đ Chapter One: The Queen of Wolves
The scent of blood clung to the pine trees like a promise. Raven wiped it from her blade, letting the dying rogueâs gurgling breath fade into the hush of the forest. Another fool thinking they could challenge her for the throne. They never learn growled shadow. âAlpha, the perimeter is clear.â Luca, her beta, approached, boots silent on the damp earth. His eyes flickered to the corpse. âThird one this month.â She sheathed her blade, ignoring the burn in her arms, the blood splattered across her boots. âTheyâll keep coming. Let them.â She was Raven. Her wolf was shadow and she was the queen they all feared. And that's the way she liked it. She turned, her boots crunching against the frost-covered ground as she stalked through the pine forest, cold wind tugging strands of black hair from her braid. The moon hung low and swollen above, bathing the clearing in silver light, and her golden eyes glowed faintly as her wolf paced beneath her skin. She closed her eyes, breathing in the scent of pine and cold earth, letting her wolf settle, feeling the deep, endless bond with her land and pack. They feared her, and they respected her. And that's how it needed to be. As she turned to head back to the compound, the wind shifted, carrying a scent that made her body jolt, her wolf clawing inside her skin. Sandalwood and rain purred shadow. Raven snift the air ................... human she growled Her wolf roared inside her, mate shadow howled No raven shouted Not now. Not ever. She couldnât afford this, not with rogues clawing at the borders and the council watching for any weakness. But as the scent grew stronger, the world tilted, and for the first time in years, she felt something like fear. Her golden eyes scanned the tree line, sharp and cold, seeking the source of the scent that was tearing her apart inside. Then she saw him. A figure stumbled into view, completely unaware of the predator watching him. Dark hair, storm gray eyes, confusion written across every inch of his human face. A worn leather satchel hung at his side, and he held a small lantern that flickered in the dark. The scent hit her again, stronger, like lightning slicing down her spine. MATE!!!!!!!!!! Shadow howled, clawing at her ribs, demanding she shift, demanding she claim what was hers. He looked up, meeting her gaze, and everything inside her went still. âOh,â he breathed, taking a step back, the lantern swinging in his grip. She could feel the bond snap into place, the universe shifting, aligning them whether she wanted it or not, the air between them changed, pulling at her like a magnetic storm. Shadows claws pricked at ravens hands as she stepped forward, her expression cold, controlled, even as the bond screamed at her to close the distance and take him. âYouâre human,â she said, her voice low, dangerous. His storm gray eyes widened, and he swallowed hard. âAnd youâre⌠not.â For a moment, the forest was silent, the moonlight filtering through the trees, the weight of fate pressing down on them so heavy it hurt to breathe. She could kill him now. Reject him. Walk away. Or she could let the mate bond take her, claim him, and let the world burn for daring to challenge them. Her wolf wanted to lunge, to take, to taste. But Raven was Alpha. She would not bend to fate. âRun,â she told him, voice steady, cold. Because if he didnât.................. She might just claim him. And as he stumbled backward, she asked herself silently: What happens if he doesnât run fast enough? What happens if she canât let him go?Chapter Thirty-Six: Broken OathsThe air was heavy with smoke and frost as dawn rose over the compound.Warriors moved quietly, tending to wounds, repairing barricades, cleaning blood from blades in silence, broken only by the crackle of the fire.Raven moved among them, checking injuries, offering a word or a touch of reassurance, Shadow a comforting purr beneath her skin.Nico and Maya helped carry water and blankets, the boy they had saved clutching a mug of broth, eyes wide but watching everything with quiet awe.They were pack now.Ragnar found Raven in the training yard, her hands wrapped as she helped a young warrior correct his stance despite the bruise blooming on her ribs.âYouâre supposed to be resting,â Ragnar murmured, stepping close.âSo are you,â she countered, not resisting as he slid his arm around her waist, steadying her.âLoki can take drills,â Ragnar said softly. âCome with me.âShe hesitated, then nodded, letting him guide her toward the treeline, away from curio
