Chapter 604 - In the name of your wife or whatever you hold dear
Voren wasn’t surprised to hear his father’s words, though the matter involved his mother. As Alpha, concerning a matter involving the pack, he had to be present.
The weight of responsibility settled on his shoulders like an old friend. Thus, Voren was far from burying his mother secretly. They had to give her the prestige and honor befitting a Luna who had served her pack wholeheartedly and given her life for him.
"Dad, I haven’t forgotten about the burial, and trust me, I’m already scheduling our movements." His voice carried reassurance, steady and calm. "Just give me a few minutes to confirm it."
"There’s more to it, Voren." Vladimir’s voice carried a weight that made Voren’s stomach tighten. Then his father paused, as if remembering something, and added, "Alright, I’m waiting." Only then did he end the call, leaving Voren staring at the phone with a furrowed brow.
Voren went to the next room, his heart clenching with pity for Liah. She lay on the plush hotel bed, her face pale and drawn, sweat beading on her forehead despite the cool air conditioning.
It was clear that she was in severe pain, her injured ankle swollen and discolored. Even as Seraphine was wrapping it with practiced precision, Liah’s jaw was tight, her knuckles white against the sheets.
"I think there should be a painkiller in the first aid kit around here, or we could purchase some," Seraphine informed Liah, her gaze soft with concern, her touch gentle as she worked.
"Thanks, Sera." Liah’s voice was weak, strained.
Corvine nodded, his brow furrowed with worry. "Yes, there’s a painkiller." He moved quickly to retrieve it, his movements efficient.
Seraphine checked carefully for the expiry date before giving the dosage to Liah according to her pain level. "Take this and rest a while." She handed the first aid box to Corvine, after he helped Liah with water to swallow the pill.
"We should be leaving with the kids back to the pack." She looked at Voren, her eyes carrying a silent question before turning her gaze to Liah. "Corvine could stay with you."
Seraphine couldn’t trust anyone else to take care of Liah, but she also knew that Corvine would need more training after what they’d done to those Alphas. The two would come back for revenge, desperate to win the contest by hook or by crook to make up for the loses she caused them. They had wounded pride, shattered egos, and now financial ruin on their minds. That combination was dangerous.
Still, Liah was a busy woman and couldn’t leave Paris immediately. Seraphine left it that way until Liah spoke up, her voice gaining strength despite the pain. "No, I need to go to the pack early. I’m disqualifying those three idi—" She wanted to say those three idiots, her eyes flashing with frustration.
But Corvine cut in gently, his hand covering hers. "No. If you disqualify them, your father would only bring more. I end what I have started." His jaw was set with determination, his eyes fierce.
Athaliah looked helplessly at Voren, hoping he’d speak some sense into Corvine, but he was rather nodding in approval. Corvine had fire, had conviction, and that was exactly what they needed.
Corvine informed her, "Sera already attacked their servers. Brad and Curt would be bankrupt in a few days if the issue isn’t resolved." A small smile tugged at his lips.
Shock registered in Athaliah’s face as she stared at Seraphine, her eyes widening with disbelief. "I’m lost here." A laugh escaped her, dry and amazed.
Seraphine laughed too, the sound warm in the quiet room. "Now you sound funny. But it’s simple, you almost called off the runway show because of them. You would have lost millions if not a billion due to that. I simply gave them a taste of their own medicine." Her eyes glittered with satisfaction. "And that would also make them more determined to win against Corvine."
Athaliah laughed, shaking her head. "Because they’re going bankrupt, they want my money to save them." She sneered, her expression turning contemptuous. "Not a chance."
Then her expression turned serious, the amusement fading. "That also means that Corvine would have to train more." She looked at him, her gaze softening with concern. "I just need a few hours. Let’s go and eat at my mansion. It’s not far from here, and I’ll let Elodie arrange for my managers to meet me there. In at most six hours, we should be on our way."
She didn’t want Seraphine to leave them behind when Corvine needed to train, when he needed to be prepared for whatever was coming. However, she had no idea how she had just given Voren the solution to his problem with the time of leaving. A warm smile spread across his face.
He too, didn’t want to leave Corvine behind but knew that right now, Liah needed him. It was good for her to understand the dynamics of the man she chose.
"Alright." Voren sighed with relief. "Since it’s settled, my wife and I will go freshen up." He reached for Seraphine’s hand, pulling her gently toward the door.
Voren called his father and informed him, his voice carrying a note of satisfaction. "Dad, we are leaving Paris for the pack in the next seven hours."
He could hear the relief in his father’s voice, the tension draining away. "Thank you, Voren. Kael is already exhausted calming the pack members. They’re desperate to welcome their Luna." A warmth entered Vladimir’s voice. "But please don’t tell her, okay?"
Voren smiled, his heart warm with the thought of the pack’s anticipation. "Sure, I won’t tell her."
In less than an hour, they were inside Liah’s mansion, a sprawling estate that spoke of wealth and taste, elegant furnishings and stunning artwork adorning every wall. The grandeur was breathtaking, but Voren had little time to appreciate it.
His phone rang, and seeing a strange number, he answered it cautiously. The voice on the other end was desperate, humble, utterly defeated. It took him a moment to recognize it—Curt, his usual arrogance stripped away entirely.
"Mr. Ashkael, we are begging you in the name of your wife or whatever you hold dear." The words tumbled out in a rush, broken and pleading. "Can you tell Corvine to stop messing with our servers?"