Chapter 27 Invisible Boundaries

Chapter 27 Invisible Boundaries
While Selene faced the frozen terror of an ancient alliance inside the Dark Blood mansion, Rael measured his own cage — though his was made of trees and freedom.

He was deep in the heart of Cedric’s pack territory, several kilometers from the city. After the confrontation at the bar, Cedric had made it clear: Rael was welcome and under the protection of the pack. For the first time since the death of his parents, he was not a lone wolf.

However, belonging to a group brought a new kind of restriction.

Rael stood at the edge of a cliff overlooking Ravenshade. The city lights flickered below — a sea of neon and darkness. And there, atop the distant hill, imposing and arrogant, stood the Dark Blood mansion. A fortress. A prison.

He clenched his fists. Selene was in there, a prisoner of her own father, and he had never felt so powerless.

— Staring won’t bring down the walls.

Cedric’s deep voice came from behind him. The alpha approached and stopped beside Rael. His eyes were fixed on the mansion as well.

— I know — growled Rael, frustration thick in his voice. — I feel like a caged animal.

— Ironic, isn’t it? — Cedric gave a half-smile. — You’re free, but she’s trapped. She’s trapped, yet you’re the one who can’t reach her.

Rael turned to the alpha. — I can. I defeated Darius. I defeated Gabriel and Lucien. I can get in there.

— And then? — Cedric’s voice hardened like steel. — You fight the guards. Maybe you kill Gabriel. Maybe you even reach Selene. And then what? Victor will have the excuse he’s been waiting for. You’ll have broken the pact, attacked his house. You’ll have forced my hand. And I’ll have to declare a war that will slaughter wolves and vampires alike — all because you couldn’t control your impulse.

Each word hit like a blow. Rael knew he was right. His alliance with Cedric was a shield, but also a leash. His actions were no longer his alone; they represented the entire pack.

— So what do I do? — asked Rael, his voice dropping. — Leave her there? Leave her at the mercy of that maniac Victor? He’s promised her to another vampire.

— No — said Cedric. — You wait. You train. You become part of this. — He gestured to the forest around them. — But above all, you think. Victor’s power isn’t in his fists; it’s in his control. You can’t beat him with brute strength. You have to be smarter.

Smarter. Rael looked back at the mansion.

It was almost impossible. The defenses were impenetrable. The guards were loyal. Selene had no way to communicate.

He couldn’t get in.

But... maybe he didn’t have to.

An idea began to form — dangerous and uncertain. Victor and Gabriel were zealots. Darius was a rabid dog. Amara was a queen of ice. But the Dark Blood clan had weak links.

Lysandra. The cousin who had kissed him, but who had also tried to warn Selene. She seemed to be playing her own game.

And Lucien. The cousin who had attacked him, but who had also warned him about Victor’s declaration of war. He seemed to enjoy chaos more than loyalty.

Rael couldn’t storm the fortress. But maybe he could send a message. Maybe he could find a way to reach one of Victor’s unstable pawns.

— You’re right — said Rael to Cedric, though his eyes gleamed with new determination. — It’s not about strength. It’s about finding the crack in the armor.

He wouldn’t wait.
He would hunt.

Not a vampire to kill — but a messenger to capture.

He just needed to catch Lucien or Lysandra alone.