Raven's POVI donโt know how long Iโve been here anymore. The days blur together, each one identical to the last.We are given stale bread three times and day and only allowed to bathe thrice a week.There is no sunlight, no warmth, just cold stone and the scent of decay.Iโve lost weight. A lot of it. My petite figure is now leaner and weaker. I chopped my hair off in a desperate attempt to regain some control.In the beginning, I tried keeping track of time, scratching lines into the wall with a dull knife I found in the corner of my cell. I think I lasted three days before I lost count.Ara, my wolf, has been silent for days.I should be expecting my third loaf of stale bread for the day, but instead, the scent that drifts toward me makes my mouth water. Steak.Rich, seasoned steak. Moon Goddess, the steak smells heavenlyI swallow hard.But what if the steak was poisoned? I hesitated, bringing it close to my nose and sniffing cautiously. It smelled divine, rich and well-seasoned,
Ansel's POVWe had been searching for days, but there was still no sign of her.After we met with Father, we ran back to where weโd last left her, only to realize our mistake almost immediately. We left our mate unmarked in a territory on the brink of war. She could be dead. Or maybeโthe bitch managed to survive and ran back to her pack.A low growl rumbled in my chest at the thought.If I saw her again, Iโd kill her myself for leaving just like that.Who does she think she is? Defying me and my brothers as if she had a choice. I am an Alpha. Her mate. She belongs to us, and the sooner she understands that, the better.But right now, we had bigger concerns than chasing after some dumb, disloyal wolf.I should have paid more attention when she spoke about her pack, but honestly, why would I? It doesnโt matter where she comes from. Her place is with us.Asher burst into my office, his fury rolling off him in waves. His wolf had been restless since she left, and frankly, so had mine.โAn
Raven's POVCaleb told me to meet him behind the guardhouse once I was let out. I donโt know where that is, but Iโll figure it out, I just need to stay alert.Two days passed faster than I expected, and Iโm grateful for that. Iโve been counting the hours, desperate to be free. Locking up a wolf is the worst thing you can do to our kind.The guard who comes to release me doesnโt bother with gentleness. He yanks me forward, his grip tight enough to leave bruises. I grit my teeth but donโt fight back; I canโt fight back; I donโt have the strength.Stepping outside, I take in my surroundings. There are other prisoners, just as battered and restless as I am, some of them looking scary. Guards stand scattered around, but none of them are watching us. Itโs not carelessness, they just know we have no chance of escape.Outside the yard, thereโs only one building. It has to be the guardhouse.Keeping my steps slow and careful, I move toward the back of the building, doing my best not to draw a
Raven's POVI keep running the moment I realize they arenโt from my pack.But then I notice, theyโre running after me.Panic blooms in my chest as they close in, their movements calculated. They donโt just chase me; they slam into me, trying to knock me off balance.I dodge as much as I can, using my speed and agility to stay ahead. Werewolves may be large, but we are fast. Still, they are more experienced with their wolves than I am with mine. It doesnโt take long before they overpower me.A furious snarl rips from my throat as they pin me down. My wolf thrashes, enraged at being restrained again.We shift back to our human forms, and I barely have time to catch my breath before strong hands clamp down on my arms, holding me in place between the two of them.โWho are you?โ I shout, my voice dripping with anger, hiding the fear clawing at my chest. I struggle against their grip. โLet me go!โA young man steps forward from the rest of the pack.His eyes were red, a very unusual colour
Raven's POVโThe Moon-shade Pack,โ he says with a slow smile.I stiffen. The name sounds familiar.Iโve heard it beforeโin the Crescent Silver Pack. It seems like this is the Pack having issues with the Silver Crescent pack. Knowing the alphas of that park are my mates wonโt do me any good .I decided to hide it at all costs.โAnd why am I here?โ I ask, my voice colder now.He leans back, watching me with that same unreadable expression. โBecause we thought you needed help. This is a pack for those who have no homeโฆ those who feel unwelcome in their own. We saw you running alone, and thatโs uncommon for a wolf.โHis words linger in the air, but my mind is elsewhere.The Moon-shade Pack.Why does it feel like Iโve just walked into something far more dangerous than I escaped from?โWell, thank you for your help,โ I say, my tone edged with sarcasm. โIf thatโs what you want to call it. But I really must leave now. I have my own home. I am not a rogue.โHe doesnโt respond immediately. Ju
Asher's POV I have been frustrated since the day Raven disappeared. My wolf is restless, pacing in my mind, demanding that we find her. I canโt help but blame Ansel, itโs his fault sheโs gone. We pushed her too far and let her slip through our fingers. And yet, I canโt bring myself to regret everything. She belongs to us. No matter how far she runs, sheโll never truly escape.I know we treated her harshly. We never gave her a chance, never let her feel safe. Ansel took things further than even I expected, but deep down, I didnโt stop him. I watched her break, watched her crumble under his dominance, and something about it made my wolf stir with satisfaction. Because no matter how much she fought, in the end, she always looked at me like I was her last hope. And I liked that. I liked knowing that after everything, she still saw me as her only escape.But now sheโs gone. And that makes me fucking furious.Ansel has been leading the search, and I know he wonโt stop until he has her ba
