Chapter 817 - Maybe I was wrong about you

Chapter 817: Chapter 817 - Maybe I was wrong about you

This time, Battal took a deep breath before responding, and there was something about the sound of it that suggested he was either exhausted or struggling to accept the position he had found himself in.

"Thank you for asking, Alpha Ravyn. Honestly, I have no idea what’s happening in the kingdom. If I contact anyone there, they’ll be able to trace my location."

Ravyn raised a brow, his mind immediately racing. It was almost as though the king was running away from his own kingdom, hiding from his people and keeping his distance from the very throne he had killed to protect.

"Aren’t you afraid they’ll replace you?"

"We have rules, Alpha Ravyn. Until they find my dead body, they can’t contest for a new king." He hesitated, and when he spoke again, his voice carried a hint of uneasiness. "But I’ll be going back soon. I need to get used to my prosthetics before facing my elders."

From Battal’s response, Ravyn could tell that the Lycan Kingdom was a place filled with violence, betrayal, and the constant threat of death, where even a king had to worry about the people who were supposed to serve him.

It was a kingdom where weakness could cost a ruler his throne, and showing vulnerability before the elders might be enough to make them turn against him. "Let me know if there’s any way I can help."

"Sure, Alpha Ravyn. You’ve been a very good friend."

Ravyn cursed Battal silently, bitterness spreading through his chest as he thought about the monster he was forced to call a friend. He wanted nothing more than to finish what Voren had started and put an end to the Lycan King once and for all, but Voren wanted him exactly where he was, maintaining the appearance of a loyal ally and trusted friend while keeping his true intentions hidden.

As much as Ravyn hated playing along, he understood that one wrong move could ruin everything they had worked so hard to accomplish.

The moment he ended the call, he dialed Voren’s number, eager to share what he had learned.

"Voren, Mary told me something interesting, and I also have some information about Battal and the Lycans. Which one would you like to hear first?"

"Let’s start with Mary," Voren responded, his voice steady, although his mind was already working through the possibilities.

Ravyn proceeded to relay everything he had learned about Mary’s mother, carefully explaining each detail and making sure he left nothing out. Once he finished, he moved straight to the information he had gathered from Battal, telling Voren about the Lycan King’s plans and his intention to attack him in the human world.

The more he explained, the more concerned he became, especially knowing that Battal still had an army at his command and enough influence to make good on his threats.

A chuckle escaped Voren at the other end of the line, dark and unsettling, like the laughter of a predator that had just caught the scent of its prey.

"Good thing he learned his lesson about targeting my family. He wants me? Good. I’ve wanted another chance to finish what I started anyway. Battal’s very existence is a threat to everyone."

This time, Ravyn couldn’t hide his concern, and his voice cracked slightly as he responded, unable to shake the fear that came with knowing just how far Battal might be willing to go.

"Voren, I know you’re strong, but whenever you want to visit the human world, call me. I’ll come with you."

"And that would mean blowing your cover, which I don’t want you to do until I send Battal to his grave," Voren explained firmly, leaving little room for argument.

Ravyn swallowed, but the knot of worry in his throat refused to go away. He knew Voren could take care of himself, yet the thought of Battal preparing an attack against him in the human world was enough to make him uneasy.

"Okay, but please be careful."

"I’m always careful, Ravyn, but I know what you mean. I’ll be extra careful." His voice softened as he moved on to another matter.

"Now, that brings us back to the topic of your mate. You’re supposed to bring her to your pack, and I know her mother would want to be there with her too. I don’t think the protection my mother activated around the packs would affect them. They’ve lived in the human world for so long that I doubt they have much black magic in them."

At the mention of black magic, Ravyn immediately thought of what Matilda had told him about Mary’s father, and he decided there was no reason to withhold that information.

"Her mother did mention that her father was a strong warrior, and we both know what that means."

"Indeed," Voren agreed with a sigh, sounding thoughtful as he considered the implications. "Just let me know if you run into any problems. I’ll have my mom take care of it."

"Actually..." Ravyn began, but the words seemed to get stuck in his throat, and he hesitated, uncertain about how to make his request.

Voren noticed his hesitation and encouraged him to continue, his voice patient and reassuring.

"Go ahead. What is it?"

"I was wondering if you’d allow them to use my suite at your pack until Daisy’s situation is resolved. I don’t want to bring her to the Centenary Pack right now."

Voren almost laughed, finding it amusing that Ravyn sounded so nervous about asking for such a small favor when they had already discussed bringing Mary to the pack.

"Ravyn, were you really nervous about asking me for something so simple? Didn’t I already tell you that you could bring her here using the excuse that she’s Quinn’s friend?"

"You did," Ravyn admitted with a relieved sigh, feeling some of the tension leave his shoulders before explaining his concern. "But that was before we both knew she wasn’t as human as we thought."

"Well, when it comes to the mate bond, my hands are tied when it comes to enforcing those rules," Voren explained, making it clear that he wasn’t going to stand in the way of what fate had already decided.

Ravyn felt a wave of relief wash over him. He had been worried that Voren might object to bringing Mary and her mother into the pack, but now that he had his approval, he could finally make the necessary arrangements without having to worry about another obstacle.

"Okay, then. Expect me at your pack in a few days."

After ending the call, Ravyn returned to the dining room, only to find both mother and daughter watching him with fear in their eyes. Their faces had gone pale, and their hands were trembling slightly, while their gazes remained fixed on him as though he had just confirmed their worst suspicions.

"Is King Battal your friend?" Matilda asked, her voice sharp with suspicion as she looked at him with unmistakable distrust.

Before Ravyn could even open his mouth to respond, she seemed to reach her own conclusion, and the disappointment in her expression was impossible to miss.

"Maybe I was wrong about you."