Rowan’s POVToday has been one hell of a day.I knew we’d face challenges in the Whispering Woods, but this—this was something else entirely. My hands were still shaking. My mind couldn’t stop replaying what I had just witnessed.Raven’s blood… it did something.And the way we found the tree so easily, almost as if it had been waiting for her.The Moonstone was supposed to be a myth. A story told to pups about a long-lost relic of power. Yet there it was, real and glowing in Liora’s hands. And whatever Raven did… it awakened it.At least now I wouldn’t have to soak the Moonstone in wolfsbane—that was supposed to be the hardest part. Though I still had to meet the priestess, the stone was already reacting. That alone was enough to unsettle me.But none of that matters right now. Because Raven lay limp in my arms.One second she was talking—shaken but alive. The next, she collapsed.I bent down, cradling her. “Raven? "Raven!” I tapped her cheek, but she didn’t move.Rome, my wolf, stirr
Ansel’s POVThe morning air was crisp, the kind that seeped into your bones if you stood still too long. The horses snorted, shifting impatiently as my men secured their weapons. The steady clang of metal and murmured conversations filled the clearing.“Are we expecting a fight?” Elias asked, adjusting the strap of his sword.I finished tightening the buckles of my gloves. “We don’t know what to expect.”Kelvin’s last visit still lingered in my mind—his cold warning, the smug certainty in his eyes. Bow to the Queen, or die. It wasn’t just a threat; it was a promise.Yet he had vanished after that, retreating to whatever wasteland he called home. That was why we were going. Not to fight, but to find answers. If he had turned his back on his people, we needed to know why. And if he was still there… he owed us explanations.“Mount up,” I ordered.The men obeyed without question. Within minutes, we were riding, hooves kicking up dust as we moved toward the lands Kelvin had once ruled.T
Raven’s POVI felt the burn again. My skin is searing, the heat crawling through every inch of me like fire licking at my insides. I tried to move, but my body was trapped in the fire, locked in place. My vision swam—shadows and light blending together, dark edges forming in the corners of my mind.It was too much. Too much to bear.“Raven?” Rowan’s voice was distant, but I could hear the worry in it, pulling at me. His hand on my forehead felt cold against the heat radiating from me. “Hold on, Raven. Stay with me.”I wanted to speak, to tell him I was fine, but my mouth refused to form words. I barely had the strength to keep my eyes open.Liora’s voice joined the fray, sharp and strained. She’s burning up again. We can’t—”I couldn’t listen to her anymore. The heat was consuming me, swallowing me whole, and everything else faded away.The world around me seemed to collapse, and then there was nothing.I wasn’t sure when I fell asleep, or if I had ever truly been awake. All I knew w
Raven POV Frustration curled in my chest. “But—”“There are things you mustn’t know yet.”The surrounding space shuddered.But before it could pull me away, before the vision could collapse, something snapped inside me.I took a step forward, anger curling around my words. “Then tell me this,” I demanded. “Why did you curse Rowan? Why did you punish all of them?”The goddess didn’t move. But the surrounding light flickered, dimming slightly.I pressed on, my voice shaking. “It wasn’t them who forsook their mates. It wasn’t Rowan who betrayed you. It was their ancestors. So why make them suffer for something they didn’t do? Why not just—” I swallowed hard. “Why not just forgive them?”The silence stretched between us, heavy and suffocating.For the first time since she appeared, something shifted in her expression. Something like… regret.Her voice was softer when she spoke again. “Do you think I do not wish that, child?”I froze.She exhaled a sound that echoed like wind through holl
Raven POV“I’m pregnant,” I said, freezing as the words left my mouth. “What does this mean for me now?”I turned to Rowan, heart pounding. “Rowan, what does this mean?”He shifted, rubbing the back of his neck like he wished he could take it back. “I— I’m sorry for bringing it up now.I just thought… you needed to know. So you’d take better care of yourself. "And because…” He hesitated, eyes dropping. “You can’t come with me. Not anymore. Not on the rest of this quest.”“No,” I breathed. “No, I—”“Raven,” he said gently, painfully. “Don’t fight me on this. Please.”His eyes—gods, I had never seen them look like that. Distant, aching. Sadder than I’d ever seen.“You don’t understand, do you?” he whispered. “The future of the kingdom is inside you.”“What?” I blinked as if someone had poured ice water down my spine. My mouth opened but no words came.“I didn’t want to say it like that.” Rowan’s voice broke slightly. But… I can’t keep you to myself. We’re your mates, Raven. All three of
Raven POV We finally crossed the border into Crescent Silver Park two days after finding out about my pregnancy. We would’ve arrived sooner, but Rowan and Liora were so considerate of me, making sure I was as comfortable as possible. I’ve tried to push my pregnancy out of my mind, to ignore the growing life inside me, but it’s always there, lurking at the back of my thoughts.The place looked almost exactly as I remembered it, but the weight of the situation hit me hard. Considering how I’d been treated here—less than a slave, barely a person—it felt surreal to be back. But I was here now, and this time, things were going to change. The moment we crossed into the territory, everything felt different.I could feel determination coursing through my veins as we made our way to the palace.Rowan shifted into his human form beside me, followed by Liora.Before we could take another step, the sound of boots hitting the ground echoed around us as guards swarmed in, weapons drawn and read
