In a softly lit room, I sat on a chair, my legs dangling off it, my mother standing behind me, gently combing through my long hair. The rhythmic sound of the brush gliding through strands filled the silence.
"Sweetheart," my mother began, her voice calm yet tinged with sadness, "I need to tell you something important. Your future is going to be incredible, but it won’t always be easy." I looked at my reflection, curious but trusting. "What do you mean?" My mother paused, gathering her thoughts. "You’ll face challenges, times when you feel alone. And I’m afraid I won’t always be there to help you through it." My brow furrowed, the weight of my mother’s words sinking in. "But… I don’t want you to go." "I know, my love," my mother replied, her voice thick with emotion. "And I’m so sorry for that. But you are stronger than you think. You’ll find a way to rise above it all." I nodded slowly. "IIt was dark in the cell, so I couldn't see Darius face where I sat. I stood up slowly and made my way to the front, all the while I felt his eyes on me and I wanted to crawl out of my skin. I stopped a few feets away from the door and what I saw made my breath hitch. His black hair, thick and glossy, cascaded in waves past his shoulders, framing a face that was both striking and enigmatic. His nose, perfectly straight and sculpted, added to the sharp angles of his features. A smirk played on his lips. But it wasn't his sculpted features that made me pause, it was his eyes. His eyes were a captivating contradiction, a mesmerizing blend of emerald and sapphire. His left eye, a vibrant green, held a depth that seemed to draw you in, while his right eye, a piercing blue, radiated an intensity that was both alluring and unsettling. Darius was ridiculously good looking. And he's soon tall! Like a human walking
RAVENNA POV I paced the small length of my cell, trying to figure out my next move. I had to find a way out of here, and soon. Goddess only knows what that monster has planned for me. So far he hasn't made any attempts to kill me and I haven't seen him since he showed himself yesterday. After he left I was brought food and water. I had been resistant at first to eat the food, fearing it might be poisoned, but Darius wouldn't just bring me here to kill me with poison. That would be too easy for him. And I needed my strength. So I ate the food. I used the remaining water to clean the blood out of my body. I had tried to talk to the servants when they came to take out the plates but they didn't respond. And that was yesterday. I hadn't gotten any visitors today. And now all I could do was think. Why did Darius bring me here? Why didn't he just kill me? What was he playing at? I had so many questions, and only the man could answer them. I just had to wait. He would come back aga
DARIUS POV "What are you doing, Darius?" Lucian asked as soon as we entered my office. "Hmm?" I murmured, pouring a drink. Sipping slowly, I watched Lucian's clenched jaw and fist. I relished his agitation. "What was that about?" he asked through clenched teeth. "A game? That is not a game, you stupid bastard. That is just stupid. You underestimated her once before and you're clearly doing it again. Kill her or don't, but just be done with her." "No," was all I said, and Lucian snapped. He walked to me, snatched my drink, hurling it against the wall. Liquor and shattered glass cascaded down. "You just wasted good liquor," I said. Lucian's chest was rising hard. Oh, he was pissed. "Did you see how she got a rise from you down there?" he asked, his voice trembling with barely contained anger. "You don't get pissed no matter what people say. But you were barely containing your anger back there. She will continue to get a rise out of you, and then one day you'll slip an
The sound of the door opening startled me awake. I hurried out of bed, making sure not to let the towel wrapped around me slip.It won't do well to fight naked. There was no weapon in the room, not even an object I could use as a weapon so I'll make do with my nails and teeth. It was completely dark in the room so I couldn't see who entered. I kept my feets quiet as I walked to the figure I could make out in the dark. The person looked small though. I was ready to leap at the intruder when the lights suddenly turned on. The brightness made me squint, and it took a moment for my eyes to adjust.When I finally could see, a petite middle-aged woman stood before me with her hands on her hips.She watched me with a scowl on her face. "What were you doing?" she asked, her voice harsher than she looks. I scratched the back of my head, my face burning with shame. "I ehn… I thought someone was going to attack me."
DARIUS POV She was beautiful. The darkness of the cell had hidden her, but now, bathed in light and cleansed of the blood, her beauty shone forth. Beautiful was too small a word to describe her: she was breathtaking. Her silver hair, now cleansed of the crimson stain, shimmered with an almost otherworldly radiance, each strand catching the light and reflecting it back with a brilliance that seemed to defy her age. Her olive skin, fresh and vibrant, glowed with a healthy luminescence, as if she had just emerged from a refreshing dip in a cool spring, the water leaving behind a dewy sheen. And her eyes... those piercing gray eyes, they burned with an intensity that was both captivating and unsettling, a fire that seemed to demand attention, a fire I found myself inexplicably drawn to, a fire I longed to quench. Her delicate features belied a strength I knew she possessed. The thought of her wielding a sword see
RAVENNA POV "How long have you been watching me?" I asked, my voice hard. "Not long enough," Lucian replied, his voice devoid of any emotion. "You're trying to learn my fighting methods and then what? Run off and tell your boss?" This new side of me was new. I usually don't taunt people like this. Hell, I don't even talk to people. But something about these people just gets on my nerves. Probably everything about them.A muscle on Lucian's jaw tick. "Why are you training alone?" he asked instead. I shrugged. "Nobody seems to even notice my presence here. I can't just walk up to someone and say 'Hey, let's spar." "You can actually," Lucian said, his face and voice expressionless. "This is a training session, and I’m the one in charge. While you’re part of this pack and want to train, you’ll answer to me. Clear?"I hated him. "Crystal." "You already know my name. Can I have yours?" S
RAVENNA POV "It's nothing to worry yourself about," Mia said as she resumed eating. "Of course it is," I said. "They just gave me a warning. I don't know you well but I'm already looking forward to hanging out with you." Mia finally raised her head and met my gaze, her face unreadable before she signed and put down her fork. "My father was a traitor to the pack," she began, her hand trembling slightly. "He made a deal with the Blood Moon Clan, promising them information about our territory in exchange for power. He thought he could outsmart everyone and elevate our family’s status."My heart sank. “What happened?”Mia’s gaze dropped back to her plate. "He was caught. The Alpha had no choice but to execute him in front of the entire pack. It was brutal. His betrayal weakened our defenses, and several of our members were killed as a result of his actions." My brow furrowed. "And now they blame you?""Exa
DARIUS POVI leaned against the doorframe of my office, my gaze fixed on the trees outside. A knock at my door pulled my focus away. "Enter," I called out. The door opened and Silver Wisp—I still didn't know her name—entered. She was a mess—covered in dirt and grime from her relentless training—but there was an undeniable beauty in her determination. Her gray eyes, sharp and defiant, reflected a spirit that intrigued me more than I cared to admit.She stood with her arms crossed and we held eye contact. To be honest, I didn't have a good reason for calling her to my office. I had been watching her train for days. Lucian had been doing the same. He reported that she wasn't as skilled as I thought, that I had underestimated her that day in the battlefield. But I doubted that. She was skilled. I knew that. I pushed myself away from the frame and stepped closer, my presence casting a s
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 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
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
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 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 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 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 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"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