RAVEN’S POV:I lay on the bed, twirling my phone in hand as I arranged my tasks for tomorrow in my head. I was too stressed; I didn't even want to get up and pick up a jotter. Since Tristan traveled two days ago, the workload only increased, not decreasing. If he were available, he would have dealt with most of them already, so in his absence, they only continued to pile up, requiring us to step up and deal with the ones that didn't explicitly require his approval.As I rested, images of him flooded my mind, and a sigh escaped my lips. After I woke up that afternoon and found him sitting up on my bed, waiting for me, I hadn't seen him since then. He seemed to have wanted to talk, most likely about that kiss. But, he was called even before we could speak for an emergency at the border, so he had to go, telling me he'd be back.That only placed me on edge, and all my mind kept revolving around in the past two days was what he was going to say to me. Would he say it was only a mistake an
RAVEN'S POV:When he told me I was going with him to the dinner, I didn't think I'd be whisked away into the biggest fashion house I'd ever seen, all in the name of choosing the perfect dress for me.I crossed my fingers as I looked around, admiring the delicate interior colours as we entered the hall. Almost immediately, a middle-aged man and woman approached us. They bowed to Tristan immediately."We are honoured to attend to you today, Alpha," the man proclaimed with a pleased smile.Tristan acknowledged them with a nod and asked, "Will there be enough time before the dinner?""Yes, Alpha," the woman spoke this time before her gaze landed on me. She ran a once-over at my face before she broke into a smile as she approached me. "Hello, Miss. You can call me Mrs. Weiss. My husband and I own this place."I immediately gave a polite nod. "Hello, Miss Weiss."Then, her gaze moved to Tristan, and she said to him, "Alpha, will you be waiting while we...""Yes," he responded, his gaze find
AUTHOR'S POV:The sleek car glided to a stop in front of the grand hall, and Raven's eyes widened in disbelief. It was the very hotel Isadora had chosen for her birthday bash. This party, she realized, was far more extravagant than she had imagined, complete with a swarm of reporters and a flashy red carpet.As Tristan emerged from the car, reporters surged toward him, unleashing a barrage of questions like a pack of hungry wolves stumbling upon fresh prey."Alpha! Alpha BlackClaw!" they cried, bombarding him with inquiries as if it were a major news event.Tristan, unfazed, calmly manoeuvred through the reporters, heading to the other side of the car to open the door for Raven. Seated in the car, Raven watched as he leaned down, offering his hand with a subtle touch that eased her nervousness. She took a deep breath, grasping his hand as she prepared to face the sea of onlookers.Once out of the car, an immediate hush enveloped the surroundings. It wasn't surprising; everyone knew Al
AUTHOR'S POV:"What?" Bethany exclaimed, clearly unsettled, as murmurs arose amongst the crowd. Raven managed to ignore the words of the men who spoke earlier as they murmured that he'd likely accept.But she didn't bolt.She feared, and every pore in her body told her to run for it, that he'd accept the invitation, and she'd be tagged as the third party that tried to ruin their relationship. Yet, she felt that if she ran even before she lost, she'd regret not knowing what was truly in his heart.So, she stood her ground and watched as he approached the other woman calmly and outstretched his hand toward her. A pang settled in Raven's chest, and tears quickly rushed to the surface.But before they could fall and ruin the makeup, she saw him grab the microphone from Seraphine's hands and bypassed her. Her breathing quickened as she watched him walk toward where she was seated, and she looked around her. But he was walking straight to her, and she could feel her heart beat rapidly in he
AUTHOR'S POV:What she didn't notice was that, after Tristan talked to them, a man and woman also approached him: Lucas and his plus one, Nadia."Your public display of affection has effectively taken over the need for the event," Lucas remarked sourly the moment he got to Tristan, and when the man turned to look at them, his calm face had become solemn.He retorted, "Of course, unlike you, I don't hide the things that I like, lest they get stolen."Lucas looked even more annoyed at his words, and they looked each other down. The two men were calm, and no one noticed anything, but the tension flickering between them was vast.Tristan stared down at the man and slipped his hands into his pocket indifferently, intending to walk away. But he had just taken a few steps when Lucas muttered, "Do you think she likes you? You are just a rebound she needs to get a stand in this pack. Can you even compare to the mate bond?"Tristan's expression soured when he heard his words, but he didn't let
AUTHOR'S POV:Tristan turned to close the door behind him, and in the next moment, he pulled her closer harshly as they locked lips again. They were going to have the talk as he drove her home after the party, but things had gotten heated, and they could barely keep their hands off each other all the way home.Now that they were in such a private space, it felt like he had completely let loose. He was frantic, and she shivered, slinging her arms around him as he kissed her all over. He backed her to the door of the room as he deepened the kiss, his tongue sliding into her mouth with ease. Raven felt heated all over from his touches, and she just desperately wanted to return the same eagerness as his.In a couple of seconds, the zipper of her dress was pulled down, and the dress was only hanging on her body by the right arm. He kissed the groove of her neck, slowly moving down her collarbone, and she sucked in a breath with each movement. She held onto his arm, her body slacking agains
