THE HEIR'S MATE

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE

"Rafe, Alpha Magnus wants to see you," the woman who bore him announced, her voice a blend of concern and resignation. The room they stood in was modest, with worn furniture and faded curtains that spoke of a life lived in quiet desperation. Rafe grunted in response, irritation coursing through him. It had been several days since he had been placed under house arrest, and his mother had volunteered to keep an eye on him, much to his discontent. Her pitying glances only fueled his rage further, making him feel like a caged animal.

Without waiting for Rafe's consent, Magnus entered the room, casting a reassuring look at Rafe's mother, who was wringing her hands nervously. Magnus's presence was imposing, his tall frame filling the small space and his authority undeniable. His sharp eyes missed nothing, and the tension in the room seemed to increase with his arrival.

"The results are in," Magnus said as he closed the door behind him, his tone businesslike. Rafe remained silent, but his expression spoke volumes. His displeasure was palpable, evident in the tightening of his jaw and the deep furrow in his brow. He had been denied the chance to defend himself or even attend the elders' court, and the injustice of it all burned within him like a relentless fire.

"So what, are they going to throw me in jail or let me rot in this house?" Rafe asked rhetorically, his voice laced with bitterness and defiance.

"Neither," Magnus replied stoically. "You'll be sent to your father's pack until the ascension rite ends."

"What? They can't do that! They might as well kill me!" Rafe's voice rose, anger flashing in his eyes, his hands clenching into fists at his sides.

"Your father has already agreed. You'll depart in two days," Magnus stated flatly, not backing down in the face of Rafe's fury.

"I won't go anywhere. And if I'm going down, I'll take you with me. I'll inform them that you've been helping me all along," Rafe threatened, his eyes narrowing dangerously.

Magnus merely smirked, unperturbed by the threat. "Do it then. Who do you think they will believe? Me or some rascal like you?" he retorted, striking a nerve in Rafe. Deep down, Rafe knew Magnus was right, and it only fueled his frustration further.

"If only you had listened to me, stuck to the plan, and not made trouble, this wouldn't have happened," Magnus continued, his tone turning slightly condescending. He sighed deeply, looking at Rafe's frustration. "Just suck it up for now. I'll find a way for you to come back. But don't make any trouble that can complicate things," he said again, his voice carrying a note of finality. "Really, Rafe, hold it together."

Rafe didn't answer, his eyes blazing with rage. He knew his hands were tied, and he hated it with every fiber of his being. His jaw clenched tighter, his nostrils flaring as he struggled to contain his fury.

"Okay, then. I'll leave. I'll inform your mother. She can help you pack," Magnus said, his voice calm and collected.

"I don't need any help," Rafe replied coldly, his voice icy. It was no secret how much Rafe hated his mother. She was just a weak omega who couldn't even protect herself. He was born out of wedlock because his father had been seduced by her scent during her rut. He was lucky that his father still wanted to acknowledge him, even though he was just a remnant of his father's embarrassing past. No matter what he did, it never seemed enough to make him feel like a real son, like his brothers.

Magnus left, leaving Rafe alone with his own rage and frustration. The room felt suffocating, the silence heavy and oppressive. Rafe's thoughts churned, a storm of anger and helplessness. He punched the wall, the impact sending a jolt of pain through his knuckles, but it did little to quell the turmoil within him.

.......................

"I knew you'd be here," Isolde said, watching Luna train in their secret forest hideout. The clearing was a secluded oasis amidst towering trees, the canopy above filtering the sunlight into dappled patterns on the forest floor. Signs of Luna's intense practice were everywhere: branches broken, the ground scuffed and marked from her movements. Sweat glistened on Luna's forehead as she moved with fierce determination, her breath coming in ragged gasps.