2. Returning Home

CURRENT DAY

RAVEN

The sun beat down on my skin, a thin layer of sweat coating it. I jumped back as the two men attacked simultaneously.

Three…

I twisted around, elbowing one of them in the neck, hearing a satisfying crunch.

Two…

I flipped backwards, grabbing onto the other one, and slammed him face forward into the ground.

One…

With a final spin, I slammed my fist into the first man's nose. He grunted as he staggered backwards, before falling to his knees. I smiled slightly, breathing hard, as I stepped back.

"And that is how you do it." I said, looking at the group of teens who had been watching.

They didn't say anything, just stared in awe at the two giants who were flat on the floor.

"That’s amazing." One of the boys muttered.

I crouched down and took off the weights I had tied around my ankles. I heard a clap and turned to see my Aunt Angela walking over. Her long hair was in a high ponytail, and she was dressed in jeans and an oversized top.

"Once again, impressively done, Raven." She said, passing me a water bottle.

"Thanks. I think everyone is getting too predictable." I said, standing up and taking it.

"Or you’re just incredible. You got an email from Elijah." She said quietly.

My heart skipped a beat, and my nerves began to brew in my stomach.

"Really?"

"Yes, he has officially asked for you to come home and take the position as Head Warrior."

Return home… My stomach twisting as the memory of that night returned to me…

That night moon goddess led me to my mate but made me lose everything.

(FLASHBACK)

I walked hand in hand with my friend Kiara. My nerves were kicking in big time. The mating ball was being held out in the open, lit up brightly with dazzling lights.

My eyes were looking for two familiar faces. Our other two friends, Liam, and Damon. Would one of them be my mate?

When I started searching for them, the most delicious mix of scents hit me, and I froze. My chest pounded as I inhaled deeply.

Roasted walnuts, fresh rain, spiced cinnamon, and honey… Scents that drowned me… Scents that were faintly familiar…

"Oh hey, boys." Kiara said with a smile.

I turned slowly, my mouth still full of chocolate that I had been eating, as I stared at the duo before me. My heart was thumping wildly.

Liam looked mesmerising in a grey suit, and Damon looked as hot in black. Both oozed sexiness and if I thought they were handsome before, Goddess, they were complete invites now!

Both of their eyes were glowing, fixed on me with a possessive look that made my core knot and my wolf howl in happiness.

"Mate." They both said in unison.

‘Mates. My mates… I have two mates…Goddess...’

The boys’ gazes snapped to each other. I couldn’t speak as I gouged their reaction. Damon looked stunned, and Liam… Liam’s reaction pulled at my chest. Accusatory, hurt and disappointment.

He stepped back, running a hand through his locks, which had been styled in a quiff moments’ earlier.

"I… how can she be both of our mate?" He asked in his husky voice.

"It happens." Damon’s deeper voice came.

My heart was pounding as I looked at Liam. No… he would not reject me, would he? He shook his head, stepping back.

"I can’t do this."

His words cut me like a knife, and I felt the pain of his indirect rejection destroy me. He turned and walked off, not even giving me a chance to say anything.

"Liam!" Damon called after him. He looked at me for a second, his blue eyes softening before he ran after his friend.

No matter what I said or thought, the pain of Liam’s rejection stung worse than being doused in wolfsbane.

I realised at that moment; I wouldn’t be happy with one… I needed them both… They were both a part of me…

(END OF FLASHBACK)

"Raven?"

I snapped out of my thoughts as the wind blew through my deep purple and blue ombre hair as I stared at my aunt.

"Sorry I spaced out." I gave her a wry smile and turned to the kids. "Lessons out for today!"

"Yes mam!" They hurried off chattering amongst themselves, discussing the match or certain moves, and I smiled at the two men who were picking themselves up.

Both Aunt and I fell in step as we walked towards the packhouse. Despite being an outsider, I had been welcomed here with open arms. For the last three years, this had been my home.

"Are you going to tell your parents about the position?"

"No, I’ll tell them when I return if Uncle El hasn’t already done that." I said, drinking the water.

Aunt Angela nodded and I knew her strained relationship with dad only got worse with each passing year. They barely talked and when they did, they clashed.

In the beginning, Aunt and her mate, Cassandra, had moved to the Blood Moon pack, but when Cassandra’s mom became ill, they moved back to The Dark River Pack and decided to stay on. I know Dad was the reason for that, but I never really asked what the final push had been, because I too had my secrets and I didn’t want anyone prying in my life either.

