Avenging Luna
Chapter 60: Unraveling Secrets

Chapter 60: Unraveling Secrets

Drake’s POV:

Looking at her still sleeping beside me, I felt a surge of conflicting emotions. The calm rise and fall of her chest, the soft, contented expression on her face, and the gentle way her body nestled into the bed spoke to a part of me that had been numb for far too long. Last night had been a whirlwind of passion and raw need, a testament to the depth of my feelings for her. I had fought so hard against my desire, convinced that our bond was a betrayal of my parents’ memory, but as I lay here now, I knew the truth: I couldn’t let her go.

Her presence next to me was a balm for the aching void I had been trying to fill with anger and regret. I had been so consumed by the notion of vengeance, by the fear that loving her would be a betrayal, but last night shattered that illusion. I had found myself drowning in my own turmoil, only to realize that I was sinking deeper into my love for her. The way she responded to me, the way our bodies moved together—it was undeniable. I couldn’t imagine life without her, and every instinct I had screamed that she was meant to be by my side.

I watched her, marveling at how serene she looked. Her hair was splayed across the pillow, a delicate halo of golden strands. The soft morning light illuminated her features, casting a warm glow that made her look almost ethereal. I reached out tentatively, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face. The touch was gentle, almost reverent. I needed her to know how deeply I cared, despite the chaos and hurt we had endured.

But the reality of the situation weighed heavily on me. The Blood Moon Pack was still a threat, and my vow to avenge my parents had not dissipated. The tension between our desires and our duties was a battle I had yet to fully win. I knew that the revelation of her true lineage complicated things further, but I couldn’t ignore the fact that last night proved something profound: she was my mate, my other half, regardless of her past.

I needed to figure out a way to reconcile my conflicting emotions. Could I protect her and fulfill my vow without tearing us apart? The answer wasn’t clear, but as I looked at her, I realized that running away from this bond was not an option. I had to confront my fears and make a choice—one that would determine not just our future, but the future of everything we held dear.

As I continued to watch her, a surge of determination replaced my earlier doubts. I would fight for us. I had to. Because losing her was not something I could ever accept. I knew that if I wanted to keep her by my side, I had to confront the challenges ahead with the same intensity and commitment that had driven us together.

The path forward was fraught with danger and uncertainty, but with her sleeping peacefully beside me, I felt a glimmer of hope. We had a chance to make this work, to face our demons and emerge stronger together. I just needed to find a way to navigate the storm that lay ahead.

I leaned down and placed a tender kiss on her forehead, whispering softly, "We’ll get through this. I promise."

And as I settled back into the bed, holding her close, I made a silent vow to face whatever came next with the same fierce determination that had led me to her in the first place.

As I stared at her, my mind began to spin. Her words from last night echoed in my thoughts, replaying in a constant loop. Leila had mentioned Raphael visiting her pack when she was young, and my stomach churned at the implications. Raphael, my uncle. The man who had been like a second father to me after my parents died. The man I had trusted, who had guided me through some of the darkest days of my life.

If Raphael had been involved with Leila’s pack, it meant there was a connection between him and the Moon Shine Pack. And that timeline—it lined up too perfectly. He had been visiting her pack during the very time my parents died. My gut twisted as the realization hit me like a ton of bricks. There had to be a scheme, a plan, something I hadn’t been aware of. And the more I thought about it, the more certain I became that Raphael might have been involved in my parents’ death.

I clenched my fists, a wave of anger and confusion surging through me. Had Raphael, my own uncle, orchestrated the betrayal that had cost me my family? And if so, for what purpose? Why would he align himself with the Blood Moon Pack Alpha? Questions swirled in my head, and I struggled to piece together the fragments of information Leila had given me.

The more I thought about it, the more it made sense. Raphael had always been a bit distant when it came to talking about my parents’ death. He had comforted me, sure, but there was always something off—something I couldn’t quite put my finger on. I had brushed it aside for years, chalking it up to my grief and trauma. But now, with this new information, it felt like the puzzle pieces were starting to come together.

I glanced over at Leila again, her peaceful expression in stark contrast to the storm of emotions brewing inside me. She had been a pawn in all of this, just like me. Her life had been twisted and manipulated by forces beyond her control, and now it seemed that our fates were even more intertwined than I had ever imagined.

I replayed the events of the night before, how she had bared her soul to me, how she had been ready to walk away, willing to sacrifice her own happiness to avoid involving me in her bloodline’s curse. The thought of losing her had ignited something primal inside me, something I hadn’t been able to suppress any longer. I had kissed her with a desperation I hadn’t known I was capable of, driven by a raw need to claim her, to keep her.

And now, as I lay here beside her, waiting for her to wake, I knew that I couldn’t let her go. Not just because of the mate bond, but because she was the key to unraveling this tangled web of betrayal that had haunted both of our lives. Her connection to Raphael, to the Moon Shine Pack, was the missing link in the mystery of my parents’ death.

But how deep did it go? How much did Raphael know, and how much had he hidden from me all these years? The thought sent a shiver down my spine, and I clenched my jaw, forcing myself to remain calm. I needed answers, and I needed them soon.

Leila stirred beside me, her eyelids fluttering open. She blinked a few times, her gaze unfocused at first, but then her eyes found mine. For a moment, we just stared at each other, the weight of everything unsaid hanging between us.

"Drake?" she whispered, her voice still heavy with sleep. "What’s wrong?"

I hesitated, unsure of how to broach the subject, but I knew I couldn’t keep this to myself. Not anymore. "Last night," I began, my voice low and steady, "you mentioned Raphael visiting your pack when you were young."

She nodded slowly, her expression cautious. "Yes, he was there often. Why?"

I took a deep breath, trying to keep my emotions in check. "That’s around the time my parents died."

Her eyes widened slightly, and she sat up, her expression now fully alert. "What are you saying?"

"I’m saying," I continued, my voice tightening with the intensity of my thoughts, "that there might be a connection between Raphael and their deaths. I never considered it before, but the timing lines up. He was there, involved with your pack, around the same time my parents were killed."

Leila’s brows furrowed, and she bit her lip, clearly trying to process the information. "Do you think he had something to do with it?"

"I don’t know," I admitted, frustration creeping into my voice. "But it’s too much of a coincidence. Raphael has always been secretive about what happened to my parents. He’s been... distant, even when he was supposed to be helping me through it."

Her hand reached for mine, her fingers curling around mine in a gesture of comfort. "Drake, if Raphael was involved, if he had a hand in what happened to your parents, you deserve to know the truth. We both do."

Her words grounded me, easing the tension that had been building inside me. I squeezed her hand in return, grateful for her presence, for her strength. "I need answers, Leila. And I’m going to get them. But I can’t do this alone."

She nodded, her gaze steady. "You won’t have to. We’ll figure this out together."

For the first time in what felt like forever, I felt a sense of clarity. The path ahead wouldn’t be easy—confronting Raphael, uncovering the truth—but I wasn’t alone in this fight. Leila was by my side, and together, we would get to the bottom of this.

As I looked at her, the woman I couldn’t bear to lose, I knew one thing for certain: I wouldn’t rest until I had answers. And once I had them, I would make sure that justice was served—for my parents, for Leila, and for us.

No matter what it took.