Chapter 201 The Truth comes out

Chapter 201 The Truth comes out
Chapter 201

DARIUS

I smiled slowly. "Ohhh, we're at the part where I torture you guys to talk."

I walked to the other side of the room and came back pushing a metal table loaded with instruments.

I pulled back the towel covering them, revealing different kinds of equipment—blades, pliers, iron rods, saws.

I looked at Marcus. "Ask them the last question."

Marcus stepped forward. "Why do you look like my Alpha's men?"

The five men all exchanged nervous glances.

One of them finally spoke, his voice shaking. "We can't say it. Or we're dead."

I raised an eyebrow. "Dead by my hands, of course."

I grabbed an equipment that looked like a small, jagged cutlass and reached for one of the men's legs.

He struggled violently, thrashing against the chains.

I turned to Dorian. "Hold him down."

Dorian shook his head. "No."

I spun around, glaring at him. "You're either with me or against me. And if you're against me, get your fucking out of my house."

Dorian's expression softened. "It doesn't have to be like this. There's another way to make them talk."

I let out a harsh laugh. "Ohhh, my baby-talking them wasn't enough? Should I go bring mattresses, food, and drinks? Pamper them before they talk?"

I stepped closer to him, my voice rising. "Do you know what the stakes are here, Dorian?"

He didn't answer.

"Ravenna just accused my father out there," I continued, my voice hard. "In front of so many people. She said he tried murdering her. And why? Because some psycho found men and somehow impersonated them to look like my father's men. All to make it look like my father tried killing Raven."

I paused, my chest heaving. "I know my father is cruel. But coming after my mate to kill her when he knows his son's life is at stake? That's a risk Richard wouldn't take. So I'm going to find out who's behind this. Even if it means cutting every part off these men's bodies."

I looked at Dorian directly. "So either join me in this, or leave. Make your choice now."

Dorian exhaled slowly, "I didn't know all these happened." And then he moved around and gripped the man's shoulders, holding him down.

I turned back to the man. "Are you going to talk? Or should I add your leg to my collection?"

The man's voice came out in a rush. "I'll talk! I'll talk! Don't cut my leg!"

I let go of his leg and stepped back. "Start talking, then."

The man swallowed hard. "I don't know everything. They only gave us half-truths. But I think your father's men were captured. And there's a woman. She's acting like a witch. I'm sure she said some kind of words whilst watching your father's men and made each one of us look like them."

I took a step back, my mind racing. "A witch was involved in this?"

"Yes," the man confirmed.

I nodded slowly, pieces clicking together. "No wonder the scents at the woods were off. The witch woke Selina and Caleb and masked their scent."

I looked at him sharply. "Who hired you?"

The men all shook their heads frantically. "We don't know. We swear. We worked directly with Selina and Caleb. And Caleb said the boss needed Raven alive."

I turned to Marcus. "Keep them bound. I'm going to come back and continue the investigation."

The men looked at each other nervously. One of them spoke up. "What about the other men you injured?"

I scowled at them.

They pleaded immediately. "Please don't kill us! We'll do anything you want!"

I was quiet for a moment, thinking. "Do the others still have my father's men?"

The man shook his head. "The witch erased their memories and dropped them at various points."

I nodded. "Marcus, send someone in here to clean them up. Give them water but no food for now."

I went to my room and washed myself up, scrubbing the blood off my hands and face.

I really needed to see Ravenna.

When I stepped out, half of the guests had already left, leaving only a few pack members behind.

I found my father in the main hall and walked straight to him. "I'm going to check on my mate."

Richard's expression hardened immediately. "You're not going anywhere."

Dorian stepped forward. "I'll accompany him—"

"No," Richard cut him off sharply.

I looked at my father calmly. "I'm not requesting your permission. I'm informing you. Which means the decision has already been made, and no amount of refusals will tie me down."

I grabbed my keys and started walking toward the door.

Richard screamed after me. "Darius! Get back here!"

I stopped and turned. "Marcus will fill you in on the results of the investigation. But if you must know—you're innocent."

Then I turned and left.

Dorian dropped into the passenger seat beside me, and I drove away toward Raven's house.

My wolf was alert the entire drive. Everything was quiet and dark.

We arrived at the house, and Theo ushered us in.

Daniel grabbed me immediately, his hand fisting in my shirt. "Where the hell were you when my daughter was fighting for her life?"

I kept my voice calm. "I was coming after her when they drugged me. Even Dorian and Sam, who went to help, were drugged too."

Daniel didn't release me. "What are you doing here?"

"I came to see Raven."

Daniel's expression hardened. "Leave. Raven said she doesn't want to see or talk to you."

My chest tightened painfully.

I sighed. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to abandon her but I'll respect her privacy."

I turned to leave.

"Darius."

I stopped.

Raven was standing at the door, glaring at her father.

She walked toward me, and I rushed to her immediately, pulling her into my arms and breathing in her scent.

"Are you okay?" I asked quietly, my hands trembling slightly as I held her. "I'm so sorry for abandoning you. I—"

"Shut up," she interrupted, her voice firm. "I'm not mad at you."

She hugged me tightly, then took my hand and led me away whilst glaring at her father over her shoulder.

Sam came out and smiled when she saw Dorian.

When we got to her room, I told her everything about the investigation.

She sighed heavily. "I thought it was Richard."

I shook my head. "It's fine. Anyone could think that way. Richard already made it known he doesn't like you and doesn't want you."

She was quiet for a moment, then looked at me. "I'm feeling cold."

I kissed her gently. "Everything's over for now. I won't let anyone harm you."

I kissed her again, my voice dropping to a whisper. "Let me make you feel better."

She pulled back slightly, her eyes filled with worry. "I'm scared I'm going to hurt you."

I chuckled softly. "Mates don't hurt their mates. And even if you do, I won't be mad at you."

I cupped her face gently. "I miss you so much. And besides, our wolves need this release."

I paused, searching her eyes. "So what's it going to be? Are you going to turn me down?"