Rejected, Abused, I Fall for the Forbidden Alpha (by Riley Scott) novel Chapter 200

Chapter 200

Raven POV

The aftermath of the battle was horrendous. Everywhere you looked, you could see the remnants left behing, the blood spattered all over the grounds, the broken branches of trees, the metallic scent of old blood in the air. A permanent reminder of what our pack had endured and the courageous warriors who had fought to keep every pack member safe. I dreaded to think how different the battle might have gone. I stood there, lost in thought, my hand touching my stomach, breathing deeply, a small smile on my face as I pictured my unborn child growing inside of me.

Hades arms wrapped around me from behind, his head resting on top of mine. For a moment there was nothing but silence.

“We did it,” he murmured, “we made it out alive.”

I exhaled deeply. My father and Damien had also been involved in the fighting despite my protestations. My father had declared he had lost me once already and he wasn’t about to lose me again. Damien had echoed the same sentiments.

“Is it just me or is Damien acting….” Hades paused and I turned around in his arms and looked at him knowingly, different? Like he’s wound up tight for some reason? It doesn’t feel like relief that we’re all safe either,” he added.

I frowned.

“Now that you mention it, he has been acting weird. I thought maybe it was because of the battle but he looks so grumpy lately that something else has to be going on instead. I wonder if he’ll tell me.”

“He won’t even tell Aeress,” Hades said, rubbing his hand over his chin and looking tiredly at me. “So whatever it is, he’s keeping it close to his chest.”

I sighed. Family could be complicated sometimes.

“How did it go with Marissa?” Hades asked tentatively.

“It was rough,” I said quietly, “she’s so remorseful Hades. I can see the anguish in her eyes. She looks as though she’s about to give up. Like she’s not saveable. She’s frightened of having nothing left, no place to go, nothing to live for. I can’t imagine feeling that desperate.”

“She’ll get through this. I might not like her,” Hades said quickly, “but I don’t want to see her get to the stage she does something stupid.”

“We were talking about the possibilty she might find a second chance mate. Besides, Damien,” I said a little irritably, “she’s not all bad. She did save my life,” I pointed out, feeling like I was constantly having to defend her.

“Like that excuses her past actions,” he retorted, “face it Raven when it comes to her, you’re too softhearted for your own good.”

“I just feel like it wouldn’t be beneficial for me to hold a grudge anymore. All that’s going to do in the long runs cause me pain and anger and I don’t need that anymore,” I added, putting my hand on my stomach as Damien’s eyes softened.

“How are you feeling?” Damien asked softly, “how is my little niece or nephew going?” he added and I laughed, my spirits lifting.

“He or she is fine,” I teased playfully, “even if I feel nauseas all the time.”

Hades spotted my father on the grounds and quickly excused himself, leaving me and Damien alone together.

“Out with it Damien, what’s going on with you?” I asked abruptly as he avoided my gaze, “you look like hell. You clearly haven’t slept and your clothes,” I gestured to him as he looked down at himself, “look as though you’ve grabbed them from your hamper.”