/-Raven-/“What do you mean by you took it?” Declan's surprise was plastered on his face. The poor man didn't know what was going on. I wasn't even sure he would believe it if I told him unless Tim opened up. “I… I know how much Lisa likes the idea of being Luna, even though she can't. I just thought if I got her the stone, it would make her feel better,” Tim went on. “Do you think I'm stupid, Tim? Do I look like a fool to you?” There was an underlying irritation in his voice. “You are twice the size of every person in the pack and you think I wouldn't have immediately recognised you from the footage?”Lisa's panicked expression caught my attention. She knew things were going to go sideways faster than she anticipated. Tim stuttered, unsure of what to say. “He didn't do it himself,” Lisa cut in. “Yes, that's right. I got two of the maids to do it for me,” Tim answered. “Really?” Declan's brows furrowed. “What are their names? I'll send a guard to fetch them.”Tim glanced at Lis
/-Raven-/I found myself melting away in his arms as his lips moulded with mine. He wasn't rough or demanding. It was a slow, compelling kiss, luring me with its soft deliciousness to accept it. My wide eyes slowly fluttered shut as I dropped my defences, allowing him to explore my mouth. The erratic beating of my heart, the nervous fisting of his shirt, the churn in my stomach, told me that there was no coming back from this. He pushed in further and our tongues glided against each other. A small moan fell from my lips as his hands made it up to my neck while the other steadied on my waist to prevent me from escaping. “Declan…” I protested in between the kiss.“Don't think about it, princess. Go with the flow,” he whispered harshly against my lip as I tried to pull away. Go with the flow…How could I when my body was betraying me like this? When did this feel so wrong yet right at the same time?Wasn’t I repeating the same mistake with Eric? I mean, if I couldn't get him to love
/-Lisa-/“No! No! No!” I yelled, slamming my palms against the iron bars of the cell. “You have to let me out of here! I am innocent! I didn't do anything!” Yet the stupid guards still walked away ignoring my pleas. I groaned inwardly and cussed.Why couldn't that stupid guard just take the blame for me? I mean, he tried to, but of course, the Alpha didn't believe him, and that stupid assassin just had to stand up for him, didn't she?I let out another curse. What on earth even made me agree to take that safe? I should have left it hidden where it was, at least no one saw it then. “Looks like you're finally where you belong,” I heard Othelia's words. She was in the cell next to me, thanks to her stupid luck. Otherwise, I would have bashed her head against the bars for daring to speak to me that way. “Where I belong? You were the one who let yourself get caught on camera. They just found a stone on me with no other use but marriage. You took the royal emblem, and I assure you that b
/-Declan-/“What happened to her?” I demanded.“We don't know, Alpha. We found her and the guards like this in their cell this morning,” the prison guard informed me. Othelia and the guards lay before me, eyes wide, tongues stuck out like they were epileptic. They couldn't move any parts of their bodies or even talk. The sight was very disturbing.“What about Lisa?” I asked him. “We found her cell open so we assume she must have escaped. However, I highly doubt she was the one who did this to them. Whoever helped her escape must have done this,” the guard said. He was right but who could have done it?“Do you have any leads on who could have done this?” I asked him. “Whoever did it must have been close to Lisa. Possibly the second person who aided her in stealing the safe. Either that or it could be…” he stopped talking as if he knew his next words would anger me. “Or who?” I insisted. “Commander Tim,” he muttered and I shot him a thick glare. “I don't mean to get you upset, yo
/-Declan-/Raven will fucking murder me. She would feel it through the mate bond and the pain… she won't be able to handle it. I couldn't do that to her. But before I could pull away from Hannah, Rolfe forcefully took over, pushing my member deep into Hannah's mouth. I tried to take over but he blocked me off. Stop it, Rolfe. We can't take her. It will hurt Raven!‘So what? How many times do I have to spell it that we don't need her? Raven is too broken for you. Relax and enjoy this. Can't you feel the pleasure…’ he shot back. I hated every second of it, so I fought back. Apparently, the struggle was in Hannah's favour because thrusting in and out of her mouth became easier, with Rolfe fisting her hair and letting out small grunts. I knew it was only a matter of time before Raven would burst in and she wouldn't forgive me this. Rolfe…‘Do you want to return to the dark, Declan? If not, keep shut and let me enjoy this. The more you struggle, the harder it becomes to keep you h
“Let's make a deal.” She stared at the golden-haired man before her. It shared the same colour, a burning flame, and his piercing golden eyes burned with an intensity that was similar to fire.This was him, Asaiah, the legendary King of Dragons. Yet she wasn't afraid of him. Even when she was in his space. She was curious about one thing though. How he got to know that she wasn't who she appeared to be. “I see you've come in the form of an old maid. Quite impressive,” Asaiah started. “Now as impressive as your form would be,” she answered, her voice thick and laced with something dangerous. Something he was yet to understand. “We have not come here to fight or argue with you. We were hoping to strike a deal with you. Perhaps we can help each other,” Asaiah told her. A small chuckle fell off her lips and for a moment, he felt insulted. None of his men would ever dare laugh in his face. “I'm sorry, I just find it amusing that you think you can actually help me,” she said with a g
