Chapter 74: SEVENTY-FOUR

Betrayal 1 “What are you doing here Ava? And where have you been?”

Ava ran with open arms to hug her friend, as she did her face burst to release a fresh wave of tears.

“What happened Ava?”

She wiped her eyes. “It’s a long story, but I heard about what happened and that’s why I came back, where is Ray now? I want to see him, and I want to know what happened to him.”

Nicole sighed, sitting Ava down on the living room couch.

“You can’t see him anymore Ava, his body has been cremated this morning.”

“I-I-I don’t understand. Since when did we start cremating bodies?”

“That’s the new law under Ethan’s reign.”

“Ethan? Ethan is the alpha now, but how did all this happen so fast? There should have been a ceremony where leaders from around the world would have gathered to witness the appointment of the new alpha, he of all people should know that, he didn’t even carry on with the normal customs or the rituals before he ordained himself.”

“That would’ve taken weeks Ava, and you know that any packhouse whose throne is left empty is the perfect magnet to attract rogues who are battle ready, no matter what little time it is.”

“Where is Ethan? I want to speak to him now.”

“You can’t see him, he’s in the packhouse, in a meeting with the circle.”

“That’s good then, you can take me there. I want to find out exactly what happened to Ray and tell him where I’ve been, and then I can accept whatever punishment he deems fit for me.”

“Punishment? Were you away from here at your will?”

She sighed. “Yes.”

“But why Ava? We’d been looking for you for weeks. Why did you have to wait for your betrothed to die before you came out of hiding?”

The truth stabbed like a knife. “Trust me Nicole when I say I don’t know the answer myself. I’ll explain everything later, but I want to find out about this ‘challenge’ that killed Ray, I saw him two weeks ago and he looked perfectly fine and healthy to me.”

Nicole began to explain. “He and Ethan went out for a hunt that day and collided with a few rogues trespassing our territory. They challenged him to a duo to the death and he accepted, Ethan tried to talk him out of it but he wouldn’t listen…”

Ava stopped her sentence short. “That’s a lie.”

Nicole turned to look at her. “How do you know that? You weren’t there when it happened.”

“I might not have been there when it happened, but I know Ray well. He might be weak but he’s not a fool; he would never accept a challenge from anyone he was bound to lose to, especially not a rogue.”

Nicole’s hands began to tremble, thankfully Ava didn’t notice. “A-are you sure?”

“Yes. Where is Ethan? He has some explaining to do, it’s so obvious that his death might have been planned especially with the way his body was disposed of so quickly. If he were truly killed by a rogue then the rogue should have come here to try to take over the moonlight territory by now after killing their alpha. I have a gut feeling that someone was behind his death and I’m going to find out whoever it is that…”

Ava’s words stopped short as she felt a heavy object hit her head that moment, knocking her to the ground unconscious. She wasn’t paying attention when Nicole quickly walked behind her to grab a heavy metal vase to pound her head, she smiled seeing an unconscious Ava bleeding on the floor, she would not let anyone ruin her plans, especially not this smart bitch.

**********

“You’ll never have another chance at fulfillment if you lose her Lucas De’ Clan.” Nani’s words kept on resounding in Lucas’s ears.

For him, it wasn’t even about the fulfillment, he could be damned for eternity for all he cares but what matters to him most is Ava’s life, after he saves her, he can go back to his former life and move on with anyone else he deems fit. He then heard Erasmus’s voice.

‘Only her, her and only Layla, we won’t take anyone else apart from her. they belong to us.’

Erasmus is right; she belongs to him and her wolf belongs to Erasmus, he claimed her that night, and his claim still remains valid so long as she isn’t joined to another. She is his, she belongs to him, and he’ll be damned before he lets anyone else have her… or kill her.

He got up and stripped off his clothes, then let Erasmus out. His wolf wasted no time in rushing out of his chambers, through the courtyard and the back, then to the path that leads to the meadows connected with the drawl forest. He ran as fast as he could, she’s still alive, he knows she is, but he has to get there to save her on time from whatever punishment that might pose a threat to her life.