Chapter 4

Raven and Marcus

Raven

I shoveled the sandwich my mother had brought me into my mouth as we snuck to the back of the house. At first, the meat and bread had been too much for my parched throat to tolerate, but a couple glasses of water later, I was able to scarf it down. I had to fight back a moan from how amazing food tasted after two days of nearly no food.

Lunar hummed inside of me, energized just enough to shift during our escape.

“You must be swift,” my mother said as she helped me pull a cloak around my body. “Don’t transform until you’ve left the pack’s borders. Stick to the shadows, and be aware of your surroundings.”

As she fastened my cloak, I grasped her hands.

“I’m frightened of what Father will do to you,” I whispered. She offered me a tiny smile, though it didn’t meet her eyes.

“But I won’t have to be afraid of what he will do to my little girl anymore,” she whispered back. “And that’s the worst pain a mother can feel.”

She pulled away, quietly opening the back door of the mansion.

“We can’t waste any more time,” she said. “Go!”

Swallowing, I looked into the inky black night. No moon hung in the sky, and heavy clouds blotted out the stars. Light rain pattered against my cheeks as I stepped outside.

“Goodbye mother,” I whispered before turning and fleeing.

It took three days’ worth of travel to make it to the edge of the pack’s territory. Luckily, the rain didn’t let up. It was a soft, consistent rain that washed away my scent as I ran.

Just to be safe, I rubbed mud from the forest onto my arms every few hours, praying the earthy muck would hide my scent from anyone my father would have sent after me. I moved under the cover of night and slept as best as I could during the day in small caves that could be easily obscured with tree branches.

By the third day, I was exhausted. The journey would’ve taken half the time if I’d been well-fed, but the jerky, apples, and bread my mother had packed for me kept me strong enough to keep moving.

When I finally reached the border, I shifted. It had been so long since I’d run as a wolf, my legs felt awkward and heavy under me. After a moment, though, the familiar, primal side of me began to take over.

I took my cloak in my mouth and ran into Pluto Pack territory.

I didn’t run long before finding a scouting party.

The closeness of our packs – as well as the ferocious hatred between them – meant that these scouting parties were common to ensure borders were respected. I hoped I could convince them I was a friend.

As soon as they saw me, the five wolves surrounded me. I stopped running and dropped my head as a sign of submission. Then, I transformed back into human form, wrapping the cloak I’d carried around my bare skin.

“I mean you no harm,” I said, still bowing my head. “I merely seek an audience with Alpha Marcus.”

One of the wolves, a large beta with gray fur and gray eyes, padded forth and transformed. I looked up, and my heart shot to my throat.

Ethan Shadowheart. The beta of Pluto Pack.

“Raven Cross,” he drawled, lips curled downwards. “This is a most unwelcome surprise.”

“I need to speak with your Alpha,” I continued, pulling the cloak around my body as I tried to stay fearless. I was sure he could still smell the terror rising off of me.

Part of me wanted to explain that I had Marcus’s child in my belly right now, hoping it would make Ethan listen to my begging. But with the blood between our packs, would he believe me? Would he think it was a scheme to get close to their Alpha?

Not that I would be able to do much to him even if I wanted to – his battle prowess was unparalleled.

“I’m going to stop you right there,” he said, a false cheer in his voice as he raised a finger at me. “Crosses aren’t welcome here. You can turn right back around and go back where you belong.”

“I’m not your enemy!” I pleaded. “My father – I know he’s awful. I know his cruelty better than most. That’s why I need to speak to your Alpha – I’ve left my pack, and I wish to pledge my loyalty to him instead!”

Ethan regarded me then with a raised eyebrow. He was obviously skeptical, but his eyes sparkled with intrigue.

“I will ask the Alpha if he will give you an audience,” he finally conceded. The other wolves snarled, but he shot them a firm look that immediately quieted them. “Stay here.”

Then, he shifted and shot off into the dark.

Marcus

Today was nineteen years to the day. I stared into the battle map on the table, red and blue lines marking the boundary lines of my territory.

If Frank Cross hadn’t betrayed my mother and father those nineteen years ago, these boundaries wouldn’t even exist. I suppose that’s what he’d wanted, though. With my parents out of the way, he’d been able to take all of the land for himself.

I’d only been six when the assassin had butchered them alive. They’d been asleep when the coward attacked. I’d been having a nightmare, and I’d wandered towards their room longing for my mother’s embrace and my father’s comforting words.

Instead, I’d opened the door and found their corpses, dead eyes staring up at me and telling me to run.

A loyal servant had found me, standing at their door, unable to scream and unable to cry. He’d helped me escape the castle and hidden me away until I was old enough to begin assembling the warriors still loyal to Pluto Pack.

It had taken years to assemble enough to begin the assaults. Three years ago, we’d finally been strong enough to conquer our first pack. And now, I’d overtaken five – enough to finish my mission.

I would crush Frank Cross and take back my family’s lands. I would destroy him just like he’d destroyed me, and I would laugh as he begged me for mercy.

A knock interrupted my musings. I clenched my teeth, the muscles in my jaw tensing as I said, “Enter.”

Ethan, my beta, came into the room and bowed. His bare skin was coated with sweat – he’d run here.

“Alpha Marcus,” he said, “We found someone on the border of Mars Pack.”

“An intruder?” I asked, folding my hands behind my back.

“Not just any intruder,” he continued. “Raven Cross, Frank Cross’s first daughter. She’s requesting an audience with you.”

A beat of silence passed as the name made my blood burn.

“Raven Cross?” I asked/

“She claims she wants to sever ties with Mars Pack,” he explained, the doubt dripping from his words. “She says she wants to pledge her loyalty to you, Alpha.”

I barked a short, sharp laugh.

“Like father like daughter, thinking they can do whatever they please,” I snarled. “Get rid of her. She’s probably a spy – a stupid ploy, even for Frank.”

Ethan bowed again and left the room without question.

Raven Cross. My enemy’s daughter suddenly deciding to turncoat and become loyal to me instead?

No. It had to be a lie, just like the lies of her father. I wouldn’t trust a Cross to change my bedsheet

I returned to my map, taking a deep breath. Frank must be getting desperate if he tried such an obvious tactic.

We have more pressing concerns than this! Zane, my wolf, whimpered within me. He’d been unbearable ever since we’d met that woman at the banquet.

There is nothing more pressing than destroying Frank Cross, I growled back, trying to push away his whining. He was being pathetic.

She may be the one though! He shot back. I might not be able to sense our Fated Mate, but something tells me she’s special!

I groaned, rubbing my temples. We’d had the same conversation over and over again the last two weeks.

If you can’t sense our Fated Mate because of the curse, then why are you so hung up on this girl? You’re just making assumptions.

It was so perfect though! He continued. She was so perfect…

You’re desperate, I shot back. You’d think any woman we fucked was your mate at this point.

I would not! He argued. I growled. He was acting like an absolute child.

Enough! I snarled at him. I could feel him reel back and his tail tuck between his legs.

A sliver of guilt cut through me. He was my wolf, my partner, and I didn’t want to take my anger out on him. He was just listening to his instincts.

I could understand that, after all. Every instinct inside of me ordered me to destroy Frank Cross as soon as possible.

Soon, I reassured my wolf. I promise, we will look for her as soon as Frank Cross is dealt with.

He howled in satisfaction at that idea.