Chapter 44 FORTY-FOUR
Derrick slammed the door open, his expression tense, and found his son, Jasper, lounging on the couch with a game controller in hand.
"Jasper," he called, but his son was too absorbed in his game to respond. Frustrated, Derrick walked over to the TV and turned it off.
"What the hell?!" Jasper yelled, his face contorted with anger. "I was winning! Why’d you do that?!" he added. Derrick crossed his arms, glaring at him.
"I didn’t pull you out of that prison so you could sit here wasting time," he said sharply. "The Crescent Stone pack just raided one of our rogue hideouts," he added, his anger evident. Jasper tossed the controller aside and finally turned his attention to his father.
"I thought your plan was supposed to be perfect?" he asked mockingly.
"It was," Derrick replied, his voice laced with irritation. "But it wasn’t Raven who led the attack—it was his father, Arthur." His eyes darkened as he sank into the couch across from Jasper.
"That man is no pushover. He’s just as ruthless as I remember," he said.
"Then send more of our rogues to take care of it," Jasper suggested, leaning back lazily. Derrick shook his head, his expression stern.
"Are you an idiot? If we move on so soon, they’ll trace it back to me. Arthur can’t find out I’m hiding here with the Red Moon pack," he said, clenching his fists.
When he failed to kill Arthur and take Cecil, Derrick disappeared. He had fled and found an opportunity in the Red Moon pack—a small, vulnerable group of just one hundred wolves. By kidnapping the daughter of their weak and aging Alpha, he forced the pack to follow his command and even impregnated the daughter of the Alpha. He killed the ones who rebelled against him and became the Alpha of the Red Moon Pack. Derrick wasn’t about to let all that hard work go to waste.
"Jasper," Derrick called, his tone firm. "Go to the Moon Valley Alpha and give him this." He placed a small drawstring pouch on the table in front of his son. Jasper picked it up, inspecting it briefly.
"What’s in it?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Drugs," Derrick replied bluntly. "Hand it over and tell him I need him to send warriors to support us," he added.
Jasper nodded, slipping the pouch into his pocket.
"And while you’re at it," Derrick said. "Start gathering more rogues. You said you wanted revenge, didn’t you?" he added.
"Fine, I’ll handle it," Jasper said, standing up and leaving the house. Derrick crossed his legs. He had been preparing this for years; he'll never lose again.
Raven parked his car in front of the packhouse, intending to pick up a few items before heading to his parents’ home.
He pressed the doorbell and waited. Moments later, the door opened to reveal his mother, Cecil, her face lighting up the moment she saw him.
"Raven!" Cecil exclaimed, rushing forward to wrap her arms around him. "You silly boy," she added while tapping his back. Raven returned the hug warmly.
"I missed you too, Mom," he said as they stepped inside. "Where’s Dad?" Raven asked as he glanced around the cozy living room.
"He’s in his office," Cecil replied, her voice gentle. "What about Brienne? Isn’t she with you? I thought she’d be coming along," she added. Raven chuckled softly, rubbing the back of his neck.
"She’s resting, Mom. I came alone to grab a few things and check in," Raven answered.
"Why? Is she sick?" Cecil asked, her voice filled with concern. Raven grinned and shook his head.
"No, Mom, not sick. It’s something even better," he said. Cecil’s forehead creased in confusion.
"What do you mean? Why would something be better if Brienne were sick?" she asked, her eyebrows raised. Raven took his mother’s hands gently, his gaze steady and filled with emotion.
"Mom," he said, pausing for a moment. "You’re going to be a grandmother," he added, dropping the truth. Cecil froze, her eyes widening in shock.
"She’s... she’s pregnant?!" she asked breathlessly. Raven nodded, his smile growing even wider. Overwhelmed with joy, Cecil gasped and immediately started calling for her husband.
"Arthur! Arthur! Come down here, quick!" she yelled, her voice trembling with excitement.
Hearing Cecil shout, Arthur rushed downstairs, his expression filled with alarm. He stopped in his tracks when he saw Cecil hugging Raven tightly, tears streaming down her face.
"What’s going on?" Arthur asked, his voice tinged with worry. "Cecil, hon, why are you crying?" He moved closer, sitting beside her on the couch. Cecil turned to him, her face glowing with happiness despite the tears.
"Arthur," she said, her voice cracking. "We’re going to be grandparents!" she added enthusiastically. Arthur’s eyes widened in surprise, and for a moment, he was speechless. Then, a wide smile spread across his face as he looked at Raven.
"Really?" he asked.
"Really, Dad," Raven confirmed, his voice filled with pride and happiness. Arthur laughed, clapping his son on the shoulder.
"That’s incredible news!" he said. "I’m so proud of you, son! Now, how's Brienne doing?" he added.
"She's resting in her friend's apartment, Dad. I tried asking her to come back, but she was hesitant," he said. "I did not try again," he added. Arthur looked at his son.
"It's alright, let's patiently wait for her. She was hurt because she was lied to," Cecil said. "I'm doing my best to make it up to her and our child, Mom," Raven said.
"You better be!" Cecil said. She wiped her tears, her hands trembling slightly as she looked at Raven.
"This is the best news I’ve heard in years," she said softly. "We need to celebrate this properly!" she exclaimed. Raven chuckled, his heart full seeing his parents so overjoyed.
"We will, Mom, once Brienne comes back," Raven assured her, and Arthur nodded in agreement.
"Raven, I need to speak with you," Arthur said, his tone serious. Turning to Cecil, he added, "Hon, we’ll be in my office," he added. Cecil, understanding it was pack business, nodded and let them go.
Once in the office, Arthur sat behind his desk, leaning back in his swivel chair, while Raven was seated on the couch across from him.
"Joaquin was here earlier," Arthur began. "He was demanding your presence in the pack and accused you of being... incompetent," he added. Raven’s expression darkened, his jaw tightening.
"Tell me, Dad," he said. "Why does Elder Joaquin hate me so much? Ever since I became Alpha, he’s been breathing down my neck, waiting for me to make a mistake," he added. Arthur sighed, leaning forward with his elbows on the desk.
"Joaquin isn’t an easy man to deal with," he admitted. "But his anger doesn’t stem from anything you did, son. It goes back to your grandfather’s time," he added. Raven frowned, curiosity replacing some of his irritation.
"What do you mean, Dad?" he asked.
"Your grandfather was chosen as Alpha over Joaquin’s father," Arthur explained. "At the time, Joaquin’s family was in line for the Alpha position, but your grandfather's father believed that your grandfather is fit for the position of the Alpha. That decision broke their family’s ambitions, and Joaquin never got over it. He’s carried that bitterness ever since. And when he assumed the role of elder, his bitterness only grew stronger," he continued. Raven exhaled slowly, processing the revelation.
"So, it’s not just me. It’s the title," he whispered. Arthur nodded.
"Exactly. He sees you as a continuation of the opportunity he believes his family lost. His frustration isn’t personal—it’s deeply rooted in his own family’s history. That’s why he scrutinizes you so harshly, hoping to prove you’re not worthy of the role," Arthur said. Raven’s expression softened slightly, though his resolve only strengthened.
"Well, I won’t give him that satisfaction, Dad. I’ll prove to him, and everyone else, that I deserve this role—not because you chose me, but because I’m the right leader for the pack," he added. Arthur smiled faintly, pride shining in his eyes.
"That’s the spirit, son. Don’t let his bitterness cloud your purpose. You’ve already done great things for this pack. Just keep moving forward," Arthur said. The tension in the room eased, and they went back to the main topic of the conversation, the rogues.