If you were to be in Raven's shoes, what would you do at this point
Raven’s POVThe palace was suffocating.Days passed in a blur, each one stretching longer than the last. I barely left my room, only slipping out when I was sure no one would see me.Not that it mattered.No one was looking for me.They hadn’t left.They were still here. Somewhere in this massive place, grieving their father, dealing with politics, handling whatever chaos came with the death of a king.I told myself that was why they hadn’t come.They were busy. Distracted.But deep down, I knew the truth.They’d forgotten me.Not once in the endless stretch of days did any of them come to check on me, not even to make sure I was alive.It shouldn’t have hurt.But it did.The bond throbbed like an infected wound, the connection still pulsing beneath my skin — a constant reminder that no matter how much they hated me, I was still theirs.“Ara,” I whispered, curling my knees to my chest as I sat on the cold floor. “Are you still there?”My wolf had been quiet for days, her presence fain
Raven POV We kept walking until I stood before my mates, their faces shadowed with exhaustion. Yet even in their distress, they looked… as good as ever. While I dragged myself through life feeling like a corpse that forgot to die.The throne room was deathly quiet.Ansel sat on the centre throne like it was his birthright, his golden eyes gleaming as he watched me approach. Asher leaned forward, his elbows on his knees, fingers laced tightly together like he was barely holding himself together.Rowan…Rowan didn’t even look at me.His gaze stayed fixed on the floor, his shoulders slumped in a way that made my chest ache. But I forced myself to bury that feeling — to shove it down until it disappeared.They didn’t care when I begged.Didn’t care when I screamed for help.I owed them nothing.The guards stopped, and I stood there, swallowing the burning knot in my throat.“Why am I here?” My voice cracked, but I didn’t care. Let them hear my brokenness. Let them feel the weight of wha
Asher’s POVI stood outside Raven’s door, the sound of shattering glass echoing through the hallway.Another crash. Then another.My wolf, Jax, whimpered inside me, pacing anxiously. Every sound of destruction was a knife to our chest — because we all knew why she was doing it.She hated us.And she had every reason to.I clenched my fists, leaning against the wall. Rowan sat on a nearby chair, rubbing his hands over his face. He hadn’t said a word since we brought her back like he was carrying the weight of something none of us could understand.Ansel stood rigid near the door, arms crossed, jaw tight. His eyes darkened as he listened to her tear the room apart.“She’s being dramatic,” he muttered, voice dripping with bitterness.I snapped my head toward him, fury boiling beneath my skin.“She’s destroying a room, Ansel. Why can’t you just try to be civil with her?.”He glared at me, but I didn’t care.“She shouldn’t even be here if she doesn’t want to be,” he spat, voice low but ven
Ansel’s POVI paced my room like a caged animal, my boots scraping against the marble floors with every sharp turn. The glow of the fire threw shadows along the walls, but the heat didn’t touch the ice spreading through my chest.“I will never be yours. Not in this life. Not in any life.”Raven’s words gnawed at me like a dull blade, not because they hurt — but because they defied me.She didn’t matter. Not to me. Not to anyone. She was just a complication, a stubborn obstacle standing in the way of what was mine.The crown. The throne. The power.I dragged a hand through my hair, breathing heavily as my pulse thundered in my ears.Everything I’d trained for, everything I’d bled for, hinged on that pathetic girl’s choice. The council’s decree echoed in my mind like a curse.The first brother to fully bond with his mate will be crowned king.I should already be king. I was the eldest, even though we were triplets. The strongest. I deserved the throne. And now? Now I had to play this si
Rowan’s POVThe moonlight shone through the tall windows of my room. The world outside was quiet, but inside, my mind roared with noise.I sat at my desk, an untouched candle flickering beside me, the flame swaying like a heartbeat. The ink on my fingers had dried hours ago, but I kept writing, the pages before me a mess of tangled words — confessions I could never speak aloud.I had decided, there was no need to fight for the crown.The goddess had cursed me from the moment I drew breath. The second son. The shadow trailed behind his brothers. The reminder of what Father lost the night we were born.My hand shook as I wrote, the quill scraping harshly against the parchment.The curse is already eating me alive.I could feel it — like a slow rot beneath my skin. Ever since Father died, it had grown heavier, an invisible chain dragging me toward an inevitable end. My wolf, Rome, was quieter by the day. I couldn’t feel him like I used to. His voice, once a constant hum in the back of m
