CHAPTER 28AN ANSWER. Even I was waiting for one as the question hung in the air. It seemed to take forever, and my heart was already pounding in my chest. I had asked him the same question earlier, if he was going to risk it all for me, and for this forbidden bond we share. And although he had said yes, my heart still stopped in an anxious bid to get an answer a second time.What if he said no?What if he changed his mind?What happens next?“I would.”Another round of gasps.I turned to him, shocked all over again. He would. He really said yes a second time.Julian took a step closer to me, his presence a wall of safety. “Raven stays. With me. If anyone has a problem with that, we can settle it the old-fashioned way.” His lips curled into something almost amused. “One-on-one.”No one spoke. No one challenged.Of course, they are, after all, just cowards.Julian turned to me then, his expression softening for the briefest moment. He reached for my hand, clasping it in his, before pu
CHAPTER 29STRONGER! Julian and I could only keep getting stronger and stronger. The pack hadn't relented in their efforts to tear us apart, but despite this, we had the strong bond to show for our resilience.He had occupied my mind. I was always thinking of him, thinking of the things he did to me, the things I wanted him to do to me. It was refreshing, feeling this way after so long of repeated heartbreaks.I wasn't about to let that go.Tonight, however, I wasn't with him. The night air was cool against my skin as I stepped outside, wrapping my arms around myself. Sleep had eluded me, thoughts swirling like a storm in my mind.I wasn’t expecting to find Julian already there.He stood beneath the towering oak tree, his posture relaxed but his gaze distant, as if he was lost in thought. Moonlight bathed his sharp features, making him look almost… untouchable.Still, I walked toward him.“You should be asleep,” he murmured without looking at me.He knew it was me without even having
CHAPTER 30IT STARTED WITH THE LITTLE THINGS.I was a fool to have thought that I'd find peace that'd last forever. My life has always been that way—lonely and sad, one minute; and then I'd find peace, but it was of course, always temporary.It started with the little things.Julian stopped waiting for me in the mornings. He left before I woke up, his side of the bed cold.When I searched for him, I was met with short answers, curt nods, and empty looks.I told myself it was nothing. That he was busy. That he was just dealing with the weight of his responsibilities.But when I reached for his hand one evening, and he pulled away like my touch burned him, I knew—something was wrong."Julian, talk to me," I demanded that night, stepping into his office even after he asked me to leave.He barely looked up from the papers in front of him. "I'm busy."I swallowed. "You're always busy."Silence.I stepped closer. "Did I… do something?"That made him pause.His golden eyes lifted to mine, bu
CHAPTER 31DEJA VÙ I watched it happen a second time, and just like before, I had no idea how to react. There, standing way too close to him, was Elena. His back was to me, but I saw it all unfold.Her hands were on his chest. And his lips—his lips were on hers.The breath left my lungs. For a second, I couldn’t move. I couldn’t breathe.Elena was the first to notice me. She pulled away slowly, turning to me with a victorious smirk. Julian’s head snapped toward me.His eyes widened, but it didn’t matter.Nothing mattered anymore.Something inside me cracked. No, not cracked. It broke.I broke.Without a single word, I turned and walked away.I didn’t stop when I heard him call my name. I didn’t stop when my vision blurred.I just kept walking, because if I stopped, I would fall apart.I knew I would.The world around me blurred as I stormed out of Julian’s quarters, my chest burning with betrayal. My hands trembled, my vision swam, but I didn’t stop. I couldn’t stop.His lips had bee
CHAPTER 32JULIAN'S POVThe sting of Raven’s slap burned across my cheek, but it was nothing compared to the pain in her eyes.She had never looked at me like that before. Like I was a stranger. Like I was someone she despised.I had known this moment would come.I had felt it building, every time I walked past her without a word. Every time I ignored the way her presence pulled at me like gravity. Every time I saw the hurt on her face and told myself that pushing her away was necessary.But this? Watching her break, watching her crumble in front of the entire pack—this was worse than I had ever imagined.She didn’t wait for an explanation, didn't even give me a chance to tell her the truth.She just turned and ran away, like I was a plague.I should have followed her. Every instinct in me screamed to chase after her, to hold her, to tell her the truth. But my feet didn’t move.Because I had done this. This was all my fault.Before I could even process what had happened, a new voice c
CHAPTER 33JULIAN'S POVWHAT HAVE I DONE?The moment the guard delivered the news, my world tilted. My Raven!"A group of rogues were seen near the borders. A fight broke out. We can’t find Lady Raven."The words slammed into me like a death blow. This is all my fault. It's all my fault.Silence stretched between the guard and I for a beat before I moved. My body was a blur of motion as I stormed past the warriors gathered in the courtyard. My pulse thundered in my ears, my wolf clawing to break free.She was out there—alone, or worse. I had to find her.“Get every tracker we have,” I barked at my warrior, my voice sharp enough to cut steel. “Now.”The pack stirred with unease. The weight of my fury was suffocating, even I felt it. I was like a storm ready to tear through anything in its way.As we set to depart, I heard my name. “Julian," I turned to see Desmond, Raven's father. His face was pale, as if he hadn't sleep in weeks. I would have walked away, but something in his eyes ma
