CHAPTER 11
MY SAVIOR.
He stood in the doorway, shoulders squared, eyes burning with something fierce and undeniable. The silence in the hall was suffocating, no one daring to breathe.
Not even me. But I was more breathless from seeing him again.
“Stop the ceremony,” He repeated “This wedding is put on hold.”
Gasps rippled through the crowd, Luca’s face twisting into disbelief and fury. “Father, what the fuck are you doing?”
Julian didn’t answer his son. His eyes locked on mine—and in that moment, everything else fell away.
He was here.
For me.
Even though I had no idea what came next, a soaring feeling of bliss came over my chest.
Father stepped forward, at the same time I stepped away from Luca. He shot m
CHAPTER 12I WAS TOO SHAKEN TO MOVE!A hand, strong and unyielding, caught Luca’s wrist mid-air.The grip belonged to Julian.His eyes blazed with fury, his presence swallowing the clearing like a storm rolling in. “Touch her, and you’ll regret the day you were born.”Luca yanked his arm free, rage and humiliation battling in his expression. “Why do you care?” His voice cracked. “She’s nothing to you, she's nothing at all.”Julian stepped between us, shielding me completely. “Now, that’s where you’re wrong.” His voice was low, dangerous. “What are you turning into? This is not how I raised you.”Julian’s presence was a force, an undeniable wave of dominance that sent chills through my spine. Luca, however, didn’t flinch. His body vibrated
FAKE IT TILL YOU MAKE IT!It's a phrase I have always lived by. And yes, as you've probably guessed it's not really a good thing.I used to be this happy, bubbly child that everyone loved and adored. Brilliant, bold and beautiful, I was all of them, and this was proudly sponsored by Mother.Until she died!Father was thrown into grieving. I was just ten, they told me she had gone to join the other good people in the sky, and she was always watching over me, but I knew. They seemed to have forgotten that little Raven was not so little anymore, and she knew things that were above her age.I wish I didn't.I wish I was able to believe them. I wish I didn't know that my precious mother was dead, and no, she was not watching over me, instead she was decaying six feet underneath the ground. I still maintained the qualities that endeared everyone to me, except one.I wasn't so happy anymore. Since everyone had expected me to be swept away by their lies, I had to act like I was. So I faked
THE ENTIRE ROOM WAS REELING, like I had hopped unto a very fast merry-go-round without knowing.And everything just kept spinning and spinning.His words rang in my head, like a loop. An unwanted loop. “Join us, Raven, or leave."I know. What the fuck?I was taken aback, the pain in my chest slicing my heart into a million pieces, and slicing those pieces into many more pieces.How could Luca do this me?“Luca, how could you do this to me?" I sniffed.He vividly rolled his eyes, his expression far from pleasant. “Oh come on, Raven. Please, stop being so dramatic. Join the fun, or you better not ruin it."Elena—that bitch—held his hand immediately, her facial features a stark complex from Luca's. "Alpha, don't talk to her like that. She's gonna cry.”‘Is this lady mocking you right now?’ Nia snarled, her anger rising intensively.While she was angry, I was so fucking hurt!“Elena…” I trailed off, swallowing the words in my chest.My best friend!"Raven, I promise you. I didn't mean to
SHE DIDN'T SEE THAT COMING.I half-expected her to scream, or to return the slap, but instead, she smirked at me.And damn, did I want to slap her again.“Oh Raven darling, you really had to let that off your chest." She mocked.I clenched my fists angrily, my anger threatening to explode. Nia was dangerously quiet, but I could feel the anger of the both of us, and it was extremely overwhelming.“How could you do this to me? Elena, you're supposed to be my best…”She cut me off before the words could even come out. "Oh shut up, Raven. Shut up already." The smirk was wiped off her face, and was replaced by a gruesome glare. “I'm supposed to be your best friend? When you went on to have all the best things in the world, did you ever remember you had a best friend? You left me in those dirty stables alone, you began working in the palace and you forgot totally about me."I opened my mouth in horror. “Have you ever stopped to think about what I was going through at that time, Elena? My mo
I'VE NEVER BEEN SO HAPPY to see someone as I was to see to my father at that moment.Luca released me immediately, taking a reasonable step back."Wolf Prince,” Father acknowledged, with a slight bow.Luca nodded. "Head Chief," he greeted in return.Father held my hand, and I quickly went behind him. “Is there trouble somewhere, Wolf Prince?"Luca glared at me, the warning evident in his eyes. “Teach your daughter to stay in her place." And with that, he stormed out of the room.I was finally able to breathe, a lone tear escaping my eyes as the pain soared through my bones.Father turned to me. “Raven, what did you do?"He is not going ask if I'm okay?I sniffed, looking everywhere but at him. "Father, I can't continue with this marriage.” I sobbed.His face twisted into a frown. "What are you saying? Have you lost your mind?"What sort of reaction was I expecting?“Father, you're not going to ask me why?" I questioned.He shook his head rapidly. “No! Whatever your reason is, I don't
