Bound by faith the rise of a rejected mate

Melissa's POV

As I stood confronting Raven, the air was heavy with tension. His expression was unreadable as his piercing eyes met mine. I could feel the pack's eyes on me as they awaited my choice, and Damon growled softly next to me.

I inhaled deeply while speaking steadily but doubtfully. "All right. A ceasefire. However, only until The Void is halted and the weapon is destroyed.

A sneer formed on Raven's lips. "Good decision, Melissa. You'd see reason, I knew.

With his hands clenched, Damon took a step forward. "You won't live to regret anything you try at all."

Raven, obviously displeased by Damon's warning, raised an eyebrow. "Calm down, puppy. I am not here to play games; I am here to help.

Behind me, the pack burst into whispers, their voices piercing with incredulity and rage.

Thorne, one of the elders, said, "Melissa." "You're siding with our adversary? Given what he has done, how can we have faith in him?"

With a heavy heart, I turned to face them. "I have no faith in him. However, we will lose everything if we don't stop this weapon. We occasionally have to make difficult decisions tosafeguard what is important.

Thorne's dismay was evident as he shook his head. "Child, you're playing a risky game."

I muttered, more to myself than to anybody else, "I know."

As we were getting ready to go, the camp seemed abnormally silent. With their silence speaking louder than words, the pack averted their eyes from me. But Damon didn't keep quiet.

As I checked my equipment, he paced in front of me and remarked, "This is a mistake."

"I understand that you disagree with me," I answered in a composed manner. However, this isn't about me or you. The goal is to save the pack.

He paused and turned to face me, clearly frustrated. "You're jeopardizing everything, Melissa. What happens if Raven betrays us?"

"I'll take care of it," I firmly stated. "Damon, I'm aware of the dangers."

He said, "You're trusting the wrong people," but he didn't say anything more.

Raven laughed as he relaxed against a nearby tree. "Is it true that your friend dislikes me?"

"Is he to blame? I shot back, my eyes narrowed.

Raven shrugged and said, "No." "But believe me when I say that I gain just as much from destroying that weapon as you do."

I didn't answer. There was no going back now, yet I couldn't get rid of the uneasiness that was beginning to creep in.

Amid the rough cliffs and thick forests, the renegade base loomed in the distance. As our group got closer, there was a lot of anxiety in the air.

"Remain near," Raven said in a hushed voice. "They have probably set traps."

Damon laughed. "Thank you, Captain Obvious, for the tip."

I growled, "Stop, you two." "Distractions are too costly for us."

Even though the facility was eerily silent, the sound of conversations could be heard faintly. Careful to remain in the shadows, we edged closer.

Raven pointed to a sizable, improvised structure in the middle of the camp and said, "There." "That is the location of the weapon."

The voices increased in volume as we approached. We could see a bunch of rogues huddled around the entrance, engaged in a heated debate, from where we were hidden.

"We require a diversion," Raven said.

With his mouth clenched, Damon offered to help.

"No," I blurted out. "We remain united."

However, Damon slipped away and headed toward the rogues before I could stop him. The rogues were alerted a few moments later by a tremendous collision that reverberated through the atmosphere.

Raven grabbed my arm and dragged me toward the building, saying, "This is our chance."

The weapon, a dark, ominous contraption adorned with odd symbols, stood in the middle of the room.

"What is this? I muttered as a shiver went down my back.

"A device intended to stifle your abilities," Raven clarified. "Before they activate it, we must destroy it."

I spun around before we could move because of a loud noise behind us. With glittering, vile eyes, rogues flooded into the room.

"They've ambushed us! I yelled, putting up my hands in self-defence. But before I could use my abilities, I felt a searing ache and fell to my knees.

Feeling faint, I gasped, "My powers."

"The suppression field has been activated," Raven stated somberly. "There is no more time."

There was chaos throughout the struggle. With his eyes flaming, Damon charged into the room and took down the closest rogue. Raven dispatched foes one after another with lethal accuracy. My body shook from the effects of the suppression field as I stumbled to my feet.

We must demolish it! I yelled over the commotion.

Raven gave a nod. "Leave this place. I'll take care of it.

"No! I objected. "We work together to accomplish this."

Ignoring me, Raven rushed in the direction of the weapon. His movements were quick and resolute as he battled his way through the remaining outlaws.

"Raven! Panic rising in my chest, I called.

His body glowed eerily as he neared the weapon and laid his hands on it.

"What are you doing? I let out a yell.

"Completing this," he answered in a tight tone. "The Void cannot be stopped if this device is in operation."

His touch caused the weapon to break and crack, causing the room to tremble. The air echoed with the rogues' cries of fright as they fled.

Raven fell to the ground, his body blazing dimly as the weapon cracked. With tears in my eyes, I hurried to be by his side.

"What did you do? I shook him and made the demand.

He gazed at me with a mixture of pain and relief in his eyes. "Because... The only person who can prevent what is about to happen is you.

"What are you saying? With a broken heart, I whispered.

Raven's voice was weak as he coughed. "Your mother was a part of the creation of The Void. You must discover the truth.

His body froze and the glow went out before I could ask him any more questions.

"No! I sobbed as I held his lifeless body.

Abruptly, a stifling, gloomy energy engulfed the room. The earth beneath us shattered, and a stream of black smoke shot out from the demolished weapon, quickly spreading.

"Hey, Melissa! Damon grabbed my arm and yelled. "We must leave!"

We fled after Damon pushed me to my feet as I paused, gazing at Raven's lifeless body.

The evil energy was still spreading as we left the base, contaminating everything it met. The air became thick with despair, the earth turned black, and the trees wilted.

"What did we do? I muttered as I observed the devastation.

Damon grimaced as he squeezed my hand. "We'll work it out." However, we must return to the pack first.

Though my thoughts were racing, I nodded. I was troubled by Raven's last remarks. Was my mother a creation of The Void? What was meant by that?

And I was convinced of one thing as the darkness grew behind us: the real fight was just getting started.