Chapter: 43
*****

Rafa opened his eyes and looked around the room. He was alone, having sent his Betas away, he needed a moment to himself and to speak with Leon. Although, the call left him with a feeling of dread that won't leave even as he stared at the bookshelf holding the keys to the Book of Neer. Though he needed to be rushing over to check and be certain the Book lies safe, he couldn't find himself to get up from the bed. There is this feeling swirling around inside of him, the feeling of Fear and longing. It's not an emotion he can explain but it keeps him rooted on the bed in place as he stares at the bookshelf. He was afraid. Afraid of confirming the lingering truth already visible in his mind. The one he hasn't admitted out loud yet.

And in truth, he does not want to admit it as truth.

It's a feeling we can attest to at some point in our lives.

That feeling you get when you know something is true but a part of you still clings to the useless false hope that maybe it isn't what you're thinking it will be. You want to believe so badly that you were wrong, that your paranoia could have made you imagine things to justify yourself for denying what was right there in front of you. But there is no excuse for being afraid. Not when the truth is always there. You know it's true but still, you don't want to accept it, it hurts too much, but it's easier to believe that it's not true than admit it's real. He wanted to believe it was a false sense of doom, but he knew better because he had already experienced what happens when one has too much faith in the good things in life. Still, he couldn't shake the feeling off like a persistent fly trying to land on his shoulder, no matter how hard he tried to brush it away, it stayed, and wouldn't let go for the longest time. And for the first time, Rafa wished he was wrong.

He didn't want to believe it.

Not, after all, they have been through. After all, he did for him. How can one easily believe such a thing? How does one change so quickly? What wrong could we do to another that would hurt them so much they would betray us even unto death? Rafa felt useless and ashamed.

He sighed and forced himself up, rubbing his eyes with both hands, one more glance at the Bookshelf, Rafa approached it. He didn't want to open it but he had to check, for the sake of his own sanity, he had to know whether it was real, or it has all been nothing but lies and deceit, played perfectly into cajoling him into falling more, and more into their plots to get rid of him. He shook his head, and pressed down on the lid, with bated breath he stood there and watched with a gaping mouth and bulging eyes, a menacing emptiness where the Book Of Neer should have been.

It was gone.

Stolen.

And right under his very nose, while he was distracted by unimportant things. Ignoring when he should have been worried. Caring and Loving when he should be on guard and watchful.

He was a fool.

Too trusting.

There has to be a reason why he had acted so recklessly from the very beginning. From the very second he laid eyes on him. His instinct somehow could tell what his heart and brain couldn't. He should have followed his instinct and not fallen into the perfectly laid trap for the Lycan.

So Believing.

Rafa felt like his world stopped turning for the longest time. His stomach dropped when he realized where the Book Of Neer was, who held the Book in their possession, and what evil things they could accomplish by its powers. Dread sank deeply into his stomach, cold and numb. His limbs felt heavy as he walked back to the bed and sat on the edge, taking deep breaths and slowly exhaling them. He wasn't breathing at all, and if he did, he probably wouldn't notice, his mind felt like a blank canvas with nothing to paint. His thoughts drifted aimlessly through his mind.

Suddenly the puzzles all began to line up and started to become clear. From the moment he fell into his trap the first time and until this very moment. It had all been a plot. He was aware, always has been. And him, he was nothing but a pawn in their grasp, waiting to be moved around and sacrificed when the time is right. The realization made everything fall apart, his knees buckled under the weight of reality, his vision started to blur, and a strange choking sensation filled his throat. He swallowed thickly before trying again. Trying to breathe.

His body gave up after a few minutes, the air leaving his lungs with a gasp. He collapsed onto the floor, coughing, gasping for air. A tear escaped his eye when a wave of nausea hit him, and he heaved on the ground. He should have noticed sooner, perhaps even earlier. He had been a pawn. A pawn that was never meant to choose his moves. His mind whirled faster. Everything started falling into place now. All the pieces aligned perfectly on a single picture, his Birth Omega's words, he may have lost so much but he could still see, he could discern things way beyond their understanding, and suddenly the pieces clicked.

