2. HIS BETRAYAL

RAVEN

“You cannot break me like this, Kieran. You will not do this to me. Right? Right? Kieran, please answer me!” My voice cracked, raw from screaming, but I didn’t care. I struggled against the warriors’ grip, my body weak but fueled by desperation.

Mother’s eyes locked onto mine, filled with regret and resignation. I shook my head no. It wasn’t over, not now. I still needed her, so much.

Then she smiled. A small, soft smile that made my stomach drop because it seemed like she had made a decision, and a decision that would not sit well with me.

“Mom—”

“Tell her your crime. Tell her the reason you have to die, to pay for your sins.” Kieran ordered, never taking his cold eyes off me.

Mom nodded, then her eyes met mine again, and this time tears gathered in her kind brown eyes that I wish I had gotten from her instead of father’s sharp, bright blue ones.

“We confessed, Raven,” she said, her voice shaking but clear. “We told them the truth… and also you had no part in it. We are the spies. We killed the Alpha’s remaining family, we were paid to do it and we really needed the money. Plus, they were always rude to you, we had to take them out so you’d enjoy peace whilst married to the Alpha. We didn't know it would get to this. We are sorry it took us so long to confess, but it’s the truth, baby…”

“No.” My breath hitched, my mind struggling to process her words. “No, you wouldn’t do that. You wouldn’t betray the pack like that. You wouldn’t—”

“It was the only way,” she whispered, tilting her head ever so slightly. Her gaze flickered to Kieran before returning to me. “For you. I did it for you.” But the second time she said the words, ‘for you’, was more pronounced, like there was another underlying meaning to her words.

I stilled, wanting to understand.

The crowd’s murmurs faded into white noise. The warriors holding me became nothing but shadows.

For me.

Understanding slammed into me, stealing what little air was left in my lungs.

A woman. A voice. A whisper of a deal made in darkness.

‘Your daughter will live… if you confess.’

I swayed on my feet, asking aloud, “Who?”

Mother didn’t answer, but she didn’t need to. Because the answer came from somewhere else—somewhere deep. A burning sensation ignited behind my eyes, a pull I couldn’t resist as my vision blurred.

Then I saw it.

Blood. Tears. A trembling figure kneeling before my parents.

Selene.

Her voice was sharp as a blade. “This is Kieran’s will.”

I gasped, my body jolting back into the present. Mother’s eyes widened in shock, as if she knew—knew—what had just happened. 

“You saw,” she whispered. I did. Mother had psychic powers… had I tapped them or just developed mine?

A warrior unsheathed his blade.

“No—NO!” I thrashed wildly, the pain in my body forgotten. “Kieran, please! You love me! I know you love me, please don’t let this happen!”

He didn’t flinch. He didn’t speak… He simply watched.

Mother’s lips moved, but no sound came out. Then she turned to the executioner and lifted her chin.

“Do it.”

The blade sliced through her throat.

Time stopped.

I screamed.

I felt the pain before I saw it. It was as if my own flesh had been torn open, as if my very soul had been ripped apart.

Her body crumpled to the ground. Blood pooled beneath her, dark and endless.

“No, no, no,” I sobbed, trying to reach her, but my legs buckled beneath me. I barely noticed when my knees hit the ground, barely felt the rough hands restraining me.

Father hadn’t moved. His head was still bowed, silent. Accepting.

“No more,” I begged, my voice hoarse. “Please, I’ll do anything—anything—just stop this.”

A cold chuckle pierced the air.

I looked up, tears blurring my vision, and found Kieran watching me. Amusement flickered in his eyes before vanishing behind an expression of stone.

“You’ll do anything?” he repeated, stepping closer. His boots stopped inches from mother’s blood.

“Yes,” I gasped, desperate. “I swear—I’ll—”

“Good,” he interrupted.

The next words shattered me.

“From this day forward, you are nothing but my slave.”

The crowd erupted in gasps, whispers, a mixture of shock and satisfaction.

But all I could do was stare.

“No,” I choked. “No, Kieran, please—”

He started to walk towards me then, and when he got to where I knelt, he lowered himself to my height and leaned in, his breath ghosting over my ear.

“You can beg all you want, Raven. It won’t change a thing. You betrayed me. You deserve death, so choose wisely now.”

I wanted to fight. I wanted to scream, to claw at him until he saw the truth.

But I had no strength left. So I nodded.

“Alright… fine. Make me your slave. But please, please don’t kill my father, he’s all I have left.” I pleaded, and he said nothing, straightening before outstretching his hand for the hot iron he needed to use so as to brand me his slave for anyone to see.

My body had been through so much already, I knew this one would knock me out. Maybe even kill me…

“From today onwards, Raven Solis, you answer to me… as my servant. My slave.” I heard him say, feeling the hot iron even before I was fully prepared for it. My first instinct was to bolt but then I realized hands were still gripping me in place from the back.

I could smell my skin burning as the metal burned me, and when I managed to open my eyes, I saw a flicker of concern in Kieran’s eyes but it was gone before I could decide if I had just conjured it up.

As soon as the metal fell to the ground, I fell with it, spent. Tears rolled down my cheeks.

I had done this for father. At least, even if I served Kieran as a slave for the rest of my life, I would not go completely crazy because my father would still be here.

At least that was what I thought.

I felt father’s presence before I saw him. He turned his head slightly, just enough for me to see the silent tears streaming down his face.

“Live, Raven,” he whispered. “Please, live.”

The blade came down.

Everything shattered in that minute, my vision going pitch black after a bloodcurdling scream.