We walked for a while, Joseph and the girl—whose name I still didn't know—engrossed in a conversation I chose to ignore.
Sofia was still walking behind us but it seems she lost interest in the back of my head because I no longer felt her burning eyes. We got to a clearing, and my breath caught in my throat. Standing majestic before me was the pack house. It was massive, but that wasn't what made me stare in awe. It was the modern—sleek lines, endless windows reflecting the sky, and a facade of steel and glass that glinted under the sun. The architecture was bold yet minimalistic, making the entire structure look more like an exclusive resort than a home for wolves. My eyes followed the clean, geometric edges of the building as it seemed to stretch endlessly, merging with the surrounding forest. The walls were a mix of polished concrete and dark wood accents, blending effortlessly with nature, yet remaining unapologetically contemporary. Wide balconies wrapped around each level, with plants and greenery spilling over the edges, softening the sharp lines. This was Stonehowl pack. I was in the enemy's territory. But that doesn't matter anymore. When the girl had told me the name of the pack, panic had tried to seize me. My former pack and Stonehowl had been at each other's neck before I was born. I didn't know what caused the misunderstanding between the two pack. All I knew was that I was raised to view these people as my enemy. But it doesn't matter anymore. I was now an exile. I was no longer part of the pack. "Come on." The girl tugged my hand. That was when I realized I had stopped walking. As I continued walking, I noticed the grand entrance—tall glass doors framed with matte black steel that opened automatically as I approached. Inside, I could see marble floors, luxurious furnishings, and vast, open spaces that felt like a world of their own. I stared in wonder, drinking in the beauty of this place. My former pack house was huge, yes, but this one was on another level. We continued our climb, the stairs leading us higher. The stares of passersby, directed at me, felt heavy as they greeted my companions. But I didn't see judgment in their eyes—yet—it was just curiosity. We stopped in front of a massive door, and the girl turned to me and offered a small smile. "I would really have loved for you to freshen up and rest first but this can't wait. I'm sorry. I'm Lilith, by the way," she said as she squeezed my arm. What can't wait, Lilith? I wanted to ask, but once again I couldn't find my voice. She knocked on the door, and a cool deep voice answered from inside. "Enter." Joseph pushed open the door, and we entered. Lilith's grip on my arm remained tight, as if she feared I wouldn't be able to stand without her support. Perhaps she was right. The room we just entered seems to be an office. The office was spacious, drenched in natural light from floor-to-ceiling windows that spanned the entire back wall, offering a breathtaking view of the sprawling forest beyond. The windows were framed with sleek, black metal, giving the space an industrial, yet sophisticated feel. The floors were polished concrete, smooth and reflective, while the walls were a combination of rich dark wood and stark white, giving the room a minimalist but luxurious vibe. This room screamed wealth, authority and power, or perhaps it was the person that sat at the middle of the room behind a big desk that screamed all those things. I didn't need anyone to tell me who he was. The trio greeted him with a unified, "Alpha," and I swallowed hard. The man sitting before me was young. He was maybe five years my senior. And he was so goddamn handsome. His light brown hair was styled back, not a single strand out of place. His straight nose sat proud on his face, his sharp jaw would make models jealous, his lips full. And those gray eyes were staring at me. He was staring at me!! Heat flooded my face, forcing me to look down. A chuckle echoed, but I couldn't bring myself to meet the eyes of its source. I was staring like an idiot. "Hello," the cool voice greeted. I raised my head to his direction again, and he was smiling at me. God, he was so handsome. "H-hello," I said back, my voice small. "I'm Alpha Rowan." "Ravenna." "Ravenna," he repeated, the smile still on his face, and I felt my face hot again. "Welcome to Stonehowl pack, Ravenna." "Thank you." Alpha Rowan turned to the trio that was silent, and raised a single perfect eyebrow. Lilith left my arm and stepped forward, her hands clasped behind her back, her posture straight. And at that moment she looked older. "Alpha," she dipped her head in respect. "We found Ravenna here at the riverside." "The riverside?" He raised the eyebrow again. Lilith nodded. "We found her by the river, unconscious. At first, we thought..." She trailed off, glancing at me briefly before looking back at the Alpha. "We thought she was dead." I felt my heart squeezed. I was alive. God, I was alive. It seems reality is just catching up to me right now. I fought to hold the tears back, not wanting them to see me as weak, broken. Alpha Rowan leaned back in his chair, his eyes darting to me. "Go on," he said, his voice deep and calm, but with an edge of authority that made my breath hitch. "We were patrolling the borders when we heard the water—rushing louder than usual," Lilith continued. "By the time we got to the riverbank, she was already half-submerged, caught in the current. It looked like she'd been swept downstream. We pulled her out and brought her here as fast as we could." "And you said she’s from another pack?" Alpha Rowan asked, his gaze finally shifting from me to Lilith. "Yes, Alpha," she confirmed. "From what little I could gather, she