Raven POV When I woke up the next morning, Rowan wasn’t by my side.I turned left, then right, my heart picking up speed when I didn’t see him. Sitting up quickly, I scanned the campsite, my pulse hammering in my ears.No. He wouldn’t. He wouldn’t just leave me—would he?Panic started to creep in, my wolf stirring restlessly in the back of my mind. I was about to storm off and track him down when I saw a figure approaching from the trees.Rowan.My breath caught as relief washed over me. His curly hair was damp, falling over his face, drops of water trailing down his sharp jawline.He looked fresh like he had just taken a bath, the early morning sun casting a glow over his bare skin.I swallowed hard and walked toward him. “I thought you left.”He arched a brow, amused. “No, I just went to bathe.” He slung his damp shirt over his shoulder, glancing at me. “Hurry up and bathe as well. We have a long way to go today.”I hesitated for a second before nodding, brushing some of my tangled
Raven POV We fell into complete silence after that, until we came across a vast wasteland, making my mouth fall open.“Goddess help us…” I whispered, staring in shock. “What is this?”Rowan’s hand landed gently on my back. “It’s been spreading throughout the kingdom. I didn’t realize it had come this far.”I turned in a slow circle, taking in the cracked, lifeless earth stretching endlessly before us. The trees were nothing more than twisted husks, their branches brittle and grey. The air smelled stale, void of the usual scents of nature.“What could be causing this?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. A strange sadness settled deep in my chest, an ache that wasn’t entirely my own. It almost felt like the land itself was crying.I forced myself to look away, but the feeling lingered.Rowan’s voice was quiet but firm. “I took this journey to find what’s needed to break the curse… and to figure out the reason for this.”He exhaled slowly, his gaze fixed on the barren land. “The
Raven POV It lunged at me.Fear locked my body in place, my limbs frozen as if the very air around me had turned to stone. My breath came in sharp, ragged gasps, my heart hammering so violently I thought it might burst from my chest. Sweat drenched my clothes, cold against my skin, but I couldn’t move. I couldn’t even think.This was it. I am going to die here.I squeezed my eyes shut, bracing myself for the inevitable—the tearing of flesh, the sharp bite of pain. There was no way I could survive an attack from a creature like that.But the attack never came.Instead, a deep, guttural snarl ripped through the air, followed by the sound of claws tearing through something unnatural.My eyes flew open just in time to see a massive, breathtakingly beautiful wolf launching at the shadowy beast. Rowan.His silver fur gleamed under the moonlight, his muscles flexing as he drove his claws into the creature. But the moment he struck, it disintegrated—vanishing into a swirling mass of smoke
Ansel POV The throne room was eerily quiet, except for the faint crackling of torches lining the stone walls. The air was thick with tension, and the guards kneeling before me could feel it. My patience was razor-thin, and they all knew it.Raven was gone.Not locked away. Not under watch. Not dragged from her room kicking and screaming.She had simply vanished.I sat on the throne, hands clasped in front of me, gaze heavy on the men before me. My voice was calm when I spoke.“Tell me again,” I said, “how an unmarked she-wolf walked out of my palace without a single one of you noticing?”The men stiffened, none daring to meet my eyes.“She was seen walking the halls last night,” one of them answered, voice strained. “She always wandered before bed—no one thought anything of it.”“Then when did she leave?” I asked.A pause.“By morning, she was gone.”A slow exhale left me as I leaned back in my seat. My fingers drummed against the armrest, a measured rhythm that only I understood.Th
Raven POV We kept walking through the town.My heart ached with each step, sinking deeper with every sunken face, every hollow stare that met mine. The air itself felt heavy—grief and hopelessness clinging to it like fog.Children with dirt-smudged cheeks huddled beside shuttered stalls, their eyes too old for their small faces. Women clutched their cloaks tighter, whispering to each other in low, defeated voices. And the men… the men didn’t even look up. Like they had already given up.We turned a corner.A shout rang out, followed by a sharp thud.My eyes snapped toward the alley, where two older boys shoved a younger one against the wall. His clothes were torn, a thin stream of blood trailing from his lip.“Hey!” I yelled before Rowan could stop me. Fury surged up like wildfire as I stormed forward. “Let him go!”The boys froze.They turned slowly, eyes raking over me with something between amusement and disbelief. One of them stepped forward, looking cocky, sizing me up like I
Raven POV I walked out of the temple with Rowan still holding my hand.“Rowan?” I asked softly. “Yes?” His brows were still furrowed, deep in thought, his thumb unconsciously brushing against my skin.“I’ve heard that prophecy before.” His gaze snapped at mine. “Really? You have?”I nodded slowly. “I don’t know where exactly… but it felt familiar. "Like an echo from a dream, or something I once read but forgot.” I exhaled, frustration tightening in my chest. “A lot of things are so difficult to understand right now.”Rowan’s jaw clenched, but his voice remained calm. “We can’t do anything just yet." Not until we know more.”He gave my hand a reassuring squeeze. “Let’s stay here for the night. We’ll rest, gather our strength, and continue our journey tomorrow. I’ll make sure someone comes back here to help these people—whatever help we can give.”“Okay,” I said quietly, watching him. “It seems like so many are suffering… and we didn’t even know.” I paused, guilt tightening like a
