Chapter 2

Raven’s POV

Getting to his chambers, his guards blocked the entrance.

“You can't go in!”

“Why?! He's still my mate, so tell him I'm waiting for him!”

I pushed against their bodies.

“Kane, I know you can hear me! Come out!”

His door pushed open, revealing his annoying face. I could tear him down with my bare hands.

“Traitor!” I spat from a distance. “So all of this was because you wanted to bring in another mistress?”

His eyes scanned the maids and guards who had gathered to watch.

“Come in!”

I followed him, my heart racing faster than usual. I watched him sit on his bed with an indifferent expression.

“So, what is all this shouting about?”

“Do you really believe that I stole the golden scepter?”

He smirked and nodded.

“It's not what I think that matters. It's what you did.”

“I didn't do it!” My eyes burned as tears slipped down my cheeks. “You know…I could never steal.”

“But it was found in your custody, Raven. What was it doing there? Now my hands are tied. The council has made its decision.”

“You are the council!” My eyes filled with tears. “You can decide whether to punish me or not.”

He sprang to his feet, and his expressionless face pierced my heart even more.

“I'm sorry, Raven.”

I jolted to my feet and reached for his hands, but he pulled back.

“How is it so easy for you to say that? I'm your mate!”

“Not anymore. My lover will be arriving tomorrow. I would advise you to stay indoors, at least until your ultimatum expires.”

Wiping my eyes, I realized there was no use begging someone who didn't care what happened to me.

“Go to hell, Kane!”

I stormed out of his chambers and ran back to mine. Throwing myself onto my bed, I wailed my heart out.

After crying until I could barely breathe, a strange confidence swept over me.

“It's no use crying for someone who never loved you.”

But I loved Kane. I'd loved him ever since we were kids, yet I'd never been enough.

Reaching for my bags, I began to pack them. There was nothing left for me in this packhouse. No one wanted me here, not even the man I'd given my everything to, who now thought I was a thief.

I guessed it was time to leave.

The sun rose brightly the next morning, giving me the fresh start I needed to get moving.

It was time to move on. My heart still ached whenever I thought of Kane, but I had to let go. I had to.

For convenience, I chose one big box to pack all my clothes. I was arranging my things when a pounding knock sounded at the door.

“Who's there?”

I reached the door and opened it, only to find an awfully familiar face.

Elora.

What was she doing here?

She brushed past my shoulder into the room, followed by an entourage of maids.

The last I'd heard, she was in the States. So how had she returned, and with such an attitude?

Her flashy clothes and jewelry made her shine in the room.

“This is my new room, so get out!”

How could I have forgotten the most annoying thing about Elora? Her pride and condescending attitude.

“Excuse me!” I blocked her path. “What are you doing in my room?”

Her face twisted into a disgusting frown.

“Your room? Aren't you the thief who tried to take the Alpha from me?”

“No!” I shook my head. “I'm not a thief, and the old Alpha made sure he confirmed that River and I were mates before allowing us to be together. It's not my fault.”

A mocking smirk emerged on her face.

“That's your business. I'm back now, with my man, so you can take your weak self out of here!”

She turned to the maids.

“Throw those clothes out of here!”

“Hey!” I protested. “Don't you dare touch my things!”

They ignored my yelling and pushed my bags and clothes out of the door.

“Stop!”

I tried to push them away, but their numbers gave them the advantage.

Craaaash!

My savings box slammed against the tiles, shattering into pieces.

“Oh no!”

I rushed over to pick up my money. It was the savings I'd accumulated over three years, and it was my lifeline at the moment.

My hands hurriedly gathered every single dollar bill, but when I reached for the last one, Elora's hand grabbed it firmly.

“What do you think you're doing?” she sneered at me. “How dare you try to steal right in front of me?!”

She pushed me, and my head struck the wall.

“Are you mad?!” My heart pounded, and my fists clenched, ready to strike.

I was done holding everything in and being a pawn in everyone else's story.

“This is my savings, so how dare you call me a thief?”

Elora paused for a moment before raising her hand and slapping me across the cheek.

The sting made me stagger, but something else stirred inside me. A surge of unfamiliar power rushed through my body, and sharp claws suddenly extended from my fingertips.

I couldn't control myself. I lunged at her, sending her crashing into the wall.

For a moment, the satisfaction of finally fighting back overwhelmed me.

At least until the guards rushed in and seized me, throwing me out of the packhouse.

My satisfied smirk disappeared when the guards shut the estate gates in my face.

Only then did I realize that all I had was my phone in my pocket and the little money I'd managed to stash away.

“At least I did something worthwhile,” I muttered repeatedly as I walked down the lonely road.

After walking for a while without seeing a single cab, my feet felt too heavy to lift. But I couldn't stop, especially with the thought of rogues attacking me.

That was when the wind brushed against my face, lifting my hair without letting it fall.

My heart began to pound recklessly. A strange fire welled up inside me, and a wave of unfamiliar passion swept through my body.

All my efforts to stop the reaction were futile. If anything, it was getting stronger.

Then a black limousine pulled up in front of me.

The back door opened, revealing a man with long legs and broad shoulders, dressed in a black tuxedo.

The strange sensation burning inside me intensified until my legs froze.

I watched him approach, his blue eyes locked onto mine.

“My name is Everest Caine. It took me five years to find you…my mate.”