Chapter 19: Unable to control himself

In that brief moment face to face, looking into Cara’s eyes, wide and pitiful like a lost little doe, Raven nearly lost all sense of control.

He charged forward, breaking the prison lock with his bare hands, strength surging through him. The heavy-duty lock, made for death-row inmates, suddenly seemed as fragile as mud. In the blink of an eye, it snapped apart, and the iron door swung open.

The jailers stared, jaws dropped. But once the shock faded, what remained in their hearts was pure awe. Their Alpha was unbelievably powerful, under his lead, their pack would only grow stronger, more fearsome, and utterly unstoppable.

“Mate…” Cara whispered, her voice trembling as she looked at Raven. She wanted so badly to run into his arms. Though the wound on her chest had healed, the memory of that sharp blade still lingered, stopping her in her tracks.

But before she could move, Raven had already taken off his leopard-fur cloak and wrapped it around her. Then, without a word, he scooped her into his arms and carried her out of the cold, dark cell.

Outside, the moon hung high in the sky. On the ground below, their shadows overlapped, becoming one. The night wind swept past them, and Cara instinctively curled closer in Raven’s embrace. Her ear pressed to his chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. The scent of their bodies mingled around her, something that once brought her warmth and comfort. But now, with Raven so completely silent, that same closeness only made her feel more and more uneasy.

Raven’s steps were firm, but there was a sense of urgency in every stride.

Very quickly, the two of them entered the pack house and headed straight for Raven’s private living quarters.

The large doors swung open, revealing the luxurious room reserved for the highest-ranking member of the pack.

But before Cara could even begin to take in the furnishings, Raven had already thrown her onto the massive bed.

Though the mattress was soft and cushioned, the impact still left her dazed and aching.

She struggled to prop herself up on her elbows, looking up at Raven with wide eyes as she softly called,

“Mate…”

Her voice was clear, but laced with confusion.

Raven stepped forward, reached out, and wrapped his hand around her throat.

“Don’t call me that. You’re not worthy,” he snarled.

His grip was terrifyingly strong. Cara’s face flushed red as her breath was cut off. Air seemed to drain from her lungs, and she felt like she was on the verge of dying.

She grabbed at his wrist, struggling desperately, her eyes filled with fear and silent pleading.

Then, in that moment between life and death, Raven suddenly released her.

Cara collapsed onto the bed, gasping and coughing as air flooded back into her lungs.

It was like being pulled back from the brink.

She hadn’t imagined it, Raven really had wanted to kill her just now.

Thankfully, he’d stopped at the last second.

They had once been the closest of lovers, bound by passion and trust. She didn’t understand, how could he become so cruel, so cold?

The instinct to stay alive took over. Cara trembled as she crawled backward toward the corner of the bed, clutching the leopard-fur cloak tightly around her body in a desperate attempt to feel some sense of safety.

Raven stood motionless, his tall figure blocking the only light source in the room - the glowing moonstone behind him. His looming shadow stretched across the bed, swallowing up her small, fragile form as if no matter how far she backed away, she’d never escape his control.

The guarded, wary look in Cara’s eyes pierced straight into Raven, and for some reason, it drove the wolf inside him into a frenzy. Whatever reason he had left vanished. His amber eyes darkened, clouded with nothing but lust and a consuming need.

He stepped forward, grabbed her leg, and dragged her across the bed. Against Raven’s strength, her feeble resistance meant nothing.

Claws sprouted from his fingertips, and in an instant, the prison uniform she wore was torn to shreds, the scraps falling to the floor like dead leaves.

Cara’s bare, flawless body lay exposed before him, igniting the fire inside him into an uncontrollable blaze.

They had once been so close, so familiar with each other’s touch. But now, faced with the frightening glint in Raven’s eyes, Cara couldn’t stop herself from shrinking back in fear.

“Mate… please, don’t…” she sobbed, her voice cracking.

“I told you,” he said coldly, “you’re not worthy to call me that.”

Right after that, his powerful body pressed down over Cara’s. His strong hands forcefully spread her legs apart, and her most intimate place was instantly laid bare before his eyes.

A sweet honeyed fragrance permeated the room, making Raven's breathing heavy and rapid. There were no passionate kisses, no tender prelude. He plunged his large pole into hers, hard and rough.

Cara screamed in pain, and Raven didn’t feel much better.

But still, he didn’t stop. The sensation of their bodies entwined brought him an overwhelming sense of satisfaction. He even found pleasure amid the pain.

Despite the forced nature of the act, the mate bond seemed to override her resistance, causing her body to respond to him. With his relentless thrusts, the place where their bodies joined gradually became wet and slick, and real pleasure began to emerge.

That strange yet deeply familiar sensation of bliss overtook Raven’s mind. His hips slammed into Cara’s body again and again, his only thought was to fully possess the she-wolf beneath him.

Cara, too, began to find pleasure in their intimate connection. She arched into his touch, embracing the power of the large beast within her. A growl rumbled in her throat, and a moan of pleasure escaped her lips.

The night stretched on, the two of them entwined, reaching their peak again and again. Even when Cara fainted from exhaustion, Raven's huge thing continued to move, thrusting and withdrawing, as if to make up for the two years they had been apart.