/-Skylar-/I woke up feeling unusually drained and weak. The lights were almost blinding and I couldn't open my eyes properly.“Daddy… she's awake!” I heard a child's voice. Who the hell was that? My eyes fluttered open and I had to blink repeatedly to keep the light off my eyes. “Raven!” Kai's voice followed and his cologne hit my nostrils as he sat beside me. My vision cleared and I realized his sons were also in the room. A hospital room to be exact. I could smell the drugs and antiseptic. What happened to me?Did that mean that Gwen was here? It was a little weird for her because the woman didn't even like me. She has no reason to be here. “How are you feeling baby?” He asked me.“I… why am I here?” I asked him. My mind was completely blank so I didn't remember anything.“You were poisoned,” he told me. My heart skipped a beat. But it seemed like that was the trigger word because everything came flooding back and so did my suspect.“Did you find how did it?” I asked and his ey
/-Skylar-/After what seemed like forever, the boys were finally asleep. I was set to be discharged in the evening.Kai sat opposite me, silently, thinking of something I suspected that I already knew. I tried not to rush him but watching him was becoming painful and bothersome. I had to break the silence, no matter how much I wanted him to think. “Well, can you tell me what you're thinking now? It's about the children, right?” I finally spoke. “Who are we going to leave them with? They can't lose both parents, Raven,” he said. “They haven't. You can just let Gwen go,” I said and he looked at me like I just blasphemed.“What?” “You heard me, Declan. There is no need to hold her captive. I'm very certain that your boys have dealt with her enough. There is no need to make this more complicated than it should be,” I shrugged and he stood up, backing me instantly.“I can't believe you're making this suggestion. Let's take aside the fact that she tried to kill you. Gwendolyn is a horri
/-Taylor-/I knew something was fishy when my men didn't get back to me. Then a few days later, their bodies turn up, found in the alley. It couldn't have been anyone else. They were spying on her and supposed to take her down. That was the last time I heard from them. It didn't make sense that she was able to kill them but somehow she did. I have been in and out of the station for questioning as I was the last contact either of them spoke to.It was annoying that my mother wouldn't even help. All she could offer me was that she told me so. To make it worse, my sisters affirmed that they had seen her with Kai at the park and she looked very healthy. Who exactly was this woman? Why did everything seem to be evolving around her? The more I asked these questions, the deeper I found myself falling into obsession. Like now… I was trying to find her on social media. I had only recently been informed of Ava's death and it didn't make sense that Skylar would kill her best friend, but ac
/-Sally-/Just when I thought I could have an uneventful day, her call came in. Amelia. What could she possibly want from me now? I wasn't in the mood to grant favours. “Have you seen Taylor?” She asked as soon as I answered the phone. Taylor?Now that was unexpected. He was always the one looking for her but now, it was the other way to round?“What about him?” I asked.“Stop throwing back my questions and answer the damn question! It's been two days since he left home and he hadn't been back since then. His sisters are very worried about him,” she said. “Since when do you care about the brats?” I asked in surprise and I could almost fell her glaring at me through the phone. She knew I was telling the truth. There were only a few people she cared about and those children were not part of it. “Well I don't know where he is,” I told her. “Coudo you ask the mystic to help me find him?” She asked. .“At this point, you are just overreacting. He is an adult, a freaking CEO. Maybe a
On Sally's refusal, Amelia headed to see Diane herself. She knew that this rescue mission was simply pointless for Taylor. Even if Diane let him go by some miracle, he would never be the same again. In clearer terms, he would be nothing but a vegetable. Amelia didn't care for any of that. She had spent the last few years harnessing asuch power as she could, yet coming face to face with Diane, it felt she had not even started. How the hell was she supposed to defeat her when they went back then? Her goal has always been one and the same. Kill Raven and protect Declan.Which is why she needed this test fight right now. She wanted to know if she could beat Diane and if there were any weaknesses.“It's foolish and reckless for you to come with the intention of fighting me, Amelia,” Diane's voice sang at the entrance. “You can't.”The confidence irked Amelia but she knew Diane was right. She couldn't beat her but she was going to look for openings and weaknesses and then in the real mat
/-Skylar-/I almost didn't recognise her by the time Kai let her out. Her body was covered in bruises, she was lean and pale and looked like she didn't have any blood left in her. “Where the hell do you think you're going?” Kai snapped at her and from the way she flinched, I was afraid she would crash and her bones would shatter. That was just how bad it was. “Apologise to her, right now!” Kai ordered. There was nothing like the beautiful arrogant Gwen now. She was hanging on a thread of life now, so definitely, she wouldn't want to jeopardize that. She even looked remoseful.“S..s… sorry…” she rasped. “Properly!” Kai hissed. If she hadn't been so bitchy towards me and tried to kill me, I might have asked Kai to spare her. “I… I'm sorry, Skylar…” she croaked, clapping her hands together in plea. The way her hands trembled like they were about to fall off made me instantly accept the apology. Kai ordered his men to take her away and approached me with a frown.“This is a very b
