LOGINRaven’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
Raven’s PovThe moment we stepped into the mansion, I felt stillness.But not the comforting kind, this was the kind that warned you a storm was waiting behind the next door. My hearing kicked in, heightened by adrenaline, and that’s when I caught the soft clinking of cutlery.Someone was having a fucking meal?I stormed forward, Alessio and Diego right behind me. We turned into the dining hall—And there she was.Claire. Sitting at the long table like she didn’t just throw a bomb into my life and light a match. She was eating peacefully. Smiling.I nearly blacked out from the rage that exploded inside me.This bitch ruined everything—forced me into hiding, turned me into a fugitive—and she was having lunch?The moment her eyes met mine, they widened like saucers. She didn’t even have time to scream. I was already on her.I yanked her up by the hair and dragged her across the floor like the piece of filth she was. Her plate clattered to the floor, but I didn’t care.“What the fuck!?”
Raven’s Pov“What are we going to do? What are we going to do?” I hissed, my heart thudding so loud I could barely hear myself think.Alessio didn’t even flinch. “We go through the secret door.”I blinked at him. “How many secret doors do you have in this house? Are you some kind of mafia prince?”He shot me a glare. “Do you want to stand here asking questions, or do you want to not get arrested?”“Ugh, fine,” I muttered and followed him through the hall.We slipped through a bookshelf—yeah, a damn bookshelf, because of course his life is just that dramatic—and emerged in a narrow hallway that eventually opened to the back of the house. Waiting there, sleek and silent, was Alicia’s second car.No keys, no words. We just jumped in, Diego crashing into the back seat like he was born for a getaway.Alessio floored the pedal, and we were gone.But not for long.Red and blue lights flared in the rearview, sirens screaming behind us like wolves howling for blood.“They’re catching up!” I sh
Raven’s PovThe rest of the day was... grey.I wandered around the house like a ghost who hadn’t figured out where she belonged. I watched the news for a while. Same old drama. Same headlines. My face still showing up between blurry shots of “wanted suspect” and “ongoing investigation.” The media had turned my life into a scandal, and the police were practically breathing down my neck—even from a distance.I called Elsie and Alex, just to hear their voices. It helped a little. Alex was his usual calm self, giving me advice I wasn’t ready to take. Elsie, on the other hand, cursed out everyone. She made me laugh, even when I didn’t want to.Then Diego came back.I heard the front door shut and boots echo through the hall.He walked in like he owned the place. I guess, being second to Alessio, he kind of did.“How are you doing?” he asked, looking at me like he already knew the answer.I gave him a dry look. “Do I look like I’m fine in this godforsaken house?”He chuckled. “Yeah, I can s
Raven’s PovI blame this mate bond. Honestly, what kind of twisted cosmic joke is this? Who does Alessio even think he is?He was still looking at me, with his calm and unreadable look, while my back was pinned against the damn wall like some teenage girl caught sneaking out.Then he had the audacity to say, “Are you following me downstairs?”I blinked at him, unimpressed. “Why should I follow you downstairs?”He tilted his head, smug as ever. “You told me you don’t like Claire around, so obviously, as my Luna, you have to follow me downstairs.”“Oh, whatever.”He turned and walked out of the room.My heart was beating like a drumline. Not from fear, but from rage. From the stupid bond that made me want to punch his face and kiss it in the same breath. My body kept whispering yes while my mind screamed no. I needed to find a way to shut it up. Or Alessio would start using it to his advantage.I followed him. Unfortunately.The moment we got downstairs, Claire jumped up like a damn mos







