Chapter 35

Gideon’s POV

The maid was taken to the prison hours ago, but my thoughts were a mess.

I sat in the office alone, this silence felt like a heavy rock. The hearth hissed and snapped in the flame, but even their warmth was not able to make my heart warm.

My elbows rested heavily on the desk, my fists curled beneath my chin, as my mind circled the same bitter truth over and over.

That maid was indeed guilty but she was just a pawn.

The Maid’s gaze told me everything. Her gaze was pleading and broken, her gaze was of someone who is not scared of punishment but it was a look of being trapped. She was more afraid of someone then being behind the bars.

And that means someone else, someone closer to me had planned this attempted murder. The realization felt like someone burned me from inside out.

I should have seen it sooner. I should have protected her better. I should have been here instead of out chasing rogues.

My failure was eating me away with guilt like a wolf chewing bone. I always believed that an Alpha should never allow danger in his pack, that strength meant control, foresight and vigilance. Yet danger not only entered his pack but also hurt the woman, who protected his son.

I sighed and dragged a hand down on my face, as I hit my fist against the table hard in frustration. I looked at the window with my eyes hardened, my jaw clenched with worry and exhaustion.

I knew this wasn’t the first time I failed to protect someone. I remembered Claire’s helpless face as she was dragged away by the guards only for her to disappear from my life forever. From that day I swore that I would never let my failure repeat itself again. That no one he loved, no one under his protection, would ever fall because of his negligence.

And yet, here he was.

I exhaled bitterly and stood up from my chair. I couldn’t just sit here remembering ghosts of the past. Raven needs me, the children also need me. Even though guilt felt heavy, it also helped me move forward with determination.

My boots struck against the stone corridor as I left my office. The night air smelled faintly of pine and there were soft lights on the ceiling. Every guard that saw me bowed their head, but I was hardly able to register it. My mind was fixed on the infirmary.

When I opened the door, the sight that I saw made me stand in the same spot.

The room was dim, lit only by the golden glow of a night lamp on the bedside table. There was the shadow of Raven’s sleeping form, I walked towards her only to see her pale face sleeping with serenity on her face. Her hair spilled on the pillow, even now her upper face was covered by a mask.

I had an urge to see who was behind the mask but I stopped myself knowing Raven would not like it.

But what hurt me the most was the children sitting beside her.

Leo was curled on her right side, his small hand resting on her arm as if he was still guarding her in his sleep. On her left side, Nova clung on to the blanket, her little fingers curled tightly holding on to the fabric like she was anchoring herself heartbeat to her mother’s heartbeat.

Both children’s faces were marked with tears but now they were resting after feeling exhausted.

This sight was painful for me to see They felt more like a family. My family.

For a dangerous moment, I allowed myself to imagine a life in which Raven is my mate and Leo and Nova played together without any dangers and secrets, where happiness and laughter filled the house instead of sobs and sorrows. I wished for a perfect and unbroken family.

The ache that swelled in my chest nearly brought me to my knees.

When I moved towards the side of the bed, usually my steps were always sharp and firm but this time they were slow and quite not wanting to wake up the children.

When I reached close to Raven, I allowed myself gently a stray lock of her hair by my finger. My touch lingered on her skin for some while, it was light yet reverent as I traced the curve of her skin. She was now warm and alive but my heart ached at the thought that I nearly lost her.

The guilt felt sharp and painful.

I am Alpha. Protector of this pack. And yet I was not able to protect you. Poison reached your lips before I did. If you died…

I shut my eyes tightly, my chest constricting.

Raven was strong, she was stronger then any warrior I have ever trained. But that strength meant nothing against the betrayal of the people close to us. That someone within these walls had dared to attempt this—had dared to risk harming her, harming the children—it was an insult, a wound carved into my pride as Alpha.

Beneath all the rage, was a fear. Fear of how close he had come to losing her. I leaned close to her ear and whispered with rough conviction.

“I will find the culprit behind this” I whispered every word as a vow. “I swear to you, Raven. I won't sit quiet until I find the mastermind behind this. And when I will find them, they will regret.”

I etched this promise in my mind and heart, it was unyielding and unbreakable.

My gaze drifted to the children once more. Nova moved gently closer towards her mother in sleep, a soft whimper escaped from her lips before she went back to her sleep. Leo’s brow furrowed in sleep, his body was still tense in fear.

My chest ached.

These children… they shouldn’t have to live like this. They shouldn’t have to wonder when Raven will wake up. They shouldn’t have to hold onto her just to feel safe. Innocence was meant to enjoy life not tears and poison.

And yet because of me, because of my failure, their innocence has been threatened.

I remembered the day Leo was born, I held him in my arms, the promise I made to myself and his mother, that I will protect him no matter what. Now I extended this promise to Nova as well, that little girl has secretly made a place in my heart, I didn't want to admit it.

Nova is not just Raven’s daughter but she was someone who bought light in my and Leo’s dark world.

And he would protect her, too. Both of them. All of them.

The room was quiet only their breaths were heard, Raven’s steady but shallow, Leo’s uneven but deeper and Nova’s small yet small. I stood in the middle of the room as I swore to protect this fragile peace.

I reached out and gently brushed my knuckles on Raven’s cheek. The motion was soft, this was not like me..I am an Alpha yet for her, I want to be tender. I murmured to her softly.

I spoke softly but with intense emotion “You're not allowed to leave us, you're not allowed to leave me. Not like this. Not when I finally…” I faltered, the rest caught in my throat. “…Just stay. For them. For me.”

I stayed beside the bed for a long time, watching her breath softly and hearing her heartbeat. I listened to the small sounds of the children who slept next to her. Each second I stayed there made my vow deeper.

I finally straightened myself, my decision and determination was as strong as stone. I would not rest until I uncovered the hand behind the maid. No matter whoever it is, an Ally or a Noble or even someone close to him, they will pay for harming his people.

With one last look at the three of them, Gideon turned toward the door.

I went back to my duty as answers were waiting to be uncovered. And in the shadows the real culprit was smiling thinking they were safe.

But they would soon learn otherwise.

Because I had made my promise. And I never broke a promise.