Asherโs povThe search had been going on for more than three weeks now. Everything had been silentโeven from the Moon-shade Pack until today.Boom.The ground shook beneath me, and a loud noise echoed through the pack. I was mid-search when a guard mind-linked me, his voice laced with panic.โYour Highness, a part of the prison yard seems to have exploded! We need you here!โMy body tensed. What the hell?โFall back, men!โ I ordered my team before taking off toward the prison. After days of nothing, was this finally a move from Moon-shade? My mind raced, but I didnโt have time to think. I ran as fast as my legs could carry me, dodging scrambling pack members as dust began to fill the air.The moment I arrived at the prison yard, chaos greeted me. Dust still lingered in the air; Guards were running around trying to ascertain the situation, barking orders, trying to restore order. The destruction was contained to this section of the prisonโnowhere else in the park had been touched.Tha
Rowan's POV Iโve been running for two days straight.I canโt afford to waste any more time; my brothers need me. Asherโs voice sounded tense over the mind link, and that panic still filled me as I crossed the border of our park.But I didnโt stop.Not until I reached the palace, my muscles screaming from exhaustion, my lungs burning. I didnโt bother cleaning the dirt off my body. I stormed straight to Anselโs office, where I could feel their presence through the bond between us all.The door slammed open, and they both turned to me like theyโd been waiting.โWhere the hell were you?โ Ansel snapped.I wiped the sweat from my brow. โYou know where I was.โโWe needed you here,โ he growled, fists clenched so tight his knuckles turned white.I stepped further into the room; I was so exhausted, but not enough to stop my fury from boiling over. โIโm here now,โ I shot back. โInstead of wasting time bickering like idiots, tell me what the hell is going on.โAsher exchanged a tense glance wi
Queen Gwen POVItโs been three days since the battle.Three days since blood painted the earth and death hung heavy in the airโon both sides.It hurt to kill them. Those creaturesโฆ they were mindless, controlled by Kelvin and that cursed Queen. They were puppets, not monsters. But it was either them or us.And stillโฆ we lost.We fell for their diversion. We lost Raven.Iโve been tryingโtruly tryingโto stay strong. Iโm a queen. Iโm supposed to be composed, logical, unshaken.But the thought of something happening to herโฆIt chills me in a way I canโt explain.From the moment I first laid eyes on Raven, I knew.I donโt understand the feeling, not fully but I knew. I was meant to be near her. To protect her. To fight for her.I was meant to be her sword.And I let her down.โHeyโฆ are you okay?โ Loira asked gently, walking up beside me.I tried to force a smile. โYeah. Iโm justโฆ sad, you know?โ My voice cracked. โIt feels like we were so stupid.โShe said nothing, just listened.โShe shou
Raven POV โWhat did you say, Raven?โ she asked again, her voice low and skeptical.โI said Iโll join you, Morgan,โ I repeated, steadying my voice. โBut only on one condition.โShe sighed as though she was enduring a headache. โAnd what is it now?โโYouโll release Mathias.โHer brows lifted. โWho?โOf course, she doesnโt even remember. The disgust rose sharp and hot in my chest, but I swallowed it. I was in enemy territory now. I had to play this smart.โMathias is one of the prisoners. He was in the same cell I was thrown into.โโOh,โ she said with a chuckle. โThatโs all?โ Fine. Iโll have him released today.โโAndโโShe cut me a glare, her patience thinning. โAnd what?โโYouโll give me the dagger. I need it.โMorgan narrowed her eyes. โIโll think about it. "Donโt push your luck, little bird.โShe turned away, already done with the conversation. โWhen Kelvin returns, your real training begins. Iโll need you ready.โ"But arenโt you scared, Morgan?โ I asked, my gaze steady.โWhat?โ she
Raven POV We walked out of the cell, the heavy door slamming shut behind me with a loud clang that echoed down the stone halls.I tried to ignore the gnawing feeling in my stomach, tried to shove the fear deep down where it couldnโt reach me โ but it was there, crawling under my skin.Facing that beautiful monster again made my heart pound harder against my ribs.We moved through a large hallway, the stone walls cold and silent witnesses to my march.From what I could tell, it was already dawn โ soft light trickled through high windows.Two days.I had been trapped here for nearly two days without food.My legs ached, and my body screamed for rest, but I forced myself forward, step after heavy step.Finally, we entered a large throne room.At the far end of it, sitting on a towering, jagged throne of black stone, was Morgan.She lookedโฆ magnificent.Beautiful and terrible, like something carved from nightmares.Her smile, slow and cold, made my skin crawl.I paused, instinctively gla
