RAVENNA POV Darius had said I was his, had said his heart has claimed me as its own. And now Darius was close to me, our bodies almost touching, his lips hovering over mine. My eyes left his lips and raised to his eyes. Those beautiful mismatched eyes were soft, softer than I've ever seen them. And they seem to be asking a question. They seem to be asking for permission. My eyes dropped back to his lips—his wonderful looking lips—and I took a deep breath and pulled away from him, even though my heart was screaming for me to close that space between us and kiss him. My heart was a confused bitch. My head was more reasonable. "We-we can't do this, Darius," I said softly, avoiding his gaze. "This can't happen between us. I am the prisoner, and you are my captor."Even as I said the word they sounded bland, unreasonable, an excuse. I managed to raise my eyes to Darius' and the hurt I saw shining in them had me looking away. Darius cleared his throat and straightened. "Of course," he
DARIUS POV "How did they manage to get past our border without us knowing?!" I yelled at Lucian as he handed my sword. "The guards at the border were killed before they could raise the alarm," he replied, as calm and composed as ever, but I wasn't having any of that. "All the guards couldn't have been killed before they could have rang the alarm," I said. "At least one of the idiots could have escaped and rang the goddamn alarm! What type of fools are you posting at the border, Lucian? Is your job too much that you can't station capable guards?" I knew it wasn't fair, it wasn't Lucian's fault. But I was so fucking furious. We haven't had a rogue attack in years. Why are they starting now? How the hell did they managed to breach my fucking border? Rogues didn't need a lot of reason to attack. Those fools didn't even reason. All they needed was blood, violence. They no longer had the humility to reason, they only think like animals. Lucian clenched his jaw as he fastened his armo
RAVENNA POV"Why are you looking at me like that?" I asked Darius, confused by the look on his face. The look was a mixture of shock, confusion, awe, and confusion again. "Your… your eyes," Darius whispered, his voice tinged with something I couldn't place. I crossed my arms. "Yes, Darius, they're beautiful. I know that," I replied. "But that can't be the reason why you have that look on your face."Darius finally abandoned the spot where I thought his feets were glued on and walked to me, his steps slow and careful as if he was walking to a spooked horse. He got to me and took my face in his hands. I wanted to yell at the bastard that his hands were covered in blood but that look on his face stopped me. "Your eyes flashed silver," he said carefully. I snorted and tried to shake my face off his hands but he wouldn't let me. "I swear, Ravenna. Your eyes flashed goddamne silver."I stopped then. His voice were hard, his face harder. Darius was barely serious but when he did I ten
DARIUS POV I stood at the edge of the clearing, the moonlight casting a silver glow over the makeshift pyres. The air was heavy with the scent of wood smoke and the bittersweet fragrance of wildflowers. I took a deep breath, gathering my thoughts as the members of my pack gathered behind him, their faces etched with grief.This never gets easy—the loss. Each of my pack members were like a piece of me. Each time one of them dies, I lose a piece of myself. I would have given anything to save them. If it was my life I would gladly give it. Gladly. I didn't know all my members personally—that wasn't possible when I had hundreds in my pack—but they were still my responsibility. Their burdens were mine, their pains mine. So when one dies, I mourn them like I would mourn anyone close to me. The fact that I may be the cause of their death has been eating at me since last night. The rogues had attacked because I had made an enemy of them. This was the way I got my pack killed when I ma
RAVENNA POV As Darius and I walked to his training room, I kept telling myself that the reason I had hugged Darius, had tried to console him, was because he was grieving. But deep down I knew that was just a load of bullshit. I had wanted to hug him, had wanted to see that dead look in his eyes gone because I cared. I care for Darius. It was like there was a thread always pulling me to him. When I had seen him just standing there while the pyres were burning, a part of me had wanted to reach for him and hold him. I didn't care much about this pack. I mean I was a prisoner. How could I? But I cared for soft Mia, for always scowling Anya, even stonecold Lucian. And I cared a whole lot for Darius. For this man who was cruel, savage and had killed my best friend. But I was starting to see a heart beneath all that. I was starting to see the real Darius beneath the masks he wears. And he was hurting The death of their pack members had affected the people I cared about. Mia didn't s
DARIUS POV Ravenna tasted addictive, like the first sip of smooth whiskey on a cold night, igniting a fire that spread through your veins. Each encounter was a complex blend of smoky richness and sweet undertones, drawing you deeper into its embrace, where every moment lingered like a cherished memory, intoxicating and impossible to forget.Why had I turned into a poetic bastard? Since I've heard a taste of Ravenna's lips.I curled my hands under Ravenna and lifted her while I sat up, placing her on my lap, all the while never breaking our kiss. My hands went to the back of her neck and I deepened the kiss. When she parted her lips I slipped my tongue inside, tasting and exploring every bit of her mouth. There was a taste of cinnamon and… something else, something that was all Ravenna. The little sound she made when I sucked on her tongue was nearly enough to make me cum on my pants like a teenager. We broke the kiss to breathe and I've never hated needing to breathe the way I d
