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Anselโs POVI had forgotten how good Raven feltโhow her body responded so easily, how she opened up for me without resistance. At least she was good for something. And now that I remembered just how sweet she was, I wouldnโt be letting go.But the moment I left her chambers, reality hit hard.The meeting hadnโt gone as well as Iโd hoped. Kelvin had irritated me to no end, daring to ask about Raven like he had any right. Just hearing him say her name made my blood boil. And to make things worse, Asher had told me about Matthew.That sorry excuse for an Alpha.If I see him again, it will be his funeral.I had just settled into my chambers, my thoughts a tangled mess of frustration and lingering desire, when a sharp knock echoed against my door.โEnter,โ I said, my patience running thin.The door creaked open, and Rufus stepped inside. He was one of my most trusted warriors, but tonight, his face was set with something unreadable. That alone was enough to put me on edge.โI have a report
Ravenโs POVSomething was wrong with Rowan.I canโt get those marks out of my head.It was because of them that Rowan stopped things with me before. And then when I asked about them again, he shut me down completely.Why?The question gnawed at me, refusing to let go.I paced my room, my heartbeat loud in the silence. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw themโdark, intricate lines wrapping around his skin like something ancient, something forbidden. He looked terrified when I touched them. And that fearโฆ it hadnโt been for himself.It had been for me.A shiver ran down my spine.I couldnโt ignore this. Not anymore.If Rowan wasnโt going to tell me the truth, I would find it myself.I should have let it go.But I couldnโt.Not when something in my chest told me there was more. Not when I felt like I was standing in the middle of a story I didnโt understand, with pieces missing, scattered, hidden from me.Thatโs what led me here.The halls were quiet, flickering torchlight casting long sh
Anselโs POVThe anger hadnโt left me since we stepped out of the council chambers. It clawed at my insides, twisting, an uncontrollable storm just beneath my skin.They thought they could dictate my path. That they could force me into a corner, strip me of my own control.Bastards.I stormed into my chamber, slamming the door behind me. The fire in the hearth barely warmed the room, and I felt the cold in my bones, in my mind.They wanted Luna? Fine.They wanted a claim?They wanted an heir? My jaw clenched so hard it ached.I had spent years fighting, carving my own place in this kingdom. I had shed blood for it. I had earned it. And now, because of their impatience, they dared to push me, to put me in a position where I had to fight for something that should have already been mine.I ran a hand through my hair, trying to think. Trying to breathe.But all I could hear was Marcellusโs voice.โIf the three of you cannot decide amongst yourselves, then perhaps a decision must be made fo
Raven POV I slammed my door shut behind me, my breath coming in quick, shallow gasps. My heart felt like it was trying to claw its way out of my chest, the adrenaline still surging through my veins from what I just did. From what I had just seen.Rowanโs journal. His secret. The truth he had been hiding. I wasnโt able to read everything but what I read made my stomach twisted violently, and I barely made it to the side of my bed before I collapsed onto it, gripping the sheets as if they could steady the storm inside me. My mind was spinning, trying to make sense of what I had readโwhat little of it I could understand.โYou must cleanse the line, Rowan. But know thisโevery generation that has tried has failed. Most didnโt even survive the attempt. That is the curse for breaking the bond gifted by the goddess.โAnd those items he listed.Moonstone, soaked in wolfsbane for seven nights.A dagger forged in silver and obsidian.The heart of a black wolf, freely given.Ashes of a burned
Rowan povThe moment I stepped into my room, something felt wrong. I paused at the doorway, scanning the room. Nothing looked out of placeโmy bed remained untouched, my desk as I had left it, and yetโฆ I knew someone had been here.I should have caught their scent. Should have heard their heartbeat. But there was nothing.The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end. Whoever had come and gone was skilled. Too skilled.Shoving the thought aside, I closed the door and walked toward my desk. Ansel and Asher were preparing for war, and Iโฆ I just need to go away. I need to find a cure.The throne meant nothing to me.Let them tear each other apart for it.I reached for a piece of parchment, summoning a messenger bird. I needed to contact the priestess again. If I was going to rid myself of this curse, I had to act now.My fingers barely brushed the quill before fire tore through my chest.I gasped, staggering to my feet as pain exploded across my ribs, spreading like molten iron. My visi