/-Declan-/My head was pounding by the time I woke. It was surprising to wake up, especially with the way Rolfe was panicking earlier. However, I didn't remember how I got to the bed. My body felt weak and tired and my face was surprisingly burning. I touched the nape of my neck and as expected, I was running a temperature. Which was why my whole body felt like I was in a flame. I suppose it was good, considering the sickness eating me inside out, but it didn't feel good. Even in the slightest. The migraine that followed it almost drove me crazy.“I should really get those injections,” I muttered.‘At least you're alive to do it,’ Rolfe huffed. ‘If I didn't take over, you would be dead from high blood pressure.’“If you didn't pull off that stunt, I believe I would be perfectly fine!” I hissed and that shut him up. I was still angry with him and I didn't want him to forget that. We weren't on speaking terms yet, so the last thing he should expect from me should be appreciation. I
/-Raven-/I don't remember much of what happened, but seeing Declan underneath me, cushioning the fall, was shocking. Wasn't he the one that just pushed me off? To be fair, it was Rolfe I saw, but it didn't really take out the image in my head. They were the same person and I wasn't sure if I was angry or not. Was Rolfe so wild that he got anything he wanted without Declan's permission?If that was so, then the bathroom thing could have all been him. I didn't even know if to stay angry or not. I got off him to check if he was okay. That was a very terrible fall and having him grab me like that in midair was totally unexpected.My heart stopped almost immediately at the sight of his blood-soaked shirt.“Declan?” I shook him slightly but his eyes remained closed. My heart was racing as anxiety seeped through me. Did he hit something while falling? Was he badly injured?“Declan! Please open your eyes… can you hear me?” I shook him but there was still no response from him. I didn't e
She stood there, cloaked in the night, her eyes locked onto Declan and Raven, her nails digging into the bark of the tree she leaned against.Her lips twisted into a sneer as she watched Declan laugh, his silver eyes warm as he gazed at Raven. The sight made her stomach churn. ‘That should be me sitting there, not that irritating little assassin who refuses to die,’ she thought with a hiss. Her grip on the knife in her hand tightened. The cool steel pressed against her palm, grounding her as her thoughts spiraled into vivid images of what she could do to Raven. Cut out her tongue first so she can't scream. Then carve her pretty little face into something unrecognizable. Maybe slit her throat just enough to make her choke on her own blood before finishing her off.The knife glinted in the faint light, and she traced the edge with her thumb, imagining how it would feel slicing through Raven's flawless skin. But she stopped herself, exhaling sharply.‘No’, she reminded herself. ‘I can
/-Raven-/“Well, I thought we were going on an actual date not a cuddle session,” I mumbled, looking everywhere but him. A chuckle followed and my cheeks coloured. Francesca quickly stepped in front of me. “I'm sorry, Alpha. This is all my fault. I misinterpreted the situation and dressed her up to suit my taste. I'm sorry,” she apologized, surprising me. “Could we maybe retreat and change?”Amusement didn't just shine in his eyes, his lips were twitching as he struggled to control his laughter. “Gosh, this is so embarrassing for you,” Declan snorted and I wanted to die. Even Francesca snorted and I shot her a glare. I was ready to walk out and never show my face again but Declan caught my arm. “It's okay, Princess. There's no need to act so cute. Since you are dressed up, I might as well take you on one,” he said but it didn't ease my shame.“Maybe I should just change. You're not even strong enough to start anything outdoors or long distance. I don't even know what I was thinki
/-Raven-/I should have never underestimated her. When she said it wasn't a dress, I simply thought she was kidding but this wasn't a dress. This thing before me had me wishing she had given me a dress. Even if it was a short one. “So… try it on!” Francesca urged but I didn't dare move. Even my eyes wouldn't leave the two piece outfit. “I don't remember telling you I planned to fornicate with this man,” I blurted and she chuckled. “It's a date night. What do you think, you're going to eat and say your goodbyes?” She retorted. “Uhhmm… yes?” She skidded past me, ignoring my obvious displeasure and picked up the mini skirt, “Try this on. It has a a tiny waist so I'm certain it'll fit you perfectly.” “I'm not going naked to see Declan, Franc,” I stated. “This isn't going naked…” she defended, unbuttoning the skirt to test it around me.Since it was a button up, wearing it was relatively easy. All I had to was wrap it around me and button. She wrapped it and held both ends between
