/-Hannah-/“Lisa?” We immediately froze. Shit! Shit! Shit! Where the fuck did he come from? Didn't he have somewhere to be and how long has he been following us?“Lisa!” Tim's voice rang out again. Lisa and I exchanged glances. There was really nothing we could do in this situation, other than convince him to let us go. “Tim,” Lisa's voice shrank into something I couldn't recognize. “You're here?”His face remained stoic, clearly he was unimpressed with the little show she was just trying to put up. I guess she thought he would forget that she rejected him before Declan, the elders and other guards.“Please don't turn me in,” she immediately fell on her knees, surprising even me. “I was afraid of what the Alpha would do to me, that is why I lied. I didn't mean to hurt you, Tim. I swear I didn't, please don't hand me over to them,” she pleaded.“What are you doing out here? How did you break out of your cell? Did you do that to Othelia and the guards?” He demanded. Before I could
/-Raven-/“What do we do now?” Lisa asked me. “How would I know? We're both wanted by them,” I retorted. “Hands on your head now!” The guards ordered and I glanced at Lisa. We couldn't let these people take us in. We had to fight– I mean, I had to fight, Lisa was no good. She only knew how to look pretty and create a ruckus where none was needed. “Didn't you hear me? Get on your knees now!” He growled.“What do we do, Raven?” Lisa panicked. “They don't look very friendly.”I rolled my eyes at her. She was visibly trembling in fear now but when it was time to threaten me to stay off Declan, nothing could possibly scare her. “Keep quiet,” I hissed, my eyes darting around for anything we could use to our advantage. The guards were closing in, their heavy boots crunching against the gravel. Lisa clutched my arm, her nails digging into my skin as if holding onto me would magically make us invisible.“We surrender, okay?” I said, raising my hands slowly, palms outward. Lisa shot me a c
/-Hannah-/“What do we do now?” Lisa whispered. “Hush!” I snapped harshly. “You need to get away from us, Tim,” I told him.“What? Why?” He asked. “Because we are going to get caught with you by our side and you are going to get punished. It will be a lot easier for you to join them and pretend you were searching for intruders as well than running with us. Lisa and I will sneak to the back,” I told him.Although this situation was totally unplanned and we were cooked if we got caught, it was the easiest way to get rid of Tim. If we managed to get away, we could easily leave without glancing back to see if he was on our neck or not. Tim was reluctant at first but he couldn't deny I was right. “Fine,” he sighed. “You can do that; I'll try to keep them distracted for as long as I can.”“Thank you, Tim,” Lisa faked gratitude but I grabbed her arm and dragged her away with me. The bastard didn't deserve the gratitude of any kind. He only ended up slowing us down instead of actually be
/- Raven-/The lock turned and the door immediately burst open, slamming against the wall, and I jumped. My heart raced as Tim stormed in, his face pale, his breaths laboured like he’d run the entire way.Relief washed through me immediately. I was scared that he was in some sort of danger. However, his eyes were not on me. His face paled out as his mouth went slightly agape in confusion. "Lisa?" His voice was sharp, incredulous, as he froze in the doorway. "What the hell? How are you here? I just left you with Hannah!"Oh, that made sense. I would be puzzled too. Lisa whirled to face him, her expression twisting with desperation. "Tim, listen to me! That wasn’t me with Hannah. It’s a skinwalker! She trapped me in a secret tunnel and took my face!"Even though I already heard the words before, it didn't make it less surprising. It sent a trial of goosebumps down my skin every time I thought about it. Something about it just took me back to the roof incident where he was pushing me
/-Raven-/The journey began under a heavy sky, the wind biting at our cheeks as Lisa and I trudged through the woods. The silence between us was as thick as the clouds above, and for a while, it seemed neither of us would break it.I was happy with it, because I didn't even want this woman next to me but circumstances wouldn't stop forcing us together. But, of course, Lisa couldn’t help herself.“I know we’ve never been on the best terms, Raven,” she began, her voice unusually soft. “But I wanted to say… thank you. For what you did for me in the tunnels. If you hadn’t come back…”I cut her off with a sharp glance. “You would’ve found your way out. You’re resourceful like that.”She was taken aback by my words but I wanted the conversation to be over already. I already knew she didn't like me and frankly, I didn't like her too. There was no need for pretense. “No, I wouldn’t have,” she admitted, surprising me. Her eyes flickered toward me before focusing on the path ahead. “You saved
/-Raven-/I glanced at Lisa whose face had gone pale as she said the name. Even Tim's expression was confirmation that Lisa was right. It was indeed Diane. Declan suddenly stopped convulsing and for a moment, I was afraid that something might have happened to him. That he was dead. But then his steady breathing assured me that he was still alive.His face was ashen, his breathing shallow, and I had never felt so powerless. Amelia straightened slowly, her expression grim as she stepped away.Dread washed through me as I knew what was coming. Just like many others before her, she couldn't heal him. Yet, I tried to stay positive as she spoke."The curse on him," she began, her voice cutting through the silence, "is bound by blood. The one who placed it tied it to herself with a blood oath. As long as she lives, with her blood coursing through his veins, no one, not even me, can fully break it."Her words struck me like a physical blow. For a moment, I could only stare at her, struggl