RAVEN’S POV:Ethan drove through the gates of the hall where the wedding would be held, and I looked around, feeling strange that I was back in my former pack again. However, I felt at ease, and there was no nervousness in me. He parked the car, and Tristan looked at me, holding my hand.That made me retract my gaze from the people I was staring at and to his face. He asked, a tinge of worry in his voice, "Are you okay? We can go back if you can't take it.""Go back?" I couldn't help but laugh. "After all the long journey? I'm fine; you don't have to worry.""I know, it's just..."The look in his eyes told me he was not only worried but bothered. A thought came into my mind, and I sighed, knowing why he was bothered. So, I moved closer to him and pressed a kiss on his lips, which seemed to take him by surprise, but he put an arm around my waist to hold me close."I'm really fine." I cupped his face. "Why would I feel hurt that Lucas is getting married when I have you?"His complexion
Candace stomped towards her car, the clacking of her heels echoing her frustration. Ignoring the friendly greetings from her coworkers on the downfloor, she couldn't shake off the awful mood that lingered since lunch."Oh, hey, Candace! How was your day?" Dave from accounting called out."Just peachy," she muttered, not bothering to turn around.She couldn't help but replay the irritating scene in her mind. The Alpha, usually distant and indifferent, had surprised her by bringing lunch to Raven. The latter had been too busy to go down to the cafeteria, and the Alpha, whom everyone waited upon, actually brought her food. It irked Candace more than she cared to admit, and that only strengthened her resolve - Raven had to leave.Once she opened the door of her car, ready to enter, Candace hesitated. Instead of settling into her car seat, she retrieved her phone, her fingers tapping the screen. Lana needed a reminder – a nudge to return to work, and then the Alpha would have no choice but
AUTHOR'S POV:"Congratulations, Miss Raven. You're three months pregnant," Dr. Foster announced with a warm smile, his eyes reflecting genuine joy. The test results were on top of his desk as he closed the papers.Raven blinked, disbelief etched across her face. "Pregnant? But... how?" she stammered, her mind still catching up. It felt like the walls were suddenly closing in on her.The doctor chuckled. "Well, it seems you fainted earlier because of more than just fatigue. You're going to be a mother." He handed her the test result, and Raven's trembling hands took hold of it.She sat there for a couple of seconds, trying to process the situation. She had fainted at the office earlier that day, so she came to the hospital, but surely, she was not expecting to be told she was pregnant."Thank you, Doctor," she managed to utter, her thoughts racing. As she exited the office, the weight of the news sank in, leaving her stunned.As she walked along the hospital hallway, she ran into Larson
TRISTAN’S POV:I stared at the screen, my eyes glued to the footage Ethan had managed to salvage from the hotel's security system. Frustration simmered within me as I realized there was a critical gap – the moment Seraphine supposedly plunged into the water was missing. Deleted. Gone."Can't you retrieve that part?" I asked Ethan, my voice tight with worry.Ethan sighed, shoulders slumping. "I went to Jasper's place, watched him try, but even he couldn't get it back. It's like it vanished."Disturbed, I knew that missing piece was vital to proving Raven's innocence. No matter how fiercely I could protect her, I couldn't let a stain tarnish her reputation. I pondered the options – interrogate Seraphine, force a confession, but the risks loomed large. Accusations of me using my power to bully could tarnish my position without solid proof. Not to mention, it would affect Raven - they'd accuse her of messing with my head."We need that footage, Ethan. Find a way," I urged, worry coursing
RAVEN'S POV:An uneasy vibe buzzed in me as Tristan and I shuffled down the hospital hallway. Seraphine supposedly woke up, but it still felt surreal. What happened still feels like a dream to me, and I was unable to come to terms that she had almost died.When we reached the door of the VIP ward she was staying in, a crowd awaited – her family. I didn't realize she had so many relatives, and even Tristan's mom, Luna BlackClaw, was there.The moment we appeared, all gazes fell on us, especially me. Their glares screamed judgment, but I held my cool, knowing I didn't do what they accused.Probably sensing my unease, Tristan held my palm and rubbed it, an attempt to reassure me, so I shot him a forced smile, not wanting him to worry.Luna BlackClaw jumped on me first, fuming, "How dare you show your face here?"She looked very furious, and if one didn't know, they'd think Seraphine was her daughter. I would have been intimidated, but the conviction that I did nothing wrong made me meet
