Stone Crest: Rise of a Raven

40. Chapter 40

Chapter forty

Locke

H e had some fucking nerve.

“Locke.” Kingston holds up his palms in surrender. “I just want to talk.”

I’ve got his throat in my hand, crushing him against the closet door just inside of the foyer. “You almost killed her!” I snarl. “I should rip out your fucking throat.” My alpha voice looms between us and he winces.

“Locke!” Raven’s voice causes my eyes to veer to my left.

Her blue irises are wide as Presley gapes at us next to her.

“Go back to your room,” I snap.

But as always, she doesn’t listen. She just crosses her arms and pops out a hip. “What is going on?”

“Locke. I wasn’t there to hurt her.” He grips my wrists. “I was protecting her.”

“Bullshit,” I spit out, squeezing harder.

I’m seconds from shifting. I can fight him better in my wolf form. Tear him apart for hurting my mate.

“They were after her.” He winces again. “I followed her and saw them.”

I pull forward slightly then slam him back again. “What do you mean you were following her?”

“That’s what I’m here to explain,” he grunts out.

“Locke.” Raven’s tone is even and calm.

I glance at her again, letting her nearness calm my storm. “Let him go.”

I watch my mate say something hushed to Presley, then she walks towards me while Presley leaves the room.

“I’m calling Declan," she says as she spins on her heels. “Don’t kill each other until I get back!”

I let loose of Kingston, stepping away as he sucks in a sharp breath. “Fuck, you’re strong,” he mutters.

“You have five minutes," I grit out. “The only reason I’m not killing you is because she asked me not to.” I add before storming after Raven.

She slides the phone in her back pocket as soon as I approach her. “I don’t want you near him.”

“Too bad. I’m done being on the outside. If there’s a you and me, then I’m involved.”

She rolls her shoulders back. “I can handle it.”

I search her face before I slide my hand around the nape of her neck, pulling her into me for a chaste kiss.

“I don’t trust him.”

She lets her hand clasp in mine. “Will you hear him out? For me?”

“Fine. But don’t be surprised if I end of killing him.”

She just grins, slipping past me and towards the man I can’t stand to even look at.

Kingston takes a seat on the wingback chair, while I find my space on the couch. Raven goes to sit next to me, but I catch her by the waist, dragging her over to my lap.

“Talk,” I bark out.

“You talk with mom?” He asks.

I grind my teeth, then give him a curt nod. I hadn’t discussed that particular information with Raven yet. Didn’t really know what it meant. Not until I could get Frankie out here.

He understood my silence.

“I’m guessing this is the brother?” Raven asks.

“Yeah. We share the same mother.” Kingston clears his throat.

He glances to me, not knowing how much Raven knows about us.

“She knows everything about what we are.”

“And there’s a lot that you don’t.” His eyes bore into mine.

The ones that look so much like Angeline’s.

He almost looks remorseful. I don’t buy it.

“Raven, if you would like to go with your friend, Locke and I can discuss this further.”

She tenses but lifts her chin. “I want to hear it. If it involves me, I want to know.”

Kingston lets out a heavy sigh. “I was following Raven after the gala. I saw the accident, but I also saw who was following her as well.”

Raven looks at me with a frown.

“I don’t understand.”

“Baby, he was the wolf that I attacked to protect you.”

Her head whips to Kingston. “I was protecting you. I swear. I saw them notice you at the gala. I saw the…...” He runs a hand over his mouth. “I was after them. Not you.”

“Who is them? And why were you protecting me? Aren’t you Locke’s sworn enemy?” Raven asks.

“Them would be men from Elias’ group.”

“Who’s Elias?” Raven interjects.

“A bad man. Hybrid,” I say, my hand gripping onto her thigh.

“What exactly is a hybrid?” She asks next.

“Later.” I motion for him to continue.

“And yes, according to my father, we are enemies.” He pauses. “But my loyalty has never been with him.”

“I didn’t see you interfering after I was exiled. You had no problem being loyal to him then,” I scoff.

Raven’s arm wraps around my neck, her palm settling on my skin.

“I made a promise.” Kingston’s eyes grow serious. “A long time ago, I made a promise that I’ve never broken. And I don’t intend to now. Which is why I’ve been watching from a distance. Keeping Raven’s safety my priority.”

I tense at the jealousy settling in my bones. “She doesn’t need your protection,” I seethe. “She’s my mate.”

Kingston doesn’t look surprised. He nods. “I know that. Mom does too.”

“What’s the connection?” I press.

Raven’s fingers graze lightly across my skin. She can tell I’m getting frustrated.

“What is your connection to Raven?”

He hesitates only long enough to sit up and rest his forearms on his knees.

“Your grandmother.” He meets Raven’s eyes. “She was my fated mate.”