/-Raven-/I woke up with a splitting headache. My eyes fluttered open and I scanned the place. The ceiling design was very familiar. It was confusing. Wasn't I supposed to wake up at the battlefield?“It's good to see you awake, child,” I heard suddenly and turned. I flinched hard, shocked. This was the healer. The very woman that warned about going into a fight with Amelia. I took a look at my body and the flawless skin was gone. The scars were and I immediately flew out of bed and ran to the bathroom. My red hair. It was back. My eyes watered. It was really back. I've never felt so happy to be in my own skin in my entire life. I touched my face over and over again. “Oh goddess, it's really back,” I exclaimed. “I'm really back.” That meant my dragon was back as well, right? I clenched my fist and it went up in flames. Yesss!! Oh goddess, yes! The real Raven is back!My mind was flooding with too many thoughts at the same time. The battle. It was happening today, right?I need
/-Raven-/On getting outside, I met Amelia. Unlike before, she had gotten here earlier than I expected.“Let's get this over with. I have more important things to deal with,” she said. “If the more important thing you're talking about is Diane, then I think we should take her down first instead of wasting our energy on each other,” I told her. “Why should I…” she cast me a condescending look. “...collaborate with you to do anything?” “Because you can't take her for me on your own,” I said plainly. “If we work together, we might actually have a chance to defeat her then we can face each other.” “Really? You must be bold to think that I would actually need help from you!” She huffed and I rolled my eyes. “I don't have time for your boost your little ego. When I'm done taking Diane, you can come fight me,” I said, shifting into dragon form. “Like I would wait for you to do that!” She muttered and leapt into the air, too. A smirk played on my lips. One down, one more person to go.
/-Raven-/We lay upside down facing each other with the sheets sprawled over our bodies. Our bodies were covered in sweat and we were panting heavily.“No one said our wedding night was going to be so long,” I muttered. I could barely feel my legs but my core was burning from six rounds of lovemaking. Declan smirked at me, “Our honeymoon would be even longer.” “Where are we going?” I asked him. “Anywhere of your choice,” he said and I shrugged. “I don't know, we could tour. Or just stay here…”“Don't even suggest that,” he cut me short. “Those elders always have one problem or the other when they set eyes on me. Unless you want your husband to be working during his honeymoon, I suggest you cancel all plans of staying here.” I chuckled. “You are so serious about avoiding work.” “Because I want to spend time with my wife. That is perfectly logical. Anyone can understand that,” he said and I laughed. “Of course. Like I don't have duties as Luna.” He frowned, “Cha we put this whol
/-Francesca-/I admit it. It was pointless. Fighting for someone who didn't clearly want me. But the truth was that it didn't really matter what Declan wanted; I was giving up for Raven's sake. Right from the moment she called me sister on the roof, I couldn't bring myself to hurt her in any way. That was why I was humbly accepting defeat. It was her big day and whether I liked it or not, I was going to be happy for her.The IronClaw Courtyard had never looked more radiant.White blossoms bloomed from enchanted vines that shone under the moonlight. A carpet of silver petals led the way down the aisle, which glowed faintly as if the moon itself had kissed every inch. The air was thick with magic, anticipation, and, despite myself, love.I stood just beyond the arched entryway, my hands clasped in front of me, fingers trembling only slightly.The pack had gathered in full. Alphas from allied clans, betas in full ceremonial garb, omegas glowing with awe. Everyone had come to witness
/-Raven-/“You smell nice…” Declan muttered, hugging me from behind out of nowhere. I was in the dressing room at the . designer's shop, trying out my wedding dress. “You're not supposed to be here,” I whispered. “Who let you in?” He chucked mischievously. “I don't need permission to see my woman whenever I feel like.” “Don't tell me you came here, all the way from the palace…”“Because I missed you? Fuck yes,” he interrupted. I couldn't believe my ears, yet as much as I wanted to scold him, I found myself smiling like a fool.“You're an Alpha, don't you have duties to perform?” I asked him. He took a step closer and I backed away. Another step and moved back. His lips curled into a mischievous smile. “You know if you keep moving back, you're going to trap yourself between me and the wall.” That brief second when I glanced to see if I was that close to the wall, he pin me to the wall and caged me in a chokehold.“Oops,” he smirked. “I got you.” I didn't even know how to react a