RAVENNA POV Once the words started flowing, they wouldn’t stop. I couldn’t tell if the expression on Darius’s face meant I should have kept quiet or if I should continue. It felt like a mix of both; he was just as confused as I was.I had stopped hating Darius for a while now, my head just took a while to catch up on that update. Darius remained silent as he stared at me with his eyes filled with pain and longing. Why was he pained? Did he want me to hate him? But that kiss earlier says otherwise. And what was he longing for? It couldn't be… me? Now, now, Ravenna, let's not get ahead of ourselves."Say something," I whispered when the silence stretched on. Darius swallowed, hard, before he looked away from me and swallowed again. That was a lot of swallowing in just three seconds. "I... " he trailed off, still not looking at me. Then in a quiet, almost broken voice, he said, "I'm sorry." My heart skipped a beat. This was the second time Darius had apologized to me, and I knew h
DARIUS POV "When are Alpha Hale's agents coming?" I asked, my eyes fixed on the laptop but my mind was far away. "Five days from today," Lucian answered. "I see," I said, nothing seeing anything at all. Five days from today I will have a new ally, my plan will take shape and I will succeed. Why then do I feel so empty thinking about that? I knew the answer as clear as the back of my hand. Ravenna. That was the only answer. I wanted to become a better man for her, to do better. And what I was about to do was the exact opposite of a better man. She might say she doesn't hate me but if I carry on with this plan she will. Maybe even hate me more than she did before. I didn't want that. I had managed to gain her trust. How that had happened will remain a mystery till my last days.So I didn't want to lose that trust, I didn't want to carry out with this plan that wasn't mine.Lucian cleared his throat and I looked up at him staring at me. I raised an eyebrow when he didn't say anyt
Their lips crashed together with the kind of desperation that didn't ask for permission. It just took. Dalian’s arms tightened around her waist as he pulled her flush against him, their chests pressed against each other. His tongue teased the seam of her lips, coaxing her to part them for him. She did; she parted her lips and his tongue slipped in like he owned the place, sweeping through her mouth, tasting her, claiming her. Dalian kissed her harder, deeper. He still couldn't believe she was here, saying those things, wanting him. He was such a damn fool. How could he not have known? He had thought those times she was tense and awkward was her rejecting what they did. But no, she just wanted him as bad as he wanted her. He walked her backward until her back hit the wall, his hands roaming, touching every bit of skin he could reach. She shivered against him, pressing herself harder against him, her hands deep in his hair. He broke the kiss so they could breathe, then kissed her t
The cool air hit Mia’s skin as she stepped into the garden. Wait, the garden? How did she get here? But the how didn't really matter. What mattered was the good-looking man walking beside her, chatting and clearly trying to impress her with whatever story he was telling. She wasn't really listening. She wasn't hearing what he was saying. She had even forgotten his name. But all she knew was that he was a Lupinarian. Because no man from her pack would approach her. She couldn't even remember what he had said to her when he approached her, only that it was something flirty—her head was spinning from too much drink, from the warmth of laughter still echoing from behind them, and the heat crawling up her spine. Oh no, wait. That wasn't heat; it was the man’s hand. He had her back against the wall, his leg in between hers, touching her all over. Fuck, maybe this was a bad idea. She was too drunk. She shouldn't have agreed to this. All she was thinking was maybe she should get another
“Hi,” Mia said to Dalian, a little shy, avoiding his eyes. She looked up at him before she looked down, her short hair curtaining her face. He wanted to lean down and tuck the hair away. He loved her eyes. How so blue they were, and so bright, so filled with life. She chewed her bottom lip, glancing up at him again. And he realized he had been staring like a damn idiot without saying anything. “Hello, Mia,” he said softly. “You look beautiful.” And how true those words were. She wore a short gown with a flower print, with sandals that made her seem a little taller than she was. She blushed, her cheeks going red. “Thank you.” He cleared his throat, gesturing towards the packhouse. “Let's go join the others.” She nodded and he walked beside her, his hands in his pockets. He kept them there cause he might fall into the urge to hold her hand. Things have been pretty… intense between them, to say the least. She avoided him, and whenever he was close to her, she was tense, she