Raven POV When I didn’t say anything, his hand came up, fingers curling gently—but firmly—around my neck. Not enough to hurt, but enough to make my breath catch.He pulled me closer, his eyes locked onto mine like a challenge.And then he kissed me—rough, hungry, like he was claiming every part of me I’d tried to keep hidden. Like silence was permission.My hands braced against his chest, unsure if I was pushing him away or holding on tighter.But I didn’t stop him.I couldn’t.His lips were on mine, pulling, tugging, stealing the very breath from my lungs. Heat surged through me in dizzying waves, my hands tangled in his damp hair as the sound of the running shower echoed around us like a rhythm only we could hear.“I want you so much, Raven,” he murmured against my lips, his voice hoarse, thick with longing. His hands cradled my face like I was something fragile, precious.My eyes met his, steady despite the storm inside me. “Then take me,” I whispered, the words falling from my l
Asher’s POV“We’ve been through this over and over again,” I snapped, my voice echoing off the stone walls. The priestesses speak in riddles no one understands. It’ll be the same this time.”"What's the need ?"Ansel rubbed his temples, jaw tight with frustration. “Then what do you suggest we do, Asher?”"Speak!"I paused. The truth was bitter in my mouth. “We don’t have a choice anymore. "We need answers, and they’re the only ones who might give us something real.”He didn’t argue, but the silence between us was taut, stretched to its limit—until the doors burst open.A guard stumbled in, sweat slick on his brow, eyes wide with alarm.“I—I’m sorry to interrupt, Your Highness, but… there’s something you must see now.”Ansel’s patience snapped. “What? Speak plainly, for God’s sake.”But the guard was already turning, leading us through the halls at a frantic pace. We stepped out into the courtyard—And the world stopped spinning.They stood there like shadows returned from the dead.Ke
Raven POV My fingers tightened around the wood. I took a breath.And then… I remembered.Rowan’s voice was low and steady in my ear weeks ago. “Keep your stance, I'll be grounded. Don’t try to overpower it—feel it. Let your movement follow the breath, not the fear.”Back then, I didn’t understand why he insisted on teaching me basic defence. Said it was “for confidence.” Now I knew it had been more than that.I slid my foot back, angled my weight, and let my knees bend slightly. I exhaled and let the staff move—just once.Kael raised a brow.Then he came at me.Not fast. Testing me. Poking at my defenses like a curious wolf sniffing the air. His staff clacked against mine with a sharp snap. I absorbed it. Twisted.It was not perfect but not bad either.“Again,” he said.I moved with him, muscles warming to the rhythm. The other guards had gone back to training—half distracted, half watching me out of the corner of their eyes.The staff sang in the air, wood meeting wood, feet scrapi
Raven POV It’s been three days since the mating ritual, and everything has been very different.I’m now officially the queen, living in the royal wing of the palace. It feels more like a golden cage than a home. The walls are gilded, and the air always smells like lavender and polished wood. But despite all the beauty, I’m bored out of my mind. My mates—Ansel, Asher, and Rowan—have become overly cautious, practically breathing down my neck about where I go and who I speak to. It’s sweet, in a suffocating kind of way. And honestly, I’m still trying to adjust and get used to it.The only real excitement I’ve had lately has been the endless sex. It’s normal after the mating ritual. Some kind of bonding overload. My body aches in places I didn’t even know could ache, but I’m not complaining. At least not about that.Rowan, though… he’s been absent. Distant. I hardly see him anymore. Not even a glance in the hallway. And while I know the ritual must have been hard for him—especially w
Raven POV I gasped, caught between the overwhelming heat of their touch and the raw energy vibrating through the bond.Asher’s chest pressed against my back, his breath warm against my ear as he growled low. I could feel the evidence of his arousal against me, his grip tightening slightly as though the bond had taken hold of him too.“You drive us mad, Raven,” he whispered, his voice rough with need.Ansel was in front of me, his hands exploring every inch of my skin like he was memorizing me—claiming me. His lips trailed from my jaw to the other side of my neck, the spot opposite where Asher’s mark had already burned. I felt him pause, his tongue swirling gently, and then—another sharp bite.My body arched into him, a soft cry escaping my lips as the pain turned quickly into that same addictive rush of pleasure and power. The second bond ignited something deeper, something ancient. My whole body pulsed with it like a tether, pulling me even closer to them.“I’ve got you,” Ansel m
