ClarkThe weekend had come quicker than I expected. The days had blurred together, filled with work and the deliberate effort of staying in my own lane, like I’d promised. I hadn’t spoken to Raven since that night in the kitchen—the night I cooked for her, the night I’d kissed her cheek and walked away before I could do something stupid.I thought keeping my distance would make things easier. It didn’t. It just made me think about her more. And that was dangerous.By Saturday, I knew I needed a distraction, something to take my mind off Raven. That’s why I set up the date with Mia. We’d been seeing each other for a few months now—casual, nothing serious. She was beautiful, charming even, but I’d always kept things light with her. Now, sitting across from her at the restaurant, I couldn’t help but compare her to Raven, which wasn’t fair. Mia was pretty in a soft, conventional way, but Raven… Raven was something else entirely. She had a beauty that was sharp, dangerous, like it could cu
Raven“What are you doing here, Raven?” Clark’s words were slurred, his eyes glassy with intoxication, but his focus was unnervingly sharp as they zeroed in on me. He wobbled slightly on his feet, and I instinctively reached out to steady him, feeling the heat of his body even through his clothes.I sighed. This was not how I’d expected my night to go. I had come here to meet Ava Pierce, to start unraveling whatever revenge I had brewing in my mind. Instead, I was now playing caretaker to Clark, who apparently had no sense of moderation when it came to drinking.“And with Ava Pierce, of all people?” Clark added, his voice dripping with suspicion.I blinked, taken aback by the recognition in his voice. “You know Ava?”Ava, who had been standing to the side, flashed Clark a smile. “We were classmates back in high school. It’s been a while, though.”I glanced between them, trying to reconcile this new piece of information. Of course, Clark had a past that I wasn’t privy to, but it was st
RavenIt was supposed to be the happiest night of my life. A celebration of love, loyalty, and the bond I shared with my mate and husband, Alpha Emerson Blackwood. The one-year anniversary of our marriage had finally arrived, and I had everything planned down to the smallest detail. Lila, my best friend, had been by my side from the beginning, helping me arrange every surprise. We stood together in the living room of our home, the air filled with the scent of fresh roses and the soft glow of candlelight.“He’s going to love this, Raven,” Lila said, adjusting the arrangement of champagne glasses on the table. She grinned at me, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “The gift you got for him? It’s perfect.”I smiled, my heart swelling with anticipation. “I hope so. It took weeks to find that watch—he’s been eyeing it for months but wouldn’t splurge on it himself. I wanted tonight to be special.”Lila chuckled, placing the bottle of wine beside the glasses. “It will be. I can’t wait to see
Raven“Congratulations, dear friend! You’re getting married today!”Lila’s shrill voice pierced the fog of my deep sleep, jolting me awake. I blinked, disoriented, staring up at the familiar ceiling of my bedroom. Wait… my bedroom?“Lila?” I croaked, my throat dry and voice groggy. I sat up, the blankets slipping from my body. I blinked rapidly, my heart racing as I tried to gather my bearings. My mind struggled to connect the dots. The last thing I remembered was lying on the cold pavement, blood seeping from my body, my vision fading as the life was drained from me.Yet here I was, alive, in my bedroom, Lila standing at the foot of my bed, grinning like a Cheshire cat.“Of course, Lila,” I murmured, rubbing my temples. But then it hit me—this isn’t right. My pulse quickened, panic swelling inside me. I died. I was hit by a car. I was bleeding…I looked around wildly, expecting to see some sign of a nightmare or hallucination. But no, everything seemed normal, exactly as it was befo
RavenI stayed clear of everyone for the rest of the day. As night fell, the thoughts of what I had done earlier—the public humiliation of canceling the wedding—still hung in the air, but I didn’t feel the satisfaction I expected. Instead, a hollow emptiness tugged at me. Had I made the right move?Not wanting to linger on my thoughts, I decided to do something I hadn’t been allowed to do in my past life: have some fun. Emerson had always been so controlling, so hellbent on keeping me locked in a box, the perfect Luna—obedient, proper, and restrained. But tonight, I wasn’t that woman anymore. I was free. Reborn. A new Raven, and this time, I was calling the shots.I grabbed a slinky dress from the back of my closet, one I had never worn because Emerson had said it was too revealing. Well, screw him. I slipped it on, paired it with heels, and headed out into the night.The club was packed, bodies writhing to the beat of loud, pulsating music. I could feel the bass thrumming through my
Raven The next morning arrived with a whirlwind of nerves and tension. I stood in front of the mirror, dressed in my wedding gown, the fabric too tight, too suffocating for what I had planned. The silk flowed around me, delicate lace crawling up my arms like the chains of a life I’d left behind. Or should have left behind. But here I was, standing at the altar with Emerson again, going through the motions as if the betrayal hadn’t happened, as if I wasn’t already plotting his downfall.The ceremony was a blur, words spoken but not truly heard. I kept my face neutral, my gaze fixed on the officiant, not daring to meet Emerson’s eyes. When it came time for the kiss, I hesitated, my heart beating faster than I wanted it to. The officiant looked at me expectantly, as did the guests, waiting for the traditional seal to our vows.But I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t bring myself to let him kiss me. The thought of his lips on mine after everything made my stomach churn. I turned my face at the
