LOGINRavenna’s POV The steam rose slowly from the small teacup, but neither of us drank. Lady Vivienne sat across from me, her knuckles white as she gripped the edge of the wooden table. Now, she looked like a woman carrying years of pain."The Luna Queen does not do her own dirty work, Vexley," Vivienne whispered, her voice shaking with a bitter rage. "My husband was one of the palace’s finest shadow guards. But to the Queen, he was just an assassin. He spent years carrying out her secret orders, removing anyone who threatened her grip on the throne. Three years ago, she sent him on a highly dangerous mission to silence a rival pack elder."A heavy tear fell from her cheek, splashing onto the table. "He was compromised. He was stabbed with a poisoned dagger during the ambush. He managed to escape and drag his bleeding body all the way back to the palace gates, hoping the royal doctors would save him. But the moment the Luna realized he had been caught, she turned her back on him comple
Ravenna’s POV The heavy warning from Lady Vivienne stayed in my mind all through the night. She knew the deep secrets of the royal family. She had been the head lady of the court for many years, which meant she knew exactly what happened five years ago when my family was murdered. If I wanted to find the truth, I needed to make her talk to me.The next afternoon, after my long hours of walking and talking lessons, I saw Lady Vivienne walking down the quiet back corridor of the guest wing.I quickened my steps and walked up to her side. "Lady Vivienne," I said softly, keeping my voice low. "Please, can I speak with you for just a moment? About what you said yesterday."Lady Vivienne stopped walking. She did not look at me. "I have nothing more to say to you, Miss Vexley," she said in a hard, flat voice. "Your lessons for today are finished. You should go back to your room.""But you know something about this family," I pressed, stepping closer. "You warned me for a reason.""Mind
Ravenna’s POV My heart gave a slow, heavy thud inside my chest. I made sure to keep my face completely blank, not letting her see how fast my blood was suddenly pumping. I did not want to show any fear or excitement."Why are you telling me this, Lady Vivienne?" I asked. I spoke in a very quiet, careful way, hoping to make her talk more and share her secrets."Do you know something about my position here? Do you know why I am really in this place?"Vivienne did not give me an answer right away. She kept her eyes locked on the empty hallway outside. "I am telling you what history has already proven, Vexley. This royal family is exceptionally fond of using people until they have bled them dry, only to completely discard them the moment they are no longer convenient. Look at what they just did to Princess Thalia. She was a guest in this house for years, promised a throne, and yet she was cast aside in a single night without a second thought."She turned her sharp look back toward m
Ravenna’s POV For the past three days, my entire life had revolved around this room.From morning until night, I endured endless lessons, constant corrections, and the suffocating scrutiny of the royal family. Every movement, every word, and every expression was watched and judged. I was exhausted."Straighten your back, Vexley. Your chin is dropping."The sharp, commanding voice of my instructor, Lady Vivienne, cut through the room once again. She was a formidable head lady of the royal court. She was a woman whose entire existence was dedicated to protocol. But while Vivienne was the one actively conducting the lessons, she wasn't the one I was worried about. Sitting on a velvet chaise lounge a few yards away, casually sipping tea, was Luna Selena. Her dark eyes followed my every move, silently vetting her new puppet."Let us try the walking steps again," Lady Vivienne instructed, waving a hand toward the long, polished mirror lining the wall. "A true Luna does not hurry. You
Ravenna’s POV The formal dinner courses had finally come to an end, though I had barely managed to eat more than a few bites of my food. My stomach had been coiled in too tight a knot to process anything substantial. Now, the servants had cleared the plates, leaving the four of us sipping on heavy crystal glasses of expensive fruit wine. The Grand Alpha King swirled his wine and looked at me, his gaze was calm but there was something different in his eyes I couldn't ignore. "So, Vexley," he said, leaning back as his voice took on a more relaxed tone. "Tell us a bit more about yourself. What course are you currently pursuing at the university, and what of your family? Ronan has told us so little about your background."I offered him a modest smile, dropping my gaze slightly to play the part of a shy girl. "I am studying Anthropology and Gender Studies, Your Majesty," I replied smoothly, weaving the fake backstory I had spent the previous night memorizing into my response. "As fo
Ravenna’s POV "My mother wants to ensure that you're ready for everything that comes with this role," Ronan said smoothly while cutting his steak."She will vet you personally over the next few weeks, just to ensure you understand court etiquette and pack politics. It’s traditional, and honestly, her stamp of approval will silence the remaining skeptics among the elders."Inside my chest, a hot wave of irritation flared up. I had to bite the inside of my cheek to keep from rolling my eyes right at him. *Damon was completely right,* I thought bitterly. *He really is a weak mama's boy. Can this guy make a single major decision in his life without involving his mother?* He was the future Alpha King, yet he was practically handing the keys to my future over to Luna Selena just to keep the peace.Despite the internal anger, I kept my composure flawless. I smoothed down the fabric of my dress and made a gentle nod. "That is completely fine with me, Ronan. If it makes your family more com
Ravenna's POVThe pain in Damon's eyes hit me harder than I expected.For a moment, I couldn't breathe.He stood in front of me, staring at me as if I were the only thing keeping him alive. The sadness in his gaze was so raw, so deep, that it seemed to fill the space between us.I looked away.I co
Ravenna’s POV The heavy darkness clouding my mind slowly began to fade. As consciousness returned, a sharp headache throbbed behind my eyes, and I became aware of the soft, familiar feel of my dormitory mattress beneath me.I slowly opened my eyes and groaned as the bright fluorescent lights burned
Ravenna’s POV King Charles’s eyes flashed with anger. He pushed down on my dagger with enough force to crack the floor beneath us, but I refused to give in. For three years, the elders had trained me relentlessly, turning me into a fighter.I spun away and slipped out of his reach. My dagger moved
Ravenna’s POV The rich, velvet-thick vintage wine burned a warm trail down my throat as the laughter of Luna Selena echoed softly.To the untrained eye, I was just a bright young girl completely captivated by the royal family’s grace. But beneath the table, my fingers were tightly laced together, m