Chapter Thirty-Five: Shadows in the ForestThe howls came again just before dawn.Low and mournful calls across the frost-heavy air, echoing off the ridge lines beyond the compound. A call that was not a greeting, but a challenge.Shadow paced beneath Ravenâs skin, restless, her growl vibrating through Ravenâs bones.Theyâre testing us again, Shadow growled.Ragnar stood at Ravenâs side, storm calm but ready, lightning flickering across his fingertips as he scanned the treeline, eyes narrowed.âTheyâre close,â he murmured.The pack gathered in the courtyard, warriors gripping weapons, young wolves ushered inside, the scent of tension sharp and metallic.Loki strapped blades to his wrists, his eyes dark. âHow many do you think?âLuca checked the barricades along the southern fence, shaking his head. âToo many to be a hunting party.âRaven stood before them, her presence grounding, Shadow swirling gold in her eyes.âThis is our land,â she said, her voice calm, carrying in the cold morni
Chapter Thirty-Four: BondsThe morning dawned soft, the air sharp with the promise of winter, but the compound felt lighter.It was the first day in a long time that did not begin with fear.Raven found Maya in the training yard, bundled in a too-big sweater, clutching the stuffed rabbit she refused to let go of. She watched the young warriors spar with wide eyes, bouncing on her toes as if itching to join.Raven knelt beside her, Shadow warm beneath her skin.âYou want to learn?â she asked.Mayaâs eyes darted up, cautious but bright. âCan girls learn, too?âRaven smiled softly. âGirls can definitely learn.âMaya grinned, a gap where a tooth had fallen out showing, clutching her rabbit tighter.Nearby, Nico stood with Luca, who was showing him how to hold a training blade. His movements were awkward, but there was a determined set to his jaw as he mimicked the stances, sweat beading on his forehead in the cold morning.Ragnar stepped up beside Nico, correcting his grip gently, lightni
Chapter Thirty-Three: New PackThe morning after the trial was quiet, frost melting beneath the first pale sunlight, leaving the compound soft and still.The council was gone.Their cars had rolled down the dirt road before sunrise, leaving only the scent of tension and defeat behind. They had tried to break Ravenâs pack, to take what they had built.They had failed.Raven moved slowly through the compound, her ribs tightly bound beneath her sweater, every breath a reminder of what she had fought for.She found Ragnar in the training yard, lightning sparking softly around his knuckles as he oversaw drills. Warriors moved with renewed purpose, discipline returning after days of fear.âYou should be resting,â he said without turning, though she heard the warmth in his voice.âSo should you,â she replied, brushing a hand against his arm as she passed.His eyes softened, following her, the bond between them humming with quiet certainty.They found Nico waiting by the gates.He stood with
Chapter Thirty-Two: Trial by CombatThe next morning came and it was cold and merciless.Frost clung to the grass as the pack gathered in the training field, breath misting in the sharp air, tension coiling like a living thing.The council stood at the edge of the ring, enforcers forming a silent wall of threat behind them. Sorenâs pale eyes swept the pack with quiet satisfaction, as if she could already taste Ravenâs defeat.Raven stood in the center of the ring, boots planted firmly in the frost, Shadow pacing beneath her skin, calm, ready.Across from her stood the councilâs chosen champion.A giant of a man, shoulders like stone, scars twisting across his arms and throat, his wolf scent heavy and sharp, filled with the promise of violence. His eyes were cold, dead, as if nothing human remained.The pack watched in silence, fear and hope flickering in their eyes.Ragnar stood at the edge of the ring, lightning sparking softly around his fists, his eyes locked on Raven, their bond a
Chapter Thirty-One: Lines Drawn The council did not wait until dawn to strike again. Before the frost had melted from the rooftops, a summons came. Raven was to meet Soren in the councilâs temporary chambers...............alone. Ragnarâs hand closed around her wrist as she moved to leave. âYou donât have to go alone.â Her amber eyes lifted to his, Shadow stirring, protective, but calm. âThey will see it as weakness if I donât.â His jaw tightened, storm swirling behind his eyes. âI wonât be far.â She squeezed his hand once before letting go, stepping into the cold morning air, the fog curling around her boots as she walked. Inside, the councilâs scent was sharp: old paper, cold metal, a hint of blood beneath it all. Soren sat at the head of the table, the other council members flanking her like vultures, eyes calculating, watching every breath Raven took. âYou wished to speak,â Raven said, folding her arms. Soren leaned back, her braid sliding over her shoulder. âYouâve built