Raven POV Raven. Alpha Ansel seeks your presence.”“No.”After two hours —“Raven, Alpha Ansel requests you have lunch with him.”“No.”After four hours —“His Majesty demands your presence, or he said he would come and drag you himself,” the maid said, her cheek stained with pink like she’d been blushing for hours.“Argh! Get out!” I shouted, my voice ripping through the room.The door shut quickly, the sound echoing against the high ceilings. After my last outburst, my room was changed. Again.It was bigger. More luxurious and more suffocating.I didn’t know the reason for the sudden change in them, but it was both unnerving and annoying.I paced like a caged animal, my fingers brushing against the silk drapes, the carved gold headboard, and the velvet cushions stacked neatly on the bed. Everything screamed royalty.I wanted to rip it all apart.“Raven.”“What…” I spun around, ready to bite the maid’s head off — but stopped in my tracks.Ansel.He stood in the doorway, tall and immo
Raven’s POVDuck, punch, punch.I could feel sweat trickling down my back, my muscles screaming with each movement. My breath came in short, ragged gasps, but I kept going.Bend, kick.I grinned, feeling a small rush of pride. Maybe I wasn’t as bad at this as I thought.That was until I tripped on a stone, and I fell flat on my butt.A deep, attractive laugh echoed behind me.I turned around, rubbing my sore backside, as my heart stumbled.Rowan.He stood a few feet away, arms crossed, my mate is the epitome of beauty. But it wasn’t his posture or his otherworldly beauty that made my breath hitch— it was the rare, genuine smile on his face.My wolf stirred, humming with happiness at being close to her mate, even one as confusing as Rowan. He was ice and fire all at once — distant yet close; I can't forget the way he took care of me after Kelvin's brutality.And for just a second, I swore I saw longing in his eyes before it disappeared, buried beneath that wall he always kept up.“What
Raven POV Rowan,” I whispered, my voice barely audible.He stood with his back to me, chest rising and falling like he was trying to steady himself. But the air between us is heavy and suffocating. I couldn’t look away from him, from the way his fingers twitched like he wanted to reach for me but was fighting the urge.I should’ve stayed quiet. I should’ve let him walk away.But I didn’t.“Look at me,” I pleaded, my voice trembling.He turned slowly, and when his eyes met mine, I sucked in a sharp breath.Like he was at war with himself, like touching me had unravelled something he couldn’t shove back into place. He then shifted the table, his hand shooting out to grab my face. His fingers pressed into my cheeks, not hard enough to hurt but enough to make my heart slam against my ribs.“You don’t know what you’re doing to me,” he growled, his voice low and raw.Before I could answer, he crushed his mouth against mine.The kiss was brutal — just the way I like it. His lips devoured m
Ansel POV I still can’t believe Raven—the future mother of my child—is the damn child of prophecy.The father hasn’t been confirmed yet, but it has to be me.I haven’t been able to scrape that thought from my mind. It makes her more valuable to me, to the kingdom. As the future king, it gives me more leverage than both of my brothers combined.Which is why we’re going to get her back.And kill Morgan.Because if we don’t, there won’t be anything left to rule. No wolves. No land. No bloodlines to carry forward.My wolf, Karl, paced just beneath my skin; he was as restless as I was. The bond pulls at us in ways I still don’t understand even after mating. The instinct to keep her close feels like a leash tightening around my throat.I rubbed my head and stepped onto the balcony.Below, the guards moved in formation around three figures. The surviving alphas had arrived. Finally,I didn’t wait to be summoned. I turned from the window and made my way to the war room, checking my appea
Raven POV How could life still exist here, so untouched, so vibrant, under the looming shadow of a queen like Morgan?My legs trembled as I dismounted, the village air started to get thick with tension and heat. People began to notice our presence, guards in dark armor, a queen in blood-hued leathers, and me, silent and unfamiliar. The streets quieted and then cleared as if the air itself warned them to run.A man stepped forward from the gathering crowd, his steps looked hesitant. He looked like he might be the village leader, so much older, sun-weathered, and proud despite the fear he couldn’t mask. He bowed low before Morgan, his voice shaking.“Your Highness,” he said. “We didn’t expect… We weren’t prepared for—”She raised a hand. “I didn’t come for your hospitality.”His lips parted, but nothing came out.“I came for the last Black Wolf,” she said.A hush fell so heavy it could have crushed bone.The man stiffened, his face blanching. “I… I don’t know what you mean…”Morga
Raven POV I don’t know how long I slept, but when I opened my eyes, my body felt lighter than it had the day before. I felt less like I was dragging the weight of the world behind me.I stretched slowly, taking a moment to adjust to the new room. This wasn’t home, it was a war zone. But hopefully, if I played this right, I could do what I needed to do and get out of there alive.Walking barefoot to the window, I pulled the curtains aside.This place was as gloomy as ever.From where I stood, all I could see was a thick fog rolling over blackened trees, their branches like skeletal fingers reaching for something unseen. The sky was a dull gray even though the sun was up and scorching.There was no birdsong, no life and absolutely nothing.I let out a slow breath and drew the curtain shut. This place —it was spoiling my mood. The air, the silence, the weight of it all. It was like even the ground outside was mourning. I can't wait to get what I need and burn it to the ground.Sha
