LOGINAlessio’s PovIt was finally the day to leave for Frostfang.I hadn’t seen Raven much over the last two days. She’d been training with Laila, constantly on the move like she was trying to run away from something, or someone. And maybe I was glad for the distance. Maybe I wasn’t.I had my own shit to deal with in Silvercrest. Being Alpha doesn’t pause just because you’re mated to a walking storm.We were all gathered in the courtyard…Diego, my four best trackers, and me. We were just waiting on one person.Of course.Raven.The sun was already up, the pack was watching, and still, no sign of her.“She’s late,” I muttered, folding my arms. “Why am I not surprised?”No one answered.And then finally she showed up, casually walking like she wasn’t the last damn person we needed.“It’s about time,” I said, glaring at her. “We aren't transforming because of you, so what exactly took you so long? You don’t even wear makeup.”She rolled her eyes. “You might as well go, so I can go back to be
Alessio’s PovI stood by the window, arms folded, gaze distant. My mind, for once, wasn’t on war or treaties or patrols, it was on her.Raven.The way she moved, like a storm barely contained beneath skin. The way her body melted under my touch last night, so fucking soft…so soft I still couldn’t believe it. Her lips, the moan she let out when I kissed her neck, goddess, it haunted me.She was fire and edge and stubbornness… and I was burning.The door creaked open behind me. I didn’t have to turn, Diego’s scent hit me first.“Hey, man—”“I’m not a big fan of yours,” I cut in flatly.He chuckled, closing the door behind him. “Good to know. But I’m not here to win your heart, Alessio. I’m here to talk sense into you.”I sighed and turned slightly, raising a brow. “Let me guess. You’re going to warn me again about how dangerous it is to go into enemy territory.”He didn’t smile this time. “Yes, actually. You know what you're walking into. After years of bloodshed, they suddenly want pea
Raven’s PovI woke up slowly, eyes fluttering open like I wasn’t entirely sure if I was still dreaming.My body felt warm. Lighter, somehow. But the moment I sat up, reality slammed into me like a freight train.He wasn’t there.I scanned the room, it was empty.The sheets next to me were cold, like he’d been gone for a while. My fingers instinctively trailed up to my neck. And there it was.The mark.The damn mark.My heart skipped a beat, and the memories of last night came rushing in like a tidal wave—the kiss, the burn of his touch, the heat that tore through my veins like wildfire. The way his mouth claimed mine. The way his teeth had—I flushed.Bright red.No. No. No. Absolutely not. I am not blushing for that man.I slapped my cheeks gently, as if that would shake the ridiculous warmth off. I swung my legs off the bed and padded over to the mirror. My hair looked like it’d gone ten rounds with a tornado. And on my neck…The mark pulsed faintly.I frowned, twisting my hair to c
Alessio’s PovThe heat in the room wasn’t just hers anymore. It had crept beneath my skin too—slowly, then all at once.I could see it in her eyes, how the fire was eating her up from the inside out. The flush of her cheeks, the sheen of sweat across her collarbone, the way her fingers trembled slightly every time she gripped the sheets, every part of her was screaming for relief, even though her mouth kept spewing defiance.I had to say it.“I think I’ll have to mark you.”She blinked at me like I’d grown a second head. “What do you mean, try to bite me? Are you insane?”I met her glare, calm but firm. “Yeah. That’s the only thing that’ll stop this. For now. You understand that, right?”Her expression twisted in fury. “Never. You would never—don’t even try that nonsense on me.”Then she laughed.Not a normal laugh.A wicked, jagged, unhinged kind of sound that made my wolf stir uneasily.Fang, my wolf, snorted.“Don’t tell me you only want to mark her. You definitely want to do more
Raven’s Pov“What do you mean I’m in heat?” I snapped, my eyes burning just as much as the rest of my damn body.Alessio’s face was unreadable. “You’re in heat.”“I heard you the first time,” I bit out. “What the hell do you mean by that?”He gave me a long look, then said, “When was the last time you were touched?”I blinked. Then stared. “What kind of stupid, perverted question is that?”“I’m serious, Raven,” he said calmly, like this was some normal morning conversation over tea.I scoffed. “You think I have time to keep a touching calendar?”He rubbed the back of his neck like I was the one being ridiculous. “In the way we’re built—when a woman is mated and untouched for too long, the bond triggers a heat cycle. Especially if there’s… tension between the mates.”“Tension?” I echoed. “You mean I want to rip your head off every time I see your face? That kind of tension?”“Exactly,” he said with a shrug. “That kind.”I paced, the fire in my veins growing hotter, unbearable. “So this
Raven’s PovIt had been two days since I arrived in Silvercrest, and I already hated everything about this place.Well—almost everything. I’ll admit the bedroom was heavenly. The bed? Soft enough to swallow me whole. The tub? A personal slice of paradise. And the clothes? Let’s just say I wasn't mad at the wardrobe. But aside from that, Silvercrest was dull, stiff, and reeked of polished lies.Still, when I woke up that morning, I told myself I’d give the place a shot. Not because I wanted to, but because staying locked up in that luxurious room was starting to feel like a slow, silk-wrapped death. So, I decided I’d move around. Explore. Maybe even try to pretend I wasn’t counting the hours until I could leave.I took my bath—long, hot, and full of scented oils—and then slipped into something casual but sharp. If I was going to roam the lion’s den, I’d at least look like I owned it.Just as I finished dressing, there was a knock at the door. I didn’t need to guess who it was.“Come in