'Someone you have had dealings with... Sexually... A long time ago,'

'That person is the mirror through which Mariana's spells prevailed even after everything,'

'That is who you should be afraid of because they hold your life in their hands.'

Rafa choked back a sob at his Birth Omega's warning echoing around in his head.

He finally knew whom it was he spoke of.

For many years he had wandered alone, Mateless and so very angry at the Moon Goddess for abandoning them. For leaving them without a Mate, and then suddenly they found him.

But, it wasn't the meeting they had anticipated. It had turned bitter and had remained bitter even until now. From the moment he laid eyes on him, he knew he shouldn't trust him, shouldn't accept him.

It was bad enough that after the night he Mated and Marked him, he woke up with empty memories. Who in their right mind forgets such a significant part of their life? No one... That's who. Unless... you have been spelled with forgetfulness long before it had even happened.

He saved him that night and stopped him from bleeding to death and from losing a foot. He provoked his Rut for the first time with his Heat Pheromones and he chased him around the forest, caught up to him, and made love to him. He was young, they both were, but he Marked him, and the Tiger Marked him too. His Rut never came after that night, and he never remembered it happening. Now, that he thinks of it, how had he managed to find his way there at that time? It was as if he knew the Lycan was close and was bound to find him soon. Has it always been a plot from the beginning? On what possession does he act upon? Or maybe, he acts for himself.

No.

Rafa shook his head. That cursed denial once again. The truth was right before his eyes yet he wouldn't accept it. Even now, he was clinging to hope, trying to cling to that small sliver of happiness. It was like his last lifeline, the only thing keeping him alive, and when they took it away, he'd drown for sure.

No, it's not possible. It could be a mistake. Maybe he was under her spells too. There must be a reasonable explanation, yes? But, why should we often look for an explanation when it is clearly not needed? Why do we often fail to see when people act willingly? There are many ways to take our revenge when we have been wronged. But, it should not always end in making the worst decisions. Yes, he was wrong. He acted foolishly, maybe it was all part of their plans too, to make him out to be a crazy Lycan, to break him slowly, piece by piece, until he had lost his mind completely. Isn't that the plan this entire time? He would believe so.

All this time, his love, his care, his possessiveness. He killed a Vampire for him. Waited on him for months, made him lunch every day, and picked him flowers. Was that all a lie too?

Fake.

Was he such a magnificent actor that he did not see it, or has he been so blinded by Love and Guilt he did not see clearly what truth lies within his innocent selfless acts?

All this time his greatest enemy had been Mariana, when he should have in fact been looking somewhere else, somewhere much closer.

His betrayal had hurt him more than he would ever care to admit. He hadn't let him Reject him completely before he disappeared from him, because he still needed to have that little control, that little crack in the mirror to be able to control him and to give her a clear glimpse into his life to hurt him, and now that they have the Book, the task would be much easier. It's bad enough that Conri had refused to surface since they woke up, too broken to face the world again, and now this.

They may have the Book Of Neer.

But, they cannot fully see into all that makes a Lycan, especially not the one born of a Demigod and Three Powerful Alphas.

Battles are easily fought and won when we know who our enemies are, is it not so?

It will hurt, but it must be done. He had played a fool into their mind games for far too long. He had lost sight of what was truly important for too long. Well, he could see clearly now, and with his strength made whole again. It is time for some serious punishment.

*******

"Alpha," Mano and Reece greeted upon arriving at the Lycan's office.

"Head over to my Birth Omega and give him this message for me, he will know what to do." He ordered and both Betas listened to his message, once he was done, nodded and turned to leave. The twins nearly ran into Clyde and Anya on their way out. They exchanged a quick word of greeting before entering their Alpha's office. "Right on time," Rafa addressed and ushered them to sit. "Did you get the location?" He asked once the Betas were seated.

"Yes, Alpha," Anya replied, pulling out a Pad and handing it over to the Alpha. "It took a while but the Fox couldn't keep away, it was easy once he went to meet up with her." She finished and Rafa nodded while scrolling through the information provided to him.

