Chapter 26 Helping Out
Helping Out
Raven
Ifelt awful. Zack had told me what had happened, and I felt like shit.
I didn’t mean to make matters worse, but I had.
I padded up the stairs in wolf form before entering the bathroom and grabbing a towel.
Reaching beneath the cabinet, I slid my bedroom key out and trudged down the hall to my bedroom.
Unlocking the door, I entered, feeling exhausted; however, I had asked Robyn for help tonight, and I needed to go visit her too.
I quickly told Zack that Taylor was okay. He seemed relieved and thanked me. I hoped they managed to sort their problem out.
I groaned, getting dressed quickly in underwear, sweatpants, and a ribbed vest top. I grabbed the book, shoved it into a bag, and headed to Robyn’s room.
I knocked on her door, hearing music from inside the room.
Despite the soundproof walls, you could still faintly make out the sounds.
She opened it pretty quickly, dressed in yoga pants and a crop top.
She really was gorgeous. I couldn’t really blame Damon when he was stuck with a wallflower like me for a mate, one who hadn’t even been there for him.
Once again, the difference between what I felt for them both niggled at me, and I pushed the thought away.
I knew I was beginning to self-hate again, as I did years ago, but I couldn’t help it. I felt guilty about my feelings, for being the cause of the rift between both of them.
“Hey, Raven.”
“Hi, I hope I’m not too late. I got caught up,” I said apologetically.
“Not at all, I was just finishing off some assignments. Take a seat.” She closed the door behind me. I placed the bag down and sat on the edge of her bed.
“Damon said we could trust you,” I said nervously. She nodded and crossed her arms, but I felt as if something was slightly off.
“Of course, what did you guys need me to check?” She asked, her tone sounding slightly clipped.
“Umm, it’s a prophecy…” I said, taking the book out and flipping the book open for her. She came over and took the book from me, sitting down.
“What is this?”
“It’s about the Deimos bloodline, the Westwood heritage,” I explained. “There’s a curse, and it’s about Liam.” I frowned when she tensed at the mention of Liam. “Is everything okay, Robyn?”
“Hmm? Of course,” she replied, staring at me with those gorgeous brown eyes of hers.
“You got a little... you seem a bit tense.” She looked down at the book before glancing at me and sighing.
“I won’t lie or hide it... everyone knows you and Liam spent the last two nights together. Isn’t Damon your mate?” She asked, almost protectively. Oh, shit…
“Oh… he is…” I said, nibbling on my bottom lip. This was no longer a secret; the number of people who were beginning to find out was growing… “It’s… both Liam and Damon. They’re both my mates.”
Her eyes widened, and she stared at me, stunned. I waited for her to say something, but she just blinked, looking shocked.
“Oh, damn… I didn’t see that coming. That’s why you two aren’t together. That’s why he and Liam are at odds…”
“Yeah,” I said, glad she understood it. She gave me a small smile.
“Sorry if I came off a little funny… it’s just…” She looked sad and shook her head, changing her mind. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. I’m glad you at least care for him,” I said gently.
She simply nodded. Although I knew she had more questions, she didn’t voice them.
“Okay… I’ll tell you about the Deimos curse, and then you can read the prophecy,” I said before I began to explain everything to her.
She listened carefully, looking through my notes before skimming through the book as I talked.
I filled her in on the card as well. Turning the page, she looked at the paragraph that contained the prophecy itself.
“So the promise of the sun is Helios’s curse, and the wish they speak of is Selene’s, so the birth of Kiara and Liam weakened the curse?” My eyes widened. I missed that part! That surely means there’s hope!
“Oh, damn... yes, and then it says from light and darkness itself. The blessed wolf and the royal prince are born. Only then giveth the gift of breaking the curse…” I mused.
“Wait… the royal prince is born. There has to be more here. Kiara is a blessed wolf, but what makes Alpha Liam a royal prince? Would all the Westwoods be considered princes?” Robyn asked. My heart thundered.
“I don’t know…”
“That’s what we need to find out first. Why is he called the royal prince?” She said, tapping the book with her long nails. “Giveth the gift… so there’s something that’s been given in some form to break this curse…”
“Interesting, how do we find more answers?” I asked feeling so dumb right then. She seemed to understand it a lot better…
“Let’s see, this book must have something... when the light gives birth to a… it’s a three-letter word… son maybe?” She squinted, holding the book up to the light. I nodded.
