LOGINRaven's POVIt was still dark when I woke up the next morning, and I was extremely restless, still thinking about Jaxon. I pulled on my clothes, laced my boots and stepped out.The camp where our entourage was lodged was already stirring. A few men stood with their eyes half-closed, others checked their weapons. I walked up, ready to tell them what I suspected, but before I could get far into it, one of the older guards cut me off.“We’ve guessed it, Luna Raven." He muttered.I frowned. “Guessed what?”“That your father has our Alpha. We’ve had his men circling all night, watching us like we’re next.""Yes." Another guard nodded. “They’ll probably make their move tonight. We were just talking about it.”“Then we have to leave now." I instructed. "We’ll ride back to Night Howler’s Pack, get the numbers we need and return for my husband.”They didn’t argue and we didn’t waste time. Within minutes, saddles were tightened and our bags were thrown over shoulders. The sky was still black, s
Raven's POV I tried not to look at the clock again, but my eyes kept drifting back. First hour, fine. Maybe my father had more to say. Maybe they were still talking. Men like them never used two words when twenty could drag it out longer. By the second hour, I was already pacing around the room. The party downstairs had already disbanded, and through the window, I'd watched the nobles from other packs leave my father's mansion. The fire had gone out in the hearth and I didn’t light it again. I didn’t need warmth. I needed Jaxon. Third hour, I was sitting on the edge of the bed, my fingers tapping a nervous rhythm into the mattress. He said he’d be back soon. Someone knocked and I jumped up, half sure it would be him. It wasn’t. It was a servant girl holding a folded set of clothes. "From the Lady Elinor," she mumbled, holding them out. "It is for the banquet tomorrow night." I took the silk clothes without really looking at them, and dumped them impatiently on the bed. "Have
Jaxon's POV The first thing I noticed when I woke was the ache in my head. It pulsed like a tribal drum. My arms were deadweight behind me, wrists strapped together with rattling chains. I tried to lift them but the movement sent pain up my spine. My body felt far away. My mind was slow. The air reeked of sweat and must and old blood. Somewhere nearby, water dripped in steady rhythm. I rolled onto my side, or tried to. My body barely cooperated. I was inside a cage. Iron bars sealed me off from the rest of the room. I tugged at the restraints again and felt metal bite into my skin. The chains rattled weakly; I had no strength left. I stared at the floor, the damp, dark patches that I knew was my own blood. No doubt about it, this wasn’t a regular cell. This was meant for animals. Alpha Viktor had planned this, every moment of it. I should have never brought Raven here, into harm's way. I wanted to shift so that I could heal, but I couldn’t. I was cut off from everything that made
Jaxon's POV The servant walked ahead of me and didn’t look back. He walked quickly, almost like he had somewhere better to be. There were mo greetings from passing staff, or guards posted at the usual corners that I remembered from my last visit to this place. “Where is Alpha Viktor?” I asked, increasing my pace to meet up with the servant, who didn't reply me. He just turned the corner sharply and continued walking. Warning bells began to ring in my head. We reached a heavy wooden door flanked by two guards, but something caught me off guard. Their armor wasn’t Viktor’s, or mine, or anyone I could place. No crest, no insignia, nothing. I braced for the worst. Then the door swung open, and Alpha Viktor stepped out with a practiced smile. “Ah, Jaxon. You took your time.” He opened his arms in welcome, voice warm and rehearsed. For a moment, I told myself I was being paranoid. Maybe the guards were new or maybe the servant was just unusually quiet. Maybe nothing was wrong. “Come
Raven's POVWhen Jaxon found me, I was standing just outside in the hallway, trying to catch my breath. I felt as though my head was about to explode with anger.Jaxon walked up beside me and placed a gentle hand on my shoulder. "Are you okay?""Fine," I rasped, not looking at him."Liar."I gave a short laugh, but it cracked in the middle. "You didn’t have to follow me.""Yes. I did. You're my wife."I rubbed my face. "I don't know why I thought this would go differently. I don't know why I came. I should have listened to you and stayed behind at Night Howler's pack."Jaxon sighed and leaned against the wall next to me. "You came because it's your dad. You never have to apologise for that."I looked up at him, and wondered how I could explain that I was angry and sad at the same time. "He let her say it. He let her say it, and then he agreed with her.""I know.""I should've expected it.""That doesn’t make it hurt less."We stood there a moment. Then I reached for his hand again. "T
Jaxon's POVThree days after the council meeting, we set out for Alpha Viktor’s estate. I had tried to talk Raven out of it one last time while she strapped a dagger to her thigh."You don't have to go," I'd murmured, standing behind her as she faced the mirror. "No one would fault you for it."She'd pulled her tunic over the blade and turned to me. "He’s still my father. And I’m not a child anymore."That was the end of it.The journey was quiet with only the sound of horses and our own breathing. Rose rode ahead with Liam, but I could tell by how she kept glancing back that her mind was with us. She hadn't been to her home pack since the wedding. Just a few months, and yet the place still managed to change.The gates to Alpha Viktor’s estate opened slower than usual. It felt almost like the place was dragging its feet to let us in. I nudged my horse forward and caught up to Raven, keeping my eyes on the grand entrance."It looks smaller now," Raven muttered beside me.I glanced at h
Raven’s POV I tried. Every time I saw Yara, I tried to speak to her and tried to make her understand that I never meant for any of this to happen. But she refused to listen. The first time, she walked past me without a word. The second time, she met my eyes with a coldness that I had never seen
Jaxon’s POV I had never been a man who begged. Yet here I was, standing before Alpha Viktor, begging for what should have been mine from the beginning. “You have to understand that I cannot marry Yara.” I implored Alpha Viktor. “Raven is my mate. I have already marked her. If you want this allia
Raven’s POV The second we stepped into my room, I turned and shoved Jaxon hard in the chest. “What the hell was that?” I snapped at him. “You had a meeting with my father and said all that in front of Yara? You stood there and declared I was your mate and your wife like she wasn’t in the damn roo
Raven's POV The room went silent after Jaxon’s words. Every pair of eyes fixed on us, scrutinizing us, almost tearing us apart. My father’s gaze was the hardest of them all. I could see the disbelief in his face, the thin line of his mouth tightening even more as he looked between Jaxon and me. “







