RAVENNA POV
A jolt that shot through me was sharp and sudden, like the shock of touching a live wire with wet hands. The eyes staring back at me looked familiar because they looked like mine. The same shade of gray, like a stormcloud. I broke eye contact to look at the other features and my breath hitched. "What the hell?" I whispered to myself. That finally got Mia's attention. She stopped bubbling about jewels and turned to look at me. "Are you o–" Her voice cut off and I'm sure she was looking at the same person. "What... " The man standing a few feets away from me, looking intensely at me, was like a mirror I was standing in front of. Except the reflection in the mirror was male, six-foot-something tall, broad, and striking handsome. We shared the same silver hair, though his was cropped short, skimming his jawli"Did you... did you see that?" Mia whispered in a barely audible voice above her own ragged breathing. Her heart hammered against her ribs, like a wild drum against the lingering heat of Dalian's kiss.Dalian's muscles went rigid beneath her touch, every line of his powerful frame tensed. He didn't answer with words at first, only a low, primal growl rumbling deep in his chest. His silver eyes were now fixed on the hallway into which the Shadowfen men had vanished."Shadowfen Pack," he finally said, his voice raw, laced with controlled curiosity that vibrated through her. His hand, still at her waist, tightened, pulling her flush against him until the soft swell of her hip pressed hard into his unyielding thigh.His wolf sensed something profoundly wrong, something that didn't belong. "And whatever they're carrying... it's not normal. It feels ancient. Powerful. And suppressed." He inhaled sharply, his nostrils flaring as if trying to catch a lingering scent, a residue of the strange
Mia watched Dalian, her own smile feeling more natural now as he laughed with Lucian and Darius. The conversation had drifted from the mysterious badge to something else. The serpent scale, still clutched in her hand, felt like a secret burden, its cool smoothness a constant reminder of the older woman's unsettling words. Suddenly, Dalian stiffened beside her. His easy smile vanished, replaced by a deep frown that pulled his brows together. His jaw clenched, and his eyes, which had been warm and relaxed moments ago, were now hardened with anger. Mia felt his hand, which had been resting lightly on her thigh, clench into a tight fist.A low, almost imperceptible growl rumbled in his chest, too subtle for anyone else at the table to notice amidst the feast’s cheerful dinner.His head slowly turned as his gaze cut across the crowded hall. Mia followed his line of sight, her breath catching as she saw Aria. She was still seated with Nyx, though her posture seemed even more rigid now, he
Mia slid back into her seat beside Dalian, forcing a smile that felt awkward. Her hand, still clenching the cold, tiny serpent scale. The festive noise of the feast, which had been a beautiful and cheering moment before she had gone to the washroom, now felt like a suffocating area."Everything alright, Wildstar?" Dalian murmured, leaning closer to her. His eyes were warm and concerned but completely oblivious to the fresh terror she embodied."Fine," Mia lied, her voice a little too high. She subtly loosened her grip on the scale while still keeping the scale discreet and out of sight."You seem a little... quiet tonight," Dalian observed, his brow furrowing slightly. "Usually, you're the first one to raid the dessert table with the twins."Mia managed a small, unconvincing laugh. "Just enjoying the quiet, I guess. You know, sometimes all this excitement can be a lot." She hoped her casual tone would convince him of his growing concern.Just then, Lucian walked over. He had a half-ea
The older woman offered a slow, deliberate smile that didn't reach her unwavering, intense eyes. Her gaze held a serious, ancient quality, as if she saw through Mia, like she saw something that no one else saw, something far deeper."I have merely come to observe," she said, her voice a low sound that seemed to vibrate in Mia's bones. "And to deliver a message."Mia’s jaw tightened."A message from whom?"The woman's smile widened, revealing a set of white teeth."From those who watch. From those who wait. And from a past that is not as buried as some may wish it to be."Her eyes blinked with knowledge that Mia didn't seem to grasp."You carry a powerful gift, my child. A legacy. And it stirs things that have been dormant for long."Mia simply stared at her. Her heart no longer raced, but she still had chills just staring at the woman. Where had she come from? Mia was sure as hell that she wasn't from their pack or any of the visitors’ pack. "What gift?” she demanded, a tremor that s
FOURTH DAY OF THE CELEBRATION The morning of the fourth day of the celebration came with ease. Dalian woke with Mia curled beside him, her head resting on his chest, every inhale and exhale was a sweet whisper against his skin. As Mia stirred on the bed, her eyelids fluttered open. Her gaze which was still heavy with sleep, met his, and for a short moment, a shared warmth. He leaned in, murmuring against her hair, "Morning, my wildstar. You look so beautiful when you sleep."A faint blush flushed over her cheeks, "Morning," she replied, her voice soft. "Uhhm… Dalian, about today..." She paused, taking a slow and shaky breath. "I... I need to go back to the boarding house."Dalian stiffened. He pulled back slightly, his brow ached, his features tight with surprise and confusion. "Mia, what are you talking about? Why?"Her gaze drifted to anything else but him, trying to avoid his stare. "I'm not trying to leave you, but this place... the packhouse, it's too much for me. The eyes, t
Aria chuckled, a dry, bitter sound that grated on his ears. She took a step into the space, her gaze sweeping over the spring as if she were inspecting the place."Oh, Dalian. Always so direct. No pleasantries? Shouldn't we at least exchange greetings? At least… after such... a vigorous morning?" Her eyes, filled with hate, flicked to Mia, then back to him, leaving no doubt what she implied. "Did you really think I wouldn't feel it?"He knew that she had felt his emotions, but he cared less. Dalian's jaw clenched so hard he thought his teeth might crack."And did you really think I care about what you feel?" he snarled. Aria's smile only widened, a cruel twist of her lips."Of course you don't, Dalian. The air here practically hums with the aftermath of your little… fluid exchange. Little ritual, wasn't it? Very... satisfying for you, isn't it?”Her gaze lingered on Mia's nakedness again. "Though I must say, for all your supposed innocence, you're quite a little whore, aren't you?" H