Two Weeks Later/-Francesca-/They were so happy. Raven and Declan. After everything they've been through, it was only right for them to celebrate, right? Have some rest and finally live the good life they deserved. IronClaw deserved a break. That was the thought of many wolves, not mine. I assumed you against someone as powerful as Amelia would have been enough to severe whatever ties Raven had with Declan. I hid for so long. Playing the coward. Allowing everyone to have their shots and when the chances were high, I walked in their skin, hoping to complete the mission and finally get the man I deserve. Yet every single time. Every. Single. Time. That little redhead found a way to beat me at my own game. I struck a deal with Azaiah to get her out, it failed, I set her up, it failed, I walked in her skin but it took only minutes for him to recognize me. All the while I played sweet little Francesca, pretending my elf blood was useless and magic almost non-existent, hoping I cou
/-Raven-/The air smelled fresher than it had ever been. Being back to IronClaw felt like a dream. With Diane and Amelia gone, things were beginning to fall into place. The Elders regained themselves and the darkness looming over the pack was finally gone. Azaiah couldn't come back with us. He insisted on taking back the bodies of the men he lost in battle back to the mountains. I offered to help but he declined. He insisted I take Declan home and here we were. Francesca and Othelia were waiting eagerly for us and beside them was my very old friend. “Greetings, Alpha!” They all bowed and Declan merely nodded. I don't know the level of damage Diane did to him but I hoped with her death, the curse she put on him would also disappear. The way his body felt cold against mine was making me skeptical. The guards immediately rushed to help him off me. “Tim!” I exclaimed, hugging him before I even realized it. Francesca frowned beside me and I understood her jealousy. She expected I wou
/-Raven-/I didn’t breathe.Couldn’t.Declan’s body jerked unnaturally, his head tilting like a marionette on frayed strings. His mouth opened, but the sound that spilled out wasn’t his voice.It was mine.“I should’ve killed her when I had the chance.”My own words. A whisper I’d spat to myself as I held Ava's corpse in my arms. How the hell did she…?“No…” I stepped back, heart thudding so loud it felt like it echoed in the cavern.Azaiah's joints twisted, bones popping, contorting in ways no living body should. His eyes were a soulless abyss. Whatever spark once made him Azaiah had been stripped clean, replaced with something cold. Controlled.“Do you like it?” Diane cooed, her voice sweet and venom-laced. “It’s not possession. That’s so... temporary. I rethreaded them. Blood, bone, and memory.”She cocked her head, watching me with childish delight.“You’re lying,” I snapped, more to myself than to her. “Declan’s still in there. Azaiah too. I’ll get them back.”“You think love can
/-Raven-/My heart stopped. I stared down at Diane, no, whatever the hell she’d become, as she walked calmly through the burning remnants of the forest, her voice echoing in my head like a curse.She wasn’t just mimicking Azaiah.She was him now.“We need help in here, Raven…”The exact same voice. Same words. Same rhythm. Except this time, her lips curled into a grin as she said it aloud, like she knew I was listening.As expected of a witch…But this was something darker than anything I’d ever felt. Something deadly. I wasn't even sure this was just Diane anymore. I hovered higher into the clouds, hiding behind a veil of smoke and fog, praying she couldn’t sense me. My heart hammered in my chest.I’d seen death. I'd caused death. But this… this was beyond it. She had devoured them. The silence from the mind-link wasn’t a glitch or mental interference.It was because everyone was dead.And now she wore their voices like masks.“Come on, Raven,” she called out, twirling once slowly
/-Raven-/I shifted into dragon form and flew as far away as I could. As much as I wanted revenge, I couldn't jeopardize the living for the dead. If my presence was going to secure their victory then I would take pride in that and let go of my anger.For Declan. I don't know how long or how far I flew but i was at a distance I couldn't intervene quickly even if I wanted to. “Azaiah, what's your status?” I asked through the mind link. “She's down. So is half of our men. I hate to admit it but Declan is helping a lot. Are you coming in?” He asked.“Unfortunately, I can't. I need to take care of Amelia's soldiers but until then I can't come in,” I said. “But make sure she is dead. Take off her head, that is the best way to kill a witch and set her ablaze. We can't risk her suddenly resurrecting.” “That was the same thing Amelia said. Don't worry, Raven, do what you have to do, we have it all under control,” he assured me. Relief washed through me. This was definitely a good thing.
/-Raven-/On getting outside, I met Amelia. Unlike before, she had gotten here earlier than I expected.“Let's get this over with. I have more important things to deal with,” she said. “If the more important thing you're talking about is Diane, then I think we should take her down first instead of wasting our energy on each other,” I told her. “Why should I…” she cast me a condescending look. “...collaborate with you to do anything?” “Because you can't take her for me on your own,” I said plainly. “If we work together, we might actually have a chance to defeat her then we can face each other.” “Really? You must be bold to think that I would actually need help from you!” She huffed and I rolled my eyes. “I don't have time for your boost your little ego. When I'm done taking Diane, you can come fight me,” I said, shifting into dragon form. “Like I would wait for you to do that!” She muttered and leapt into the air, too. A smirk played on my lips. One down, one more person to go.