Raven POV My voice cracked at the end, and I hated how uncertain I sounded. I turned slightly toward Rowan. His face was unreadable, but I could feel it—the tension in him, the weight of what he wasn’t saying. He hadn’t told them what my blood had done… and neither had I.Maybe he was protecting me. Or maybe… he didn’t know what it meant either. Ansel’s sharp eyes never left me. The silence stretched, unbearable, as if everyone in the room was waiting for something. Then suddenly something shifted deep inside me. It was almost like a whisper, faint but undeniable. The tug, the pull, it was as if something—or someone—was calling to me.I was tense. The sensation was foreign, yet familiar. It was the same feeling I felt when I saw loira. It was as if a thread of magic had wrapped itself around my heart and was pulling me toward something I couldn’t see. I tried to ignore it, telling myself it was nothing. Just another thing my mind was making up.But no, it was too real.I blinked,
Ansel POV Did the Fae Queen just bow to Raven?My jaw tensed. Something about this didn’t sit right. Not the reverence in her voice. Not the look she gave Raven, like she’d found the moon herself. And not the eerie quiet that followed, like the room was holding its breath.Something was slipping through my fingers. My control, my order and my position.I took a breath and closed the distance between us. My fingers gripped Raven’s shoulders before I could think better of it. She stiffened beneath my touch.“Raven,” I said, turning her to face me, “we’re not done talking.”Her eyes lifted to mine, she looked so uncertain. She opened her mouth like she had something to say.Then she just collapsed.Right in front of me.My hands jerked forward too late, catching nothing but air as her body dropped backwards. For a second, I didn’t move. I stood there frozen, my mind blank and stunned.Rowan rushed past me, fast as hell, catching Raven before her head hit the floor. He cradled her like s
Raven POV We walked out of the cell, the heavy door slamming shut behind me with a loud clang that echoed down the stone halls.I tried to ignore the gnawing feeling in my stomach, tried to shove the fear deep down where it couldn’t reach me — but it was there, crawling under my skin.Facing that beautiful monster again made my heart pound harder against my ribs.We moved through a large hallway, the stone walls cold and silent witnesses to my march.From what I could tell, it was already dawn — soft light trickled through high windows.Two days.I had been trapped here for nearly two days without food.My legs ached, and my body screamed for rest, but I forced myself forward, step after heavy step.Finally, we entered a large throne room.At the far end of it, sitting on a towering, jagged throne of black stone, was Morgan.She looked… magnificent.Beautiful and terrible, like something carved from nightmares.Her smile, slow and cold, made my skin crawl.I paused, instinctively gla
Raven POV Unluckily for me, I was thrown into a cell by Queen Morgan’s hounds.The heavy iron door slammed shut behind me with a sound that echoed like a death knell. I stumbled forward, catching myself on the rough stone wall.I turned around slowly, trying to assess the cell.I’ve been locked up more times than I can count.This wasn’t new.I wouldn’t panic. Panic was the enemy now.First thing first, I needed a way out.But gods, it was dark.The air was thick with rot and something far worse—a sour, metallic scent that made my stomach turn. The walls oozed dampness, and the floor was uneven under my boots. The whole place felt like it had been forgotten by the world.Squinting my eyes, I edged deeper into the cell, ignoring the way the shadows seemed to reach for me.And then I heard a faint cough.It was soft and strained. From somewhere in the darkness.I froze, my heart hammering against my ribs.“Is anybody there?”My voice barely rose above a whisper, but in the stillness,
Ansel POV Raven is the child of the prophecy.And they kept it from us.Rowan and Raven both knew, and yet they chose silence. I don’t know what game the goddess is playing—first binding us all to the same mate, now tying her fate to an ancient prophecy—but I’m sick of being left in the dark. I should’ve seen the signs. The dreams she said she had, the divine visitations… they were all there, and I ignored them.And now, the truth burns in my chest like fire.My son—our child— will carry power in his blood. A legacy. He will be everything. But Morgan, if she’s taken Raven—if she lays a hand on what’s mine, I will tear this world apart.And if my brothers even think of challenging me for the child, for Raven, for the throne—I’ll destroy them too.We ran through the day and into the dusk, not stopping once. Our men were weary, barely holding themselves together, but there was no time for rest. Every second we wasted could mean losing her.When the palace finally came into view, I w
