Blood Oaths

Chapter Five 

The alley reeked of smoke and silver.

Raven’s claws were out as her wolf pressed against her skin, eyes glowing faint gold in the shadows. The three hunters circled, blades glinting, crossbows trained. 

But the worst threat wasn’t them, It was Cole standing frozen, knife in hand, staring at her like she was a monster that had just stepped out of his nightmares.

“What the hell are you?” he rasped, voice hoarse, disbelief cracking through it.

The blond hunter laughed. “Even your own pack didn’t know. 

What does that say about you, wolfie?”

Cole flinched. His grip tightened on the knife. His gaze darted between Raven and the hunters, and for one awful second she saw the possibility of the betrayal blooming in his eyes.

“Cole,” Raven hissed, trying to keep her voice steady. “Back up. Now.”

But the hunters didn’t give him time. One lunged, silver blade slashing for Raven’s side. She twisted, claws scraping against steel with a sickening screech. Sparks burst, pain seared where the metal grazed her arm, but she shoved him back, fury flaring.

Another hunter released a bolt. She dropped low, the arrow ripping through the wall behind her. Her wolf howled, demanding full control. She fought it down. Barely.

Cole still hadn’t moved. “You lied to us,” he whispered as his knife trembled in his hand. “You’ve been lying this whole time.”

“Cole, shut up and help me,” Raven snarled, slamming her elbow into a hunter’s jaw. Bone cracked.

But his face only twisted with rage. “You’re one of them. Just like the Riders.”

The words hit harder than any blade.

The blond hunter took his chance, slashing again. Raven caught his wrist, twisted hard. The blade clattered. She drove her knee into his ribs, as she felt something snap. He staggered but didn’t fall.

Cole bent down, snatched the fallen blade. For a heartbeat, relief surged in her chest. But then he raised it at her.

“Don’t come near me,” he spat. “Reed needs to see this. The whole pack needs to know what you are.”

The blond hunter smirked through his pain. “That’s right, boy. Tell them. Turn her over, and we’ll make sure your pack gets rewarded.”

Raven’s wolf snapped, claws aching to end them all. But Cole’s betrayal cut deeper than silver.

“Cole,” she said, as her voice came out softer this time. “You don’t understand. I’m not your enemy.”

His eyes burned with hate. “You should’ve told us. Family doesn’t lie.” He jabbed the blade toward her. “but I guess just like your mother, traitor blood breeds traitor lies.”

The words ripped the breath from her lungs. How the hell did he know about her mother?

Before she could demand an answer, a voice broke the tension.

“Raven?”

Sabrina.

She stood at the mouth of the alley, a grocery bag slipping from her arms. Fruit spilled across the cracked concrete, rolling to a stop near a hunter’s boot.

Her face had gone white, eyes fixed on Raven’s claws, on her glowing gaze. “Oh my God…”

The blond hunter chuckled. “Looks like everyone’s getting educated tonight.”

Raven wanted to scream as Sabrina wasn’t supposed to see her, not like this.

“Sabs,” Raven said quickly, forcing her claws to retract, fists clenched tight to hide them. “Go. Now.”

But Sabrina shook her head, tears welling. “Why didn’t you tell me? You…you’re..”

“I said GO!”

One of the hunters lunged for Sabrina and Raven’s wolf roared. She moved faster than he thought, slamming the man into the wall so hard the brick cracked. Her claws tore his weapon away. Her control was slipping, her wolf nearly free, but she couldn’t stop.

The other hunter tried to flank her. Cole didn’t help. He just stood there, knife trembling, eyes locked on her like she was the monster, not the men trying to kill them.

Raven fought with savage speed, barely holding the wolf back. Every strike was a heartbeat from shifting. Every dodge was a brush with silver.

The blond hunter wiped blood from his lip and smirked. “Half-shifted. Barely holding it together and with just one push, girl, and you’ll lose yourself.”

Raven slammed him to the ground, claws pressing at his throat. One more inch, and he’d be dead. Her wolf howled for it. End him. Silence him.

“Raven!”

Sabrina’s scream cut through the haze.

Raven froze, her claws trembling inches from his jugular.

Cole sneered. “Do it. Show them what you are.”

Her whole body shook as she wanted to kill him. She wanted to silence them all. But if she did, Sabrina would never look at her the same again.

With a snarl, Raven slammed the hunter’s head against the pavement instead. He went limp.

The alley fell into ragged silence. Two hunters down, one groaning, and her secret unraveling at her feet.

Cole raised the knife higher. “I’m telling Reed, tonight.”

“No,” Sabrina said sharply, stepping between them. Her voice trembled, but her eyes burned with fierce protectiveness. “She saved you and she also saved me. You think Reed will care? He’ll kill her. You’ll be signing her death sentence.”

“Better her than the pack,” Cole snapped. “You don’t understand what she is.”

Raven’s heart hammered. Her wolf snarled, ready to lunge at him, to end this betrayal before it could spread.

And then.

Headlights flared at the end of the alley. The rumble of a bike rolled closer, steady, commanding.

Axel.

He dismounted slowly, helmet dangling from his hand. Shadows carved sharp across his face, but his eyes, God, those eyes burned molten gold as they fixed on her.

“Well,” he drawled, voice dripping with amusement. “Seems I’ve stumbled onto quite the family drama.”

Cole’s knife wavered. “Stay out of this, Rider.”

Axel’s smile curved, dangerous. “Oh, I wouldn’t dream of it. Not when your cousin’s claws are out for all to see.”

Raven’s stomach dropped. Did he know? He had to as his gaze on her wasn't surprise but it was recognition.

A Claim.

“You knew,” she whispered.

Axel tilted his head. “Of course I did. You think the bond would let me miss something this… delicious?” 

His voice lowered, meant for her alone. 

“You’re mine, Raven. Whether you admit it or not.”

Sabrina gasped softly. Cole’s face twisted in fury.

“Mine?” he spat. “So it’s true. You’re working with the Riders.”

Raven shook her head hard. “No! That’s not…”

Cole’s grip on the knife tightened. “You’ve doomed us all.”

Axel chuckled, low and dangerous. “Or saved her life. Think carefully, Fang boy. If Reed hears about this, what do you think he’ll do to her? I’m offering protection. Something you clearly can’t give.”

He stepped closer, gaze locked on Raven, daring her. “Come with me, right now. Before your pack decides you’re not worth the trouble.”

Her wolf surged at the command, heart slamming against her ribs. Sabrina’s eyes pleaded but Cole’s face twisted with hate.

Raven stood on a knife’s edge as she stared at Axel's outstretched hand waiting for her to make one choice which would either save her or destroy everything.