Raven POVAfter an hour of dancing and drinking, the music faded into a gentle hum, and the last of the guests were led to their rooms to rest for the night.Those who belonged to the pack quietly retired to their own homes, laughter and chatter slowly dying down under the soft glow of moonlight.“Come with me,” Asher said, his voice was deep and steady as he extended his hand toward me.I hesitated only for a second before placing my hand in his. He led me gently, his touch felt warm and secure. We walked in silence down a narrow, flower-lined path that I’d never seen before.The further we went, the more the air seemed to shimmer with something ancient and sacred and so beautiful I couldn’t put a name on it. Where exactly is this place?And then I saw it.The garden.It was like something from a dream.Glowing flowers bloomed under the moonlight, their petals looking like delicate glass, shifting in color with the light.Some shone with soft purples and blues, others had radiant, fi
Raven POV We kept walking until I spotted Ansel.He stood tall at the far end of the hall, speaking to a few nobles. The moment his eyes landed on me, a smile tugged at the corners of his lips. “My queen,” he said, taking my hand and brushing a soft kiss across my knuckles. His voice was smooth, teasingly low. “You look radiant tonight.”“Ansel,” I said quickly, not letting his forced charm distract me. “We need to talk.”He arched his brow. “Talk about what? Tonight is your coronation. Stay, enjoy it. The people are still in awe of you—and afterward, we still have the mating ritual to complete.”“Mating ritual?” I echoed, blinking. The word pulled me out of the storm in my mind.He smiled again, that soft glint of possessiveness flashing in his eyes. “Yes. You’re Luna now. You must bear our mark. It’s tradition… and law.”I hesitated, then shook my head gently. “Ansel, that can wait. Kelvin was here.”His smile vanished in an instant. The shift in his expression was sharp and deadly
Raven POV “Hello, Queen.”I froze.My heart leaped into my throat as I stumbled back, nearly tripping over the hem of my gown.“Kelvin?” I whispered, dread sinking its claws into me. “What are you doing here?”My hands trembled uncontrollably, the memory of my time with him flashing like lightning behind my eyes. The pain. The fear. The darkness. And now, he is here… in the heart of my new life.“And don’t call me that,” I added, my voice sharper, though it shook.He smirked, stalking forward like a predator who already knew the end of the game.“But you are a queen now,” he said mockingly, eyes glinting as they scanned me from head to toe. Quite literally, it seems. The crown suits you, Raven. Though I must say—”He leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a whisper.“—you wear it like a child playing dress-up.”I glanced around, trying to see if anyone was nearby. The corridor was empty—silent except for the faint echo of laughter and music from the ballroom.“Don’t bother,” he sai
Raven POV After that, we were ushered into the dance hall.The music floated in the air like incense, sweet and thick, wrapping around me like a net I couldn’t escape. My fingers twitched at my side. The weight of the crown on my head didn’t compare to the stares pressing on me from all angles.Then he stepped forward.Asher.He moved like a shadow wrapped in silk. Elegant, sharp, and utterly unpredictable.His hand slid into mine before I could process the shift. His fingers were cool, but they sparked something in me—something I didn’t like admitting.His eyes found mine, and for a moment, he just looked. There were no words. No movement. Just watched me, as if peeling back everything I had tried to build tonight.Then he smirked. “You wear power well,” he said, his voice as smooth as wine. “But you’ve always had it, haven’t you? This is just everyone else catching up.”I swallowed hard as he pulled me into the dance. Unlike the others, he didn’t wait for the music to carry us. He
Raven POVAfter the final fitting, the room became a whirlwind of activity as the stylist entered, ready to transform me into someone unrecognizable.She approached with a calm yet efficient demeanor, her hands moving with practical precision.The delicate fabric of the gown had already been set aside, but I could feel the weight of it in my mind as I prepared for the next steps.She guided me to a chair in front of the mirror, and with a soft smile, she began to work on my hair.She sectioned my hair into layers, her fingers gliding through the strands with the gentleness of someone who understood the value of each strand.I could feel the tension in my shoulders begin to ease as she carefully twisted, curled, and pinned, creating an elegant updo that framed my face perfectly.Each curl seemed to fall into place as if it were meant to be.The design was intricate, yet it had an effortless elegance that made me feel both royal and delicate, the way a Luna should feel.Once my hair was
Raven POV When I woke up the next morning, Rowan was already gone.He’d held me through the night, and I was grateful for that—more than I could ever say. I still felt the echo of his warmth wrapped around me, like his presence had settled into the fabric of the room, anchoring me. Because of him, I felt more grounded today. Steadier.The ache in my chest hadn’t vanished, but it was quieter now. Bearable.I rose slowly and made my way into the bathroom. The hot water soothed the stiffness in my body as I bathed, washing away the heaviness of the night before. I brushed my teeth, combed through my tangled hair, and stood in front of the mirror for a moment, just breathing.The girl staring back at me wasn’t the same as yesterday. I looked more composed. But my eyes—they still held too much.I was almost done dressing when a knock came at the door.“Come in,” I called, tugging at the last strap of my gown.Maria peeked her head in, her usual nervous energy buzzing beneath her calm ex