Raven’s POV:I held a glass of wine as I looked around the hall. I was attending Madison's engagement ceremony, and there weren't a lot of people in attendance, as the marriage was not aristocratic, and there were a lot of gossip about them in the pack. Not to mention, it was no news that her father wanted her to marry a richer and well-known man, not her mate. They were all everybody was talking about and giving their two cents of advice on like they knew it all.But as I stared at Madison's figure walking around the entire hall arm in arm with her mate, Christian, I could tell she was happy with the man she ended up with. And I was happy for her because it meant that not all mates were assholes, and they complemented one another well.However, as I saw Madison approaching me with Christian, I placed the wine glass in my hand on the table some distance from me. I didn't want to toast her and have to drink the wine.Firstly, because I had promised Tristan that even though he wasn't th
TRISTAN’S POV:I smiled, seeing the sheer fear and shame that ran through their spines upon seeing me. "Isn't it rude to start a meeting without me, the main topic of the so-called abdication?"As I spoke, I strolled to my seat and settled down. Lucas frowned, but he was soon back to being haughty. That made me frown at his closed-mindedness - how could he be foolish enough to rely only on one piece of evidence that wasn't conclusive enough?"Which rule of the council talks about members not holding a meeting behind the Alpha King?" I questioned as I tapped on the table, intending to drag it out and give them chills."Ru...rule 15," one of them managed to speak while the rest of them frowned, but they all seemed to have regained their composure.I was about to respond when Lucas coldly snorted, "That doesn't include an abdication gathering in the case of a bad Alpha King."That made me perk up, and my gaze found his. "Oh really? How bad of a King am I that you all respectable Alphas w
Lucas paced back and forth in his dimly lit study, a sense of urgency in his voice as he spoke into his phone. "Make sure the meeting room is ready, and no one should tip off Tristan. We can't afford any slip-ups," he ordered.The door swung open abruptly, and Nadia stood there, a hand on her now heavily pregnant stomach. Anger flashed in Lucas's eyes, but he held back his initial impulse to shout at her for barging in. Instead, he ended the call, turning his attention to Nadia. "What are you doing here?" he inquired, attempting to keep his tone steady.Nadia, however, was not in the mood for pleasantries. She stormed toward Lucas, pushing him in the chest. "What do you think you're doing?" she demanded, frustration evident in her voice.Perplexed, Lucas responded, "What do you mean?"Without wasting a moment, Nadia thrust photos into his face. "Someone saw you with another woman last night. They're spreading rumors about us," she accused, her eyes ablaze.Lucas glanced at the picture
AUTHOR'S POV;Tristan diligently sorted through the crates in the pack house, the rhythmic hum of activity disrupted as Ethan approached. "Someone's looking for you, Tristan," Ethan said, a frown creasing his brow.Tristan raised an eyebrow, setting down a box. "You know pack members aren't supposed to disturb me at work. Who is it?"Ethan hesitated, then leaned in, voice low. "Alpha Odette."Tristan's surprise flashed across his face. "Alpha Odette? What does she want?"Ethan shrugged, a wary expression in his eyes. "I don't know, but be careful. She's always scheming."A wry smile played on Tristan's lips. "You've never liked her, have you?" Not that he was fond of her either, but he happened to help her three months back to deal with a rogue issue when his investigations led him to her pack, and he realized she was just always scheming and plotting, but her personality wasn't all that bad.Ethan scowled. "And you shouldn't either. Just be cautious."Tristan chuckled, waving Ethan o
RAVEN’S POV:I lay in his arms as he tousled my hair playfully. He didn't go back to the pack office to work, and we just lay together in silence in his room."She just came in like that, and I thought she was a pack member at first," he explained, looking at me, and I couldn't help but smile at how he seemed to forget she was also a pack member."She is a pack member," I corrected, and he only muttered, "Oh.""You're too cold," I couldn't help telling him. He always avoided her, and even before what happened tonight, his stepmother had been trying all sorts of means to push them together, causing further ruin to their relationship.But he was unbothered, unlike me, as he shrugged. "I've always been this way. No need to pay attention to irrelevant people."I chuckled at this, half worried I was ruining his relationship with other people but also pleased that he was avoiding having anything to do with his ex.Just then, he sat up and leaned to get something out of his bedside drawer. I
Tristan's fingers danced across the keyboard in the dimly lit pack house office, the hum soft in the background. Suddenly, the tranquil air shattered as the thunderous noise of running feet echoed from the nearby field. He sighed, his attention disrupted by the unwelcome commotion, reaffirming his disdain for working in the pack house office.Just then, a soft chime emanated from his phone, a welcome distraction. Raven's message illuminated the screen, and a grin replaced Tristan's earlier frown. "How's your headache?" she inquired, a simple yet thoughtful question that melted away his lingering discomfort.His thumbs swiftly responded, typing out his improved condition. As he hit send, an unexpected knock echoed through the room."Come in," he muttered, granting entry to the interrupter, anticipating a curious pack member who had heard he was around and wanted to bother him with something basic.However, when the door swung open, revealing Seraphine in a provocative black dress, Tris