Chapter 565 – I got nothing left to lose, so go ahead and kill me
"Now that I think about it, Voren must’ve been the one who saved Sera that night. I oughta hate both of you for even trying to take her out with that wolfsbane," Ravyn accused, voice low and sharp.
The color drained right out of Gray and Riven’s faces. They suddenly felt sorry they’d ever opened their mouths to advise him, especially when Humphrey and Kylie slowly turned their full, furious attention on them.
"You two tried to take our Sera’s life?" Humphrey’s gaze went dark as he took a step forward. The disappointment on his face twisted fast into real anger.
Gray dropped his head, regret sitting heavy on his shoulders. "We already lost our pack and every business we had. Sera’s ruthless, but we had it coming. Right now, you need to get your son to stop poking at her any more than he already has."
Somehow, he managed to steer the heat back where it belonged, but Ravyn only shrugged, expression calm and stubborn. "You two meant to end her but I want to love her right. Big difference."
The simple way he said it left everybody quiet. Kylie and Humphrey looked helpless all over again. How the hell were they supposed to make him understand that Seraphine wasn’t some prize he could just claim now that he’d finally figured out he loved her?
Humphrey’s shoulders sank. "From this moment on, we don’t have a son. You’re walking straight into your own death. Voren won’t hold back if you try to steal their happiness."
Ravyn smiled, a cold, wicked little curve of the mouth. No fear showed in his eyes. If anything, the warning only fed the fire in him. "Voren used to be my best friend. I know his secrets. I’m headed to the Grimroot pack."
Kylie’s heart jumped hard. She knew exactly what was running through his head. Trying to keep him away from Seraphine, she spoke up fast. "Don’t waste your time. They aren’t there."
Ravyn’s smile stretched wider. "Then they’ll be in the city. I still gotta transfer Damon’s shares back. I’ll see them after."
He walked right past his parents, leaving Gray and Riven standing there. "Ravyn, I forbid you!" Humphrey roared, but it was like talking to the wind. Ravyn never even turned around.
He went back to his room and locked the door behind him. A few minutes later the door flew open and everything that had ever belonged to Daisy came flying out into the hallway, clothes, shoes, bags, jewelry, anything that carried even a trace of her.
The mess piled up fast and the maids scrambled to gather it all while Ravyn didn’t give a damn. He didn’t want to see a single thing that reminded him of Daisy. Not her clothes, not her perfume, not even the smallest scrap that could drag up memories of the woman who’d helped wreck his life.
Kylie and Humphrey had already gone to pull Daisy out of the dungeon for medical care until her pup was born, so only Gray and Riven stood there watching Ravyn lose it. Even then they kept their mouths shut.
Ravyn disappeared into the bathroom and took the longest shower of his life. Water pounded over him for what felt like hours while he scrubbed his skin raw, like he could somehow wipe every trace of Daisy off his body, every touch, every memory, every moment he wished he could erase.
By the time he stepped out his skin was flushed red from the scrubbing. He stood in front of the mirror breathing hard, staring at a reflection he barely recognized.
Then his thoughts swung straight to Seraphine. Suddenly he was tearing through the room looking for the clothes she’d bought him back when things were still halfway decent.
He yanked open drawers, dug through closets, checked boxes he hadn’t touched in months but not one piece turned up.
The realization hit harder than he expected. He’d gotten rid of every single thing she’d ever given him, every gift, every little piece of affection she’d tried to hand him. Regret swallowed him whole.
He remembered all the times Seraphine had tried to make him happy, the gifts, the quiet gestures, the way she’d smiled at him hoping he’d finally notice her, and he’d barely cared.
He’d been so busy chasing Daisy he never stopped to appreciate the woman standing right beside him. Now he’d give anything to have those days back, but they were gone.
Finally, he pulled on a black suit and white shirt and left the pack without looking back. When he hit New York he went straight to the office and terminated every contract with Damon.
The decision cost him heavy. His finances dipped hard, and for the first time in years he was swimming in millions instead of the billions he’d gotten used to. He had to look at the numbers without the comfort of knowing he could buy his way out of anything.
Still, he wasn’t about to let it break him. He’d already lost almost everything, his marriage, his family, his position, his fortune. But there was one thing he refused to give up. Seraphine.
He was determined to work his ass off and climb back up but right now, he couldn’t hand the company back to his parents in this shape. He needed to do better. He had to prove he could rebuild what he’d wrecked.
After he finished at the office, he drove over to Voren’s mansion. When he got there, he didn’t dare press the bell. He just sat in his car staring at the place from across the driveway. Lights came on, then went out.
Hours dragged by while his patience slowly turned into desperation. His plan was to wait until any car pulled out, but he never expected to sit there almost five hours before Voren’s car finally appeared.
Ravyn jumped out and hurried toward the passenger side, heart hammering against his ribs. "Sera, please. Just spare me five minutes."
As expected, Seraphine never stepped out of the car. Voren did. The second his feet hit the ground the whole atmosphere changed. His expression hardened as he moved between Ravyn and the vehicle. "Ravyn, this is the last time you come near my family or—"
Voren’s warning never finished. Ravyn stared straight into his eyes, face carrying a strange mix of exhaustion, grief, and pure determination. "Or what? You’ll beat me? Kill me? Go ahead, Voren. I already gave up everything anyway. I got nothing left to lose, so go ahead and kill me. But I’m not leaving without talking to Sera."