Raven’s POVEve's voice, with its familiar warmth, was a balm to my unsettled nerves. The connection I felt with her, even just through the phone, had a way of soothing the storms within me."Hello, Raven," she greeted me, her tone a mix of comfort and curiosity.“Hello, Eve. Is everything okay with you?" I inquired, my concern palpable."Well... everything is fine now, yes," she responded after a pause that seemed to stretch into eternity.My heart skipped a beat, anxiety gripping me. The worst scenarios played out in my mind, and I fought to keep my composure. "Tell me what happened?" I pressed, my voice betraying the worry that surged through me.“There was an attack earlier in the day,” she said quietly."God, Eve, are you okay?" Panic laced my words. "I'll be right there. Where are you? Are you hurt?" I bombarded her with questions, the horror of the situation driving my urgency.She chuckled softly, a sound that eased a fraction of my anxiety. As long as she could laugh, I reaso
Ryan's POVEve and I sat in a momentary silence, the weight of our recent discussions still hanging in the air. The revelations about Cari had stirred a sense of unease.James' call from earlier is the other more urgent thing on my mind and I felt the need to address the concerns with James directly. "I have to go, honey," I informed Eve, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. ''I'll be back soon.''Her response was immediate, confusion etching across her features. She rose from her seat, a determined look in her eyes as she hurried after me."Where are you going? I want to come too," she said, her hand reaching out to grip my arm, a plea in her touch.I paused, looking into her eyes. "Eve, I need to handle some pack business with James. It might not be safe for you to come along. Stay here; I'll be back before you know it.""I want to help and be involved. And I won't be in danger with you." she urged, a hint of worry in her voice."Please just wait for me here. I am already injure
Eve’s POVI stirred from a light doze to the feeling of a gentle kiss on my forehead. Ryan stood over me, a soft smile playing on his lips. I greeted him lazily, surprised that I had dozed off while waiting for him."Oh, you're home," I mumbled, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. "I didn't know I fell asleep. I was waiting for you.""I missed you," Ryan confessed, his words carrying a warmth that resonated within me. I chuckled, trying to shake off the last remnants of sleep."How long have you been gone?" I asked, getting up from the couch to join him."Just a few hours," he replied, pulling me into a comforting hug. His lips pressed against my hair, and for a moment, everything felt right. However, beneath the surface, I sensed a lingering tension, a silent acknowledgment of the conflict we hadn't quite resolved.We sat in companionable silence, a delicate atmosphere hanging between us, filled with unspoken words. I know it's important to Ryan that we get our bond back, and I know that
Eve’s POV"Do you want to watch a movie?" I offered with a smile. "Of course, if you have nothing else to do."Ryan looked at me and returned my smile."I choose the movie, though," he said, extending a hand to help me up.“You always choose horrors,” I grumbled."I choose them because you're scared, and by the end of the movie, you're so snuggled up inside me that you might leave a mark on me," he grinned."I can hug you without you driving me crazy." I tried to defend myself, but I grabbed his outstretched hand, and we headed to the bedroom with a TV."How much more exciting is it when someone is afraid, and you can protect them?" he said."You think you stand a chance against any of these monsters?" I asked, laughing.We entered the bedroom, and I sat on the bed while he turned on the TV and selected a movie."You think I can't kill them if they threaten my mate's life?" he raised an eyebrow at me. "And what will attack me from scary movies, Eve, a werewolf? You know they are ficti
Raven’s POVThe encounter with the mysterious woman had set my instincts ablaze. The familiar yet elusive scent of a fellow werewolf lingered in the air, compelling me to follow her.As she briskly moved down the narrow streets, I maintained a discreet distance. A reluctance to enter the store she approached didn't escape me. Instead, I forged ahead, ensuring there was no ambiguity in my pursuit. She turned into a dark alley, and my pace quickened. I couldn't afford to lose sight of her.There was an uncanny familiarity about her, a tug at the edges of my memory. How could another werewolf that I know be here in Venice? Rounding the corner, I found only the fading traces of her shadow disappearing down another street.The speed at which she moved was no longer human. Confirmation settled in – she was undoubtedly a werewolf. I made every effort to maintain my distance, but she skillfully eluded my grasp. Eventually, she came to a stop at the end of a dead-end street.My steps quietened
Raven’s POVCari walked with an air of confidence toward the imposing structure of the Crescent Moon Packhouse. There was something about her demeanor that didn't sit right with me. In the alley, she seemed to shrink when confronted, but now, her posture exuded arrogance, almost too much.As the door swung open, two werewolves admitted us into the pack house. The exchange with Cari in the alley replayed in my mind, and her biting retort towards me only made me more suspicious."I didn't know Gamma was your brother," I remarked, trying to maintain a semblance of composure."I didn't know you were going after Eve so hard when you were trying to make a peace deal with her mate," she shot back with a sharpness that fueled my growing annoyance.The tension reached its peak, and I slammed my palm against the wall, effectively blocking her path. She couldn't avoid looking at me now. The shock registered on her face as I leaned in, my voice a low growl near her ear."Listen, you're not from m
Raven’s POVThe living room of the Crescent Moon Packhouse offered a temporary refuge, though tensions hung in the air like a heavy fog. My patience was waning, and clarity remained elusive as Cari and Jackson presented their case."My sister heard of a grouping related to werewolves known to use wolfbane," says Jackson. "Now she's trying to investigate them by pretending to buy from them.""I don't believe this. It looks too comfortable for you," I snap."We have evidence," says Jackson, irritated by my disbelief."Bring them to me so I can see them," I challenge him.They start to get up, and I stop Cari."Only he will go. You two don't need to go."They look at each other but do not protest. Jackson walks out of the room, and I stare at Cari, who is pouting."You blew my cover," she tells me. "I cannot appear before them again now.""We'll see," I say sharply.Jackson returns with a huge folder full of photos and maps. They spread a collection of documents across the table, photogr
Eve’s POVA thunderous knock reverberated through the hotel room, and a playful laugh escaped me as I rose to greet whoever was so eagerly interrupting. My assumption painted a picture of Ryan, as perhaps impatient to resume whatever activities we had initiated earlier. I swung the door open, fully expecting to find him waiting on the other side.“You're coming back early,” I jested, ready to extend a teasing welcome, but my words faltered when Raven stood in the corridor.His expression was a mosaic of horror and apprehension, a cocktail of emotions that sent a shiver down my spine. I was baffled, caught between the lingering laughter of our shared moments and the unsettling gravity etched on Raven's face."Are you okay?" I inquired, a knot of worry forming in my stomach. "What's happening?"“Eve… are you alone?” he asked with caution, his eyes scanning the room."Yes. Why?" I responded, and the confusion was evident in my voice."Are you okay? Is there something bothering you?" he h