Chapter 3

You heard of Raphael?" Sarah asked in a hushed tone.

Maggie's heart skipped a beat at the sound of Raphael's name.

“Who”? Maggi asked again this time to be sure of the name Sarah just called.

"You know, the werewolf who got banished for supposedly killing a human." Sarah continued expecting Maggie to know all about it

Maggie raised an eyebrow, curious but trying to play along. 

"Raphael? No, what's going on with him?"

"Well, rumor has it that he's back in town," Sarah replied, her voice dropping even lower. "And get this, the rumor also says that he's back in town searching for his mate and children. Can you imagine?"

Maggie's heart skipped a beat at the mention of Raphael's mate and children. Maggie's eyes widened. Her heart couldn’t stop racing non stop at this point.

She couldn't believe what she was hearing. Raphael. The name brought back a flood of memories, memories she had long buried.

As Sarah continued talking about Raphael's rumoured return to town, Maggie sat there in utter shock, feeling as though she was reliving her past life all over again. 

"Are you okay?" Sarah asked, noticing the shocked expression on Maggie's face.

Maggie forced a smile, trying to push down the memories and the fears that threatened to overwhelm her. "Yeah, I'm fine," she said, her voice sounding strained.

Sarah looked at her with concern, but Maggie shook her head, not wanting to burden her friend with her own problems. 

She took a deep breath and tried to focus on the present, pushing the memories of Raphael and her past life to the back of her mind. 

But she still couldn't shake the feeling that her past was catching up with her, and that Raphael's return would change everything.

Raphael walked down the neon-lit streets of Las Vegas, his senses heightened by the heady scent of the city. He had been here before, many years ago, but his return was bittersweet.

He had been banished from this place, accused of a crime he did not commit, and he had spent years wandering, seeking solace.

But now he was back, and he could feel the eyes of the city upon him.

Las Vegas had changed since he had last been here, and the werewolf population had grown considerably. Raphael had been a popular alpha figure before his banishment, and he knew that some still looked up to him as a leader.

As he walked, he caught snippets of conversation, whispers of his name on the lips of the werewolves who passed him by. 

Some nodded in his direction, acknowledging his presence, while others averted their gaze, remembering the accusations that had led to his exile.

Raphael made his way to a popular bar, where he knew he could find other werewolves. The place was packed, the air thick with the sound of laughter and the clink of glasses. 

Raphael moved through the throng, his senses on high alert, scanning the faces for any sign of trouble.

At the bar, he ordered a drink and settled onto a stool, keeping an eye on the crowd. He sensed the tension in the air, the underlying animosity that lingered between the different factions of the werewolf community. 

Raphael could feel the eyes of others upon him, watching his every move. He knew that there were those who still believed him to be guilty of the crime he had been accused of, and he knew that his presence here was a risk.

But Raphael was not one to shy away from a challenge. He had come for what he’s always longed for and not even a banishment was going to stop him from seeing Maggie and meeting his children.

Raphael quickly left the bar and moved as fast as he could into a dimly lit alley, his back pressed against the rough brick wall. He watched as the neon lights of the Las Vegas strip illuminated the night sky, casting a colourful glow over the city. He knew that he had to be smart if he wanted to survive here.

Raphael had been banished from the city and was a wanted man, and if he was caught by the authorities, it would mean certain death.

He had to be careful. He couldn't attract attention to himself, and he had to be smart about the way he went about his business. He had to stay in the shadows, asking questions and gathering information, without drawing too much attention to himself.

Raphael knew that he couldn't trust anyone in this city, and that every move he made could be his last. But he was determined to make it work. He was smart, and he knew how to survive.

As he stepped out of the alley and onto the bustling street, he felt a surge of adrenaline rush through his veins. He had to keep his wits about him, and be ready for anything.

With a determined look on his face, Raphael disappeared into the crowds, ready to take on whatever challenges that came with finding Maggie and the children.

Maggie paced around her small apartment, her mind racing with thoughts of Raphael. She couldn't shake the feeling that he was looking for her.

The last time they had seen each other had been a passionate night, and Maggie had thought that would be the end of it.

But now, she knew that he had found out about her pregnancy, just like everyone else in the town of New York. And now, he wanted to claim his children.

Maggie knew that she couldn't let that happen. She had spent the last few years raising her twins, and building a future for them. She wasn't going to let Raphael come in and disrupt everything.

She took a deep breath and tried to calm herself down. She knew that she had to come up with a plan, and fast. She couldn't just sit around and wait for Raphael to come knocking on her door.

As she paced back and forth, her mind started to clear. An idea came to her. Maggie knew what she had to do. Just as she was moving to her room, her phone rang.