bears the scent of another territory. It’s faint now, but it was stronger when we found her." He nodded and turned back to me and I wanted to make myself small. The intensity in his gaze made me nervous. "You don't have to be nervous, Ravenna," he said softly. "I just want to ask a few questions." I nodded, finding it difficult to speak with the emotions clouding my throat. "What pack are you from?" My heart jumped to my throat and I forced it back down. It's okay. I'm an exile now. I'm no longer part of the pack. I repeated in my head as I tried to find my voice. When I finally found my voice it was weak and pathetic. "Slivercrest pack." All heads turned to me and their eyes widened. Alpha Rowan rose, his chair scraping against the floor. Lilith instinctively took a step back, while Sofia shifted into a fighting stance. Joseph, meanwhile, stood frozen, his mouth agape in surprise. I was fucked."Are you a spy, Ravenna?" Alpha Rowan asked as he rounded the table. His voice was low now. Dangerous. "No. I swear to the moon goddess I'm not," I said with my hands held up. "I knew we shouldn't have brought her here," Sofia grumbled, cutting a sharp look at Lilith, who just stood there still watching me. "Please," I begged, my voice trembling. "Just just let me explain." "What can you possibly tell us? Lies?" This came from Sofia again. I turned to Rowan, my eyes pleading. "Please." He watched me for a while, his face unreasonable. "Go on," he finally spoke. I let out a breath as I tried to steady my voice. "I'm an exile," I began. "I got banished from my pack. I never intended to come here. I swear it." "An exile," Rowan repeated. "What got you banished?" I swallowed, tears forming in my eyes. What was I going to tell them? That I found my ex boyfriend with my step sister and I had dashed her head against the wall? And what was what got me exiled? God, that sounded so p
I stared at my reflection in the bathroom mirror. Everything seemed normal—my silver hair, though a little dull, and my familiar tired pale eyes staring back at me. But that wasn’t what sent ice crawling through my veins.It was my chest. The place where the lightning had struck was different. The scar marred my skin, a branching, jagged pattern that stretched like dark veins. It was swollen, discolored, and burned. I traced it with trembling fingers. I could feel the current in my skin as if the lightning was stored in me. I broke down, the weight of it all crashing over me. It was too much. It was all too much for my heart to take. I haven't even had time to grieve about the loss of my pack, of my father, of my life. And now that I was alone, it all came crashing down. It felt like the floodgates of my emotions had burst wide open. There wasn't really much to cry
I sat next to the grave, holding the flowers I brought. I just stared at the name on the stone, tears flowing freely from my cheeks. "It's my birthday, mum," I whispered, my voice barely audible as I stroked the name on the gravestone. Isla Hale. My mother, my world, my everything. Dead, gone, and left me all alone in a world where I do not belong. "It's my birthday," I said again. "And no one remembered. Not even father. He didn't even look my way." My twenty-one birthday. The tears were flowing wildly, my vision blurry. It hurts. It hurts so much to live like I'm invisible, like I'm nothing, a nobody. My father doesn't even see me, not really. He doesn't look at me, doesn't care. My stepmother treats me like dirt under her shoe, and my stepsister is even worse. The only one who cares is Lucas. Just thinking about him makes the tears slow down. Lucas. My boyfriend. The reason I still get out of bed every morning. We've been together for three years, and Lucas has been n
I stood at the door, frozen, still not believing what I was seeing. Lucas and my stepsister hadn't even noticed I was in the room, too tied up in each other to notice. "Oh, Lucas, you feel so good." Zara kept moaning at the top of her voice. I'm sure the whole house could hear her. She turned her face to my direction and smirked. She goddamn smirk. "Lucas!" I snapped. Lucas peeled himself away from Zara, staring at me with shock. "Ravenna, it's not like that. I can explain," he said in a rush as he tried to put on his clothes. But I wasn't looking at him, I was looking at my stepsister, who still had that smug smile on her face, still lying there naked. "Ravenna let me explain, please," Lucas said as he moved closer to me. I snapped my head to him. "Explain what, Lucas? Explain why you're fucking my goddamn stepsister?" "I... I just..." Lucas stammered, unable to finish. Zara, slithering out of bed with the blanket draped around her, finally spoke. "Oh, poor Ravenna," she
I felt my body jolt with shock as the lightning struck, right at the center of my chest. It felt like being hit by a massive electric force. I gasped and trembled overwhelmed by the shock and the pain… God, the pain. The pain tore through me like a jogged bolt, sharp and searing, as if every nerve in my body was set on fire. My muscles clenched so hard it felt like my bones might snap under the pressure. Heat—unbearable, burning heat—surged through my skin, hotter than anything I had ever felt before. I could smell it too, the sharp, acrid scent of something burning. My skin? My clothes? It doesn't matter. I just wanted it to end. Breathing was a challenge. Every breath was a struggle, each one clawing at my throat as if my lungs had forgotten how to function. My chest felt tight, like I was suffocating, even though I could hear myself gasping, my mouth opening and closing, but there was no air. My heart hammered so violently in my chest that I thought it might tear itself