Chapter 65 SIXTY-FIVE
"Hello? Hello Celine, are you still there?!" Raven stood up, but the call ended. He uttered a curse and immediately dialed his warrior's number stationed near Red Moon Pack.
"Alpha?" Raven opened the door and went out of the packhouse.
"Jao's family is in danger, Lemuel. You have to go there and rescue them. We will come too," Raven said and drove his car to his parents' house.
"Understand, Alpha," Lemuel answered and ended the call. Raven parked the car and hurriedly went out. He was about to open the door, but then it opened, revealing his father.
"Dad!" he said. "We need to attack now," he added, his tone serious and determined. Arthur's forehead creased.
"What are you talking about? Didn't Jao say it'll at least take two days for them to attack our pack?" Arthur asked and crossed his arms.
"No, Jao's been found out, Dad! They're in danger!" Raven exclaimed. "I got a call from his number. It was his wife that talked to me, begging for me to help them. I think Jao has been captured," he added. Arthur cursed loudly.
"Then we need to act fast," Arthur said.
"I'm calling Carter," Raven said.
"Alright, I'll talk to your mom, and let's attack the Red Moon Pack," Arthur said and went back inside the packhouse.
Raven dialed Carter's number and explained everything to him. Carter then gathered all of their warriors to prepare for the war.
Returning to the Red Moon Pack, Jao coughed up blood as Derrick continued to beat him in the basement of the packhouse, wearing brass knuckles in his palm. He was standing with only his pants on, chains were bolted on the ceiling, and they were cuffed on his wrists. Jao was bloodied and bruised while Derrick's eyes were filled with anger.
"How dare you betray me, you fcking mutt! A
I am your Alpha!" Derrick yelled and punched Jao again.
Jao looked at him. "You are not my Alpha. You are just a rogue who stole the position from the rightful heir of the pack," he bravely said. Jao should have defied him years ago; he should have fought back, yet he was a coward, but not now.
"This fcking rat," Derrick said and punched him once more. "The strong devours the weak, and that was what happened to the Red Moon Pack," he added, grinning.
"Just like your son, then," Jao said mockingly, his words dripping with sarcasm.
Derrick’s eyes darkened with rage. Without hesitation, he turned to a nearby warrior and snapped his fingers. The man stepped forward, holding a long whip coated with silver.
"You just never learn, do you?" Derrick sneered, taking the whip himself.
Jao barely had time to react before the first lash struck his back. A sharp, searing pain tore through him as the silver burnt his skin, leaving behind a deep, raw wound. He clenched his teeth, refusing to let out a cry. The second strike came harder, followed by another. The scent of burning flesh filled the air, and Jao's breathing grew ragged, but he refused to give Derrick the satisfaction of his screams.
Derrick crouched beside him, gripping his chin and forcing Jao to meet his gaze.
"You think you’re brave? That mouth of yours is going to cost you everything, Jao," he spat before walking away.
Before he could continue, hurried footsteps approached. Marion, one of the rogues Derrick recruited, entered the room, his face tense.
"Alpha," Marion said, slightly out of breath. "We searched everywhere, but we couldn’t find Jao’s family. His mate and child are gone," he added.
Derrick’s grip tightened around the whip as his fury grew. He turned back to Jao, his expression unreadable. Then, without warning, he struck Jao once more, the crack of the whip echoing through the room.
"Where are they? Where are you hiding them, Jao?" Derrick demanded, his voice low and dangerous.
Jao, despite the pain, only smirked, blood dripping from his lips.
"You won't find them, Derrick," he said. "They have already escaped," he said. Furious, Derrick ordered Marion to send a few of the rogues to the forest to find Jao's family.
Jao looked at the ceiling above him, praying that no harm would befall his wife and child. He could endure the beatings even if it would cost him his life as long as Celine and their son are safe.
Celine lost track of time. She didn’t know how long she had been hiding, but one thing was certain—the rogues had left. The house was eerily quiet now, except for the faint sounds of the night outside.
She looked down at her child, still asleep despite all the chaos. A sob escaped her lips as she clutched him closer. She had no idea what had happened to Jao. Was he still alive? Was he suffering because of her? The thought made her chest tighten. It was her decision to leave the pack because she couldn't take Derrick's evilness anymore. Celine was just thinking about their future, and now it has come to this.
Then, a soft knock made her freeze. Her heart pounded as she held her breath, unsure if it was friend or foe. Who would have known the secret compartment behind the closet wall aside from her husband?
"Miss Celine, are you there?" A voice of a man said. Celine embraced her son tightly because the position she is now in is at a disadvantage. She couldn't fight while protecting her son.
"Miss Celine, I am Lemuel, a warrior of Crescent Stone Pack," he said. "Alpha Raven called me to help you. It's okay now; you are safe with us," he added softly.
"Lemuel?" she whispered. "We are saved!" she added in glee and carefully woke her son. Celine opened the secret door, and a few men were waiting outside.
"Are you really here to save us?" Celine asked. Raven’s warrior nodded, his sharp eyes scanning the room for possible enemies.
"Jace, carry the child," Lemuel said. Jace stepped forward, and Celine handed her son to Jace.
"We need to go. Now," Lemuel said. They needed to secure Jao's family first before joining in the fight as the Alpha's order.
Celine didn’t hesitate. She quickly gathered what little she could, wrapping a blanket around her son, who was with Jace, before following Lemuel, leaving through the backdoor of their house. He led her through the narrow paths behind the empty houses, moving swiftly and silently to the forest.
Just as they reached the edge of the pack’s territory where Lemuel and others had parked the cars, a loud, chilling howl echoed in the distance. Then another. And another.
Celine turned back, her eyes widening. Flames flickered in the distance, and the ground trembled beneath the weight of approaching warriors.
"They’re here," Lemuel said, his voice grim.
Raven had arrived—with his warriors, ready for battle. The war in the Red Moon Pack had begun.