RAVENNA POV
This was what true happiness felt like—the laughter that danced through the air, the warm smiles that wrapped around me like sunlight, the rhythm of the music that made my heart sway in unison.It wasn’t just joy, it was a pull from deep within, a force that gripped my very soul and held me tight. It was as if every moment, every heartbeat, was an invitation to stay—tangled in the beauty of it all.And in that embrace, I found peace, the kind of peace I never knew I needed.I had never smiled or laughed this hard in my entire life. I had never just let go and let myself feel before. But here… here I could let go.It all felt like some kind of dream, the ballroom was adding to that feel. It was large, with ceilings so hard I couldn't see where they ended. Chandeliers hung up, their crystals giving the room a fairytale feel.Long tables of food were lined up by the side, witRAVENNA POV "Dawn's just an hour away," Darius said, his voice low as we shed our clothes in the woods, preparing to shift. "When the wolves are out, let yourself fade into your consciousness. Think of it like falling asleep. We'll shift back when the sun rises and then I'll take you to your surprise." He ended with a playful smile. I rolled my eyes at him. "If you're not going to tell me what it is then don't rub it on my face.""Patience, my love." I now stood naked, wrapping my arms around myself to keep warm from the cold air. It was also a struggle staying on my feet. I was so dizzy from the alcohol, a single breeze could knock me off my feet. "Okay, baby. Deep breaths," Darius instructed once his last layer of clothes was gone. "Just like the last time you shifted. Breath in through your nose and out through your mouth. Don't rush it, just let it take its course." I closed my ey
DARIUS POV After cleaning up and dressing in the clothes I had stocked the cabin with, we began the short walk back to the packhouse. Even though Ravenna tried to hide it I could feel her disappointment and sadness. She had wanted to explore the cabin. I would have let her but from Lucian's tone I could tell it was really important. Whatever it was I wouldn't let it delay her, and she could go back to the cabin. The cabin had been an idea that had struck me two days ago when Mia had literally called me out on my bullshit. Ravenna felt overwhelmed with everything that was happening and needed space to process it. The cabin had been perfect. I had gotten it ready for today with no small work. Half of the entire pack had built it while the other had brought everything in the cabin. I wanted it to be ready for her ceremony. And it was. My pack had worked day and night building it. I didn't know how to thank them. We got to the packhouse and it was still brewing with people, mo
RAVENNA POV "You're truly going to help us?" Dalian asked Darius, his voice quiet. "Yes, Dalian," Darius answered, his arms around my shoulder. "I just said that." They stared at each other for a while, an unspoken conversation passing through them before Dalian nodded. "Your help will be deeply appreciated," he said. "When will we be able to leave?" "Tomorrow. I would first need to tell my pack about this new arrangement and see who's coming with me." Dalian nodded before he walked to Darius and clasped him in the back. He leaned down and kissed me on the forehead, before he turned and left without a word. I could tell he wanted to be home to our people at this very moment but he was holding back. Hell, I wanted to go right this hour. I wanted to help them in any way I could. Hearing Dalian say they would have to move had been the last straw that broke the camel's back. The idea to take out those fuckers have been in my mind since the day Dalian told me how our mother wa
RAVENNA POV I stood frozen in place as the man’s eyes met mine, the weight of his gaze like a heavy, unspoken acknowledgment. The whispering that had gone up since we entered the village but died down at the man's words. I could feel every eye on me, but I still didn't look away from the man. His words "You found her" rang in the air, both a statement and a revelation.Dalian gave a small nod, a smile on his face. "Yes," he said. "She’s home."Home. That was where I was. I had finally met my people, my tribe. And I… I didn't know how to act. Was I expected to do something? Greet them? Would they even recognize me as their own? Darius’ interlocked our fingers, squeezing them gently. And just like that all the tension left me. The man’s eyes softened as he looked at me again, and then he approached, his steps heavy but deliberate. He stopped just in front of me, towering over me with his broad frame. His features were rough, seasoned by years of hard living, but there was a softne
DARIUS POV The room was so silent, you could hear a fucking pin drop. Stunned was an understatement for the looks on all their faces. I understood that.They had just been talking about how they didn't need to leave, how they should stay and fight, and now I've brought this up.We were still going to stay and fight, of course. We were going to show those packs that Lupinarians were not to be fucked with anymore.The moment we entered the village, I knew the place was lacking in so many ways. It was the 21st century, for goodness' sake, yet these people were living in tents, with no electricity and barely any water. The place seemed as though it had been left behind in another era, all because they were constantly on the run.These were my mate's people, my mother's people. And that meant they were my people too. Their blood ran through my veins, even though I didn’t share any of their traits.So, I was offering them a new home in my land. I had so much, I didn’t even know what to do
