Avenging Luna
Chapter 80: Dead End

Chapter 80: Dead End

Drake’s POV:

Marcus was proving to be a tough nut to crack, I had to admit that. After relentless questioning, all I got was his confession that he had helped Raphael escape the first time, right after I nearly killed him for daring to touch my mate. But when it came to revealing what plans Raphael had set in motion before his death, Marcus clammed up. It was like pulling teeth, and no matter how hard I pushed, he wasn’t budging.

Lucas sat across from me, his expression unreadable, but I could tell there was something brewing behind those eyes. I sighed and met his gaze, raising an eyebrow in silent question. He knew me well enough to know I’d catch on. "What is it, Lucas?"

He hesitated for a beat before letting out a heavy sigh. "I think you’re going easy on Marcus. I get it—you practically watched the kid grow up. But he betrayed us, Drake. You’re not going all out with him, not like I’ve seen you do with others. You’ve made people spill their guts about things they didn’t even think they’d say, but with Marcus..." He trailed off, shrugging.

I knew he was right, and I hated it. I’d known Marcus since we were both kids. We were in the orphanage together, along with Lily. It was always the three of us when Lucas and Nelly would go home to their parents. Marcus was like a little brother, and that made his betrayal cut even deeper. The idea of torturing him, making him suffer, felt like a line I wasn’t ready to cross.

I clenched my jaw, staring at Lucas for a moment. He wasn’t wrong. I was too soft when it came to Marcus, and it was clouding my judgment.

"Alright," I finally said, the weight of the decision settling in my chest. "You do it. Make him talk."

Lucas raised an eyebrow at me, almost surprised that I’d handed the reins over, but he didn’t argue. He gave a short grunt of acknowledgment, then stood up, ready to do what needed to be done. I trusted Lucas. He’d get Marcus to spill, even if it meant breaking him apart piece by piece.

Still, as Lucas walked out of the office, I couldn’t shake the pit in my stomach. Marcus may have been a traitor, but some part of me still saw that orphaned boy I used to look out for. Maybe that’s why this felt so damn hard.

I tried to push thoughts of Marcus out of my mind, focusing on other pack business that had piled up over the past few days. With Raphael’s death and Marcus’s betrayal, a lot of important matters had been put on hold. There were financial reports to go over, security issues, and a couple of land disputes between pack members. I dove into the paperwork, letting it absorb my attention. It was easier than dwelling on Marcus, at least for now.

Around lunchtime, I heard a soft knock at the door. I glanced up just as Leila’s head popped through the doorway, her dark hair falling around her shoulders. "Are you busy?" she asked, her voice sweet and light.

I couldn’t help but smile at the sight of her. "Nope," I replied, popping the ’p’ playfully.

Her face lit up with a wide grin. "Good, come eat lunch with me?" she asked, a hopeful lilt in her tone.

How could I say no? Closing the folders in front of me, I got up and walked over to her. I leaned down, capturing her lips in a quick but heated kiss. She hummed softly against me before pulling back with a satisfied look in her eyes. "Let’s go," she said, her hand slipping into mine as we headed toward the kitchen.

On the way, Lucas mind linked me, his voice tinged with mild frustration. "I have to check something at the borders. Won’t be able to question Marcus right now. I’ll handle him later."

I sighed inwardly but gave my approval. "Alright, handle it when you can."

Part of me was relieved that Lucas hadn’t gotten to Marcus yet, buying me a little more time to push it to the back of my mind and enjoy lunch with Leila. I needed this break, needed her.

Leila’s POV:

I knocked on Drake’s office door, feeling a little nervous. Things had been tense with everything going on—Marcus, Raphael, the pack. I knew he was overwhelmed, but we hadn’t spent much time together, and I missed him. When he looked up, his face softened, and I felt a little flutter in my chest. That familiar warmth of being with him, my mate, hit me hard every time. I pushed the door open a little wider and asked, "Are you busy?"

His lips quirked up into that playful smile I loved. "Nope," he said, popping the ’p.’ I smiled back, already feeling lighter.

