Raven Hollow

The rain had stopped before sunrise.

A blanket of mist clung to the forest floor as the Shadow Pack prepared for their journey. Horses stamped their hooves impatiently while warriors checked their weapons.

Kael stood at the front of the group.

“We leave now.”

Damon mounted his horse with a grin.

“Finally. Sitting in the castle was driving me mad.”

Lila rolled her eyes.

“You say that every time.”

She turned to Clover, handing her a dark green cloak fastened with a silver wolf clasp.

“It belonged to my mother,” Lila said softly. “She’d want you to have it.”

Clover blinked in surprise.

“I can’t take something so precious.”

“You can.”

Lila smiled.

“And besides… green suits you.”

For the first time in days, Clover laughed.

“Thank you.”

From across the courtyard, Kael watched the exchange in silence.

His pack was beginning to accept her.

That was good.

It also made protecting her far more dangerous.

⸻

The journey to Raven Hollow took most of the morning.

The deeper they traveled, the quieter the forest became.

No birds.

No insects.

No wind.

Even the horses became restless.

Damon frowned.

“I don’t like this.”

Kael nodded.

“Neither do I.”

Clover looked around uneasily.

“It feels like…”

She hesitated.

“…the forest is afraid.”

Everyone turned toward her.

“How do you know that?” Lila asked.

“I don’t.”

Clover pressed a hand against her chest.

“I can just… feel it.”

Kael’s eyes narrowed.

Moon Witches had always been said to hear the heartbeat of nature itself.

⸻

By midday, they reached Raven Hollow.

Ancient trees twisted toward the sky like skeletal hands. Their bark was blackened, and thick vines coiled around the trunks as though choking them.

The air smelled of smoke.

Then Damon spotted something.

“There!”

Three wolves lay unconscious beneath a ring of black flames.

“The missing scouts!”

One warrior rushed forward.

Kael grabbed his arm.

“Don’t.”

The warrior froze.

“Why?”

Kael pointed toward the fire.

“It isn’t ordinary.”

One of the wolves suddenly cried out in pain.

The flames tightened around him like living chains.

Clover stepped closer.

“They’re hurting.”

“It’s a trap,” Damon warned.

“We know.”

“But we can’t leave them.”

Kael met her gaze.

“No.”

“We can’t.”

He drew his sword.

The moment his blade touched the flames—

A violent explosion threw everyone backward.

The black fire rose into the air, twisting into the shape of a giant raven with glowing crimson eyes.

Its shriek echoed across the valley.

Warriors raised their weapons.

“What is that?”

Clover stared in horror.

“I’ve never seen magic like this.”

The raven laughed.

Not a bird’s cry.

A woman’s voice.

“So…”

“The Moon Witch finally arrives.”

Black feathers swirled through the air.

The enormous bird dissolved into smoke.

Standing where it had been was a woman cloaked in crimson.

Long silver hair spilled over her shoulders.

Her eyes glowed a deep scarlet.

She smiled at Clover.

“I’ve waited twenty-two years to meet you.”

Kael stepped in front of Clover.

“Who are you?”

The woman gave a graceful bow.

“I have many names.”

“The world once called me…”

“Selene Nightshade.”

The warriors gasped.

Even Damon took an involuntary step back.

“The Blood Witch,” he whispered.

“I thought she died.”

Selene laughed.

“So did everyone else.”

She looked past Kael, directly at Clover.

“You have your mother’s eyes.”

Clover’s breath caught.

“My… mother?”

“Yes.”

Selene’s smile widened.

“She begged me to spare you.”

Silence.

“You knew my parents?”

“I knew them very well.”

Clover’s voice trembled.

“Tell me where they are.”

“I will.”

Selene lifted one hand.

“When you’re standing beside me.”

Kael’s voice turned icy.

“She’s not going anywhere with you.”

Selene tilted her head.

“Still trying to protect her, Alpha?”

“You don’t even know what she is.”

“I know enough.”

“Do you?”

Selene’s scarlet eyes flickered with amusement.

“Has your wolf told you the truth yet?”

Kael’s jaw tightened.

She knows.

His wolf growled.

Mate.

Selene laughed again.

“Oh…”

“So it has.”

Clover looked between them in confusion.

“What truth?”

Neither answered.

The silence said more than words ever could.

Selene slowly raised both hands.

“Very well.”

“If you won’t surrender the girl…”

“I’ll take her.”

The ground split open.

Dark vines burst from beneath the earth, racing toward the pack like living serpents.

“Protect Clover!” Kael shouted.

The Shadow Pack charged into battle.

And for the first time since the ancient war…

A Moon Witch and a Shadow Alpha fought side by side beneath the same moon.