CHAPTER 34RAVEN'S POVPAIN DRAGGED ME BACK TO CONSCIOUSNESS.It came in waves, sharp and unrelenting. My wrists ached from the rough ropes binding my hands, and my body throbbed from the fight I had put up before they captured me. My head pounded, my breathing shallow as I took in my surroundings.The room was dark and cold, the scent of damp stone and old blood filling the air. A single torch flickered on the far wall, casting shadows that danced eerily across the rough stone floor. My pulse quickened. Where the hell was I?A dull, throbbing pain echoed through my skull. The darkness around me was thick, suffocating. I tried to move, but the effort sent sharp pain shooting through my limbs. My mind was sluggish, like I was wading through fog.Where… am I?Then, it all came back—the slap, the heartbreak, running into the woods, and then… the attack. The struggle. The hands grabbing her. The blow to my head. Everything came back.My heart pounded against my ribs.I forced my breathi
CHAPTER 35RAVEN'S POV HESITATION SPREAD THROUGH THEIR FACES.“What?” the one holding me snapped.“You heard me,” the rogue panted. “She’s not to be harmed.”Confusion flickered through the room. But I didn’t wait for them to figure it out.The moment their grip on my arms loosened, I wrenched free, stepping back toward the door.The rogue leader’s words echoed in my mind. You are more valuable than you realize.What the hell did that mean? And why were they letting me go?One of them glared at me, and I recognized him as the rogue of earlier—the one who had seemed too familiar.He sneered. “We can't just let her leave like that. She hasn't fulfilled the purpose for which she was brought here." The other one countered him immediately, “Do you intend to go against the master? She will not be pleased, and you know what happens after that." The rogue who had brought in the information, followed up with his own subtle warning. “It seems you don't love the life you live anymore." The r
CHAPTER 47A PROPHECY?With my heart in my hands, I asked, “What prophecy?" She held my gaze. "Written deep in those scrolls is an ancient saying which somehow metamorphosed into a prophecy to be fulfilled in our time.When I said nothing, she continued. “A prophecy that speaks of a forbidden bond—one that, when realized, will unlock the true potential of the werewolf race.”My breath caught in my throat. “A forbidden bond?”Atena nodded. “Two wolves, meant to be together, but forced apart by unnatural forces. Their unity would have changed everything… but someone feared that power.”My blood ran cold. “You’re saying this… has to do with Julian and me?”Atena nodded. “You and Julian were never meant to be ordinary. Your connection was forged by fate itself. But someone interfered.”A deep unease settled in my stomach. “Interfered how?”Atena closed the book. “There was one among your own people who feared the prophecy, who sought to prevent it from coming true. A spell was cast—dark
CHAPTER 46RAVEN'S POV DEEP INTO THE WOODS.The moment I stepped past the border of the forest, the air thickened, wrapping around me like unseen tendrils. The towering trees stretched endlessly into the dark, their branches twisting like skeletal fingers. The silence was unsettling—not the calm quiet of nature, but an eerie stillness, as if the forest itself was holding its breath.I exhaled, pressing forward, following the invisible pull that had led me here. It tugged at my soul, an unspoken command I didn’t understand but couldn’t ignore. The further I went, the more distant the outside world felt. The forest had its own rhythm, its own presence—watchful, ancient, alive.The sun dipped below the horizon, and the darkness thickened. Then I saw them.I was barely seconds into the forest, were they waiting for me?I turned immediately, my instincts rising. I could run back to the pack. Maybe asking to do this alone was a bad idea. I could really use Julian's help right now.However,
CHAPTER 45JULIAN'S POV FLASHBACKI leaned back in my chair, the dim lighting of the bar casting long shadows over my features. The woman in my lap trailed kisses along my jawline, her hands wandering with an eagerness I barely acknowledged. I had picked her out of the crowd without much thought, seeking nothing but a temporary escape from the ghosts that haunted me.But as her lips pressed against me, something inside me recoiled, like I was repulsed. The touch was wrong. It wasn’t what I wanted. It wasn’t who I wanted.I grabbed her wrists and pulled back, my expression darkening. "Get out."The woman blinked in confusion, her lips still parted from our unfinished kiss. "What? But I thought—""I said get out," I repeated, y voice laced with a growl. She rose to her feet, a disbelieved scoff escaping her lips. “I thought they were all rumors, turns out they were true after all." I shot her a glare, my eyes cold, but she didn't seem phased. A courageous one. "What does that mean?"
