All Chapters of The Raven Wolf King: Wolfless: Chapter 51 - Chapter 60

Valeria “There you are. Sorry for the manhandling.” My eyes adjust to the light, and my head hurts. I try to get up. “Slowly. You’ll still be weak for about another hour.” “What… happened? Where am I?” I sit up, soft linens covering me. I’m in a bed. Stephan smiles. “I brought you here.” “Did you… did you drug me?” “Well, I didn’t want to hurt you, and this was the best way.” I glance toward the window. I see the castle in the distance. I’m in one of the pack houses. “Why did you do this, Stephan?” “Because I’ve had enough. I don’t want to risk you anymore.” “Risk me?” “Risk you falling for someone else. Risk someone else having you.” His smile fades, anger flashing across his face. “I saw you. I saw you two kissing—you and Raphael! At the hall of the hospital wing. What do you even see in him? Why did you let him kiss you? That man is a frozen iceberg. He can’t love anyone, and he certainly can’t love someone like you. Not the way you’re meant to be loved.” Oh no… He

Valeria “You…are to be King?” Slowly, he nods as if he himself doesn’t believe it. “It was always a possibility, but I didn’t think it would actually happen. I didn’t want this. I don’t want it. That throne was never supposed to be mine.” I’ve never seen him like this. This is an idea he fully rejects. “How bad is Tobias?” I ask. “I don’t know. But I’m going to find out.” He walks out, and I rush to catch up to him. “If there’s a chance that he can continue his duties as the next king, he can have the crown,” he says. I hope so too, because I don’t want to be the royal Luna. This wasn’t something I signed up for. When we get to Tobias, he’s in bed, covered in gauze. His face is completely concealed by the wrappings. Roseana stands up from where she sat. “How is he?” Raphael asks. “His right side took the brunt of it. The doctors say he’s stable, but he lost his right eye, and the other barely functions. His right ear is injured, and the tendons in his neck, shoulder, and arm

Valeria “Grimm, please…” “He’s going to kill us,” Jade cries. “He won’t.” Grimm takes a step toward us, baring his teeth. “Grimm! Stop!” His stare clings to Jade, and I realize he has no intention of stopping. When he lunges at us, I push Jade back. She hits the ground as Grimm slams into me. He rises off me, eyes locked on Jade, moving toward her. It’s clear I’m not his target. I leap onto his back, arms straining to choke him, desperate to buy her time. But he rolls hard, his massive weight crushing me. Gasping for breath, I force myself upright just in time to see him launch at Jade again. “NO!” I lift my hand, and ravens crash into him as he falls on her, pushing him back. I crawl to Jade and kneel in front of her, my body a shield. The ravens scatter after striking Grimm, their wings vanishing into the air. I raise my hand toward him as he begins to rise. “Don’t make me do this, Grimm. Stop, please.” For a heartbeat, he hesitates, but then his steps turn into a stal

Valeria “Valeria.” Raphael tries to catch my hand, but I take a step back. Everyone stares, the whole festivity grinding to a halt. “You… promised,” I whisper now. “You know I love you. You know you’re my only one. I’ll explain, but not now.” “NO!” I shout. “YOU PROMISED! AND I BELIEVED YOU!” “Valeria, I had no choice. Astaroth wouldn’t accept anyone but the crown prince to be mated with his daughter. I had to accept. Please, I’ll explain—just not here.” “I don’t care! You promised! I trusted you! You know what that meant! After everything I went through—why do I do it? Why do I hope? Hope only hurts.” “Valeria…” He tries to get close, but again, I pull back. “This is it,” I tell him. “This is the moment you decide whether you lose me or not. Me, or her.” “Please don’t do this. You don’t understand what’s happening. I have no choice but to accept… for now—please, trust me.” “He’s doing his duty, girl,” the King speaks. “You are his first mate, meaning you’ll still be the R

Valeria “Did you even sleep?” I ask Dagar. “I have slept for too long. Too many years. My body can hold out a little longer.” “Did you sleep?” Grimm asks me. I sigh. “Barely.” He gives me a sympathetic look. “Sit,” Dagar says. He has led us outside where he stood last night. It’s now morning, but the sun hasn’t even come out yet. Grimm and I sit on the ground. Dagar sits in front of us, a bonfire burning beside him. “Are you ready to learn?” he asks. “Yes.” “I’ll teach you how to use your raven powers, but that’s not all you possess, Valeria.” He looks directly at me. I frown. “What do you mean?” “Grimm and I can command ravens at will. Because of my witch mother, magic runs through our veins, but only the women in our bloodline can wield it. Only you can use that power as she once did.” “You… can’t?” “No.” I look at my hands, muttering. “I can do magic?” “Yes. My mother was a witch, a hag to be exact.” “What’s the difference?” “Hags are witches that come from ancie