In truth, Raven was far from calm despite his composed exterior. When the bedroom door closed and he was alone in the privacy of his room, a different expression finally slipped across his face.
The scene in the hallway replayed in his mind once more. On one side was a noble, dignified figure; on the other, a small, humble one. The stark contrast stabbed into Raven’s eyes like a sharp thorn, filling him with an unbearable discomfort. Turning a noble princess into a lowly servant, wasn’t that exactly what he had wanted? So why did a pang of bitterness swell in his chest? Was he feeling sympathy for her? That kind of emotion had no place in his heart, not for the daughter of the man who had murdered his father.Raven stood motionless by the window for a long while. The cold night breeze rustled through his silver-gray hair, yet it could not calm the storm raging inside him.He turned away and walked to the cloak rack, removing the heavy, cumbersome outfit he wore. PushingRaven woke with a jolt, his eyes opening to the dim, lingering darkness. Instinctively, he reached for the space beside him, only to touch the cold, empty sheets devoid of any warmth.The sun had yet to rise. Where could Lyra have gone at this hour?Raven sat there, dazed, his mind hazy and sluggish, until his eyes landed on the hourglass resting on the wooden shelf. Only then did he realize… he had slept straight through until the following night.This wasn’t normal at all.A wave of foreboding churned in his chest. Raven threw off the covers and hurriedly dressed, striding out of the room, his voice slicing through the quiet like a sharp blade,“Someone come!”The attendants waiting outside the guest quarters rushed over upon hearing his command, bowing their heads respectfully.Raven wasted no words. His eyes darkened, his voice cold enough to chill the air,“Where’s Lyra?”The attendant hesitated slightly, their expression flickering with unea
Raven felt utterly captivated by Lyra's grey-blue eyes, like being pulled into a boundless, icy, and mesmerizing ocean, unable to break free. His heart pounded wildly, each beat so fierce it felt as though it might burst through his chest, his reason stretched to its limit.He didn't know what he should do, only that his instincts were leading the way.Unconsciously, the distance between them grew smaller and smaller, their breaths mingling, just a slight tilt forward and Raven could finally taste the lips he'd yearned for day and night.But Lyra didn’t step back like she always had before. She stood still, eyes shimmering with an indescribable mix of emotions, as though she, too, was waiting for something.The moment their lips touched, a jolt of electricity surged down Raven’s spine, and the entire world seemed to come to a halt.Brilliant fireworks exploded in his mind, sweeping away all the painful memories, the distance, the countless misunderstandings, the
Inside the private chamber, only Raven and a tall warrior remained. The man was Noah, the leader of the expedition to the eternal snow peaks of the Arvani Mountains.Noah bowed slightly before him, his eyes calm, his demeanor respectful as he presented a stack of aged parchment, its edges weathered and frayed, as though corroded by frost and time.“Alpha, during this expedition, aside from retrieving the Glacialis Herba, our forces also discovered the remnants of a long-lost civilization.” Noah paused, his hoarse voice tinged with solemnity. “It lies deep within the heart of the Arvani range, buried beneath the eternal ice.”A flash of curiosity sparked in Raven’s eyes, an interest for a world unknown to him.Noah continued, “We thoroughly searched the entire area. There were no signs of life. No bodies, no remains of any kind. But the architecture still stood, ancient ruins scattered across the ice. Though broken and worn, it was clear this had once been the territo
A heavy silence fell over the room, as if even the air itself had frozen.Raven's sharp eyes fixed on her, unwavering yet patient, waiting for her response. But Lyra remained silent, neither admitting nor denying his words. Her gaze lowered, long lashes veiling the storm in her eyes.After a brief moment, she slowly stepped forward, placing the steaming bowl of medicine into Raven’s hand.He said nothing more and obediently drank it all.When he finished, Lyra spoke, her voice soft as a whisper, yet each word cut like a blade,“Whether that bond exists or not… does it even matter anymore?”Before Raven could reply, Lyra's voice interrupted him, calm, but layered with undeniable pressure,“I’m no longer a lone rogue… nor am I the lowly servant from your pack.”She lifted her head, her eyes meeting his directly, unwavering and resolute,“Raven, I am the Luna of Ivyshade.”Her words drifted through the air, light as a breeze, yet each syllable cr
In the days that followed, the tense, chaotic atmosphere within the Blood Moon pack gradually stabilized. The primary reason was Raven's steadily improving condition, his complexion grew rosier by the day, his breathing became steady, and though his body had not fully recovered, the imminent danger had passed.The affairs within the pack were also swiftly reorganized by Callen and the elders. Despite the turmoil left behind by the recent incident, the sense of unity within the pack began to rekindle.The news that the Blood Moon warriors had successfully returned from Moonshade Valley further fueled everyone’s hope. They brought with them Sylverleaf, a rare herb essential for crafting an antidote to suppress the Thanorite toxin.Under Lyra's meticulous guidance and the aid of Ivyshade's healers, the precious medicine was quickly brewed. In no time, doses of the suppressant were distributed to every warrior and civilian affected by the poisoning. The most severe symptoms
Time passed in suffocating silence, every second stretching endlessly. The room was filled with the bitter scent of medicine. Gradually, Raven's faint breathing became more stable, the sickly pallor on his face faded slightly. Under careful care, the fragile pulse on his wrist grew steadier, each rhythmic beat declaring his stubborn will to survive.Seeing that the situation had finally stabilized for now, Lyra allowed herself to relax slightly. She slowly stood up, carefully entrusted Raven to Healer Elric's care, then walked over to the desk in the corner of the room, cluttered with herbs and alchemy tools.Without wasting a second, Lyra got to work. Her slender hands glided across drawers, swiftly pulling out rare herbs, her mind calculating as she scribbled notes and precisely listed the necessary items.Seeing this, Healer Elric frowned and approached, eyes filled with worry,“Luna, you should rest. You’ve only just survived Nightfang's Curse, your body hasn't f