LOGINRaven’s POV The pain hit different than claws or teeth.It was fire.Pure, burning fire pouring straight into my blood.I staggered back from Selene. My front legs gave out. The ice slammed into my wolf chest. The silver knife stuck out of my side, the handle was still in Selene’s paw. She yanked it free and shifted back to human in one smooth move, naked and smiling, blood running down her arm.I tried to stay wolf. I tried to hold the shape.I couldn’t.The shift tore out of me backwards. Fur melted away and my bones snapped again. My body shrank and folded in on itself. In seconds I was human, naked on the ice, curled around the hole in my side.The burn spread fast. From my ribs to my stomach. Up my chest. Down my legs. My heartbeat pushed the poison deeper with every pump.I screamed.The sound came out weak and broken.The bond lit up like someone poured gasoline on it and every mate felt me.Ethan, who had been half sitting, half lying on the ice, jerked upright. His eyes
Raven’s POV The second Selene’s wolf jumped at me, my body gave in.I dropped to all fours and let the shift rip through me.Bones cracked out, skin split and black fur poured over me. My muzzle pushed out. Teeth grew long and sharp. In two heartbeats I stood on the ice as a full wolf, bigger than I ever let myself be before.The crowd screamed louder. Some ran for the doors. Most stayed, phones still up, thinking this was the greatest show they ever saw.Selene hit me hard.Her shoulder slammed into my chest. We rolled across the ice. Her teeth snapped at my throat. I twisted at the last second and her jaws closed on air.I came up growling.We circled fast.Blood already dripped from a cut above my eye. I tasted it in my mouth.Ethan tried to run forward. Two elders dropped from their box and landed on the ice in front of him. One grabbed his jersey and the other held up a hand.“Stand down, Veyron,” the old wolf barked. “Challenge law.”Dante charged anyway but another elder
Raven’s POV The whistle kept blowing and the Refs shouted. Players froze. Nobody moved toward us.Selene stood a few feet away in the center circle. Her skates were silent on the ice. Her eyes glowed soft gold. Not wild like mine, hers was more controlled and cold.My wolf snarled so loud I felt it in my teeth.Ethan skated up behind me quickly. His hand landed on my shoulder. “Raven. Don’t.”I shrugged him off without looking.Luca came to my left. Dante to my right. Eli stayed back near the net.Axel walked out from the bench. Slowly putting his hands in his pockets. He stopped beside Selene and smiled at me.The crowd noise dropped to a low roar. Phones stayed up and everyone waited.Selene tilted her head. “You don’t even know what you are, do you?” she said. “Little lost rogue. Running around with bonds you never earned.” Her voice was so clear. My fists clenched. “Get off the ice, Selene.”She laughed sharply, “Make me.”I took one step forward.Ethan grabbed my arm again.
Raven’s POV I laughed or cried, I couldn’t tell.My wolf started pulling back. The fur melted away. My claws shrank and my face went back to normal.The elders were still standing. Ready to execute me the second the lights went down.The refs didn’t know what to do with me.One kept blowing his whistle like it would fix everything. The other just stared. I was still on my knees over Ethan, breathing hard, human skin again but everybody saw what I did. The crowd kept roaring, phones stayed up and nobody sat down.Ethan pushed himself to sitting. Blood ran from his lip. He looked at me with those golden eyes still shining.“Get your ass back in the game,” he said.I laughed short. “They threw me out.”“Fuck them,” Dante growled from behind me. He grabbed my arm and pulled me up. “You’re playing.”Luca skated over fast. He didn’t say a word. He just handed me my helmet and nodded once.Eli stood a few feet away. He was short on words from the look on his face. The head ref finally fo
Raven’s POV Trainers ran onto the ice and everything stopped.Ethan was on the ice. Not moving. His helmet was half off and blood coming from his mouth. Trainers knelt around him. One pressed fingers to his neck. The other waved for the stretcher.I couldn’t hear anything. The crowd noise turned into a low hum inside my head. My eyes stayed locked on him.Get up. Get up. Get up.My wolf roared so loud my ears rang. She slammed against my skin and tore at my chest. My fingers curled into fists so hard my nails cut my palms. Blood dripped onto the penalty box floor.He is mine. Mine to protect. Mine to save.I felt the bond inside me snap tight. It hurt. It burned. Ethan’s power was gone. The calm he gave me earlier was gone. All that was left was pain and darkness coming from him.I stood up. My hands hit the glass that I didn’t feel the cold.Luca looked over from the ice. His face was pale. He shook his head fast, telling me no. Don’t do it. Stay there.Dante was on his knees
Raven’s POV From the bench, Axel smiled. The b@stard knew the second I lost control, the secret was out. The ref skated over, angry faced. “Number seventeen, Blackthorne. You’re gone. Game misconduct. Out.”The crowd booed some, cheered some. My name echoed off the rafters.My wolf didn’t care that I hurt someone. She was proud.The ref shoved me toward the box. I skated there on shaky legs and the door slammed behind me. I dropped onto the bench hard. My helmet hit the floor with a loud clank. The glass in front of me rattled every time the crowd screamed.My wolf was losing it.She clawed at my ribs. She bit at my mind. She wanted out so bad my skin felt too tight. My hands shook on my knees. My teeth ached. I could feel the fangs trying to push down. The moon was right above us now. I felt it pressing on the roof of the arena.Breathe. Just breathe.I couldn’t. I stared at the ice and saw blood in my head. Knox on his back, his eyes rolling. The crack when he hit. I did tha







