Chapter 69 SIXTY-NINE
Brienne watched as Ravena and Janice danced in the center of the crowd. They were out partying in the middle of the night on the small island of Bardabos. Ravena was right—the place was truly majestic. The soft white sand and crystal-clear waters made Brienne feel at ease.
She took a sip of her fresh fruit juice, laughing as she spotted Janice doing a silly dance with a Bardabonian local.
"Bree, come on!" Janice called, waving her over.
Brienne chuckled and shook her head, gently placing a hand on her baby bump. As much as she wanted to dance, she got tired too easily.
She took another sip of her drink when she felt her phone vibrate in her pocket. Brienne quickly pulled it out, and her eyes lit up at the sight of Raven’s name on the screen.
Without hesitation, she stood up and began walking away from the crowd and the loud music, wanting to hear him clearly. But before she could get far, Ravena noticed and followed her.
"Bree?" Ravena called, her voice filled with curiosity.
"One sec, sis. Raven’s calling me," Brienne said, her heart pounding in her chest. She answered the call and pressed the phone to her ear.
"Raven?" she said softly.
"Darling…" Raven’s voice came through, rough and tired.
Brienne bit her lower lip, trying to hold back her tears.
"H-Hi… Is everything okay?" she asked, glancing over her shoulder. Ravena stood a few feet away, watching her with a reassuring smile.
"Yes… we finally defeated them," Raven said, his voice heavy with exhaustion. "But Dad…" he mumbled. Brienne's breath hitched, her grip on the phone tightening.
"Raven, I can't understand you. Please speak clearly," Brienne said, her voice unsteady. Her palms were beginning to sweat. Did something happen to Arthur?
"He's in a coma. Dad is in a coma, darling. And it's my fault," Ravena whispered. Brienne gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. Her heart pounded as worry filled her chest.
Ravena opened her mouth to say more, but before she could, her phone rang. She glanced at the screen, her expression shifting.
"Answer it, sis," Brienne urged gently. Ravena hesitated for a moment before picking up.
"Mom?" she said. "Yeah… slow down; I can't understand you—what?!" Her voice rose in shock. "He's in a coma?!" She cursed under her breath, her hands trembling. "I'll book the earliest flight tomorrow. We’ll come home!" she added, tears streaming down her face.
Brienne immediately stepped forward, wrapping her arms around Ravena, holding her close as the weight of the news settled over them.
Raven ended the call and wiped the tears from his face. Taking a deep breath, he stepped out of the room and made his way toward the one where his father was being treated.
As he entered, he saw the pack doctor and nurses working diligently to tend to Arthur’s wounds. The scent of medicine mixed with the faint, lingering smell of blood made his stomach twist.
"Raven..." Cecil’s voice called softly. She was seated in her favorite chair, her hand reaching out toward him. Without hesitation, Raven walked over, took her hand, and knelt in front of her.
"Mom, I'm sorry," he whispered, his voice thick with guilt. Cecil sniffled, shaking her head firmly.
"You're not at fault, my son," she said. Her eyes darkened with emotion. "Derrick is the one to blame for all of this, and I’m glad he’s gone." Hatred laced her words, but so did exhaustion. Raven clenched his jaw.
"I'm sorry, Mom," he said again. No matter what she said, he couldn't help but blame himself. If only he had been stronger—if only he had killed that rogue earlier—then he could have helped his father. But he had been too weak, and the shame of it burned inside him.
"Don't be," Cecil murmured, her gaze fixed on Arthur’s unconscious form lying on the bed.
Carter shoved the remaining captured rogues into the Red Moon Pack’s underground prison. Their growls and curses echoed through the stone walls, but he paid them no mind. Their reign of terror had come to an end.
At the same time, they released Derrick’s prisoners—mostly Red Moon Pack members who had dared to rebel against him. Many of them emerged weak and wounded, but relief shone in their eyes as they stepped into freedom.
"Is he really dead?" Sonia asked, her voice cautious. A woman in her forties, she had once defied Derrick’s orders and had been thrown into prison because of it.
"Yes, he is," Jao answered.
Despite his own injuries, he had refused to rest in the packhouse and get treated. He needed to face the pack first—the people he had betrayed by following Derrick.
"And you helped kill him?" Maurice asked, his aged voice laced with relief. He was an elderly man who had been imprisoned simply for offending Marion, the rogue who worked for Derrick. Jao slowly nodded.
A heavy silence settled over the group until Sonia stepped forward.
"Oh, Jao…" she whispered, and before he could react, she wrapped her arms around him. Jao froze. He had expected their hatred, their judgment—but not this.
His throat tightened, and he barely managed to whisper, "I’m sorry."
His voice cracked, and he said it again, his heart heavy with guilt. "I'm so sorry."
Most of the pack members understood that Jao had done what he had to for the safety of his family, but others couldn't fathom how he could have committed such cruel acts for Derrick, the very man who had caused them so much pain.
"It’ll take years to earn their trust again," Carter said, giving Jao a reassuring pat on the shoulder.
"I’ll do it because I deserve it," Jao replied, his voice firm. "I was too much of a coward to stand up and fight Derrick, even when he tormented us for decades." He clenched his hand into a fist, determination burning in his eyes.
"The Crescent Stone Pack has your back," Carter assured him.
Jao hesitated before asking, "If any of them wish to join your pack, would it be alright to take them?" He knew some might choose to leave the Red Moon Pack, unable to stay after all the trauma. Carter shook his head.
"That’s not my call to make, but I believe the Alpha would welcome any Red Moon Pack members who wish to join ours," he said. "What about the warriors who became dependent on the drugs?" he added.
They had successfully captured those warriors, holding them temporarily in the underground prison.
"I know the drug maker and where to find him," Jao said. "They’re scheduled to meet again next month for another supply. We’ll strike then," he added. He'll make sure the drug maker pays for everything.
"Alright," Carter said and nodded his head. "We’ll make sure no news about Derrick or what happened here spreads, so you can carry out your mission smoothly," he added and watched the warriors put the last batch of the rogues inside their cells.
Jao let out a slow breath, his shoulders relaxing for the first time in what felt like forever.
"Thank you, Carter," he whispered. "I owe you guys a lot. Without you, killing Derrick will remain just a dream," he added.
For the first time since learning the truth about his pack’s suffering, Jao felt a sense of relief. Things were finally falling back into place—slowly but surely.