The Four Protectors

Thirty One

3rd Person POV

Cassius knew he looked terrible as he entered Rafia's office with Azriel, Desmond and Raphael in tow. Rafia gestured for them to sit down. She didn't comment on their haggard appearances, instead getting straight to the point.

Cassius was grateful for that.

"I looked through the vampire's memories, alongside a few other prisoners' that other patrol groups have caught alive. I've narrowed it down to this location," she said.

She passed them a chit of paper. Cassius entered the address on his phone. It was about an hour's drive away, but they'd have to wait for nightfall to travel with Desmond as well.

"We'll leave after sunset," Cassius said.

She didn't protest that. Cassius was about to get up when Raphael's phone rang. The screen lit up with Laura's name.

Cassius' hopes skyrocketed as Raphael picked up the phone.

"Oh, oh god okay I'll be there as soon as I can," Raphael said hurriedly.

His eyes were wide with alarm and fear as he cut the call. Even Rafia was watching him intently. He then turned to Cassius with panic.

"Dad found out we were trying to make the cure. He, he burned down the lab and kicked Laura, and everyone else working in the lab, out of the pack," Raphael said.

Cassius had to admit that it had been inevitable. They could only hide a lab in the woods for so long from an Alpha, on his own territory. Still, Cassius reached out and put an arm around his brother as a few tears spilled from his eyes.

"This is my fault. I asked her to help me and now she's losing the only family she's ever known," Raphael said guiltily.

"She chose to help you Raphael. It was her choice," Azriel comforted.

"God you should have heard how heartbroken she sounded on the phone," Raphael said softly.

"Wait what about Alex, and the rest of the people we saved," Desmond asked urgently.

Cassius had forgotten about all of them with everything that was going on. Without a warlock, they probably had no one to knock any of them out anymore. That meant that they were probably conscious and killing themselves in an effort to get out of the cells.

Theo, Alex, that girl he'd saved that'd followed him like a second shadow. He'd left them all behind believing he needed to be here but what if they he'd been wrong? All he'd done was aggravate his father by disobeying his orders and leave the pack to deal with the consequences.

Now Laura, who'd just wanted to help, was paying the price.

"My father hasn't done anything to them yet. He didn't need them going on a rampage and killing everyone in the pack," Raphael explained.

"We need to get back to the pack," Cassius said.

Cassius helped his brother out of his chair, his mind already in overdrive. Catherine would be safe here. The pack he'd abandoned needed him more now.

Just as they were about to leave, Rafia, who'd been quietly listening all this time, spoke in a low voice.

"You have a mission here, to infiltrate the compound," Rafia said.

"Our pack needs us. You have plenty of people at the Academy to infiltrate the compound with," Cassius argued.

"There are actually very few who are willing to take the risk after seeing their friends in the cells below fighting insanity. Above the pay grade for most professors," Rafia explained bitterly.