/-Raven-/The faint flicker of Declan’s eyelids was the first sign of life I’d seen in days. His lashes fluttered before those misty silver eyes cracked open, bleary but warm. If you didn't know better, you'd think he was blind, and it was so freaking gorgeous. Relief surged through me, making my chest ache. But relief quickly gave way to fury."You idiot!" I snapped before I could stop myself, leaning over his bed. I didn't care if he was Alpha or not. "Do you have any idea how much you scared us? We even had to go as far as seeking a sorcerer for you!"Declan’s lips curved into a faint, lopsided smile. “Us?” he murmured, his voice scratchy but teasing. “Or are you speaking for yourself, Raven?”I froze, my cheeks burning as I struggled for a retort. Even when he was still weak and just barely recovered, he still had the energy to tease me. “Everyone,” I said stiffly, crossing my arms over my chest. “Don’t flatter yourself.”Yet, I felt so warm inside. I didn't know how much I mis
Raven’s POVDeclan’s silence was maddening. I watched as Hannah glared at him, waiting for some sort of response, anything that would validate her anger. But Declan remained still, his gaze distant, almost disinterested in the scene unfolding before him. It was almost as if he had already decided what his stance would be and nothing would change it. His lack of reaction only seemed to make Hannah more frustrated.I could feel the anger simmering beneath her skin and it was almost amusing. The way she stood, fists clenched at her sides, her jaw tight with fury. It wasn’t hard to tell that she expected me to be at the mercy of her wrath. She had that aura of entitlement that came with being close to the Alpha.But Declan wasn’t interested in her theatrics. It was a strange sort of relief, but it also made me feel strangely isolated. I wished Declan would just tell her to back off rather than stay silent. Even though I could deal with her myself, I still wanted him to. “You little…!” He
Raven’s POVDeclan’s silence was maddening. I watched as Hannah glared at him, waiting for some sort of response, anything that would validate her anger. But Declan remained still, his gaze distant, almost disinterested in the scene unfolding before him. It was almost as if he had already decided what his stance would be and nothing would change it. His lack of reaction only seemed to make Hannah more frustrated.I could feel the anger simmering beneath her skin and it was almost amusing. The way she stood, fists clenched at her sides, her jaw tight with fury. It wasn’t hard to tell that she expected me to be at the mercy of her wrath. She had that aura of entitlement that came with being close to the Alpha.But Declan wasn’t interested in her theatrics. It was a strange sort of relief, but it also made me feel strangely isolated. I wished Declan would just tell her to back off rather than stay silent. Even though I could deal with her myself, I still wanted him to. “You little…!” He
/-Raven-/The faint flicker of Declan’s eyelids was the first sign of life I’d seen in days. His lashes fluttered before those misty silver eyes cracked open, bleary but warm. If you didn't know better, you'd think he was blind, and it was so freaking gorgeous. Relief surged through me, making my chest ache. But relief quickly gave way to fury."You idiot!" I snapped before I could stop myself, leaning over his bed. I didn't care if he was Alpha or not. "Do you have any idea how much you scared us? We even had to go as far as seeking a sorcerer for you!"Declan’s lips curved into a faint, lopsided smile. “Us?” he murmured, his voice scratchy but teasing. “Or are you speaking for yourself, Raven?”I froze, my cheeks burning as I struggled for a retort. Even when he was still weak and just barely recovered, he still had the energy to tease me. “Everyone,” I said stiffly, crossing my arms over my chest. “Don’t flatter yourself.”Yet, I felt so warm inside. I didn't know how much I mis
/-Raven-/I glanced at Lisa whose face had gone pale as she said the name. Even Tim's expression was confirmation that Lisa was right. It was indeed Diane. Declan suddenly stopped convulsing and for a moment, I was afraid that something might have happened to him. That he was dead. But then his steady breathing assured me that he was still alive.His face was ashen, his breathing shallow, and I had never felt so powerless. Amelia straightened slowly, her expression grim as she stepped away.Dread washed through me as I knew what was coming. Just like many others before her, she couldn't heal him. Yet, I tried to stay positive as she spoke."The curse on him," she began, her voice cutting through the silence, "is bound by blood. The one who placed it tied it to herself with a blood oath. As long as she lives, with her blood coursing through his veins, no one, not even me, can fully break it."Her words struck me like a physical blow. For a moment, I could only stare at her, struggl
