Raven’s POV:I held a glass of wine as I looked around the hall. I was attending Madison's engagement ceremony, and there weren't a lot of people in attendance, as the marriage was not aristocratic, and there were a lot of gossip about them in the pack. Not to mention, it was no news that her father wanted her to marry a richer and well-known man, not her mate. They were all everybody was talking about and giving their two cents of advice on like they knew it all.But as I stared at Madison's figure walking around the entire hall arm in arm with her mate, Christian, I could tell she was happy with the man she ended up with. And I was happy for her because it meant that not all mates were assholes, and they complemented one another well.However, as I saw Madison approaching me with Christian, I placed the wine glass in my hand on the table some distance from me. I didn't want to toast her and have to drink the wine.Firstly, because I had promised Tristan that even though he wasn't th
RAVEN'S POV:An uneasy vibe buzzed in me as Tristan and I shuffled down the hospital hallway. Seraphine supposedly woke up, but it still felt surreal. What happened still feels like a dream to me, and I was unable to come to terms that she had almost died.When we reached the door of the VIP ward she was staying in, a crowd awaited – her family. I didn't realize she had so many relatives, and even Tristan's mom, Luna BlackClaw, was there.The moment we appeared, all gazes fell on us, especially me. Their glares screamed judgment, but I held my cool, knowing I didn't do what they accused.Probably sensing my unease, Tristan held my palm and rubbed it, an attempt to reassure me, so I shot him a forced smile, not wanting him to worry.Luna BlackClaw jumped on me first, fuming, "How dare you show your face here?"She looked very furious, and if one didn't know, they'd think Seraphine was her daughter. I would have been intimidated, but the conviction that I did nothing wrong made me meet
TRISTAN’S POV:I stared at the screen, my eyes glued to the footage Ethan had managed to salvage from the hotel's security system. Frustration simmered within me as I realized there was a critical gap – the moment Seraphine supposedly plunged into the water was missing. Deleted. Gone."Can't you retrieve that part?" I asked Ethan, my voice tight with worry.Ethan sighed, shoulders slumping. "I went to Jasper's place, watched him try, but even he couldn't get it back. It's like it vanished."Disturbed, I knew that missing piece was vital to proving Raven's innocence. No matter how fiercely I could protect her, I couldn't let a stain tarnish her reputation. I pondered the options – interrogate Seraphine, force a confession, but the risks loomed large. Accusations of me using my power to bully could tarnish my position without solid proof. Not to mention, it would affect Raven - they'd accuse her of messing with my head."We need that footage, Ethan. Find a way," I urged, worry coursing
AUTHOR'S POV:"Congratulations, Miss Raven. You're three months pregnant," Dr. Foster announced with a warm smile, his eyes reflecting genuine joy. The test results were on top of his desk as he closed the papers.Raven blinked, disbelief etched across her face. "Pregnant? But... how?" she stammered, her mind still catching up. It felt like the walls were suddenly closing in on her.The doctor chuckled. "Well, it seems you fainted earlier because of more than just fatigue. You're going to be a mother." He handed her the test result, and Raven's trembling hands took hold of it.She sat there for a couple of seconds, trying to process the situation. She had fainted at the office earlier that day, so she came to the hospital, but surely, she was not expecting to be told she was pregnant."Thank you, Doctor," she managed to utter, her thoughts racing. As she exited the office, the weight of the news sank in, leaving her stunned.As she walked along the hospital hallway, she ran into Larson
Raven jerked from sleep due to the loud sound of thumping on her door. She sat up immediately and looked around her, slowly coming to her senses. When she finally came through, she recalled that she was in the pack house and her dusty old room."You lazy brat! Get out of the room right now!" She heard a feminine, middle-aged voice boom from the other side of the door. It belonged to the chief cook of the Pack, who was in charge of cooking, and Raven was directly under her. Raven came to her senses and slipped out of bed before making her way to the door.The moment she opened the door, she was not surprised to see Mrs. Linda's icy glare as she regarded her. She sneered at Raven, "What do you think you are doing still sleeping by this time? Do you think you are a VIP or something?" She gave a contemptuous hiss as she turned around and stepped away.Raven watched her as she left, not in any way surprised by her rude attitude. It has always been like that in the pack. There were ranks, a
The bar was rowdy and filled with people. Different shades of lights dazzled the entire area. The music was blaring, and the ground shook every time the DJ tuned his equipment.Raven looked at the barman, who was busy attending to other people seated at the counter, as she raised her glass. "One more bottle, please."He looked at her before his gaze flickered to the now-empty bottle of tequila. She could easily tell he was worried, seeing her finish a whole bottle herself and still ask for more. But she couldn't be bothered to care about keeping faces at that moment. He also seemed to consider that he was making a profit, and instead of convincing her otherwise, he brought out another bottle for her.She took yet another glass of tequila, feeling the burning sensation down her throat, and her eyes welled up with tears. She couldn't even be sure if it was due to the strong taste of the drink or if she was just too sad and needed to cry."Aish..." She whispered, her body swaying on the
When Raven woke up again, she was now in the passenger seat of a moving car strapped to the seat with the belt. The man beside her immediately looked toward her when he heard her stir. "You're awake," he said as he returned his gaze forward and continued to drive.Raven was currently confused as she looked at the man. He was unfamiliar, but she remembered him saving her a moment earlier. She still wasn't fully conscious, and her head felt as though it was detached from her head and sinking into water. She also had a headache and a hard time wrapping her head around the situation."You..." She wanted to speak, but due to her parched throat, it hurt whenever she tried to speak."Don't talk," he warned as he looked at her. "I'll get you a room at a hotel. You should sleep there for tonight."And without another word, he continued driving but not without taking another glance at the open cut of her dress where the top of her breasts could be seen even clearer now that she was so close t
Tristan's POV:I felt the sun rays hitting my face, stirring me awake. It was morning, and the sun was already high in the sky. I hadn't slept this long since four years ago.I had never felt so free; it was as though all my burdens had been lifted from my shoulders, all thanks to her.I sat up in bed instantly, and when I looked at her side of the bed, it was empty. She had left. Her clothes were gone, and even the side of the bed where she slept last night was straightened out. It was as if I had slept alone.Just then, my cell phone, which was on the bedside table, rang. It was my beta and best friend, Ethan.As I picked it up, his panicky voice resounded in my ears. "Hey, are you okay? Where are you?"I scrambled out of bed with the phone in one hand as I stepped closer to the window. There was a swimming pool across the way, and from where I stood, I could see countless people swimming."What's wrong?" I asked. "Did something happen?""You suddenly disappeared. Didn't you find a