Chapter 62 SIXTY-TWO
"Are we ready?" Raven asked Carter. He stood inside the office, arms crossed, and now clean-shaven, just as Brienne liked.
"Yes, we are. We're only waiting for your order to send his body back to the Red Moon Pack," Carter replied, sitting in the chair.
"Good. We'll send it after I take Brienne, Ravena, and Janice to the airport," Raven said.
Last night, he had spoken with Brienne and decided to send her abroad with his sister, Ravena. To make things smoother, he asked Janice to accompany them, framing it as a vacation. Initially, Brienne resisted the idea—she knew Raven was keeping something from her. But Cecil managed to talk it out with her, pointing out that she needed a break after all the stress she'd endured from being kidnapped.
"What did Brienne say?" Carter asked.
"She got upset with me," Raven said. "She took the vacation, but she said she would only talk to me if I followed her," he added with a smile on his face. Carter smiled. He was happy seeing Raven back to his old self now that Brienne's back in the pack and safe.
"So we better hurry things up then," Carter said. Raven sat on the swivel chair and clasped his hands together.
"It’s going to be a bloodbath, Carter," Raven said, his tone grave.
"I know," Carter replied firmly. "I’m ready. I swore my loyalty to you and the pack the day I became your beta. I’ll stand by your side, no matter what, and we’ll face our enemies together." Pride swelled in his chest as he spoke.
"And I’m glad to have you," Raven said with a small nod. Carter wasn’t just his beta; he was his closest friend. "Make sure Natasha, your daughter, and her family evacuate. I don’t want them caught up in this mess," he added, his voice softening. Natasha is his family too and he doesn't want any of his family to get hurt. Raven had already made plans and relayed them to his father and Carter, who also agreed.
After delivering Jasper’s body to the Red Moon Pack, they would begin the evacuation of his pack members. Only the warriors and those willing to fight would remain. He was determined to keep innocent lives out of harm’s way, because this is his family that needs to settle. Derrick's and old enemy that needs to be cut down.
Back in the Red Moon Pack, Derrick was inside the office, clasping his hands together. He hasn't seen his son for days, and it's irritating him.
"Jao," he called. Jao, who was staying in the next room, entered his office.
"Yes, Alpha?" Jao asked, trying to hide the nervousness in his voice.
"Where's Jasper? I had you follow him, right?" Derrick asked. Jao swallowed hard.
"Yes, Alpha. I've been following him, but a few weeks ago he changed his location and I couldn't find it anymore. He knows I'm following him," he said, making it as believable as possible. Derrick cursed under his breath.
"That dmn boy. I told him not to do anything that might put us all in danger, but he just won't listen," Derrick said. "Find him; I need him here," he added. Jao nodded his head and was about to leave when another warrior entered.
"Alpha, we found a big wooden box at the border with your name on it. It smells bad. What should we do?" the warrior asked.
Derrick frowned and clenched his fist, feeling uneasy.
"Take me to the box," Derrick ordered. The warrior nodded and led the way. Derrick and Jao followed him.
They got into the warrior’s car, and he drove them to the border. Derrick sat in the back, restless. His thoughts kept spinning—what was inside the box, and who sent it?
The car stopped, and so were Derrick's thoughts. He went out of the car and saw the warriors circling the box.
"Step aside!" Jao yelled. Everyone did what the beta told them and stepped aside, allowing only Derrick to pass through.
"Open the box," Derrick ordered, his voice steady but tense.
The rogue by the box nodded and lifted the lid. Gasps filled the air as everyone froze in shock. Inside the box lay Jasper, the Alpha's son, his body covered in wounds. But what stood out the most was his broken neck.
Derrick’s breath caught. His chest tightened as tears rolled down his face. His heart pounded so hard it felt like it would burst.
"Who the fck did this?" he demanded, his voice shaking with grief and fury. "Fcking answer me!" he added.
"Alpha," Jao called. Derrick turned around and glared at him. He grabbed Jao's collar and his eyes darkened.
"Do you know who did this?" he asked, his voice low but dangerous. Jao shook his head repeatedly.
"I-I don’t know, Alpha," the rogue stammered, struggling to free himself from Derrick's grip.
Derrick shoved him to the ground, his eyes burning with anger and grief. As he wiped away his tears, his gaze landed on a crumpled piece of paper in Jasper’s lifeless hand. He reached for it and carefully unfolded it.
Do you like our surprise, Derrick? Your son deserved it for kidnapping the future Luna of our pack. Now, once and for all, let’s settle this. We'll wait for you, and we'll ensure that this ends with your death.
Derrick’s hands trembled as he read the words. Rage boiled inside him as he crumpled the paper. He then knew who did this.
"Wolfgangs!" Derrick roared, his voice echoing. "Curse you!" he bellowed before shifting into his wolf form. Overcome with rage and sorrow, he leapt forward and ran through the dense trees. His powerful strides gradually slowed until he stopped in the middle of the forest, panting heavily.
Derrick stood still, his chest heaving as grief weighed him down. Tilting his head back, he looked up at the sky and let out a heart-wrenching howl, pouring out the pain of losing his only son—his heir, his pride, his blood.
Moments later, he transformed back into his human form, his eyes burning with fury and sorrow.
"I will avenge you, son," he whispered, his voice trembling. "I will destroy the Wolfgangs," he vowed, his jaw tightening.
"A life for a life. They took my son, and I will take everything from them," Derrick declared, his voice steady and cold. Jao arrived and saw Derrick standing still.
"Alpha..."
"Bring everyone, Jao. Find rogues as many as you can. Offer them drugs and money they can't refuse. This is war, and I will make sure I win," Derrick said. Jao swallowed hard and nodded his head.
"Yes, Alpha," he answered. Jao must take his family away from here as soon as the Wolfgangs contact him. Derrick is filled with anger, and he will not hesitate to kill anyone in his way.