family's safety if what I’m saying wasn’t true?!" Jao yelled back, his voice trembling with frustration and fear.
The room fell silent, the weight of Jao's words sinking in. Raven’s clenched fists trembled as he tried to process the revelation. If Jao was right, then everything they thought they knew was a lie—and the real danger was only beginning.