/-Raven-/I stopped by Amelia's room to check on her. She was supposed to leave today for her village and although Declan had already prepared gifts for her, I thought it would be great to give my personal thanks to her. Knocking twice, the woman opened the door for me with a bright smile. “Hello, Raven,” she greeted. “Quite a surprise.” I returned the smile, “I'm sorry for barging in on you. It's nothing too serious. I just wanted to thank you once again.”She stepped aside, “come in.”I stepped into the room to see a long line of packed bags. “Oh,” I blurted before I could stop myself. “The Alpha has already present his gifts, I see.”“Oh, these are not from the Alpha. They are my things,” she explained and for a moment I was stunned. “Your things?” I repeated, incase I was hearing wrong. She simply shrugged as though it was no big deal. “Yeah, I will be staying here for a while.” I was speechless for almost three minutes. Staying here for a while? Since when?“I… I don't und
/-Raven-/Whether or not, he wanted to forgive me, I was going to make it right. I followed him into the room, even if he clearly didn't want to see me. “Let's talk please,” I pleaded, shutting the door behind me. Declan turned, “You really need to leave, Raven.”“Not until we resolve this. I made a mistake and I'm sorry. I shouldn't be with anyone while I still have your mark…” I was saying when his eyes suddenly darkened. Fuck! I wasn't supposed to put it like that. “Declan…”“Do you want it off?” He asked and I flinched, like he just hit me. “Huh?”“Do you want the mark off so you can be with your ex?” He asked and my chest tightened. Was he giving up on me already?“Are you…” I couldn't even get the words out as my eyes watered. “Well even if you're giving me up, that is your business. You think I went all that way, searching for a cure, a way to keep you alive, just to let one stupid mistake ruin it all?” Surprise flickered in those beautiful eyes. He clearly wasn't expecti
/-Raven-/I couldn’t breathe. Not with the thought of Declan hating me forever. The very thought of him never talking to me again crushed me. I didn't know what I would do if that happened.I hadn’t eaten, hadn’t slept—not properly. Every time I closed my eyes, all I could see was the betrayal in those silver eyes. The hurt dancing in those orbs as I lied to his face. I didn’t blame him for shutting me out. I hated myself too. But I couldn’t let things end like this. I couldn't lose him. I don't care if I have to grovel but I was going to get his forgiveness. I stood outside his door, my hand trembling as I knocked for the hundredth time. "Declan, please... let me explain." My voice cracked, the desperation leaking through.No response.“Declan, I’m not leaving until you hear me out!”Silence.I pressed my forehead against the cold door. "I’m sorry. God, I’m so sorry. Just... please. I made a mistake, but I didn't mean to hurt you, I swear. You have to know that, please…"Nothing.
Eric’s voice was soft, but there was something about it that made me uneasy. “Stay the night, Raven.”I turned away, pretending to focus on the empty glass in my hand. My chest felt tight, a war raging inside me. Why am I even here? I shouldn’t have come. I shouldn’t have answered his call.My mind slipped, unbidden, to Declan. His voice, his steady presence, the way his eyes softened when he looked at me. I swallowed hard, guilt rising like a tide. What would he think of me if he knew where I was right now?I shut my eyes, willing the thought away. This isn’t about him, I told myself. It’s about me. I’m not back with Eric. I just need time to figure everything out.That was all there is. But even then, I still felt like I was lying to myself. A part of me knew that the longer I stayed here, the most likely I was to mess things up for myself.“I can’t, Eric,” I said finally, standing. “I shouldn’t have come in the first place. I need to go.”“Raven, please.” His voice cracked, and I
/-RAVEN-/I didn't think it was possible to get any paler but he did. He was horrified to see me. At least he was smart enough to know that what he did was paramount to death. To my surprise, he immediately fell on his knees, tears clouding his eyes. I was stunned. I have only seen Eric cry once and that was several years ago when he lost his childhood friend. It was that incident that brought us closer to begin with, because I was always by his side, consoling him. “Raven please… I know I have fucked up badly but please… give me one last chance to make this right, I beg of you. That is all I am asking,” he pleaded. He legitly gripped my legs, sobbing at my feet. I didn't know how to react. I wanted him dead for sure but now, I wasn't sure anymore. “Is this some game you and your father put up?” I narrowed my eyes suspiciously at him. I wasn't going to fall for any of their tricks. “No, Raven… it's not a game. I know I messed up badly and it took being on the brink of death to
/-RAVEN-/Dinner was over in a blur with everyone just happy and wishing Declan a quick recovery, after which they began to disperse. Declan didn't move, however. His presence was like a magnetic pull I couldn’t fully ignore. Those mesmerizing silver eyes followed me intensely, unspoken words swirling within them. He didn’t ask; he commanded with a simple look, gesturing for me to help him to his room.I hesitated. Helping him always came with strings attached. But leaving him to fend for himself while still recovering wasn’t an option, and he knew it.“Fine,” I muttered, walking to his side. “But don’t get any ideas.”Declan’s lips curved into that infuriatingly cocky smile as he leaned slightly against me. “When do I ever, princess?”Princess… My skin tingled at the brief eye contact. There was just something about that name, the way it rolled smoothly off his lips that had me melting every single time.“You want an honest answer?” I asked, forcing my mind off my acting nerves.