Chapter 3

Raven’s POV

Three years passed since I risked everything and left the Iron Howlers Pack. Maybe it was fate or just a coincidence, but leaving the pack led me to meet Tyler and the rest of the gang.

Life wasn’t easy, but I managed to keep pushing forward with them by my side. I thought I wouldn’t be relying on anyone again like I did back in the Iron Howlers Pack. But the gang made it clear that I wasn’t a burden, instead… I was someone they could rely on, too.

“Ghost,” Tyler’s voice crackled over the comm in my helmet. “They’re here. Three bikes. Colors we don’t know.”

Ghost.

Yeah, after I left the Iron Howlers Pack, I’ve decided that Raven died. And the one who remained was none other than this version of myself, a ghost.

Headlights split the dust up ahead. Another rival gang who wouldn’t stop trying until they were taught a lesson. I rolled my shoulders, my grip tightening on the throttle.

“Positions,” I muttered into the mic. The engines behind me rumbled in response.

This wasn’t even a war, not yet. But sooner, even if war breaks out, I knew we’d be ready.

The pack rumbled behind me, throttles revving and waiting for my call. I rode to the front, my boots scraping the ground, with the heat licking my neck under the leather. The patch on my back caught the moonlight, an emblem of a white wolf skull split in half.

I designed it myself, representing not just me, but also the misfit wolves I’ve met over the years.

My comrades.

Engines cut as the rival crew approached. I swung my leg off the bike and walked forward until all they could see was the danger in my eyes.

“You’re in Ghost’s territory,” I said. “Turn back on your bikes or you’re going to crawl back with broken limbs.”

The leader mockingly smirked, a little too slow. That was his first mistake.

He took two steps forward, squaring his shoulders. That smug grin still clinging to his lips like he thought it meant something. His crew behind him looked at me like I was a joke waiting to misfire.

“Is that so?” he said, holding back his laughter. “Cute little speech, ‘Ghost’. I didn’t know bitches can play leaders.”

Tyler shifted behind me, cursing under his breath. I held up a hand.

I met the guy’s gray eyes and walked closer until there was only enough distance between us to avoid any potential violence.

“You picked the wrong night,” I said, tilting my head, “and the wrong pack.” That wiped off his smirk, making me grin.

“You bitch!” He screamed, grabbing me.

I didn’t hesitate, meeting his jaw with my fist, my knuckles crackling on impact. He didn’t expect it, staggering with a shock expression on his face.

I followed through with a kick on his ribs, sending him tumbling into the ground.

“Ah!” His boys cried as they lunged forward. They could have used their strength for a punch instead of screaming like kids.

What a disappointment.

Tyler moved first, slamming into one with his shoulder, and pinning him to the sand as the enemy’s knife flashed silver under the moonlight. I ducked another swing and landed a strike to the back of the neck, another down.

The last guy, probably the youngest, paused just long enough for Ash to get him in a headlock. “You should’ve stayed home,” she muttered, and dropped him like a sack of rocks.

I turned back to the leader as he pushed himself up with blood on his mouth and shaking hands.

“You feel like crawling now?” I asked in a low voice, raising an eyebrow at him.

He stared at me and then at my crew. Slowly, he went down on his knees, coughing up more blood.

“Tell your boss. Don’t ever cross the afterlife on earth,” I said, closing in as I stepped on his hand. “Do you understand? Ghost shows no mercy when provoked.”

He nodded his head furiously before crawling back to his crew and helping them up. They didn’t waste time and left with fear etched on their faces, just like seeing a ghost for real.

“Well, that sums it up. Time to go home,” I said, cracking my neck as I stretched my arms behind my head. I walked to my bike and hopped on it before starting the engine.

Engines roared back to life behind me like growling wolves.

Tyler whistled as he swung onto his bike beside mine. “Did you see the look on that kid’s face? I thought he pissed himself,” he laughed.

Ash smirked as she pulled her helmet on. “Ghost strikes again.”

I just smiled. This wasn’t the first time this happened. This wasn’t even nothing compared to previous encounters with other gangs.

I glanced at my crew through the visor’s glare. A familiar warmth creeping into my chest.

“This isn’t bad,” I whispered and smiled. “Let’s ride,” I said into the comms.

“Hell yes!”

We rode through the dark of the night with the moonlight as our guide above and the blinding headlights leading our way forward.

“Hey, Ghost!” Tyler screamed as he tried to keep up with my speed. “Did you hear? The Crimson Fangs have begun attacking packs one after another. I heard they’re looking for someone named Raven. Any idea why?”

My breath hitched, hearing the name I long forgotten. “The Crimson Fangs? Never heard of them,” I said, tightening my grip on the handlebar.

“Really? But isn’t your name Ra–”

I didn’t wait for Tyler to finish and sped up my bike. He didn’t have to say that name twice, not when I was listening. Raven was weak… Ghost was different. Although I was curious why the Crimson Fangs were looking for Raven, it would be better for me to keep the fact that Raven was me.

The Crimson Fangs, huh?

Did they also attack the Iron Howlers? I pursed my lips at the sudden thought.

“Well, it’s no longer my business. It isn’t Ghost’s business.”