CHAPTER 48

CHAPTER 48
RAUL'S POV


After I had dispersed the teams, I couldn't shake the feeling of unease gnawing at me. I turned to Benjamin, my Beta, who had lingered behind.



"Benjamin, I'm really worried about Marissa," I confessed, my voice heavy with concern. "I don’t know if it was right to send her on this mission.”




Benjamin placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "She’ll be fine, Raul. She’s stronger than you think. Besides, she’s got a capable team with her."




I nodded, but the reassurance did little to ease my worry. Jayden, my wolf, was restless inside me, pacing with unease. I could feel his anxiety mirroring my own.




"I know. But I still can’t shake this feeling," I said, running a hand through my hair. "I didn’t want to look like a biased Alpha, favoring my mate. That’s why I didn’t take sides in the meeting."




Benjamin nodded understandingly. "It’s a tough position, Raul. But you have to trust her.”



Despite Benjamin’s words, my anxiety didn’t lessen. After much deliberation, I made a decision. I couldn’t sit back and wait. I had to see for myself. Quietly, I slipped away, following Marissa and her team from a distance.




As I trailed them through the forest, I overheard some of the team members whispering.



My blood boiled at their words, and I was ready to confront them, but then I saw Marissa stop and turn to face them.




The way she addressed them made my heart melt.
I smiled, pride swelling in my chest. She had changed so much since the first time we met. I continued to follow them, staying hidden as they strategized their movements to avoid unwanted attention.




Everything seemed to be going according to plan until they were suddenly ambushed by a group of armed men. Chaos erupted as the team fought back.



Standing at a distance, hidden in the shadows, I watched as Marissa and her team engaged in battle. My heart pounded in my chest as I silently helped them, using my abilities to take down a few attackers from afar but it wasn't enough.



I wanted to help close by, but I held back, not wanting to be noticed. The armed men seem to be work for the people from the Shadow bound pack as they had the similar stinky smell.




Despite our efforts, the enemies seemed to be multiplying, and I saw Marissa’s team getting cornered.




My eyes locked onto Marissa, and I saw her get hurt. She yelped in pain and my instinct screamed at me to rush in and protect her, but I held back, not wanting to reveal my presence and undermine her authority.





The situation was growing dire, and I was on the verge of stepping in when Marissa's voice rang out.




"Fall back!" she commanded, her tone leaving no room for argument. Her team obeyed, forming a defensive circle around her.




I watched in awe as she closed her eyes, and when she opened them, they glowed with an otherworldly light. She raised her hands, and I felt a surge of power emanate from her.




"Stop!" She ordered the attacking wolves. "You will cease your attack and leave this place. Return only when I call for you."




To my astonishment, the wolves obeyed, retreating like obedient puppies. The moment they were gone, Marissa collapsed to the ground, unconscious.




I couldn't hold back any longer. I rushed to her side, panic gripping me. "Marissa! Marissa, wake up!" I gently tapped her face, but she didn't respond.




"Give her space!" I commanded the team, my voice firm. I lifted Marissa and carried her to a more sheltered area. As I laid her down, I noticed her injury healing at an incredible rate, something I have never seen before even as an Alpha.





Within minutes, she began to stir and opened her eyes.




"Where am I?" she asked, looking around in confusion.




"You lost consciousness," I explained, my voice heavy with concern.




She glanced at the team, who were all staring at her with a mix of awe and confusion. She looked uncomfortable under their gazes, so I quickly took charge.




"Go scout the area for any more dangers," I ordered the team. They hesitated but obeyed, leaving us alone.




Once they were out of sight, I turned to Marissa. "How are you feeling?"
Marissa took a deep breath, still looking a bit disoriented. "I’m okay, I think.”





"What happened earlier?" I asked, my eyes searching hers for answers.



She hesitated, looking down at her hands. She was fighting herself to tell but I nodded to her and she sighed. “There is something I have been hiding from you for a while, Raul.”


She kept quiet again and breathed heavily. "When you went on your mission, something happened to me. I began to dream and see things. I received my wolf, Chari,” She finally said.



I tried to look surprised at her revelation but I wasn't good at it.
I blinked, looking like I was processing her words. "You got a wolf?” I asked and she nodded at me.



“But I want to understand how you were able to control those wolves. How did having a wolf give you these abilities?" I asked, searching her eyes for answers.




Marissa took another deep breath. "Chari... She told me I possess abilities I never don't know about. When the situation got desperate, she took control. She made those wolves leave.”




I nodded slowly, my mind still reeling from what I had witnessed. "It was incredible, Marissa. I have never seen anything like that before, But we need to be careful. We don’t know the limits of your powers yet."




Marissa nodded, her eyes serious. "I understand, Raul and that is why I hid it from you. I'm sorry if you feel I didn't trust you and I’ll be careful.”




She raised her head, her eyes locking onto mine with a fierce determination. "Raul, there's no time. We need to continue our journey to Cantele Lake. The weapons are almost ready to be used."




I wanted to ask how she knew that it was almost ready but thought against and just nodded, recognizing the urgency in her voice. "Alright. Let's go.”




We made our way to where the rest of the team was scouting. The group was scattered, but they quickly gathered as we approached, sensing the importance of what we had to say.




"Listen up," I began, my voice firm. "We're continuing our journey to Cantele Lake immediately. Stay alert and be ready for anything."




There were a few murmurs of surprise, but they quickly fell silent, understanding the gravity of the situation. I could see they had a lot of questions and apprehension in their eyes.




Marissa stepped forward, her presence commanding attention. "We need to move quickly and quietly. From what I’ve gathered, the weapons are nearly ready. We can't afford any delays."




The team nodded, their resolve solidifying. We set off into the dense forest, the tension palpable in the air. Marissa and I led the way, our senses heightened for any signs of danger.