"How did you know the Fox would try and contact the Witch?" Clyde asked as the Lycan strolled through the iPad.

"He is a Fox, they are cunning and full of deceit, it is easily detected," Rafa replied nonchalantly.

"Yes, but how did you know he was a Fox? He's a great shape-shifter, you slept with him blindly in your Rut so you could not have been able to tell then, but how did you know." Clyde asked again.

"I don't know what it was, but my senses seem to have awakened since my Birth Omega woke me up, I could easily detect his lies from a distant and I knew his smell immediately, I have been around that scent many times to miss it," Rafa replied. "Dare, he holds the Rogue's scent." He finished.

"And what will you do with Dare?" Anya asked.

"Leon will take care of him, he is no longer my problem from here on, I've got bigger ones," Rafa muttered, with a frown.

"It must be hard, Alpha," Clyde started. "But, I strongly believe there is more to his betrayal than meets the eye,"

"What if there isn't?" Rafa asked, snapping his gaze forward to look into theirs. He watched them shrink into their seats, and wouldn't meet his gaze. Scoffing, he picked up the Ipad and handed it back to Anya. "Very well, I should be able to handle it from here," He added and looked at Clyde, "Go with Anya and make sure everything is ready." The Alpha ordered. Clyde stood up immediately after giving the Alpha an affirmative nod, and they left the office together leaving Rafa in silence.

["Half?"] Rafa called softly and sighed when he heard nothing from Conri. ["You have been silent for a while, I know how you feel, it's hard on both of us, but if I must do this and win, you know I will need you."] He received no response, nothing at all. Rafa clenched his fists. ["It's alright, you do not have to speak if you don't want to... Just stay awake, and be present."] Rafa pleaded. After an extended period of silence, Rafa frowned, feeling slightly concerned and confused. He knew Conri is well, he could feel him within, but he couldn't help the fear creeping into his veins, mixing with his blood at the thought of losing his Half. ["Conri?"] He called hesitantly, receiving another dead silence in reply, but when he tried again a few moments later, it wasn't the same anymore.

This time Conri was speaking in full consciousness. ["I am with you, Brother, I will not leave you,"] He spoke and his voice sounded so distant, so detached that it almost seemed unreal. Like a voice coming from far off, but it carried all the emotions of a true bond between them.

["Thank Goddess you're awake,"] Rafa breathed in relief. ["You gave me quite the scare."] He continued and waited for Conri to answer, expecting Conri to say something along the lines of 'I didn't think you love me so much,' however, none came. Instead, there was an agonizing silence as Conri seemed to struggle with something.

Finally, he spoke. ["What do we do when this is all over?"] He asked in a low whisper and Rafa's breath caught at his tone. He was trying so hard to sound calm and collected, but Rafa could tell that it was difficult for him to hide his feelings. He wanted answers, he was anxious, impatient, and afraid. He sounded fragile.

"I found it too easy to just kill the Witch, wouldn't you agree?" Rafa asked, speaking loudly this time.

["I do... What do you have in mind?"] Conri inquired warily.

Rafa smiled grimly. "A well-deserved punishment will do until she begs for death!" Rafa seethed and felt his anger rising within him.

["And Him?"] Conri asked and Rafa's breath caught in his throat.

"I have one question to ask. His fate shall be decided depending on what answer we get." Rafa responded and leaned back against his chair, staring up at the ceiling his eyes fixated on the chandelier above him.

A long silence ensued before Conri eventually replied. ["Sounds good to me."] Both Man and Beast sat silently until Conri felt his Soulmate's call. ["Someone is waiting by the river banks"] Rafa smiled and got on his feet.

"Let's take care of business." He muttered, shooting a quick link to Leon, filling him in on what the plans are. Leon responded with a soft 'I love you and be safe out there, don't get us both killed,' Both Rafa and Conri smirked, shutting the door behind them.

Their fates would be determined this night and no matter the outcome, things are bound to change.

Nothing will be as it was before.