Ravenโs POVAnsel slammed his mouth against mine, kissing me like the brute that he is.There was nothing tender about it. Nothing soft about it. Just force and pure possession.My wolf still reacted to our closeness, but I didnโt. Not anymore. Not after what I had just learned.Now, his touch felt wrong.Before, I could pretend there was something between usโsomething real, something that wasnโt just his hunger to conquer. But now, every time his hands touched me, I knew what he was. What he wanted.He wanted power, he wanted to control me and he wanted the throne.And he would use me to get it.I refused.My hands pressed against his chest, shoving with all my strength, but he didnโt budge. His grip tightened, his fingers digging into my waist as he crushed me against him, his teeth scraping against my lips.I bit down hard on his lips.Ansel growled, jerking back slightly, but I didnโt let go. I clamped my teeth onto his tongue until the sharp, metallic taste of blood filled my mou
Ansel POV I was about to pour myself a drink, the lingering satisfaction of claiming Raven still humming through my veins, when a sharp knock rattled my door.Before I could turn, the door flew open.โMy lord!โ The guard panted, his face pale. โRowan is summoning you. The palace has been breached.โThe glass slipped from my fingers, shattering against the floor.โWhat?โ My voice was low, dangerous.The guard swallowed hard. โHeโhe sent word just now. Itโs urgent.โI didnโt wait for more. I was already moving, yanking on a shirt as I stormed out, my steps quick and purposeful. The halls blurred past me, my mind spinning. Breached? How?The guards at every corner stiffened when they saw me, but I ignored them. My heart pounded with a mix of fury and anticipation.Rowan had better have a damn good explanation.Rowan was already waiting when I stormed into his chambers. He was standing near the fireplace, arms crossed, his face grim. Asher was there too, leaning against a table, fingers
Asherโs POVI watched Rowan leave, his steps steady, his resolve unshaken.Good.Let him go chase ghosts and curses. Let him disappear into the unknown. I had no intention of stopping him.Beside me, Ansel exhaled, a smug smirk tugging at his lips. He thought he had won. That the throne was his for the taking now.Fool.I tilted my head slightly, letting my gaze linger on him longer than necessary. Ansel was already savouring the moment, basking in the illusion that he was now the sole heir worth considering.But I knew better.I knew what he had done.The whispers reached me long before they should have. The little games he played, the manipulation, the way he twisted people to his will. Ansel had always been ruthless, always reaching for more, but he had crossed a line this time.And I was done pretending.For too long, I had played the role of the patient. The mediator. The one who stood between them when they clashed, keeping the balance. But balance didnโt win wars.Strength did.
Anselโs 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.โWhat are you thinking about, little brother?โ Rowanโs voice broke through the quiet as he stepped beside me.โThe long journey to the Hollow Valley?โ he added.I hesitated, biting my lip. I wasnโt sure if I wanted to say it out loudโฆ but I needed to. If anyone could understand, it was him.โRowan, can I ask you something? Honestly?โHe nodded. โYeah.โI exhaled slowly. โDo you think weโll make it out of this alive? All of us?โHis silence gave me space, so I kept going.โWhat happens now that Raven is the child of prophecy? Sheโsโฆthe goddess Selene reborn. If people find out, it could change everythingโstart things weโre not ready for.โI paused. โAndโฆ what does that mean for our son?โRowan turned to me, eyes thoughtful. โWhoa. Thatโs a lot of questions.โI gave a half-hearted laugh. โSorry.โHe clapped a hand on my shoulder. โD
Raven POV My other self turned to look at me, her eyes filled with tears. I never let fall that day.โDo you understand now?โ she asked quietly.I nodded, breath shaky. โThat was the day I gave up.โโYou didnโt just give up on him,โ she said. โYou gave up on you.โ "You buried yourself beneath anger and pain. You stopped believing you were meant for more.โTears slid down my cheeks before I could stop them.I hated how much it hurt.โI was broken,โ I whispered.โYou still are,โ 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 alsoโฆ 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 didnโt stop. I couldnโt. 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 heโd 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.โYour Highness,โ he greeted Morgan with a bow. Then his gaze slid towards me. โOh, the little queen is here. Lovely to see you, Raven.โI 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, Iโd kill them both. Rip them apart and bathe in their blood if thatโs what it took.I felt my wolf stir inside me, a low growl vibrating through my chest.She didnโt like being separated from our mates, caged like that. And these two were responsible. Again.Twice now, theyโd taken me from the ones I belonged t
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