CHAPTER 44I KNEW WHAT I HAD TO DO.The words left my lips before I could second-guess them. Julian’s reaction was instant.“No,” he said sharply, shaking his head. “Absolutely not.”“Julian, listen to me—”“I don’t need to listen,” he snapped. “You’re not going into those woods alone.”I reached for his hand, pressing it against my wrist where the mark still burned. “It won’t stop,” I whispered. “You saw Dorian’s reaction. This isn’t just some random nightmare, Julian. It’s real.”His jaw clenched, his body taut with tension. He wanted to fight this. “More reason you shouldn't leave, Raven. Come on! All of the signs are there before you, and yet you want to walk right into the pit. That's reckless.”"Well, what else am I supposed to do?” I snapped, at the edge of losing control.He turned to me, his eyes softening. "We could just ignore this, act like none of it is happening. It'll stop eventually. If they realize they can't get to you, they'll give up.” I scoffed. "Easy for you to
CHAPTER 43THE TRUTH. I parted my lips to tell him the truth, but I was interrupted.A knock echoed in the room, and both of our attention was immediately captured. “Who's there?" Julian called.A voice returned an answer. “Alpha, there's a problem." The heavy urgency in his tone attested to his words.“Come in." Julian said, rising to his feet.The moment the scout burst into the room, his face pale and his breathing ragged, I knew our peace had been short-lived.Julian stiffened beside me, his muscles coiling with tension. "Speak," he commanded, his voice sharp as a blade."A rogue group, Alpha," the scout panted. "We noticed a rogue group. Near our borders. Their numbers are growing."My pulse quickened. The room went deadly silent.Julian exchanged a glance with me before turning back to the scout. "Reach out to the elders, arrange a council meeting. We meet now."Moments later, we were seated in the council chamber, the air thick with unease. Some of the elders believed these ro
CHAPTER 42STARTLEDI woke with a gasp, my body drenched in sweat.Julian stirred beside me, his eyes opening instantly. “Raven?”My breathing was ragged, my chest rising and falling too fast.He sat up, wrapping his arms around me. “It’s okay,” he murmured. “It was just a dream.”But as I buried my face against his chest, my body trembling, I couldn’t shake the feeling that it had been more than just a dream. I couldn’t shake the feeling that it had been a warning.The nightmare still clung to me, a ghost of fear twisting around my ribs, refusing to let go. I had woken up drenched in sweat, my heartbeat hammering like a war drum in my chest. The image of Elena smirking at me evenly, it lingered at the edge of my mind.I didn’t tell Julian what had actually happened in the dream. Not because I didn’t trust him, but because I didn’t trust myself. My mind had been through too much—betrayal, pain, battles—I was probably just reacting to all of it. At least, that’s what I told myself.Th
CHAPTER 41REALIZATION DAWNED ON ME. Alongside this feeling I couldn't tell—one which came when suspicions you didn't want to be true, turns out to be true.The journey back to the pack was filled with silence.Julian and I rode at the front, warriors flanking us as we carried with us the final truth—the last rogue had confirmed it.We knew who it was—the one behind my abduction, the mastermind behind these crazy mind games. She had been playing her game in the shadows all along, waiting for her moment.Now, her time was up.The moment we crossed into pack territory, Julian sent word to the council. The pack gathered swiftly, murmurs filling the air as the news spread like wildfire.Elena was dragged from her chambers, her wrists bound. Her once-pristine appearance was gone—her hair was unkempt, her clothes wrinkled. But the moment her eyes met mine, there was no shame. Only hatred.Julian stood tall, his Alpha presence undeniable. “Elena,” he called, his voice carrying over the rest
CHAPTER 40AM I HAPPY?I turned in his arms, meeting his gaze. I didn't need to think twice, I already knew the answer. “Yes.”Relief flickered across his face. He cupped my cheek, his thumb tracing the curve of my jaw.“I won’t ever let anything come between us again,” he vowed.I smiled softly. “I know.”He pressed his forehead to mine, and for a while, we just stood there, breathing each other in.Then, slowly, he tilted my chin up and captured my lips in a kiss. It was slow, deep, filled with promises unspoken.I melted into him, wrapping my arms around his neck as he lifted me effortlessly, carrying me inside.This? This is home.***The morning air was crisp, but my mind was anything but clear. The events of the past few days had settled like a weight on my chest. Everything was finally falling into place—Julian and I, the pack’s acceptance, the removal of those who had wronged me.And yet, something lingered.The rogues.The ones who had taken me, who had spoken in riddles, who
CHAPTER 39PAIN — THE LAST THING I WANTED.After everything, I just needed reassurance that I wouldn't lose him yet again. I tried to build walls, to not fall as hard as I did before, but the truth was I had already fallen, and I didn't stand up after that.I was in love with this man. The last thing I wanted was another regret.Julian rested his forehead against mine, a shaky exhale escaping him. “You won't, Raven. I promise."We sat there by the river, the world around us fading into the background. In that moment, amidst the uncertainty of the future, a fragile thread of connection was rewoven, one that we both hoped would withstand the tests to come.When we went back to bed that night, I snuggled closer into Julian's arms. My mind replayed everything that had happened in the past few months, and I couldn't help but smile. From giving my self to him out of pain and the sheer need for revenge at a random bar that night, to him finding out who I was and me trying to avoid and bury