"Good, come eat lunch with me?" I asked, my voice a bit more hopeful than I intended. I just wanted some time with him, away from the mess of pack politics and threats hanging over us.

He didn’t hesitate, closing the folder in front of him and standing up. The next thing I knew, his lips were on mine, the kiss quick but full of heat. It was the kind of kiss that made my head spin, and for a moment, the world outside our bond didn’t matter. When he pulled back, I couldn’t help the satisfied little hum that escaped my lips.

"Let’s go," I said, slipping my hand into his as we made our way toward the kitchen.

On the way there, I noticed his face shift slightly, that distant look he got when someone was mind linking him. He stayed quiet, but I saw the slight frown on his lips. I wanted to ask what was wrong, but I didn’t want to ruin the moment. We needed this time together.

Drake gave a small nod, probably in response to whoever was in his head, and then turned to me with a smile again. The tension in his shoulders eased as we walked, and I decided not to pry. For now, it was enough that he was here with me.

Drake’s POV:

Just as we were about to reach the kitchen, hand in hand, ready to enjoy a quiet lunch together, I heard footsteps running toward us. Fast. Urgent. I tensed, my instincts immediately on high alert. Leila must have felt it too, because she dropped my hand and turned to look at the approaching figure.

A warrior burst into view, panting heavily. His face was flushed, and his eyes were wide with panic. "Alpha!" he called, his voice shaky. "Alpha Drake... it’s Marcus!"

My stomach sank, dread creeping into my chest like ice. "What happened?" I demanded, stepping forward, my voice laced with the authority I knew would pull him out of his panic.

The warrior stopped in front of us, trying to catch his breath. "Marcus... he’s... he’s dead."

Time seemed to freeze for a moment. My brain struggled to process what I’d just heard. Marcus... dead? How? Just hours ago, he was alive, sitting in that damn cell, refusing to give up the secrets he was holding. The thought that he could be dead, without us extracting the information we needed, sent a wave of frustration and anger coursing through me.

"What the hell do you mean he’s dead?" I growled, stepping closer to the warrior, my patience already wearing thin.

The warrior swallowed nervously, his eyes darting between me and Leila, who stood silently beside me, her expression unreadable. "He was found in his cell just now, Alpha. It looks like... like poison. There were no signs of struggle, no attack. He was just... gone."

Poison. My fists clenched at my sides as rage boiled in my veins. Poison meant someone wanted Marcus silenced—someone who knew he had information we needed. His death wasn’t a coincidence. It was deliberate, calculated.

"Who had access to him?" I snapped. "No one was supposed to go near him without my direct orders."

The warrior stammered, his fear palpable. "We... we followed your orders, Alpha. Only a few guards were on rotation. No one saw anyone suspicious enter or leave the dungeon."

"Then how the hell did this happen?" I barked, feeling my control slip. Marcus’s death wasn’t just a loss—it was a liability. Whatever Raphael had planned, whatever secrets Marcus had been holding onto, they had just been taken to the grave.

Leila placed a calming hand on my arm, her touch grounding me. I looked at her, my anger simmering just beneath the surface. Her eyes were calm but sharp, already calculating. "We need to investigate who had access to the dungeon in the past few hours. Someone must have slipped in undetected," she said, her voice steady and clear.

I nodded, trying to rein in my fury. "You’re right," I muttered, turning back to the warrior. "Seal the area. No one leaves or enters the dungeon until I say so. Get me the list of every guard, every warrior on rotation today. I want to know who was there."

"Yes, Alpha!" the warrior said quickly before running off to carry out my orders.

As I watched him disappear, the weight of the situation settled heavily on my shoulders. Marcus was gone, and with him, any chance we had at getting the truth about Raphael’s so-called "plans." I glanced at Leila, who was already thinking a few steps ahead, her mind working through the possibilities.

"We’re not done yet," she said softly, her eyes gleaming with determination. "Whoever did this, whoever silenced Marcus—they’re still out there. We just need to find them."

I nodded. She was right, as always. This wasn’t over. It was just beginning.