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
RAVENNA POV Anticipation and excitement had me smiling as Mia and I packed. For over three weeks that I've been brought here I haven't left the pack house—except to the woods, but that doesn't count. And now I was finally able to see the territory!And all thanks to Mia. We were talking about the beautiful places we've visited, but since I haven't traveled much and neither has Mia, we mostly shared stories about our packs. I told her about the two packs I’ve been to, and she began describing hers. She spoke of how the water was so clear you could almost see the bottom, how the trees bore the sweetest fruits, how the grass was lush and green, and how the breeze was always light and refreshing.And that was when I knew I wanted to explore this land that has been my prison for close to a month.I haven't thought Darius would agree so easily. I was ready to give him hell if he hadn't.And the way he had looked at me… like I was his favorite snack and he wanted to devour me, it still
RAVENNA POV I sat in the passenger seat, gazing out the window as the landscape shifted around us. The road stretched ahead, winding through dense woods, the kind that seemed to stretch endlessly, thick with trees and the scent of earth and pine. Mia, focused on the road, hummed softly to the music playing in the background. The hum of the tires on the asphalt was calming, the rhythmic sound blending with the soft murmur of the car’s engine.We passed the edge of the forest, and the trees began to thin out, revealing a quaint town nestled in the valley below. The buildings were charming—old stone cottages with ivy climbing the walls, colorful flower boxes hanging from window sills, and cobblestone streets that curved around like a maze. Why does every house in this place look old? It was as if the territory was built in the old era.It felt like something out of a dream, so picturesque and peaceful, it seemed untouched by time—nah, that was a lie. Time touched everywhere. Mia slow
REVANNA POV I most definitely gave a fuck. Hiking was not as easy as Mia said it would be, or perhaps it is because Mia seems to be doing just fine. My breath came in ragged bursts, my legs screaming as I pushed forward, my boots crunching against the rocky trail. I glanced at Mia ahead of me, who moved with a grace that made it look effortless—it most definitely was not. Mia paused briefly, waiting for me to catch up."You good?" Mia asked, her voice light, but with a glint of concern in her eyes.I wiped sweat from my brow and gave a half-hearted smile. "Who me? I'm doing just fine." I took a deep breath. "I didn't realize hiking meant I was going to need a second lung."Mia chuckled, adjusting the strap of her backpack. "It gets easier once you get used to it. The view at the top makes it all worth it.""I’m starting to think you’ve been lying to me this whole time." I shot her a mock glare. "Do you have a plan to kill me, Mia? This plan is most effective, I should tell you."
RAVENNA POV We walked back to where we had packed the car, me walking slowly, scared that the pain might just come back. But it didn't. We continued our climb down and I picked up pace but still no pain came."I'm still trying to wrap my head around what just happened," Mia said, now walking beside me. "You're human. No offense," she quickly added with a strained smile.I shook my head. "None taken.""A normal human would have taken weeks, even a month to heal that," she continued. "Even a wolf wouldn't have been able to heal that quickly." I hummed and kept walking, my mind faraway. Strange things have been happening to me since that full moon. First that day Darius and I had our second fight and the sudden burst of energy had surged through me and I had almost dislocated his shoulder. That wasn't normal. Then that fight we had when we were training with the pack, I had also felt that energy. And then the one that has left me baffled till this day was that day when the rogue wol
DARIUS POV If I continue to tap this particular spot on my desk I might tap a hole into it. But I couldn't bring myself to stop. I glance at the clock again for the hundredth time in an hour and it was already noon. Where the hell were they? Had Mia betrayed the pack and helped Ravenna escaped? No, she wouldn't do that. I have known Mia right since she was just a pup. She loved her pack, despite them not returning that sentiment, despite what her father did. So she wouldn't betray me like that.But what if Ravenna had overpowered Mia and slipped past the border? Mia was strong but Ravenna was stronger.My foot joined in the tapping, and I glance at the clock again. "For fuck sake, Darius, calm the fuck down!" Lucian snapped, his hands thrown up in frustration. I leveled a flat look on him. "Lucian?""What?""Leave me the fuck alone."He got up immediately. "I thought you'd never ask." I resumed my tapping once he was out the door. My wolf has been restless during this longest
