After spending the entire night in a daze, Ashira awoke from her nightmare.
Her heart, intestines, and liver ached from how realistic the dream appeared.
With difficulty and weakness, Ashira opened her eyes and said, "Ralph....Jay."
"Ashira..." Raphael called in a worried tone.
"My head aches, then...then I feel tired," she said, gesturing to the medication on her reading table.
Swiftly retrieving the medication and filling a glass with water, Raphael assisted Ash in taking a narcotic.
With the pain finally starting to fade, Ashira slowly said, "I do not remember."
"Do not worry princess, you just need to relax," Jayden hurriedly said after hearing this.
"We already have money in our possession and can do anything we want as long as we get out of this city." Undoubtedly, Raphael was prepared to go.
For Ashira, it would all be well as long as they could return to humanity.
With a feeble nod, Ashira replied, "All right.".
She then gradually closed her eyes and stumbled into a weak sleep..
Palace Royale...She had fairly long eyelashes for a female, resembling butterfly wings, and her moist pink lips were slightly parted beneath her delicate, tall nose.
A brief moment of tenderness and softness filled his heart at the mere thought of her. Her exquisitely delicate face and her blonde hair, which cascaded over the pillows like blossoming seaweed, were truly captivating.
"Raven! Raven!"Simon runs his fingers across my face, snapping.
My beta's call startled me out of my reverie. I was zoning out for a long time without realizing it. As we discussed the proposed festival in our pack meeting, Ashira was on my mind.
Oh, I am done...
I gave it a couple of blinks.
"Alpha,"
"What?"
"What were you thinking?"
"Nothin'"
Jeremy laughs and gives a head shake..
"It is clear you had a thought."
"It is nothing...but I hope Ashira's okay." With an anxious look on his icy face, Raven spoke.
Jeremy's expression was one of surprise and delight as he looked at Raven. " Raven, you recalled a human's name. This is astounding!"
"Um." Rave gave a hesitant response.
He realized that human girl was always on his mind.
Has she managed to regain consciousness?
What happens if she does not awaken?
He knew Blaine had brought her home safely, but what if she runs into him again tomorrow and ends up detesting him?
No...that is not possible; during her visit, she did not even get a peek of his palace.
He sincerely hopes that she was not plagued by nightmares.
"Are you worried about her safety?" Simon inquired tentatively.
Raven gazed at him with icy eyes. "Is that something you find problematic?"
Simon waved his hand and nodded, but he still had things to say. "Well, Raven, you can definitely like her; she is a very beautiful one."
"After all, you lack a partner and were cursed by the moon goddess. You despise the sight of females, but it appears you can tolerate the human girl, and I think she is fit for a luna..." Jeremy's comments were all over the place.
After listening, Raven scowled and said, "Who told you I like her?"
"Do not like her?" "Well then, the relocation should not bother me," Simon said after pausing and arching an eyebrow.
Raven's eyebrows creased even more deeply.
Relocate?Why, but why should it matter?
Raven asked icily, "Should I pay a visit?" as he peered out the window, his eyes glazed over with endless night.
Simon was taken aback.
*****************************
"Do we have to relocate once more?" As he entered the living room carrying two plastic containers of strawberry-flavored ice cream, Jayden asked, "Ashira will not like that." Raphael sat up, perplexed.
"Thanks, Bro." Having had nothing since the incident, he quickly scooped up a spoon.
Relocating was not something Jayden would recommend. I mean, the Alpha prince had returned their sister without damaging a single strand of her hair. He must have chosen to let them go, but Raphael was correct—they ought to avoid taking any chances and make their getaway as soon as possible.
While keeping his eyes glued to his cup, Raphael remarked, "It is for her own good."
With a nod, Jay moves to sit next to Raphael.
The silence was broken by a knock at the door.
Once Raphael placed the empty plastic on the table and said, "Come in," the door opened.
Raven grinned and said, "Good evening, wolves!"
"Oh, my, Alpha Raven!" Jayden cried out.
Jesus!
Their asses were lifeless...
They both bowed deeply quickly.
"May I please have a seat?" To the surprise of the shuddering brothers, Rave inquired.
After exchanging glances, they raised their heads. The first to drop to his knees was Raphael.
"Although we are aware of our wrongdoing and our rightful death, I would like to think that you harbor even a shred of mercy." The ground met his head on. "Please, spare us! Spare us, Alpha!"
"Heh!" The demonic creature, icy and ruthless, scoffed. "Enough of the embarrassment," he said, getting a little agitated about it. Disappointingly, he acted like a cowardly chicken despite belonging to this powerful pack.
Raphael rose to his feet and sat gently beside his older brother.
