ANMELDENRAVENDominic had stopped near the entrance, giving me the space I had asked for, but I was aware of him all the same. After spending hours in the library, I finally came across a book of spells that could help me deal with the issue. However, nothing could have prepared me for what I was about to read. I stood in the hidden section of the library, the book open in my hands, reading the same passage for what felt like the tenth time because my brain refused to accept it the first nine.The ink of the text had faded in places but it was still legible enough to make sense of what it was trying to say. I flipped through slowly at first, scanning, searching for anything else that made sense. At first, most of it spoke of bindings, ancient wolves who had tethered themselves to places, all irrelevant stuff and I was almost about to put the book down when I found it.“A shadow bound to blood and root may be restored to flesh only through severance. The severance requires replacement. A livin
RAVENSleep took me all at once, pulling me under before I could even process what they were saying.For a while, there was nothing and I suddenly began to feel very cold. I looked down and the ground beneath my feet wasn’t the bedroom. Had I mistakenly sleepwalked outside? I looked up and there was nothing but ash falling to the ground but I noticed a shadow in front of me. “Marek?”My voice echoed strangely, like it didn’t belong to me. For a second, nothing answered.Then he appeared. Not the way he usually did, in a shadow. Rather, he was solid and standing a few feet away from me. My breath caught in my chest.“Marek…” I stepped closer, my chest tightening as I took him in properly, the way I had never been able to before. “You’re—”“Don’t,” he cut in sharply, his voice rougher than I’d ever heard it.Something in me stilled. He wasn't usually this harsh. What was going on? “I saw you,” I said anyway, softer now. “You were here. Fully here.”“That doesn’t mean anything,” he rep
RAVEN The door clicked shut behind us and a shiver raced down my spine. The room felt smaller suddenly as I stood in the center, heart hammering against my ribs as I stared at all four of them. “This is… new,” I whispered again, but the word felt inadequate. New didn’t cover the ache already building low in my belly.Jax’s low chuckle broke the tension first. “Yeah, sweetheart. But you’re not alone tonight. None of us are leaving.” He pushed off the wall and came closer, his bandaged hand brushing my arm with surprising gentleness. “We’ve got you.”Dominic’s eyes darkened as he stepped into my space, his big hand settling at my waist and pulling me flush against him. “Look at you,” he murmured, voice rough and low, the kind that always melted me. “You think you can handle all of us tonight?”I swallowed hard, nodding before I could find words. Heat pooled between my thighs at the promise in his tone.Theo didn’t wait for permission. He crossed the room in two strides, his uninjured
RAVEN The door clicked shut behind us and a shiver raced down my spine. The room felt smaller suddenly as I stood in the center, heart hammering against my ribs as I stared at all four of them. “This is… new,” I whispered again, but the word felt inadequate. New didn’t cover the ache already building low in my belly.Jax’s low chuckle broke the tension first. “Yeah, sweetheart. But you’re not alone tonight. None of us are leaving.” He pushed off the wall and came closer, his bandaged hand brushing my arm with surprising gentleness. “We’ve got you.”Dominic’s eyes darkened as he stepped into my space, his big hand settling at my waist and pulling me flush against him. “Look at you,” he murmured, voice rough and low, the kind that always melted me. “You think you can handle all of us tonight?”I swallowed hard, nodding before I could find words. Heat pooled between my thighs at the promise in his tone.Theo didn’t wait for permission. He crossed the room in two strides, his uninjured
Raven.Dominic had left at first light to coordinate the lifting at the north gate, and Jax was already buried in the armory, sharpening silver for the descent. That left the woods to Cole. And where there was Cole, there was no room for the suffocation.I found him by the creek, the same place we’d run as wolves. He wasn't shifting today. He was barefoot, his trousers rolled up to his knees, standing in the middle of the rushing water with a spear carved from a sapling. He looked like a creature of the wild—all golden skin, messy hair, and all energy.When he saw me, He grinned, a wide, infectious flash of teeth that made my heart do a strange little flip."You’re late, Raven!" he yelled over the sound of the water. "The fish have already held a meeting and decided you’re too slow to catch them.""Maybe I’m just giving them a head start," I said, stepping onto the mossy bank.He splashed out of the water, droplets flying off his skin. He didn't stop until he was inches from me, smell
RAVEN.The others had drifted away.Cole had gone first, his laughter echoing down the trail as he challenged Jax to a race back to the barracks. Jax had lingered for a moment, his hand resting on the hilt of his axe, his eyes meeting mine with a silent promise before he followed. Merek simply faded, his blue light winking out like a snuffed candle.Now, it was just the house, the stars, and Dominic.He hadn't moved from his spot on the porch. He was leaning back against a pillar, his long legs stretched out in front of him. He looked like a king in a ruined palace, his gaze fixed on the valley below.I stood up from the edge of the porch, the cool wind catching my hair. I walked over to him, my bare feet silent on the boards."You’re thinking about the mine," I said softly.Dominic didn't look up, but he reached out, his large hand wrapping around my ankle, his thumb tracing the bone with a slow, possessive rhythm. "I’m thinking about how much I hate that I have to let you go back
COLEI have always been a man of the ice. I like the sound of skates cutting through the rink. I like the smell of sweat and the cold air of the arena. I am used to being in the spotlight, but usually, I am wearing pads and a helmet. I am used to people cheering for a goal, not staring at my tie.T
DOMINICThe sky was the color of a bruised plum when I finally shook myself awake. I hadn't really slept; I had just drifted in and out of a light doze, my ears twitching at every floorboard creak in the hallway.Raven was still tucked against my side. In the gray light of dawn, she looked small.
RAVENThe morning started with a strange kind of beauty.I was standing on the porch of the main house, a cup of hot tea in my hands.The sun was just starting to peek over. It was beautiful, but it made the hair on my arms stand up."Dominic," I called out.The screen door creaked open and Domin
DOMINICThe sun was hot and it did not feel good. It felt like we were standing too close to an open oven.I stood in the middle of the training field with a broom in my hands. All around me, the wolves of the Iron Howlers were working. We were not training with swords or shifting into our beas







