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 seeRAVENNA 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
RAVENNA POV My heart wouldn't stop beating like crazy. It's pounding so furiously in my chest, I think it might break through my rids.What the hell had happened back there? I lifted my hand to my cheek where his finger had brushed. I still felt the warmth of that little touch. The fluttering in my stomach was a betrayal. It shouldn't be there, a silly, childish reaction to a simple memory. But the way his eyes had darkened, the way his gaze had lingered on me, as if he were drinking in the scent of my hair... It was intoxicating. I'm not supposed to feel those things. He's the enemy. The enemy I'm planning to kill. The enemy that killed Lilith. That was the reminder I had needed to get back on track. My heart finally started beating normal as I felt my resolve build back up and this time five times stronger.I entered my room to find Mia lying on my bed, staring up at the ceiling. She jumpe
DARIUS POVRavenna watched me with her eyes hard. Now, that fire was back and it burned ten times hotter. "You're shitting me, Darius," she said. Even though I could feel the anger coming off her in waves, her voice was steady. I shook my head. "I shit you not." I haven't planned for the fight to be today. I haven't even planned to see her in the dining hall. I wanted to leave my office for a while. To see my pack and be around them. It was dinner time so I knew the majority of the pack would be here. I had entered the hall and like a magnet to metal I had found her immediately. And it seems she and Mia were getting bullied. So I had walked to her but then I had seen the fire in her eyes as she faced the girls and something had just snapped. So tonight we will have our first fight. Was I playing fair? Hell no. But I wasn't known to be fair. She was exhausted. That much was written all over
RAVENNA POV "Give me one of your most prized possessions. Something you value dearly. And do not just give me just anything and say it's prized, I would know if you're deceiving me." There was no way in hell I would know if he was deceiving me but Darius didn't have to know that. Why was I asking for his most prized possession, you may ask. It was a simple petty answer. I wanted Darius to hurt. My father had once owned a ring. It was given to him by my mother. He loved that ring more than he loved his own pack. When my mother died he used it to remember her. And then he had lost the ring during a trip. And the only time I had seen my father that heartbroken was when my mother died. Losing that ring had broken him finally. So if Darius had a prized possession like that, giving it up would hurt him, no matter how cold his heart was. It was just a gamble. I didn't know if this man could hold anything close to his heart. But it seems he did because his eyes darkened. "Ask for som
DARIUS POVRavenna was staring at me like she wanted to see my head on a spike, her eyes blazing with the fury of a thousand storms. That was normal though. But what wasn't normal were the tears in her eyes and how badly she was trembling. But that didn't surprise me. What surprise me was how my chest tightened at the sight of her tears. What surprised me was my wolf whining. What was wrong with the both of us? Just last night I had fantasies of ways I was going to cause her pain. Fantasizing of how I was going to kill her. Yet here I was, just wanting to draw me into my arms and kill whoever caused her pain. "You bastard," Ravenna growled, hitting my chest forcefully. I was caught off guard so I stumbled back a few steps. I guess I'm the one I was going to kill then. "You cruel, evil, vile bastard." She kept hurtling the insults at me as she smacked my chest. I watched her, for once in my life speechless. "I am going to kill you! I am going to kill you ever so slowly.""Raven
RAVENNA POV"Today we're training in sword fighting," Mia said as we both picked our sword from the weapon table. "Yes, master," I teased with a small grin. Mia rolled her eyes and took a fighting stance. "I don't even know why you need me to train you. Seriously, I think you're better than I am." I rolled my shoulders. "I'm not. Now enough talking, let's fight." "With pleasure." With a swift motion, Mia charged forward, her blade aimed at my shoulder. I sidestepped, the steel glinting as I raised my sword to parry the blow. The two of us exchanged a series of strikes, each movement precise and practiced.I spun low, aiming for Mia’s legs, but Mia jumped, landing gracefully and countering with a quick thrust. I deflected it, our swords ringing out with every clash. We moved like a well-rehearsed dance, the rhythm of our duel captivating."This is boring," Mia grumbled. And then she feinted left, then lunged right, pushing me to the edge of my guard. With a quick flick of my wri
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
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