CHAPTER THREE

Raven's POV 

“Wake up. Wake up, Raven!”

I could feel hands shaking my shoulders aggressively. I groaned, pulling my thin blanket higher over my head. I wasn't willing to rouse from sleep yet. My body felt like it was made of lead, and my eyelids were glued shut.

“What time did you sleep that you aren't awake by now?” the voice continued. It was Diane. I tried to ignore her, wanting to sink back into the darkness of a dreamless sleep.

“Miss Freya is coming!”

I bolted out of bed immediately. My heart beat hard against my chest, and I nearly tripped over my own feet as I stood up. There really is nothing like the name of Miss Freya to provide instant motivation. I looked toward the door, expecting to see the scowling woman ready to skin me alive, but then I heard someone laughing.

I spun around to see Diane doubled over, clutching her stomach. I glared at her, my hands on my hips.

“That wasn't funny, Diane,” I snapped, though my voice was still thick with sleep.

“Nobody is coming yet,” she said, wiping a tear from her eye. “But someone will be here very soon. It’s already seven in the morning, Raven. I’ve never seen you sleep this late.”

I rubbed my eyes, feeling the exhaustion deep in my bones. Now that I thought about it, it made sense. I had spent hours running through the woods, howling until my throat was raw, and then even more hours crying myself to sleep once I got back to my small bed. I was physically and emotionally drained.

I glanced around to see empty beds. “Why is everyone up?” I asked, trying to smooth down my messy hair.

“We’ve all been asked to gather in the dining hall,” Diane said, her expression turning a bit more serious. “All the domestic workers.”

“For what?” I asked, reaching for my brush.

Diane shrugged. “I don’t know. But we need to move. If we’re late, Miss Freya won't just chew us out.”

We rushed to the communal showers. The water was lukewarm, but it helped wake me up. I dressed quickly, picking out a clean dress. I tried to find one that looked presentable, although, in my wardrobe, "presentable" was a stretch. Most of my clothes were hand-me-downs that had seen better days, but I did my best to straighten the collar and brush off the lint.

We hurried toward the dining hall, arriving at the same time as a crowd of other workers. The room was buzzing with nervous energy. As I was walking toward a spot near the wall, a guy named Owen bumped into me intentionally. He was a regular pack member who loved to pick on anyone he thought was beneath him.

“Oops. Didn't see you there,” Owen said with a mocking smirk. He leaned in closer so only I could hear him. “You’re just really inconsequential, you know?”

I felt a flash of anger, but I just rolled my eyes at his childish antics. I wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of a reaction. I ignored him and moved to join the other Omegas.

I looked around the room as it filled up. The only people missing were the Enforcers who worked as guards, the doctors from the infirmary, and the teachers. Everyone else was here. There were only about six Omegas in the entire Inker Pack. It always baffled me that the pack didn't treat us better. 

We were actually the most fertile members of the pack because we could get pregnant at almost any time, unlike the females of other ranks who had a very small window every month. Plus, male Omegas could get pregnant too and they were pretty rare. 

“Get in line! Get in line!” Miss Freya’s voice boomed through the hall.

We quickly scrambled into three orderly rows. I stood straight, keeping my eyes forward.

“This meeting is to select the staff who will be traveling with the pack leadership to the Peace Summit,” Miss Freya announced. She paced in front of us like a general. “The summit is only three weeks away. Those who are picked today will start training immediately on how to act properly. We will not have the Inker Pack embarrassed in front of the Kings.”

The room broke out in whispers and excited sounds. I looked at the girls next to me. I honestly didn't know why they were all so happy. But then again, as I thought about it, maybe it wouldn't be so bad. The Inker Pack territory was the only world I had ever known. Seeing the outside world, even if I was just serving food, might be the distraction I needed after recent events.

I had heard rumors about this year’s summit. People were saying it was going to be a bloodbath. Apparently, the Kings of the North and South couldn't stand each other. Past Kings had been simple rivals, but these two were actual enemies. I didn't know the history or the reason why. Our pack was in the South, so we were under the rule of the Southern King.

I zoomed back into focus just as Miss Freya started picking people. She moved down the line, pointing her finger like a weapon.

“You. You. And you,” she barked.

I saw Diane get chosen and felt a genuine pang of happiness for her. She had wanted this so badly. Maybe she really would find someone there who would treat her right.

“Raven!”

I jumped, my eyes snapping to Miss Freya. She was looking at me with that classic scowl, like she knew I had been daydreaming. She gestured toward the small group of chosen workers.

My heart did a little flip. Goddess, I had actually been chosen. I was going to the Peace Summit.

Miss Freya dismissed everyone who wasn't picked and told the rest of us to follow her. As we walked through the halls of the pack house, a side door opened. Gary walked out, looking as smug as ever. He had his arm wrapped tightly around the waist of a blonde girl I didn't recognize, some bimbo with fake-looking hair and way too much makeup.

As our group passed him, we all bowed slightly. I felt his eyes catch mine. He looked at me with a weird expression, almost like he expected me to be crying or upset that he was with someone else already.

Ridiculous, I thought. I looked away immediately, keeping my face blank. If he wanted to parade his new Barbie doll around, that was his business. I couldn't deny that I felt a bit salty about it, but I wasn't going to let him see that. He had rejected me so he didn't get to own my emotions anymore.

Diane pinched me from behind and whispered, “Don’t let him get to you. You’re going to the Summit. He’s just staying here to be a big fish in a small pond.”

We arrived at the learning building, a place I usually liked because of the library. We were divided into smaller groups for our orientation. Sadly, Diane was sent to a different room.

I walked into the classroom and stopped short. Pinned to the large board at the front were two massive pictures. Underneath them, names were written in bold, elegant letters.

Valen Aibek, King of the Northern Lands.

Darian Callisto, King of the Southern Lands.

These were the men who ruled our world. Every Alpha of every pack reported directly to one of them. Most people in the smaller packs had never even seen their faces.

Our tutor, a stern man named Mr. Rake, tapped the board with a wooden pointer.

“We are showing you these pictures so you can recognize them immediately,” Mr. Rake said. “If you are in the same vicinity as a King, you must know who he is. You cannot make mistakes. A mistake in front of these men could cost you your head.”

I stepped closer, staring at the photos. They felt strangely familiar, almost like I had seen them somewhere, though I knew that was impossible.

King Valen, the Northern King, had hair as brown as dirt. In the photo, he was reclining casually on a throne, his chest half-exposed under a dark robe. He looked like someone who enjoyed trouble—sly, handsome, and dangerous. He was staring lazily into the camera, but his eyes were so sharp it felt like he was looking right into my soul.

King Darian, our dark-haired King, was the exact opposite. He looked like the picture of an upright, traditional ruler. He was dressed formally, sitting perfectly straight, and almost glaring at the lens. He looked stern and no-nonsense, the kind of man who followed the rules and expected everyone else to do the same.

The only thing they really had in common was that they were both incredibly good-looking. Both men were fine. Like, really fine.

I shook the thought out of my head. It didn't matter how handsome they were. It wasn't likely I would ever even see them in person, let alone meet them.