Chapter 83: Chapter 83

Drake’s POV

What we met was pure chaos, and the rogues were at the center of it. Most of the pack had transformed into their wolf forms. Some of the rogues had done the same. But Sabrina and Quinn were still in their human forms. The vampires and witches did not interfere. They just watched.

“Calm down. We mean no harm,” Sabrina said, but no one listened.

Just as my father ran out the door with Hank and the Alphas behind him, one of the wolves lunged at Sabrina. I could see he was going straight for her neck.

I immediately ran toward them and shifted mid-run into my Lycan form with a growl. I needed to show them what I could do. That was the only thing that would convince them.

With one swipe of my clawed hand, I sent the wolf that attacked Sabrina flying several feet away. Then I went full force, attacking the other transformed wolves.

“Drake!!!” I heard my father shout.

Within minutes, they were all on the ground, unable to get back up. I shifted back into my human form.

“Drake, what the hell are you doing?” Sabrina whispered.

“They need to know!” I shouted so everyone could hear me. I was but naked, but I didn't care. “These rogues are not here to cause harm. They are my friends, and they are here to help.”

“We don’t seek help from fucking rogues,” one of the pack members spat.

“Did you see what I just did?” I snapped. “And I am just a Lycan. In two weeks, we will be facing thousands, and they will be at peak strength. We fucking need all the help we can get.”

Everyone went quiet.

“Trust me if you don’t trust them. Trust that I would never bring harm to this pack or the other packs,” I said, then added quietly, “Please.”

I think my display convinced them a little because they all dispersed silently.

“Heck of a show, bro,” Quinn said.

“That was badass, cuz. But damn, I’ve got to train harder,” Angy added.

“Drake, a minute,” my father said.

I didn’t want to leave Elisa yet. What happened had completely ruined the amazing mood we were in earlier. I turned toward her, but she shook her head at me.

“Go. Later,” she said softly.

I mouthed sorry and followed my father inside. Mark gave me a short to put on.

“What the heck was that?” my father snapped.

“That was the only way they would listen. And it worked,” I replied.

“He is right, Alfred,” Alpha Blake said, making me stare at him in surprise. “We could have looked for another way to convince them. However, it would have taken a lot more time. What he did was faster.”

“I might have been going at this the wrong way,” Hank said.

“At what?” my father asked.

“The training. I have been focusing too much on the mates. From now on, Drake, you will face both the other werewolves and the mated pairs in combat. I will inform our new friends. They will also find a way. We need to know how to take down a Lycan.”

I was more than willing. Anything that would give us an upper hand in the coming war.

“When do we start?” I asked.

“Tonight,” he replied, then turned to the others in the room. “Gather everyone. We start immediately.”

I was about to follow them out when I felt a hand on my shoulder. I turned and saw my brother.

“What’s up?” I asked.

“Can we talk?”

Oh no. I had been trying to avoid this conversation. I already had a feeling what he wanted to say.

We moved somewhere quieter.

“We haven’t really spoken since you came back.”

“Yeah, I know. You know... with everything,” I said.

“I know you were trying to avoid this.”

I blinked, then let out a slow breath.

“You’re right, man,” I finally admitted.

“Why didn’t you pick my calls, Drake?” he asked.

“Mark, I was in a bad place. Really bad. Then it got worse. The darkness became more intense. I didn’t know how to face you, even through the phone. I didn’t want you to see that side of me.”

“We are family, Drake. I’m your brother. I understood. I knew what you were going through more than anyone.” He paused before adding, “Promise me you won’t ignore me again. Promise me you will always see me as someone in your corner whenever you need help.”

I looked up at him, guilt settling heavily in my chest. I had unknowingly hurt my brother.

“I promise. Leaving you out of anything will never happen again,” I replied.

I wrapped an arm around his shoulder, pulled him close, and scrubbed his head with my knuckles.

“Knock it off. I’m not a little boy anymore,” he complained, pulling my hand away.

“Well... you’re still my baby bro,” I chuckled.

“Thank you,” he said quietly, and I smiled.

I placed my palm on his shoulder and nodded toward the door.

“Come on. Let’s go before they start without us.”

Elisa’s POV

We had all been training rigorously. You could cut the tension in the training room with a knife. It was fucking thick. The war was now looming over us, and everyone was on high alert.

Drake was in his Lycan form, fighting a group of vampires. This was already the third group he had faced today.

I hated it.

Even though I knew it was necessary if we wanted to win this war, it still hurt to watch.

One of the vampires landed a hard hit on him, and he grimaced. I winced right along with him. I just wanted this to be over already. Thank God he healed fast.

Ever since that amazing date at the cave, we had barely had time alone together. Tonight, I was going to change that.

“Alright everyone, that’s all for today. Let’s get some rest,” Enforcer Jack announced. He was one of our trainers.

I immediately walked toward Drake before anyone else could steal his attention away.

“Hey, are you okay?”

He grunted. “Just some bruises. It’ll heal.”

“I know why you’re doing this, but it hurts watching you take hit after hit.”

“You’re worried about me,” he said with a grin.

“Of course I am, Drake. Why wouldn’t I be?”

“I’m going to be okay. I promise.”

He was slightly bent over, so I helped him walk out of the training room. I took him to his room, sat him down, and knelt in front of him.

“Let me see,” I said, pulling his hand away from his ribs.

The bruise covered most of the right side of his ribs.

He lifted my chin gently and used his thumb to smooth the crease between my brows.

“Hey. I’ll be okay.”

I choked back a sob.

“What’s wrong?” he asked softly.

“I don’t want anything to happen to you,” I whispered, staring at his feet.

“Mine. Look at me.”

I lifted my eyes to his.

“Nothing is going to happen to me. I promise.”

Then he leaned closer, his breath warm against my lips, and my heart skipped. His kisses always did that to me. Every single time.

He pulled me closer, his hand resting against my lower back until there was no space left between us. I tangled my fingers in the hair at the nape of his neck and kissed him with every bit of desire I had always felt for him.

He stood suddenly, and we broke apart for a moment.

“I won’t be able to stop, Elisa,” he said roughly. “Tell me to stop now, or I never will.”

Instead, I pulled off my shirt.

“Fuck,” he groaned.

His hands gripped my thighs as he lifted me effortlessly. He carried me to the bed and laid me down gently.

“I love you, Mine,” he murmured.

“I love you too.”

I kissed him again, and that night our bodies moved together like they were made for each other. We lost ourselves in every touch, every kiss, every breathless moment. Nothing else existed except him.

And when his canines bit into my neck gently to seal the bond, as we reached that overwhelming high together, I knew with absolute certainty that I was his forever.