WAS I DREAMING?I swallowed hard, my throat dry as I took in the man before me. The Alpha of Red's pack. Luca's father! Even with the flashing lights dancing across his face, there was no mistaking him. The strong jawline, the sharp glint in his eyes, the way his presence commanded attention without him even trying.I couldn't breathe.My eyes roamed carelessly over him. He looked much more handsome from a closer view, almost impossible to believe he had a son as grown as Luca.But I couldn't let him know who I was. Not tonight. Not like this.How would I explain myself if he did? Your son cheated on me, so I'm here to do the same by losing my priceless virginity to a stranger? Hell, no! I forced a coy smile, tilting my head just slightly, pretending to be just another girl at the bar. Someone he’d never met before. "You scared my company away," I purred, my voice lower than usual, hoping the makeup and the change in my hair were enough to throw him off.His dark gaze ran over me
MY HEART HAMMERED painfully in my chest as I sat up, careful not to wake him. What have you done, Raven? What have you done? were the only words that rang over and over again in my head. The events of the night before played on a loop in my mind—the heat of his touch, the way he made me feel seen, the way I gave him every broken piece of me without a second thought.It felt unbelievably good, but it's the most reckless decision I've made in my entire life.And I sure as hell regret this already. My hands trembled as I slipped out of bed, quietly gathering my clothes. Every brush of fabric against my skin felt heavier than it should—like the weight of my own shame pressing down on me.He shifted slightly in his sleep, a soft sigh escaping his lips, and for a moment, I just stood there, watching him. He looked so calm, like he had no troubles in the world. I just wanted to return to his arms. It would be so easy to crawl back into bed, to pretend none of this mattered. But it did.I
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN ONE'S HEART STOPS? Do they die? Or do they just remain frozen in place, like I was now.I watched his face twist into a confused look, his eyes holding the same expression. “You… I know you.” He said.At that point, I prayed desperately that the ground would open up and swallow me, or even better, I'd just disappear into the thin air.What do I do? Run?I cleared my throat, looking away from him. It's better to explain myself at this point. “Alpha… I…” He cut me short. "I… recognize you. You're Luca’s mate, am I correct?" I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. I was overthinking it all, he doesn't recognize me.I nodded rapidly. "Yes! Yes, Alpha" The Alpha’s eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze sweeping over me in a way that made my skin prickle. There was no malice in his expression, but something else — curiosity, like a puzzle piece that didn’t quite fit, and it bothered him more than it should.“And yet…” he murmured, almost to himself. “There’s something
CHAPTER 12I WAS TOO SHAKEN TO MOVE!A hand, strong and unyielding, caught Luca’s wrist mid-air.The grip belonged to Julian.His eyes blazed with fury, his presence swallowing the clearing like a storm rolling in. “Touch her, and you’ll regret the day you were born.”Luca yanked his arm free, rage and humiliation battling in his expression. “Why do you care?” His voice cracked. “She’s nothing to you, she's nothing at all.”Julian stepped between us, shielding me completely. “Now, that’s where you’re wrong.” His voice was low, dangerous. “What are you turning into? This is not how I raised you.”Julian’s presence was a force, an undeniable wave of dominance that sent chills through my spine. Luca, however, didn’t flinch. His body vibrated
CHAPTER 11MY SAVIOR.He stood in the doorway, shoulders squared, eyes burning with something fierce and undeniable. The silence in the hall was suffocating, no one daring to breathe.Not even me. But I was more breathless from seeing him again.“Stop the ceremony,” He repeated “This wedding is put on hold.”Gasps rippled through the crowd, Luca’s face twisting into disbelief and fury. “Father, what the fuck are you doing?”Julian didn’t answer his son. His eyes locked on mine—and in that moment, everything else fell away.He was here.For me.Even though I had no idea what came next, a soaring feeling of bliss came over my chest.Father stepped forward, at the same time I stepped away from Luca. He shot m
CHAPTER 10PAUSE!Yes, the world paused at that moment. I couldn’t breathe, not with Julian standing so close, his hand still wrapped around my waist like it belonged there. His words echoed in my head, over and over, refusing to fade.“I know who you are, Raven.” he repeated, “Or should I say Anna."My heart stumbled into a wild rhythm, my hands gripping his forearm to steady myself—or maybe to ground me before I floated into the mess of emotions he stirred inside me.I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. It took a second attempt before my voice, trembling and thin, pushed past my lips. “Please… please, you can't tell anyone.”His brow lifted, but he didn’t let me go. “My Raven, you really thought you could hide me, huh?"I swallowed. "Please let me go!”