RAVENNA POV Yes. I felt everything, from how wild and hard my heart was beating, to how heated my body was, to how warmth was pooling in between my legs.I fucking felt it all. I looked back into Darius’ eyes and there was a vulnerability that shouldn't be there. "Yes, Darius," I whispered, my voice barely audible. "Yes, I feel it."The vulnerability cleared from his eyes only to be replaced by something I couldn't name. He leaned forward and kissed the tip of my nose softly, before he pulled away and my body immediately missed his warmth. He rubbed his face before he turned, his back facing me, his shoulders tense. I heard him inhaled before he turned to me again, his features composed but only just a little. "There's something I need to tell you," he said, his voice hard. "Fuck, there's a lot of things I need to tell you."I watched him curiously. I keep seeing a new part of Darius everyday but I wasn't complaining. It was fresh to know those talks I've heard of him being compl
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
DARIUS POV Mia was right. I was a selfish bastard. I didn't want to face my pain, I didn't want to acknowledge it so I remained in my wolf form where all I could think of was kill. And kill I did. I haunted animals like it was nothing. And any unfortunate human who happens to come across me went down too. I didn't feel guilty about it. I wanted the world to feel my pain. But then sense returned to me when Mia had dared question my love for Ravenna. There was no questioning it, there shouldn't be any doubt. I loved Ravenna more than I loved myself, more than I loved to live. I would have traded my place for her in a blink if I was offered the chance. I would lay my heart in her palms if she asked for it. I would burn the world down for her if that's what she desires. But I needed to save her first before I could prove my love for her. The ward surrounding Rowan's territory was strong. We had tried without success to find a weak point in it and break through it. There wasn't any
RAVENNA POV For the second time in less than a year I found myself in a cell, but this one was cleaner and had more light than the last one. Small mercies. When I woke up, a part of me wished I hadn't. I had felt hollow, my body weighed down by exhaustion, my mind clouded with pain. The poison had worn off, but it felt like something inside me had died with it. My insides hadn't felt right, my head had felt too heavy. I had nearly choked on my vomit until I managed to get up and dragged my body to the bucket at the corner and vomited what should be in the body. I had almost vomited my organs and I had to force them back down. After that I had dragged my body back to the thin mattress. Then the shaking began.I didn't feel cold or anything but I had shook so hard that I feared my bones might snap. I had wanted to scream, to fight, but the silence of the cell had crushed any thoughts of rebellion. I didn't know how but I had managed to fall asleep with the shaking. When I had wok
MIA POV I sat at the edge of the cliff, wiping tears off my eyes. But fresh tears kept replacing them. I couldn't stop crying no matter how hard I tried to stop. My face was puffed up, my eyes were so swollen I could barely see through it, my throat felt like sandpaper. My heart felt like there was a knife in it, twisting everything I breathed. We couldn't find Ravenna. Not even a single trace, not even a wisp of her smell. Nothing! It's like she vanished from existence, and she took a piece of me with her.Even though Ravenna had found her mate and I knew mine was probably out there, she felt like the other piece of my soul. The other half of me. I grew up as an only child. My mother died during childbirth and my father refused to remarry. So I grew up alone, but back then I had Darius and Lucian, along with the pack. Darius and Lucian were fine but I never had that sliding connection with them. But then Ravenna came and I felt it all. I felt more than just siblings' connection
DARIUS POV The poison burned like ice in my veins, draining every ounce of strength I had left. My body trembled under the weight of it, but I refused to go down. I had to protect her. I had to—Another figure lunged at me, their syringe aimed for my neck. I fought with everything I had left, swinging out wildly, but my limbs felt like lead. I caught the man by the wrist and threw him across the battlefield, but before I could recover, two more were on me. They moved with brutal efficiency, and before I could react, their needles found their mark."No..." I gasped, my voice barely a whisper, as the poison spread faster now, flooding through me like a wave of frost.I fought harder, I couldn’t let them take me down, but the world blurred at the edges. My body was slowing, my movements sluggish, like I was moving underwater. I felt like I was sinking into it, and no matter how much I fought, my strength was draining too fast.I wanted to scream for Ravenna but I couldn't. My tongue f