Ansel’s POVI stood on the balcony outside my room, the cold wind brushing against my face like a reminder that everything was changing. Too fast. Too much.“What are you thinking about, little brother?” Rowan’s voice broke through the quiet as he stepped beside me.“The long journey to the Hollow Valley?” he added.I hesitated, biting my lip. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to say it out loud… but I needed to. If anyone could understand, it was him.“Rowan, can I ask you something? Honestly?”He nodded. “Yeah.”I exhaled slowly. “Do you think we’ll make it out of this alive? All of us?”His silence gave me space, so I kept going.“What happens now that Raven is the child of prophecy? She’s…the goddess Selene reborn. If people find out, it could change everything—start things we’re not ready for.”I paused. “And… what does that mean for our son?”Rowan turned to me, eyes thoughtful. “Whoa. That’s a lot of questions.”I gave a half-hearted laugh. “Sorry.”He clapped a hand on my shoulder. “D
Raven POV My other self turned to look at me, her eyes filled with tears. I never let fall that day.“Do you understand now?” she asked quietly.I nodded, breath shaky. “That was the day I gave up.”“You didn’t just give up on him,” she said. “You gave up on you.” "You buried yourself beneath anger and pain. You stopped believing you were meant for more.”Tears slid down my cheeks before I could stop them.I hated how much it hurt.“I was broken,” I whispered.“You still are,” she said gently. "But broken things can be rebuilt. She stepped forward, walking into me.And I felt it.That pain. That grief. That rage.But also… I felt light.Soon, the memory shifted, and it was me when I was much younger, the children at the park stoning me and laughing out loud in amusement.I bit my lips until I felt blood roll down my lips, but I didn’t stop. I couldn’t. Because the pain in my mouth was nothing compared to the pain in my chest.There I was, no older than six years old, curled into m
Raven's POV I was still in a state of shock when Kelvin strolled into the room, completely unfazed by the bodies at his feet. He walked over them like they were nothing like he’d seen this kind of carnage a thousand times before, and he probably had.He wore that infuriating smirk again, the one I was beginning to realize was just part of his face. Part of his behavior.“Your Highness,” he greeted Morgan with a bow. Then his gaze slid towards me. “Oh, the little queen is here. Lovely to see you, Raven.”I rolled my eyes, refusing to give him the reaction he wanted. The urge to punch that smug face of his clawed at me, but I held it down. Barely.God, if I ever got the chance, I’d kill them both. Rip them apart and bathe in their blood if that’s what it took.I felt my wolf stir inside me, a low growl vibrating through my chest.She didn’t like being separated from our mates, caged like that. And these two were responsible. Again.Twice now, they’d taken me from the ones I belonged t
Queen Gwen POVIt’s been three days since the battle.Three days since blood painted the earth and death hung heavy in the air—on both sides.It hurt to kill them. Those creatures… they were mindless, controlled by Kelvin and that cursed Queen. They were puppets, not monsters. But it was either them or us.And still… we lost.We fell for their diversion. We lost Raven.I’ve been trying—truly trying—to stay strong. I’m a queen. I’m supposed to be composed, logical, unshaken.But the thought of something happening to her…It chills me in a way I can’t explain.From the moment I first laid eyes on Raven, I knew.I don’t 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.“Hey… are you okay?” Loira asked gently, walking up beside me.I tried to force a smile. “Yeah. I’m just… sad, you know?” My voice cracked. “It feels like we were so stupid.”She said nothing, just listened.“She shou
Raven POV “What did you say, Raven?” she asked again, her voice low and skeptical.“I said I’ll join you, Morgan,” I repeated, steadying my voice. “But only on one condition.”She sighed as though she was enduring a headache. “And what is it now?”“You’ll release Mathias.”Her brows lifted. “Who?”Of course, she doesn’t 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.“Mathias is one of the prisoners. He was in the same cell I was thrown into.”“Oh,” she said with a chuckle. “That’s all?” Fine. I’ll have him released today.”“And—”She cut me a glare, her patience thinning. “And what?”“You’ll give me the dagger. I need it.”Morgan narrowed her eyes. “I’ll think about it. "Don’t push your luck, little bird.”She turned away, already done with the conversation. “When Kelvin returns, your real training begins. I’ll need you ready.”"But aren’t you scared, Morgan?” I asked, my gaze steady.“What?” 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 couldn’t reach me — 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 — 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 looked… magnificent.Beautiful and terrible, like something carved from nightmares.Her smile, slow and cold, made my skin crawl.I paused, instinctively gla