"You earned this Raven, I have watched you train endlessly, push yourself further and harder. If anyone does, you are the one who deserves this. I am proud of you. So, when you go back, I want you to keep your chin up and face them all."

Our eyes met and I wondered how much she knew or assumed but I simply gave her a faint smile.

I will, do exactly that because I wasn’t weak.

-----

Two days later I had arrived home. Dressed in a pair of black jeans, a purple halter top, a leather jacket and boots, I stared up at the huge wall that surrounded the pack grounds.

When did they build this?

I approached the gate, driving slowly, lowering my car window, and the guard looked me over.

A small smile crossed his lips, and I gave him a bright one in return.

"Raven Jacobs!"

"The one and only." I said, flicking my hair dramatically.

"Damn girl! I never knew you were coming! We were only expecting the new Head Warrior… Holy shit, it’s you?"

"I guess so."

"I won’t keep you waiting then, the Alpha’s are waiting."

"Nice seeing you again."

I drove through, trying to keep a cap on my emotions. I wasn’t ready for this. Goddess, I don’t think I’d ever been ready for this but I had to do it. I parked up outside the packhouse and to my relief, it was only Uncle El and Aunty Red.

"Raven. Welcome home." Aunty Red said coming over the moment I got out of the car and hugged me tightly, I hugged her back, inhaling her familiar comforting scent.

"Thanks, Aunty Red." I said, before Uncle El gave me a tight hug.

I felt a wave of sadness wash over me. He had lost the last of his closest friends two months ago and I knew it must be affecting him greatly. I looked up at him, my heart skipping a beat as I looked into those cerulean blue eyes, eyes that reminded me of Liam’s.

"I haven’t actually told the boys your back." Uncle El said, smirking. "Think they’ll be happy."

"I’m sure." I said faking a smile, very aware of Aunty Red watching me keenly. "But I think I’ll see them tomorrow; I need to go home first."

"Ah yes, I did tell Haru and Kimberly you were back." Aunty Red said.

"Great."

-

It was later that night, and I was back home, I didn’t unpack because I wanted to ask Alpha El if I could allocate in the packhouse. And boy I think I was making the right decision to do so, the tension was suffocating. I stirred my food on the plate, not even wanting to eat the orgasm-inducing dishes my mom had cooked with this tension.

"So Alpha Elijah told me you applied for the Head Warrior position?" Dad remarked, his jaw clenched, his sharp brown eyes looking at me calculatingly.

"Yeah, I did." I said blandly.

"You didn’t once consider to I don’t know, ask my opinion?"

"Umm, why would I?" I raised my eyebrows.

Was he seriously going to still do this?

"Raven, don’t speak to your dad like that." Mom said quietly.

I pursed my lips, taking a deep breath to calm myself down.

"Too much time spend around Angela, it was bound to happen." Dad added drinking some of his fresh orange juice.

Oh for real?

"Dad, how can you blame aunty for this? Like for real, she has nothing to do with my decision!"

"That attitude is a mirror of hers." Dad hissed.

"I'm not even arguing." I exclaimed trying to keep my voice calm. "I'm just saying you can’t blame aunty for my decision or anything. This is all me."

"Well, it doesn’t really look good. So, you chose a position where you are going to prance around amongst men, befitting."

That stung.

"Dad… It’s training, I am not going to go put on a strip show for them, and even if I did want to become a stripper you really shouldn’t be putting me down like that."

"Wow, see that, Kim? Your daughter wants to be a hooker or stripper or whatever."

"Dad! I…"

I shook my head, I can’t believe he was so backwards… I stood up, placing my knife and fork down slowly, not wanting him to lash out at me for being loud.

"I worked my ass off to become something, to be accepted to such a position… Dad, it's no small feat… Head Warrior means I am one of the strongest fighters of this pack. I worked day and night to prove that I'm good at something. Aren’t you at least a little proud of me?" I asked, glancing at Mom only for her to look away.

That hurt, even when my mates abandoned me, I wished that I at least had my mom’s arms to cry in, but I didn’t…

"Proud? What’s there to be proud of? You’re just another Angela, another disappointment." He stood up, slamming his fork onto the table and stormed out of the room.

"Haru…" Mom said, rushing from the room.

I stared at the table, swallowing hard.

A disappointment… A failure… Unwanted… Useless…

I took a deep breath, smiling faintly.

It was ok, I was used to it all.