What A Mess Raven Novels & Stories

My patience is wearing thin, and the last thing I want is to sit and play politics with a man who just spat on the woman I care about. Behind me, Joshua and Nashon remain quiet, tension simmering in the room like heat from a sun we can't escape. Mason starts talking about territory alignments, warrior numbers, supplies, but I hear none of it. My mind is still outside that door, With Raven. Outside the building, Raven is sitting on a cracked stone bench beneath a dying tree. She’s rubbing her hands together, avoiding Elijah’s eyes. I can feel her energy even from inside. She’s hurting. She thinks she made a mistake coming here.

Growling, Raven tightened her fist, like she would strange me, the Alpha of Iron Howlers. “ I suppose you know this act isn't funny, right?” She snapped. “ You must stop getting on my nerves, ugh?” “ But I wasn't doing anything to get on your nerves…I really collapsed earlier” A sly smile flickered my face that caused Raven to want to scream. She stood glancing at me while I consumed oatmeal, her eyes burning. “ If you continue pulling stunts like this, I'm sorry I, might just end this mission”

“And also, I’m not much use when dehydrated.” Emerson groaned, burying his face in his hands. “This is why I don’t ask for help. I’m not your servant, Raven. Go get your own water.” Raven shrugged, standing up. “Fine, fine. Be grumpy.” He ambled toward the kitchen. Moments later, a gasp reverberated from the kitchen. “Oh my GOD!” Raven’s dramatic voice boomed causing Emerson to pause mid-thought. “What is this? Are we hosting a royal banquet? A masquerade ball? Assorted dishes everywhere!”

Cassidy waved me over, moving her bag so I could sit. I chuckled and nodded as I took the seat next to her. “Hi. I’m Riko Shiraishi,” I introduced myself. “I know. We have 3rd-period art class together,” she smiled. “I’m Cassidy Summers,” she added, offering her hand. I nodded and shook her hand. “Sorry I didn’t recognize you,” I sighed. “Not a problem. I remember my first day at Ravenwood. Its hell being the new kid,” she assured. “When did you transfer to Ravenwood?” I asked. “A couple of years ago. Things never change in how they treat the new kids, well how they treat the new girls,” she frowned.

Raven was rummaging in the kitchens, pulling out leftovers. She didn’t hide how upset she was. Raven felt the need to walk or run to release her nervous energy. The urge to scream remained constant within her. “So, I’m only here because I’m trouble anywhere else. This Pack won’t recognize me as their Luna even though I’m mated to their Alpha and do everything a Luna is supposed to do. Right got it.” Raven knew this enforcer didn’t know about the anger she kept bottled up that he now poked at. He attempted to dislodge the cork of the champagne bottle by stomping on it with the heel of his boot.

After the argument in the car, Raven was surprised to receive a text message with an address and time for the gig. He debated whether to go as he changed shirts three times in front of his bathroom mirror, finally settling on a plain black t-shirt and jeans. He shrugged on his leather biker’s jacket and ran a comb through his hair. “Shit,” he told himself in the mirror as he fidgeted with his hair and ran his nails through the stubble on his cheeks contemplating the value of shaving. “You are like a nervous virgin dressing for her prom date.”

He was a werewolf, why should I care. “The demons in the area have found a way to bring about an infection that turns humans and wolves alike into demonic slaves. I need your help to find what is cause it.” He glanced at me, “Raven is the only one who can stop it, she has come into contact with the substance a few years ago and it did not affect her at all.” Dustin’s and my mouth fell open. I had been trying to find the source of this plague that was striking our people down, but I had no leads.

A signal that Eidolon’s veil had been torn. I didn’t expect an immediate reply. But we got one. INCOMING RESPONSE RAVEN. I blinked. Raven was a name I hadn’t heard in years. She’d been a cyber-splicer during the last Phoenix Run. One of the best, until she vanished after a failed extraction in Mumbai. Most assumed she’d been ghosted. Or killed. The message was short, clipped, and encoded in her old cipher. “I saw the fire. You lit it. I’m inbound. Don’t move.”

His eyes, dark and intense, held mine for a long, agonizing moment before he turned his attention back to me. “Damien, I…” I began, my voice trembling. He walked closer to me, closing the distance between us until we were just a breath apart. His eyes, like chips of obsidian, locked onto mine, and I knew in that instant there was no turning back from this confrontation. It was either my last day, or a day I would lose a part of myself I didn’t even know I could afford to sacrifice. “Raven!” he growled, his voice low and guttural, his breath fanning across my face.

She simply stood there, waiting. Clara watched her through the cameras, her mind racing. "Who is she?" "I don't know," Mira said. "But she's not afraid. That's either very brave or very stupid." "Or very dangerous," Clara said. She activated the external speakers, her voice carrying through the frozen air. "Who are you? What do you want?" The woman looked up at the mountain, her eyes finding the camera. She smiled, a cold, calculated expression. "My name is Raven," she said. "I represent the Black Sun. I'm here to deliver a message."