/-Raven-/The journey began under a heavy sky, the wind biting at our cheeks as Lisa and I trudged through the woods. The silence between us was as thick as the clouds above, and for a while, it seemed neither of us would break it.I was happy with it, because I didn't even want this woman next to me but circumstances wouldn't stop forcing us together. But, of course, Lisa couldn’t help herself.“I know we’ve never been on the best terms, Raven,” she began, her voice unusually soft. “But I wanted to say… thank you. For what you did for me in the tunnels. If you hadn’t come back…”I cut her off with a sharp glance. “You would’ve found your way out. You’re resourceful like that.”She was taken aback by my words but I wanted the conversation to be over already. I already knew she didn't like me and frankly, I didn't like her too. There was no need for pretense. “No, I wouldn’t have,” she admitted, surprising me. Her eyes flickered toward me before focusing on the path ahead. “You saved
/- Raven-/The lock turned and the door immediately burst open, slamming against the wall, and I jumped. My heart raced as Tim stormed in, his face pale, his breaths laboured like he’d run the entire way.Relief washed through me immediately. I was scared that he was in some sort of danger. However, his eyes were not on me. His face paled out as his mouth went slightly agape in confusion. "Lisa?" His voice was sharp, incredulous, as he froze in the doorway. "What the hell? How are you here? I just left you with Hannah!"Oh, that made sense. I would be puzzled too. Lisa whirled to face him, her expression twisting with desperation. "Tim, listen to me! That wasn’t me with Hannah. It’s a skinwalker! She trapped me in a secret tunnel and took my face!"Even though I already heard the words before, it didn't make it less surprising. It sent a trial of goosebumps down my skin every time I thought about it. Something about it just took me back to the roof incident where he was pushing me
/-Hannah-/“What do we do now?” Lisa whispered. “Hush!” I snapped harshly. “You need to get away from us, Tim,” I told him.“What? Why?” He asked. “Because we are going to get caught with you by our side and you are going to get punished. It will be a lot easier for you to join them and pretend you were searching for intruders as well than running with us. Lisa and I will sneak to the back,” I told him.Although this situation was totally unplanned and we were cooked if we got caught, it was the easiest way to get rid of Tim. If we managed to get away, we could easily leave without glancing back to see if he was on our neck or not. Tim was reluctant at first but he couldn't deny I was right. “Fine,” he sighed. “You can do that; I'll try to keep them distracted for as long as I can.”“Thank you, Tim,” Lisa faked gratitude but I grabbed her arm and dragged her away with me. The bastard didn't deserve the gratitude of any kind. He only ended up slowing us down instead of actually be
/-Raven-/“What do we do now?” Lisa asked me. “How would I know? We're both wanted by them,” I retorted. “Hands on your head now!” The guards ordered and I glanced at Lisa. We couldn't let these people take us in. We had to fight– I mean, I had to fight, Lisa was no good. She only knew how to look pretty and create a ruckus where none was needed. “Didn't you hear me? Get on your knees now!” He growled.“What do we do, Raven?” Lisa panicked. “They don't look very friendly.”I rolled my eyes at her. She was visibly trembling in fear now but when it was time to threaten me to stay off Declan, nothing could possibly scare her. “Keep quiet,” I hissed, my eyes darting around for anything we could use to our advantage. The guards were closing in, their heavy boots crunching against the gravel. Lisa clutched my arm, her nails digging into my skin as if holding onto me would magically make us invisible.“We surrender, okay?” I said, raising my hands slowly, palms outward. Lisa shot me a c
/-Hannah-/“Lisa?” We immediately froze. Shit! Shit! Shit! Where the fuck did he come from? Didn't he have somewhere to be and how long has he been following us?“Lisa!” Tim's voice rang out again. Lisa and I exchanged glances. There was really nothing we could do in this situation, other than convince him to let us go. “Tim,” Lisa's voice shrank into something I couldn't recognize. “You're here?”His face remained stoic, clearly he was unimpressed with the little show she was just trying to put up. I guess she thought he would forget that she rejected him before Declan, the elders and other guards.“Please don't turn me in,” she immediately fell on her knees, surprising even me. “I was afraid of what the Alpha would do to me, that is why I lied. I didn't mean to hurt you, Tim. I swear I didn't, please don't hand me over to them,” she pleaded.“What are you doing out here? How did you break out of your cell? Did you do that to Othelia and the guards?” He demanded. Before I could
/-Raven-/“This doesn't make any sense. How are you here?” I asked but she merely let outa weak muffle.Right! The tapes. On a normal day, I would have been glad to see those tapes around her mouth because she just happens to spew nonsense every time she opens her mouth, but now, I needed to know what the hell was going on. I yanked the tape off her mouth and she let out a wince. I proceeded to loosen the ropes as well. “I know it hurt. I did that on purpose,” I told her, in case she was expecting some form of apology. “Though I'm certain you wouldn't be waiting for me to apologise since she had no problem hurting Tim.”“Raven…” she called weakly. “Help me out of here… please…”“Oh, I would love to hand your ass over to the guards, but I'm also a criminal, so… no. Tell me what you're doing here. Did your bestie turn on you? You both were just discussing how to eliminate Francesca. From what I see, there was a change of plans,” I taunted. “Not… now,” she breathed weakly, struggling