Raven POV Unluckily for me, I was thrown into a cell by Queen Morganโs hounds.The heavy iron door slammed shut behind me with a sound that echoed like a death knell. I stumbled forward, catching myself on the rough stone wall.I turned around slowly, trying to assess the cell.Iโve been locked up more times than I can count.This wasnโt new.I wouldnโt panic. Panic was the enemy now.First thing first, I needed a way out.But gods, it was dark.The air was thick with rot and something far worseโa sour, metallic scent that made my stomach turn. The walls oozed dampness, and the floor was uneven under my boots. The whole place felt like it had been forgotten by the world.Squinting my eyes, I edged deeper into the cell, ignoring the way the shadows seemed to reach for me.And then I heard a faint cough.It was soft and strained. From somewhere in the darkness.I froze, my heart hammering against my ribs.โIs anybody there?โMy voice barely rose above a whisper, but in the stillness,
Ansel POV Raven is the child of the prophecy.And they kept it from us.Rowan and Raven both knew, and yet they chose silence. I donโt know what game the goddess is playingโfirst binding us all to the same mate, now tying her fate to an ancient prophecyโbut Iโm sick of being left in the dark. I shouldโve seen the signs. The dreams she said she had, the divine visitationsโฆ they were all there, and I ignored them.And now, the truth burns in my chest like fire.My sonโour childโ will carry power in his blood. A legacy. He will be everything. But Morgan, if sheโs taken Ravenโif she lays a hand on whatโs mine, I will tear this world apart.And if my brothers even think of challenging me for the child, for Raven, for the throneโIโll destroy them too.We ran through the day and into the dusk, not stopping once. Our men were weary, barely holding themselves together, but there was no time for rest. Every second we wasted could mean losing her.When the palace finally came into view, I w
Raven POV Morgan didnโt look back at me. โWhat do I want? Oh, Raven, thatโs the wrong question. What do you want?โThe silence stretched out between us, the air thick with tension. My mind raced, trying to make sense of everything I was seeing.Morganโs cruelty was evident in the creatures that slithered and prowled around us, their eyes cold and lifeless, their movements like puppets on strings. My anger surged, burning through my veins.โWhy are you doing this?โ I asked, my voice tight with fury. โWhy are you enslaving innocent creatures, using them like this?โMorganโs smile stretched into something far colder, more calculating. She tilted her head slightly, finally turning to look at me, studying me as though I were an insect in need of examination. โInnocent?โ she repeated, almost amused. โYou call them innocent? These creatures are nothing but toolsโtools that help me achieve what is rightfully mine. Theyโre weak, living in fear. And Iโm giving them purpose.โI shook my hea
Raven POV I stood there, with my hand pressed to my chest, heart racing, feeling the weight of the queenโs cold gaze upon me.โWhat are you doing here?โ I asked, my voice shaking despite my attempt to remain calm.She chuckled softly, the sound low and almost mocking. โOh, so you know who I am,โ she said, her eyes gleaming with amusement. โThatโs very interesting, donโt you think?โโVery interesting indeed,โ I muttered under my breath, not able to stop the bitterness that seeped into my words.She stepped closer, her presence suffocating. โWell, it seems like you havenโt been getting my messages,โ she said casually, โSo I came to pick you up myself.โโIโm not going anywhere with you,โ I snapped, clenching my fists, unwilling to show the fear that threatened to rise in my throat. โYou monster.โShe raised a single eyebrow, her lips curling into a slow, sinister smile. โWho told you that you had a choice, my sweet girl?โ Her words were laced with such venom that it sent a chill dow
Rowan POV The battle raged on with death on both sides, but something felt wrong. I couldnโt see Morgan anywhere. She kept sending mindless creatures at us, but there was no sign of her.Was it a distraction? Was there something else at play?โBehind you!โ I heard one of my comrades scream. I spun around just in time to block a strike that wouldโve taken my head off. Beside me, one of my comrades fell, lifeless.I turned and squinted into the far corner. From the shadows, Kelvin emerged, with a smirk on his face.Damn, bastard.I charged towards him with everything I had, shifting midair. My claws slashed through the air, aimed directly at him.We collided in a brutal clash, a flurry of strikes. I clawed; he ducked and retaliated with punches, sending invisible strikes that rattled my bones. We were locked in an all-out battleโneither of us giving an inch.โWhere is your queen?โ I demanded, trying to catch my breath between strikes.Kelvinโs smirk deepened. โOh, sheโs exactly where
Raven POV I watched them go but couldnโt bring myself to say goodbye.The words stayed locked in my throat, heavy with frustration and helplessness.I hated the way they treated meโas if I couldnโt make decisions for myself. Like I was fragile. Like Iโd shatter.People were out there dying, sacrificing their lives for me, and I was justโฆ here. Sitting inside like some fucking damsel in distress.A chill drifted through the hallway, brushing against my skin. I lifted my head and noticed it was snow.The first snow of the year.A small smile tugged at my lips despite everything.Snow always reminded me of fresh beginnings. Of the quiet before everything changes.I stepped further inside, warmth slowly replacing the cold that clung to my clothes. Then I saw Loira.She sat alone, her posture tense and her eyes distant.She hadnโt been herself since that day on the training grounds.โLoira,โ I called gently.Her head turned; she seemed so slow and unsure, as if pulled from somewhere far a