Chapter 7

 

Ravena's POV

We stood at the edge of the training field, surrounded by the voices of pack members, all eager for a show.

Lucien stretched his arms, rolling his shoulders with that calm, cold confidence he always wore. “Give up quickly, Ravena. Do it now and save yourself the shame. Otherwise, I will break you, and it will not be gentle.”

“Stop talking and get on the stage, Lucien. I am tired of your warnings.”

A murmur spread through the crowd. Some gasped at my words, while others cheered louder, thrilled by the boldness of it.

We stepped into the marked circle and faced each other. Then the official raised his hand and for a moment, everything stilled, with only the crackle of energy between us breaking the silence.

“Begin!”

I immediately rushed forward, my feet striking the ground hard. Before Lucien could react, my fist landed on his jaw and the sound of the force echoed like a strike of thunder.

Gasps tore from the crowd as Lucien staggered back. Shock registered on his face before he clenched his teeth and steadied himself. “How dare you,” he growled, his voice thick with rage.

“Stand tall, Alpha,” I mocked. “All eyes are on you.”

He lunged, his arm swinging for me, but I managed to duck and twist to the side so his fist missed me. I then delivered a strong elbow strike to his ribs, making him grunt. His eyes darkened, but I did not relent. Blow after blow, I kept moving, faster than he expected.

The crowd's cheers grew louder, with some chanting his name and others mine. Dust swirled around us as we moved in circles, striking and dodging.

Lucien’s breathing grew harsher. He swung again, desperate to regain control, but my foot caught his leg and swept it out from under him. He hit the ground with a hard thud that shook the air. The noise of the crowd exploded, wild and deafening.

For a heartbeat, silence followed. Lucien lay flat on the ground, his ego crushed in front of the pack he wanted to command.

I took a step back, my breathing steady, my eyes locked on him. My body hummed with triumph, but I did not smile. I wanted him to see that this was not luck. This was strength.

The silence was broken by the sound of wheels scraping against the stone path. Astrid appeared, pushing Garrick forward in his chair. The old Alpha’s eyes burned with fury as he pointed a trembling hand at me.

“Insolent girl!” Garrick spat, his voice echoing. “You dare humiliate an Alpha before his own pack?”

Astrid leaned close to him, her voice loud enough for all to hear. “She must have used tricks. There is no way she could have beaten him fairly.”

“Tricks? You all saw it. I used nothing but my hands. Your Alpha lost because he could not keep up with me.”

The crowd stirred. Some agreed, shouting in my favour. Others frowned, not sure if they should trust their eyes or their loyalty.

Lucien pushed himself up, his face pale with anger, but he said nothing. He stood behind his father, silent once again, letting the old man speak for him.

“You bring shame upon this family, Ravena,” Garrick hissed. “You bring shame upon this pack. You have forgotten your place.”

“My place?” I repeated loudly. “My place is wherever I choose it to be. Not where you confine me. Today they saw the truth. Their Luna is not weak.”

Garrick’s expression darkened until it looked as though the veins in his neck would burst. “You are nothing but a curse. And one day, that mouth of yours will drag you to your grave.”

I walked closer, until I stood only a step away from him, my shadow falling across the chair. “Then let it drag me. I would rather die with my head high than live bowing at your feet.”

Gasps spread through the crowd. I knew I had crossed the line, but there was no going back. Garrick’s hand slammed against the armrest of his chair. “Guards! Seize her! Lock her in her room. I forbid her from setting one foot outside.”

Two guards hurried towards me, their faces tense, their hands gripping their spears. The crowd stepped back to make way, their voices growing louder in shock and whispers.

I bared my teeth, my wolf clawing to get out, but my voice rang louder than theirs. “You are going back on your word!” I shouted. “You swore before this pack to give me a fair chance. This is nothing but cowardice!” My eyes darted to Lucien, who stood still behind his father. “And you… you are the greatest coward of them all. You pretend to be brave, but you can't even own up to it!”

Lucien’s jaw tightened as his hands curled into fists, but he said nothing.

The guards suddenly grabbed my arms roughly. I twisted, trying to free myself, but another guard stepped in, pushing me forward. The crowd watched in silence as they dragged me through the hall and down the corridor.

“Let go of me!” I shouted, fighting their hold. “I am your Luna! Do you not feel ashamed, dragging me like a criminal?”

They did not answer and when they finally reached my quarters, they forcefully pushed me inside. My shoulder hit the edge of the doorframe, but I caught myself before I fell. The heavy door then slammed shut, the lock clicking into place.

I immediately ran to the door, slamming my fists against the wood. “Open it! Do you hear me? Let me out now!” My voice echoed back at me, filling the room, but no one answered. I pounded again and again until my hands started aching.

“Kick it down,” Lisa, my wolf, urged in my head. “Do not let them cage us. We are stronger than this door.”

I pressed my forehead to the wood, breathing hard. Every part of me wanted to obey her. My legs tensed, ready to smash through the frame and tear my way out. But reason whispered in the back of my mind. If I broke free now, they would call me a traitor. They would twist it into rebellion, and the pack would believe I had dishonored them.

“No,” I whispered back to my wolf. “Not yet. That would only give them what they want.”

I pulled away and faced the room. The walls felt closer than they had ever been, the air heavy and stale. My hands clenched and unclenched at my side as I paced from one side to the other. I could not let them win. Not like this.

Silence pressed in on me, broken only by the faint voices of guards stationed outside. I strained to listen, but their words were too faint to make out.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, I stared at the barred window. My wolf paced inside me, restless, urging me to do something. Yet all I could do now was wait.

Wait for the only one whose word still carried weight above Garrick’s. The king.

A bitter laugh escaped my lips, echoing in the empty room. “Will he come?” I asked myself softly. My fingers dug into the blanket beneath me. “Or will they twist the truth before it reaches his ears?”