Glancing over at Raven, Jayden enquired.
"Alpha, What do we owe this visit to?
With lifeless eyes in the pitch-black night, Raven remained silent.
With teary eyes, Raphael said, "Ashira is innocent."
"I came alone.." Raven took a graceful seat on the cozy couch.
When he walked through the door alone, the brothers scanned the house as if they were not present.
"Do you want to stay?" He could not bring himself to admit that he was the one in desperate need here.
Jayden became extremely cold, and his shocked eyes grew wide. His body froze solid, rendering him immobile.
"Would you mind staying back?" Raven inquired once more. Though he detested it, he was forced to repeat himself because of a necessity.
The two brothers shuddered at once, saying, "We dare not, Alpha."
"That is not what I meant," they thought he was being sacarstic. "I promise not to hurt you," Raven said, his eyes full of sincerity and eagerness.
It left Raphael speechless.Although there were whispers of Raven's inner tenderness, he was still a vicious creature, so this news came as a shock.
"What is your desire? The things Raphael was hearing astounded him. Were they fools, in his opinion? It was none other than him who had abducted their sister a few hours prior. Now, he desired for them to remain!"
This Alpha is fucked!
"I know it sounds strange, but I am extremely...With a start, Raven stopped.
Sorry...
Despite his desire to say that word, he was still unable to muster the courage to do so..
Fuck"
"Just say the damn words!" Inside his head, his wolf urged.
"Shut it!"
"Erm, I am very..." Taking a swallow, he went on. "I am very sad for taking Ashira." He never apologized, not even to his father. His pride was being bruised just by this statement.
"Dumbass!"Ramiel chastised his unyielding Alpha.
Awaiting their decision, Raven disregarded his wolfie.
Raphael remained silent, his gaze fixed on Rave with a complex expression. That day, he had seen firsthand how Ashira was removed from her own house.
Jayden pursed his lips. "We will love Alpha, thank you." He had always known that beneath all of his tough exterior lay a more vulnerable side, and he knew best what had set it off this time.
Ashira...Jayden grinned, thinking.
Raven felt a great sense of regret in his heart. He was wrong to take her. Instead, he ought to have arrived sooner to look for her.
"What makes you worthy of my trust?" With a stern expression, Raphael asked.
With a swift gesture, Raven said, "You wolves belong to this pack, maybe brotherly instincts." That word made him feel, for some reason, at ease.
Brother...He had never even called his closest friends brothers.
Raphael nodded and glanced at Jayden, saying, "Okay, we will give it another thought."
After a brief period of hesitation, Raven firmly requested, "Can I have ice cream?"
After being momentarily taken aback, Jayden said, "Sure, Alpha, but we have only one cup left." Already, he was making his way over to the refrigerator.
Raven gave a nod of consent.
With his arms encircling his chest, Raphael gave a low, derisive snicker. Had stare had the ability to kill, Raven would have been mere meat.
Jayden returned carrying a plastic container filled to the brim with strawberry ice cream.
"Whoa! It seems good." Raven cried out, gazing fixedly at the plastic. "I have never had ice cream." He appeared to be truly absorbed in the cream he was holding.
Jayden was taken aback by his words at first, but even more so when he stuck his tongue right into the cup. How in the world was he able to do that? Talk about a clean-obsessed Alpha like him.
Sighs..
This man was a treasure trove of unexpected insights.
Grabbing the cream spoon off the table, Jayden gestured to Raven.
"Use this, Alpha." Jayden expressed his continued shock, and Raphael burst out laughing. He managed to contain himself after Jayden gave him a fierce glare.
Raven threw back the spoon, cheerfully scooped up the plastic with both hands, and gobbled up the remaining contents. He belched and wiped his mouth on the back of his hand before speaking. "Since we have become friends, just call me Raven."
"What? But Alpha..."
"Raven.." With great enthusiasm, Raphael expressed how much he liked the new address.
"All right, then," Jayden laughed.
Standing on his feet, Raven smiled at the two of them and said, "Thanks for the ice cream."
"Anytime, Raven," winked Raphael.
He just wanted to call his name, of course; he does not want another visit from him.
Raven laughed softly to himself. It appears that he would have a bitter rival in the future brother-in-law. He was a lot like his playful gamma.
"You are a man of your words, Alpha." There was a doubt that lingered in Raphael's mind.
With a subtle smile, Raven asked. "You are not?"
Raphael pursed his lips in a pause. "Nice one, Raven".
"Hmph!" Raven sneered. The goldfish had returned to its original name and address.
With a vague expression on his lips, they watched as Raven got into his car and drove off.
He really did come alone.