CHAPTER 9MY BREATH SEIZED.Was it because the man in front of me looked incredibly hot and it made me breathless? Or was it because he wasn't supposed to be here? Or rather, simply because I was guilty of deceiving him and I was simply dealing with my consciousness.I swallowed, looking away instantly. Break the hex!I hadn't seen the Alpha since 3 days ago in the woods. He had returned from his self-taken vacation but it still felt like he hadn't. No announcements was given, only those who had seen him knew he had returned.He seemed to like his isolation.But what is he doing here now?The Alpha filled the doorway like a shadow, his presence sucking the air from the room. My breath caught in my throat, my hands clutching the windowsill.“Can I come in?" I heard him say.
CHAPTER 8NUMB.I stood frozen, my own reflection staring back at me, wild-eyed and panicked. The knock at the door sent a jolt through my chest. My pulse thundered in my ears, drowning out rational thought.This is it. He knows. He’s come for answers.Another knock. My breath caught in my throat as I forced my feet to move, my hand trembling as I reached for the handle.The door creaked open—and I almost collapsed in relief.It was just a maid.Her expression was carefully neutral, her hands folded in front of her apron. “Miss Raven, I was sent by your father to check if you needed anything.”I let out a sharp breath, my heart still racing. “Oh… no. No, I’m fine.”The maid’s brow furrowed slightly. “Are you sure? You look
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN ONE'S HEART STOPS? Do they die? Or do they just remain frozen in place, like I was now.I watched his face twist into a confused look, his eyes holding the same expression. “You… I know you.” He said.At that point, I prayed desperately that the ground would open up and swallow me, or even better, I'd just disappear into the thin air.What do I do? Run?I cleared my throat, looking away from him. It's better to explain myself at this point. “Alpha… I…” He cut me short. "I… recognize you. You're Luca’s mate, am I correct?" I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. I was overthinking it all, he doesn't recognize me.I nodded rapidly. "Yes! Yes, Alpha" The Alpha’s eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze sweeping over me in a way that made my skin prickle. There was no malice in his expression, but something else — curiosity, like a puzzle piece that didn’t quite fit, and it bothered him more than it should.“And yet…” he murmured, almost to himself. “There’s something
MY HEART HAMMERED painfully in my chest as I sat up, careful not to wake him. What have you done, Raven? What have you done? were the only words that rang over and over again in my head. The events of the night before played on a loop in my mind—the heat of his touch, the way he made me feel seen, the way I gave him every broken piece of me without a second thought.It felt unbelievably good, but it's the most reckless decision I've made in my entire life.And I sure as hell regret this already. My hands trembled as I slipped out of bed, quietly gathering my clothes. Every brush of fabric against my skin felt heavier than it should—like the weight of my own shame pressing down on me.He shifted slightly in his sleep, a soft sigh escaping his lips, and for a moment, I just stood there, watching him. He looked so calm, like he had no troubles in the world. I just wanted to return to his arms. It would be so easy to crawl back into bed, to pretend none of this mattered. But it did.I
WAS I DREAMING?I swallowed hard, my throat dry as I took in the man before me. The Alpha of Red's pack. Luca's father! Even with the flashing lights dancing across his face, there was no mistaking him. The strong jawline, the sharp glint in his eyes, the way his presence commanded attention without him even trying.I couldn't breathe.My eyes roamed carelessly over him. He looked much more handsome from a closer view, almost impossible to believe he had a son as grown as Luca.But I couldn't let him know who I was. Not tonight. Not like this.How would I explain myself if he did? Your son cheated on me, so I'm here to do the same by losing my priceless virginity to a stranger? Hell, no! I forced a coy smile, tilting my head just slightly, pretending to be just another girl at the bar. Someone he’d never met before. "You scared my company away," I purred, my voice lower than usual, hoping the makeup and the change in my hair were enough to throw him off.His dark gaze ran over me
I'VE NEVER BEEN SO HAPPY to see someone as I was to see to my father at that moment.Luca released me immediately, taking a reasonable step back."Wolf Prince,” Father acknowledged, with a slight bow.Luca nodded. "Head Chief," he greeted in return.Father held my hand, and I quickly went behind him. “Is there trouble somewhere, Wolf Prince?"Luca glared at me, the warning evident in his eyes. “Teach your daughter to stay in her place." And with that, he stormed out of the room.I was finally able to breathe, a lone tear escaping my eyes as the pain soared through my bones.Father turned to me. “Raven, what did you do?"He is not going ask if I'm okay?I sniffed, looking everywhere but at him. "Father, I can't continue with this marriage.” I sobbed.His face twisted into a frown. "What are you saying? Have you lost your mind?"What sort of reaction was I expecting?“Father, you're not going to ask me why?" I questioned.He shook his head rapidly. “No! Whatever your reason is, I don't