“That’s what we assumed too, so Liam has a lot less time,” I said, feeling that worry settle into the pit of my stomach.
“The darkness will reign through the veins of the Deimos prince. Find the key within the darkness to break the curse. It keeps saying within and given, it’s going to be something obvious, but I think there’s definitely something that makes Alpha Liam a prince,” Robyn said, looking at me.
I nodded slowly, mulling over what she said.
“I’ll have a think. Is it okay for me to hold on to this book and see if there’s anything else I can pick up if I actually look through it?” She asked.
“Sure, but please keep it hidden away,” I said. “And thanks for your time, Robyn, I appreciate it.”
“No problem,” she said, and I stood up, taking up the card and my notebook. Slipping them back into my bag, I exited her room.
Feeling a little peckish, I decided to go check the kitchen for any food. I quickly put the bag in my room before heading downstairs. When I entered the kitchen, the fresh scent of citrus detergent filled my nose and I inhaled it. I was going over to the fridge when Damon’s voice came into my head.
Liam, Raven, the hot chocolate was fine, there was no poison in it or the milk, he said quietly. I frowned. He didn’t sound normal…
And the pills? Liam asked.
There was wolfsbane, silver, and ricin in one of her pills, he said, his voice sounding strained.
The glass juice bottle that I had just taken out of the fridge slipped from my grasp, shattering as it hit the tiled floor, splashing orange all over. My heart was hammering as I stood there frozen. Goddess…
Fuck… Liam cursed.
If you two didn’t… I… thanks, guys, Damon murmured.
The same thing was going through all our minds.
What if I hadn’t heard the back door?
What if Liam hadn’t said to search?
After last night’s events, and the fact that Aunty Monica almost got poisoned, I felt down. Through training, although Owen behaved despite the unmasked hatred in his eyes, I was in a morbidly gloomy frame of mind.
Liam had been out all night. I knew they were trying to look for more leads. I had mind-linked Damon asking if he wanted me over; instead, he asked if I could spend the night as he was going to be out, and I had agreed. Damon had gotten back late at night and was sleeping when I left for training.
I had returned to the packhouse and showered, although the boiling water incident remained in my mind.
I got dressed in a maroon halter dress, leaving my back on display, black lace tights, and heeled knee-high boots.
I applied some smoky eye make-up, paying more attention to my brother’s eye.
I had never thought much of it but loved the fact that my eyes were different.
It often made for a good conversation starter when people looked at me.
I appreciated it so much more after learning where it came from.
I left the packhouse, wandering towards the playground, and sat on the grounds under a large oak tree, smiling at the few children that were playing, their parents watching close by.
Once upon a time, there wouldn’t have been any need for an adult around, but everyone was told to be vigilant.
I opened the small bag I was carrying, ready to fix Sparks, when my phone beeped and I took it out, seeing it was a message from Kiara.
She had texted to say they were delaying their wedding that was meant to happen in a few months.
After losing Alpha Rafael, no one was in the mood for a celebration.
It just didn’t feel right to have the wedding right then.
I understood that, texting her that I totally agreed with it, and it would be better with the girls being a little older, too.
I just hoped that the curse was gone, and we could all enjoy a royal wedding without any stress!
Although I would have loved to get Kiara’s insight on it, I knew she’d feel dreadful if she realised Dante’s birth was the triggering point of this curse. She had enough stuff going on in her life.
I sighed as I threaded my needle and began to patch Sparks’ body back up.
I wanted to visit Renji again, but I wasn’t sure if it was the smart thing to do.
I didn’t want Dad to get angry. I had been expecting him to blast me after what the boys did, but oddly, nothing.
No hateful words or anything. I guess he learned his lesson.
I planned to visit them today; I just needed to get everything off my chest and end it.
I also wanted to ask Aunty Red if there were any pictures of Renji that I could perhaps have.
I just wanted something to remember him by.
I sighed inwardly, carrying on fixing Sparks when I heard the sound of Liam and Damon talking from not far off.
My ears instantly perked up as I tried to listen to their conversation.
Okay, I was a bit nosy... but I couldn’t help it.
I mean, if it was a secret then they wouldn’t be talking openly, right?
“…to Mom, it’s final,” Liam was saying coldly.
“I appreciate it, but I don’t know if she can handle the change.”