Author Note: Hello, beautiful people. Ravenna and Darius have ended, and this is where Mia and Dalian’s story begins. And theirs is gonna be spicier than Ravenna and Darius. So buckle up, folks. And I won't hold it against you if you can't handle more spice and choose to drop the book. Have fun! *** “Oh, for the love of God! JASPER!” Those were the words Mia heard as she stepped into the house. She couldn't help the small laugh that burst out of her when she saw the scene before her. Ravenna was chasing Jasper with his clothes, and he was running around, giggling like a little demon. He was naked, by the way. Juniper sat on the couch, with her iPad in front of her, not even looking bothered by what was going on. Ravenna stopped chasing Jasper around when she heard Mia’s laugh, placing her hands on her hips as she glared at her. “You think this is funny?” she asked, her voice hard. She chuckled, shaking her head as she walked to her. “No, no. Sorry.” She walked to he
DARIUS POV THREE YEARS LATER "Jasper, come back here right this instant!" Ravenna yelled, her hands on her hips.Jasper giggled and ran towards me, his arms raised. I picked him up with a laugh and looked over at Ravenna."Bring him here," she commanded."No, daddy! Don't!" Jasper shouted as I carried him towards his mother, fighting against me with his little hands."Sorry, buddy," I said as I handed him to Ravenna. "Your mother is scary when she's angry." Said mother rolled her eyes and carried Jasper back into the bathroom where she was trying to bathe him before he all but ran out naked. Something nudged my leg and I looked down. A smile spread across my face as I picked up my little girl. "Morning, angel," I said softly as I pressed a kiss on her forehead."Jasper is making trouble again, isn't he?" Juniper asked, rubbing her sleepy eyes.Unlike her twin, Juniper was a late raiser, calm where Jasper was restless, silent where Jasper was loud. Yan and yang, these two. "Yeah,
RAVENNA POV I cupped Darius’ face and kissed him harder when he hesitated to kiss me back. After a few moments his tongue slipped into my mouth and he deepened the kiss. He left the ground and climbed into the bed, laying me on my back and he climbed on top of me. He sucked my bottom lips before he bit it gently, causing me to moan. I tugged on his shirt and he broke the kiss to pull it off. He kissed me as he took off his remaining clothes, before he took off mine. His lips trailed down to my nipples but I fisted his hair and dragged his head up so he could look at me. "No time for that. Just fuck me." I wanted to feel him, wanted to feel if this was real. I wanted to know that I wasn't in that cell and this wasn't just a dream. Darius studied me for a while before he kissed me again, softly, and positioned himself on my entrance. He pulled away to look down at me as he pushed slowly inside. The both of us moaned at the same time and I struggled to keep my eyes open. Darius pu
RAVENNA POVRowan had shifted so suddenly, that Darius didn't have time to react. Rowan's massive wolf jaws locked around Darius's hand with a sickening crunch, and the sound of bone breaking sent a ripple of terror through me. My heart stopped as Darius roared, a sharp, agonized cry that echoed in my mind."No!" I screamed, my voice weak but filled with panic. The pain in my shoulder was blinding, and I could barely keep my head up, but the sight of Darius in agony was too much. My body trembled as I tried to push myself up, my hand pressing against the bleeding wound, but I collapsed back down. I was losing blood too fast.Darius was struggling now, his face contorted in pain, and he was trying desperately to pull Rowan off his hand. He pushed and shoved, but the wolf’s hold was relentless. And then, in the blink of an eye, Darius shifted.His body twisted and contorted, bones cracking as they rearranged into his wolf form. I could hardly take a breath as I watched him grow in si
RAVENNA POV I tried to struggle against Rowan but he had a choke hold on me, and he also had strength that I didn't have. That poison was still taking a toll on me and I haven't regained my full strength. Plus, I couldn't feel my wolf. That filled me with so much fear and panic. I had thought after the poison had worn off I would feel her again but I couldn't. Have I lost my wolf again? I wasn't sure I could live with that.But I pushed that to the back of my mind. I couldn't panic now. I had to stay clear headed.Darius was here. My mate was here and Rowan was going to use me as leverage against him before he would kill him. I couldn't let that happen. But no matter how I fought against Rowan he didn't let up.I had bite, and pinch, and stepped on his foot but he remained unfazed as he held me and waited for Darius to come through that door. When he finally did, my knees buckled, but Rowan's hold on me kept me standing.Darius was here, covered in blood, his hair tied up, his han
DARIUS POV The heavy air of the night clung to my skin as we approached the border. Isabelle, still bruised and battered from Mia’s interrogation, shuffled in front of me. Her hands were trembling slightly, and though she kept her gaze fixed ahead, I could tell she was trying to suppress the fear bubbling beneath the surface. But that didn’t matter anymore. We were close.Dalian and Mia flanked her, their eyes scanning the horizon, ever alert. The men I’d brought with me were scattered around the perimeter, watching for any movement, any sign that Rowan's pack had caught wind of our approach."Don't do anything stupid, Isabelle," I warned. "Take down the ward quietly."She nodded shakily before she raised her hands, muttering under her breath. The air around her seemed to warp, a subtle flicker of light shimmering in the distance. I felt the hum of magic in my skin. It felt like something shifting beneath the surface, a barrier dissolving, like a dam giving way to the rushing force