Raven POV Morgan didn’t look back at me. “What do I want? Oh, Raven, that’s the wrong question. What do you want?”The silence stretched out between us, the air thick with tension. My mind raced, trying to make sense of everything I was seeing.Morgan’s cruelty was evident in the creatures that slithered and prowled around us, their eyes cold and lifeless, their movements like puppets on strings. My anger surged, burning through my veins.“Why are you doing this?” I asked, my voice tight with fury. “Why are you enslaving innocent creatures, using them like this?”Morgan’s smile stretched into something far colder, more calculating. She tilted her head slightly, finally turning to look at me, studying me as though I were an insect in need of examination. “Innocent?” she repeated, almost amused. “You call them innocent? These creatures are nothing but tools—tools that help me achieve what is rightfully mine. They’re weak, living in fear. And I’m giving them purpose.”I shook my hea
Raven POV I stood there, with my hand pressed to my chest, heart racing, feeling the weight of the queen’s cold gaze upon me.“What are you doing here?” I asked, my voice shaking despite my attempt to remain calm.She chuckled softly, the sound low and almost mocking. “Oh, so you know who I am,” she said, her eyes gleaming with amusement. “That’s very interesting, don’t you think?”“Very interesting indeed,” I muttered under my breath, not able to stop the bitterness that seeped into my words.She stepped closer, her presence suffocating. “Well, it seems like you haven’t been getting my messages,” she said casually, “So I came to pick you up myself.”“I’m not going anywhere with you,” I snapped, clenching my fists, unwilling to show the fear that threatened to rise in my throat. “You monster.”She raised a single eyebrow, her lips curling into a slow, sinister smile. “Who told you that you had a choice, my sweet girl?” Her words were laced with such venom that it sent a chill dow
Rowan POV The battle raged on with death on both sides, but something felt wrong. I couldn’t see Morgan anywhere. She kept sending mindless creatures at us, but there was no sign of her.Was it a distraction? Was there something else at play?“Behind you!” I heard one of my comrades scream. I spun around just in time to block a strike that would’ve taken my head off. Beside me, one of my comrades fell, lifeless.I turned and squinted into the far corner. From the shadows, Kelvin emerged, with a smirk on his face.Damn, bastard.I charged towards him with everything I had, shifting midair. My claws slashed through the air, aimed directly at him.We collided in a brutal clash, a flurry of strikes. I clawed; he ducked and retaliated with punches, sending invisible strikes that rattled my bones. We were locked in an all-out battle—neither of us giving an inch.“Where is your queen?” I demanded, trying to catch my breath between strikes.Kelvin’s smirk deepened. “Oh, she’s exactly where
Raven POV I watched them go but couldn’t bring myself to say goodbye.The words stayed locked in my throat, heavy with frustration and helplessness.I hated the way they treated me—as if I couldn’t make decisions for myself. Like I was fragile. Like I’d shatter.People were out there dying, sacrificing their lives for me, and I was just… here. Sitting inside like some fucking damsel in distress.A chill drifted through the hallway, brushing against my skin. I lifted my head and noticed it was snow.The first snow of the year.A small smile tugged at my lips despite everything.Snow always reminded me of fresh beginnings. Of the quiet before everything changes.I stepped further inside, warmth slowly replacing the cold that clung to my clothes. Then I saw Loira.She sat alone, her posture tense and her eyes distant.She hadn’t been herself since that day on the training grounds.“Loira,” I called gently.Her head turned; she seemed so slow and unsure, as if pulled from somewhere far a
Rowan POVWe rode toward Refune, the wind biting at our faces, the forest growing darker with every mile we left behind the palace walls. The trees here stood taller, denser, the silence between their trunks thicker—like the land itself was holding its breath.The further we got from the safety of home, the more my chest ached.Not from physical pain—but from something deeper. A sense of dread curled tight around my heart.I glanced to my side and saw Gwen still leaping gracefully between tree roots and low branches like a creature born of wind and shadow. Behind her, our soldiers followed. And Ansel… he moved with that same storm in his eyes, always watching, always calculating.But none of them knew the ache crawling through my bones.This—this mission, this trap we were riding into—it was necessary. If we could lure the Queen out, if we could defeat her once and for all… maybe the bloodshed would stop. Maybe Raven will finally be free.She was the reason I was even still alive. T
Rowan’s POVAfter the meeting, I walked back to my chambers in silence.The corridors of the palace were dimly lit, everywhere was quiet except for the soft echoes of my footsteps. But my thoughts—they were anything but quiet.I kept seeing her face.The way Raven looked at me.Like she was breaking… every time I turned away.Every time I swallowed the truth instead of speaking it.And still, there was nothing I could do.Because I’m dying.Slowly. Quietly. Without dignity.I stepped inside my room and shut the door behind me, resting my forehead against the cool wood for a second longer than necessary. Then I turned and made my way to the mirror.My hands moved to my shirt almost mechanically, peeling the fabric away from my skin.The mark had spread further.The cursed veins, once subtle shadows under my skin, now crawled across my chest like thorns etched in ink—ugly, angry, pulsing. I clenched my jaw, steadying myself against the wave of pain that shot through my side. It wasn’t