I could smell their intoxicating scents now.
“Then stay there with her. When I told Mom and Dad that I put security in place, Dad said it’s not enough. He wants her safe,” Liam said icily.
I frowned. Were they talking about Aunty M? They had gone silent. I tilted my head trying to listen.
“It’s rude to eavesdrop, love,” Liam’s husky voice whispered in my ear, sending my stomach into a fluttering frenzy.
I gasped and jumped in alarm. I spun around to see him crouching down just behind where I had been moments earlier, while Damon was standing there smiling in amusement.
They both wore only sweat pants, displaying half their glory.
I could tell from the thin layer of sweat that covered their god-like bodies that they had just had an intense run or workout.
“I wasn’t eavesdropping,” I denied, looking around for Sparks.
Liam reached over, picking him up and dusted him off before holding him out to me, a move that moved me greatly.
Our eyes met and I tried to calm my palpating heart.
I took it, our fingers brushing before I quickly got back to my stitching, trying to calm my emotions down as Damon sat down by the tree and leaned back against it.
“So will you two not tell me what you were talking about?” I asked. Damon chuckled, glancing at Liam before winking at me.
“So, you admit you were curious?” He teased.
“No, I’m just asking,” I replied.
“Uncle Elijah wants Momma to move in with them until this killer is found.”
“That’s a great idea!” I said approvingly.
“I don’t know, I’m not sure…” Damon said. He at least looked better than last night when I had gone by.
“It’s not up for fucking discussion,” Liam said firmly.
“It’s a good idea. Also…” I said, glancing around and leaning closer. “Robyn had a good insight on the ‘you know what’.” I emphasised towards Liam with my eyes pointedly.
“Really, what did she say?” Damon asked, looking curious. Liam frowned as he glared at both of us.
“Why don’t we just make an announcement and tell the entire fucking pack?” He growled, his eyes flashing.
“Look, we’re trying to find an answer,” I pouted. Reaching out, I placed a hand on his arm, trying to ignore the way my stomach knotted and that need for him that consumed me, hoping it calmed him. “We can’t lose you.”
“Make sure you don’t tell anyone else. I do not want this to get to Mom and Dad,” Liam said warningly.
“It won’t,” Damon said nodding.
“So where were you two?” I asked.
“You sound like an old suspicious wife with all the questions,” Damon teased. I snorted.
“Hah more like a mother waiting with a broomstick, or in my case, a needle,” I said, holding it up before settling down against the tree next to Damon.
I smiled when Liam sat on my other side.
For a moment, it felt like old times. I stared up at the sun through the branches, letting the warmth bask on my skin.
Helios... surely you can’t hold a grudge against one person over an entire line…
None of us spoke, each one of us enjoying the calm.
One of the pups threw a ball, which Damon caught and tossed back. I carried on stitching Sparks up until he was done. His head wasn’t quite straight anymore… and his body was a lot smaller now, thanks to it needing to be stitched in so many places… I brushed my fingers over it, smiling softly.
“You did a neat job,” Damon said, not sounding very convincing as I prodded Sparks’ head, trying to make it stay upright, but sadly, it just lolled to the side again.
“It’s as ugly as ever too,” Liam added.
I gave them both a glare, nudging them in the ribs, feeling the sparks shoot through me, each one so different. I never knew the bond could feel different for everyone. Damon’s were like strong tingles swirling through me, whilst Liam’s was like a strong bolt of electricity coursing through me.
Damon put an arm around me, giving me an apologetic kiss on the forehead before Liam pulled me out of his hold possessively, his fingers running down my back as his lips brushed the top of my head.
“Eww! You two need a shower! I am clean, I don’t need sweat on me!” I said before jumping away. Damon chuckled, and Liam cocked a brow.
“Really? I don’t think you’ll mind,” he said, his eyes boring into mine. Goddess it suddenly felt hot out there…
“Umm, I… I got to go! I have somewhere to be!” I grabbed my bag and, blowing them a kiss, ran off. I heard Damon laugh and could feel both of them watching me.
Last night, I had expected Liam to get pissed when he saw me leave for Damon’s, but he only scolded me for going out alone. I knew the only reason he even let me go there was because there were guards posted outside, but I was glad he wasn’t getting angry over it.
Pushing the thoughts away, I decided to go check up on Taylor and then I was going to visit my parents…