Chapter 96 Replaced
Chapter 096
DARIUS
Two weeks had passed since the accident, and I had not been able to see Ravenna even once. The knowledge ate at me constantly, a gnawing guilt that refused to let me rest or think about anything else properly.
I could not even ask Samantha about how Ravenna was doing because I feared my father was actively watching my every move, waiting for me to slip up so he could punish me further. But I had found a way around his surveillance, at least partially.
Three times over these two weeks, I had sent Dorian to sneak out of the academy late at night to visit the hospital. Each time, I sent him with carefully chosen gifts. Books I knew Ravenna would enjoy. Chocolates. Cards with messages I could not bring myself to write but desperately wanted her to receive somehow.
And each time, I made Dorian promise he would not tell anyone I had sent him. Not Samantha. Not Ravenna if she woke up. Not anyone. The gifts had to appear to be from him alone, because if my father found out I was still trying to reach her, the consequences would be severe.
My mind drifted back to what had happened after the donor meeting that terrible night. The memory played over and over in my head like a nightmare I could not escape.
FLASHBACK
My mother had been in the sitting room when I arrived home late that night. She took one look at my face and my bloody hand and immediately stood up in alarm.
"Darius, what happened? Are you alright?"
Before I could answer, my father appeared in the doorway. "Elizabeth, please join us in my office. Your son has something he needs to explain to both of us."
We walked together to his private office, the tension so thick I could barely breathe through it. My mother kept glancing at me with worry whilst my father maintained his cold, controlled demeanor.
Once the door closed behind us, Richard turned to face my mother. "Our son has just revealed something rather significant to me tonight. Apparently, he is fated mates with that human rebel girl, Ravenna."
My mother's face went pale. She looked between us with shock clear in her expression. "Is this true, Darius?"
"Yes," I confirmed quietly.
"How long have you known?" she demanded.
"A few days after she first arrived at the academy," I admitted. "Atlas recognized her immediately."
My father's fury exploded at that confession. "You kept this from us for months? You knew you were mated to that human and said nothing? Did nothing?"
"I thought I could ignore it," I tried to explain. "I thought if I never acknowledged the bond, it would eventually fade. I never intended for things to develop the way they did."
"But they did develop," Richard countered coldly. "You developed feelings for her. Strong enough feelings that you nearly shifted and challenged your own father just to get past me and reach her tonight. Do you have any idea how dangerous that is? How close you came to forcing my hand?"
My mother stepped between us, holding up both hands. "Richard, please. Do not hurt him over this. I am sure Darius did what he thought was right. He probably believed he would never actually mate with her if he just kept his distance."
"Stop pampering him, Elizabeth," my father snapped. "The boy has grown genuine feelings for this girl. That is far more dangerous than a simple bond he was ignoring. Feelings make people do stupid things. Make them weak and vulnerable."
"I am fine," I tried to assure my mother, seeing the worry in her eyes. "Really. You do not need to be concerned."
But I was not fine. Not even close. And I had no idea what my father had in store for me as punishment for this revelation.
My mother reached out and squeezed my uninjured hand. "We will figure this out together. As a family."
But the look my father gave me suggested his idea of figuring it out would be very different from what my mother was hoping for.
END OF FLASHBACK
My thoughts were pulled back to the present as Dorian settled into the seat beside me in class. He looked tired, like he had not been sleeping well. I could not blame him. None of us had been sleeping properly since the accident.
I found myself staring at Ravenna's empty seat again, unable to help myself. It felt like a wound that refused to close or heal. Every time I looked at that vacant chair, I was reminded of everything that had happened. Everything I had lost.
My wolf had grown quieter over these past two weeks. Dangerously so. Atlas barely spoke to me anymore, withdrawing into a sullen silence that was somehow worse than his usual constant commentary. I knew he was angry with me for not fighting harder to reach Ravenna. For obeying my father instead of following my instincts.
I noticed Samantha was not in school today either. That was unusual. She had not missed a single day since the accident, always present even though she looked exhausted and worried. Her absence made anxiety spike in my chest.
Was Ravenna alright? Had something happened? Had she gotten worse?
The not knowing was torture.
Class dragged on forever. I barely heard anything the professor said, too distracted by my spiraling thoughts to focus on the lecture. When it finally ended, I gathered my things mechanically and headed towards the ice rink for hockey practice.
The tournament was starting next week. We should have been preparing intensively, but without Ravenna on the team, I had no idea how we were supposed to compete effectively. She had been one of our strongest players, and losing her left a gap we could not easily fill.
When I arrived at the rink, I was surprised to see my father standing beside Coach Bonn. Richard rarely attended practice sessions, usually only showing up for important matches or meetings. His presence here was unexpected and immediately put me on edge.
The team gathered around whilst Bonn prepared to address us. My father stood with his arms crossed, watching everyone with that calculating expression I had come to dread.
"I have an announcement to make," Bonn began, his voice carrying across the rink. "As you all know, the hockey tournament begins next week. We need to ensure our team is at full strength and ready to compete."
He paused, and I felt dread settling like a stone in my stomach.
"Ravenna position on the team has been permanently filled," Bonn continued. "A new player will be joining us for practice tomorrow morning to take her place."
Shocked murmurs rose immediately from the team. Several players looked at each other with disbelief.
My father stepped forward, his voice cutting through the noise. "Miss Ravenna is irrelevant now. She was a liability to this team before her accident, and she remains one now. You all need to focus on winning this tournament without her."
Dorian stood up from where he had been sitting on the bench. "With all due respect, sir, you cannot just replace Ravenna like that. She is really good. One of our best players. We have our best chance of winning this tournament with her on the team."
Several other players voiced their agreement, backing up Dorian's protest.
Richard's expression hardened. "Ravenna will never be on this team again. She was a liability then, and she is a liability now. You will all work harder to compensate for her absence, and you will win this tournament to prove that this team does not need her. Is that understood?"
The authority in his voice left no room for argument. The team fell silent, though I could see anger and frustration on many faces.
My mind was reeling. My father had moved incredibly fast to replace Ravenna permanently. Like he had been planning this from the very beginning.
A terrible thought began forming in my head. One I desperately did not want to consider but could not ignore.
What if my father had been involved in Ravenna's accident? What if he had orchestrated it somehow to remove her from my life permanently?
The idea seemed impossible. Too cruel even for Richard Pike.
But looking at the cold satisfaction in his eyes as he announced Ravenna's replacement, I could not shake the horrible suspicion that maybe, just maybe, my father was capable of something that monstrous.