Chapter 126: Ursula and Raven
***AUTHORS NOTE: My bad for the lack of updates, I’ve been super sick and busy with job hunting now that my son’s in school. So, I haven’t been able to update. I’ll be better soon. ***
~THIRD PERSON POV~
Raven was undecided on whether to help or keep it a secret and see how far Isabella got.
If Isabella had asked Raven a week ago, she would have leapt at the chance to team up.
But when Ursula met up with her for coffee, after what Ursula had to say, she wasn’t so sure about things anymore.
She’d been conflicted after hearing the truth. What happened the night her parents died. The night she lost her entire pack.
She had no idea. She didn’t hate Odette any less, but it wasn’t the same as before. Even a truth like what she heard, couldn’t erase the years of hate she had.
Knowing that she was Odette’s mother, Queen Violet, was pregnant with Odette when she was kidnapped and taken by her pack’s alpha. When he did what he did to her.
And after the coffee date with Ursula, it was a lot to take in, hearing the details. The details of the past, of what happened during their time in the ColdMoon Pack.
It had her questioning everything.
Even with that, Raven still didn’t like Odette being here. Being so close to the man she loved. Being so loved by everyone. she was jealous of Odette and how close they got, how no matter how hard she tried, she was never able to penetrate that protective wall Ambrose built around himself.
What did they all see in her?
What had she missed all these years spying on Odette. Raven sifted through her memories and all the observations she’s made, and she couldn’t figure it out. She was always so closed off and acted so high and mighty. Like everyone else around her was beneath her. She was cocky about her fights, arrogant even. She never accepted people’s approach, turned her nose up anyone who tried to be her friend.
She was sure she knew Odette.
But no one spoke about her like that. Except Tersea, who hates everyone because she hates herself.
Raven snorted at the thought.
She watched so intensely over the years. Yet seeing her like this now. It was like she didn’t know Odette at all.
And that made her mad, it made her feel like all those years of effort were wasted. Losing Ambrose to her as well. It was all for nothing.
And so many wolves back in America lost their lives because she helped kidnap a princess with dangerous parents.
Everything had gone to shit. And Raven didn’t know how to react to everything.
And Isabella. Isabella was about to find out what it was like to play with fire. Dance with death. Odette’s aura had changed since she came back. It was subtle but it was there. Masked and hidden. But it was there.
Raven thought about what she would do. Join the revenge. Warn them. Or sit back and watch.
She decided she’d talk to Ursula.
She pulled out her phone and called her.
"Hello Raven, how are you?"
"I’m okay, but hey I wanted to talk to you about something, can we meet up?"
"Yeah of course! I’m free now?"
"Okay great, typical coffee joint?"
"Sounds good, I’ll see you soon."
Raven hung up and headed out. She walked with purpose to the garage and grabbed one of the bikes.
She sped off towards their favorite coffee spot, The Midnight Cup.
When she arrived, the barista greeted her with a genuine familiar smile, "Hey, you want your usual?" She asked.
"Yeah, Ursula’s too." Raven responded taking their spot in a corner by a window.
When she first came here, Ursula had taken her here and got her a pastry. And it became a regular thing. Every Friday Ursula would take her here to get a treat. And as she grew older her orders matured and after Ursula moved back to her fraternal pack, she continue coming here every Friday until she went assigned a mission. Given fake documentation and sent back to the America’s and attend school with the daughter of the man responsible for her pack’s destruction. There meetings at the coffee shop ended, and until recently, Raven hadn’t really had the time to go and enjoy her favorite coffee shop.
Raven sat in the spot sipping her coffee, pondering what to do.
If she told Ambrose about Isabella, it could get her in good with Ambrose. But would that really get her anywhere?
Her wolf growled "No, stupid, he’s not our mate."
"Shut up, Jera." She growled back her wolf.
She could help Isabella, remove the harder obstacle. But if he ever found out about her part, he’d never forgive her, and he’d exile her, for sure. Branding her as a rogue. She knew, deep down, he didn’t believe in leniency, he wouldn’t hesitated. He hated betrayal.
She could sit silent and watch this play out, but then she risks compliancy which, for Ambrose, would be the same as betraying him, if he ever found out. Which the only way he would was if Isabella included her.
She wouldn’t put it past Isabella to do something like that, set up to look like Raven did it and then pin it all on her, playing the victim. It would be believable, Ambrose knew she hated Odette.
He’d barely spoken to her since his return; would he even believe her if she said she had nothing to do with it?
She sat asking herself all these questions when Ursula’s voice finally pulled her from her spiraling thoughts.
"Hey, Purple hair, woohoo, hello?" Ursula snapped her fingers in front of Raven.
Raven shook her head, blinking as she adjusted back into reality. "When did you get here?"
"Like five minutes ago, I’ve been trying to get your attention. You were really spaced out, Raven, are you okay? You sounded... different... on the phone." Ursula sat back in the space across from Raven sipping her own drink.
"Yeah, sorry. Just a lot on my mind, ya know?" Raven answered her.
"Hey, I get it. I do. But what’s up, tell me your burdens sweet child." Ursula dramatically pretended to be a fancy lady leaning back in her seat crossing her legs and waving her hand around.
Raven chuckled "It’s... I don’t know... I was told by a little birdie something today. Or rather asked something. And I don’t know what to do about it."
"Seems, pretty vague, I don’t know what you should do about whatever was said or asked or whatever." Ursula sipped her tea her pinky out as she kept on with the pretend act.
Raven exhaled sharply, "Okay, so. Someone came to me asking if I want in on revenge against someone and I’m wondering what to do, if I should tell someone, join, or sit back and watch with popcorn. What should I do?"
"Is someone going to get hurt as a result of this? How many people will be effected? Is it revenge against all the people effected or just a couple or just one? Does the reward outweigh the cost of the risk assessment? How likely are each scenario to happen?" Ursula asked Raven a bunch of thought provoking questions.
’Is someone getting hurt? Possibly, yes.’
’How many effected? Odette, of course, Ambrose, me, Isabella, the servants, Damon... so... I guess a lot’
’Revenge against them? No, only Odette. Which I guess does seem unfair.’
’Is the reward worth it? Maybe, I don’t know.’
She didn’t even want to think about the last one, the reality it would mean she would face.
"Did I answer your question?" Ursula raised her eyebrows at raven, wrinkling her forehead with anticipation and knowing.
"Yes..." Raven murmured.
"Good, hope you came to the right choice." She nodded at Raven.
"Yeah.. yeah..."