RAVENNA POV "Oh, my sweet girl," my grandmother cooed as she stroked my hair, her thin, fragile arms tight around me. I held onto her as I buried my face in her neck, careful not to hold her too tight. "My sweet, sweet girl." She pulled me away from her to hold my face, her thumb wiping my tears. "Oh, look at you," she said with a laugh. "You're the male version of your brother." She turned her head to look at said brother and held out one hand to him while the other held me. Dalian leaned into her hand with a smile, and she held the two of us together. Her embrace felt like home, a haven of warmth and comfort that I had always longed for. It was a peace that settled deep within my soul, a quiet stillness that calmed the storms within me. Most importantly, it was a feeling of belonging, of being part of something larger than myself, a family that accepted me unconditionally. This was what I'd been missing all through my life, that sense of complete acceptance and belonging. Even
RAVENNA POV We raced back to the hut, my heart racing with us. Dalian refused to tell me what was wrong, only that Grandmother had asked to see me. When we reached the hut I immediately knew something was wrong. The place was crowded. People cleared as we passed, their sad gaze following me. Oh, please let it not be what I'm thinking it is. I have only just found her for goodness sake!We reached inside the hut and Dalian led me to her room while Darius stayed outside. The people in her room cleared when they saw us, giving Dalian a pat in the back and me a sad smile.Grandmother was sitting up on her bed, pillows propped in her back to hold her up, her hands folded in front of her. Everything appeared normal until I saw how her hands shook, and then she coughed and I knew nothing was normal. I was immediately there, running my hand up and down her back as the cough racked her body, making her tremble.Dalian handed her a cup of water but she waved it away."Since when has she ha
DARIUS POV "We have at least thirty minutes until they get here," the boy reported, his chest heaving heavily. "There are at least fifty of them." Fifty. My pack was double the size and that's not including the Lupinarian. I had been expecting a good number so I could kill as many of those bastards as possible."Hide the children, elders, and the women who can't fight," Jorik ordered. "The rest of you go prepare for battle!"The people went off to carry out the order while those who couldn't fight were taken away to go hide. I turned to look at Ravenna when she remained unmoving to see her face so twisted with rage it was almost unrecognizable. Her hands were balled into fists and a droplet of blood escaped through her hand. She had pierced her own skin with her nails. Her teeth were grounding together, her body trembling. I could particularly taste the anger that was coming out of her. "They disturbed my grandmother's burial," she fumed, her voice like steel. "They will pay for t
Dalian groaned so deep in his throat that anyone who passed by would think he was dying. Oh, if only they knew. He was in heaven. Mia swallowed his full length, her warm mouth like bliss around him. She stayed like that for a moment, breathing through her nose, her throat working around him. Then she swallowed and Dalian saw stars. “Fuck,” he groaned, his hands weaving themselves into her hair, but they just stayed there, giving her time. She started moving. She withdrew until only the tip remained in her mouth before she swallowed him again, hollowing her cheeks and swallowing. She did it slowly at first before she picked pace, her beautiful blue eyes never once looking away from him. He couldn't look away from her either. Looking at those eyes while watching his dick in her mouth was a sight he didn't want to miss. His hold tightened on her hair and he moved his hip slightly, wanting to thrust, but he stopped. He was going to take it at her own pace.But it seems Mia didn't mi
The kiss wasn't rough; it was slow, soft, and delicate, with only heat. Dalian kissed her like he was learning the language of her lips, like he was studying every inch of her mouth with his tongue, like he wanted them both to mesmerize it, like this wasn't about just lust anymore but every aching, torturing second they'd lost. Her hands slipped up his jacket and into his shirt, touching his bare smooth skin, up his back, fingers digging into his shoulders. He shivered against her, groaning into her mouth, and backed her up until her back was pressed against a tree, the bark rough against the fabric of her clothes. “I thought about you for three years,” he said against her lips. “And none of those thoughts were pure.”Mia grinned against his mouth. “Good.”He growled low in his throat, kissing her harder. His hand found the hem of her shirt, sliding under to feel the warmth of her skin. She arched her back, sighing his name. “I thought about how soft you felt,” he whispered as he b
Oh. My. Soul. They had kissed. Mia had said things and they had kissed! Whoa. They were coming to her now—the feel of his lips, his warmth, and how being in his arms felt so right, like she belonged there, like she was meant to be there. Oh wow. Wow. After three years she had finally kissed him again, but she could barely remember the details. Stupid. Dalian’s bright smile dimmed and he looked away from her, trying to appear unaffected but she saw through it. He thought she was regretting what they did. Oh, if only he knew. “Good morning, Dalian,” she said softly, fighting the urge to reach for his hand. He looked back at her, his smile back but not as bright as the last one. “How are you feeling?”“Like I want to crawl into a hole and die,” she answered. He scoffed, looking back at the table. Ravenna, Darius, and Lucian had all been watching them a little too intently—until Dalian glanced their way. Then, as if on cue, they all suddenly found something fascinating in front of
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