RavenEmerson’s arrival in my room late that night was the last thing I needed. After taking a long, refreshing bath and meticulously going through my skincare routine, I was ready to collapse into bed. I deserved peace, especially after everything that had happened. I had endured enough. But, of course, Emerson couldn’t let me have that. Not tonight.I didn’t even turn to face him when I heard the door creak open. The scent of him—the same cologne he always wore—instantly filled the room, making me tense. There was a time I found comfort in it, but now it only filled me with disgust. I could sense his eyes on me as he shut the door, the audacity of it all infuriating me.“What do you want?” I snapped, still not looking at him, my voice cold and hard.He hesitated. “Raven, we’re supposed to… consummate our marriage tonight.”I turned sharply, meeting his gaze. His words sounded almost ridiculous now. My marriage to Emerson was a farce. A hollow lie. And the fact that he expected me to
EmersonAs soon as Raven disappeared up the stairs, the silence between me and Clark became suffocating. For a long moment, neither of us said a word. We just stood there, facing each other in the dim light of the kitchen, exchanging silent glares. The tension in the air was so thick I could practically taste it. My fists clenched at my sides, and I felt a wave of possessive anger rise in my chest.Clark, of course, broke the silence first, his voice a low drawl. “Why are you staring at me like that, Emerson?” His eyes gleamed with a smugness that made my skin crawl.I folded my arms across my chest, trying to keep my temper in check. “Because I know whatever your reason is for staying here, it’s not a good one,” I said evenly. My voice was calm, but inside I was boiling. “And now that Raven is my wife, I’m not going to tolerate you making any kind of sexual advances toward her.”Clark’s lips curved into a sly smile, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Relax, cousin,” he said, his tone moc
Raven“What are you doing here, Raven?” Clark’s words were slurred, his eyes glassy with intoxication, but his focus was unnervingly sharp as they zeroed in on me. He wobbled slightly on his feet, and I instinctively reached out to steady him, feeling the heat of his body even through his clothes.I sighed. This was not how I’d expected my night to go. I had come here to meet Ava Pierce, to start unraveling whatever revenge I had brewing in my mind. Instead, I was now playing caretaker to Clark, who apparently had no sense of moderation when it came to drinking.“And with Ava Pierce, of all people?” Clark added, his voice dripping with suspicion.I blinked, taken aback by the recognition in his voice. “You know Ava?”Ava, who had been standing to the side, flashed Clark a smile. “We were classmates back in high school. It’s been a while, though.”I glanced between them, trying to reconcile this new piece of information. Of course, Clark had a past that I wasn’t privy to, but it was st
ClarkThe weekend had come quicker than I expected. The days had blurred together, filled with work and the deliberate effort of staying in my own lane, like I’d promised. I hadn’t spoken to Raven since that night in the kitchen—the night I cooked for her, the night I’d kissed her cheek and walked away before I could do something stupid.I thought keeping my distance would make things easier. It didn’t. It just made me think about her more. And that was dangerous.By Saturday, I knew I needed a distraction, something to take my mind off Raven. That’s why I set up the date with Mia. We’d been seeing each other for a few months now—casual, nothing serious. She was beautiful, charming even, but I’d always kept things light with her. Now, sitting across from her at the restaurant, I couldn’t help but compare her to Raven, which wasn’t fair. Mia was pretty in a soft, conventional way, but Raven… Raven was something else entirely. She had a beauty that was sharp, dangerous, like it could cu
ClarkThat night, no matter how hard I tried, sleep refused to come. My mind raced with too many thoughts, none of them helpful. It was well past midnight, and I could hear the faint sound of the house settling, everyone else probably asleep. But I wasn’t. I tossed and turned, staring at the ceiling, hoping for a reprieve that never came.With a heavy sigh, I threw back the covers and got out of bed. I pulled on a pair of pants, not bothering with a shirt, and quietly made my way downstairs. I needed a distraction, something to calm the storm in my head. A glass of water would do.As I stepped into the dark kitchen, I flicked on the light, the sudden brightness making me squint. But what really startled me was the figure standing by the fridge.“Raven?” I asked, not expecting anyone else to be awake.She turned to face me, eyes wide for a brief second before a small smile curled her lips. “Sorry, didn’t mean to startle you.”I blinked, a little thrown off by the way she said it, almos
ClarkBy the time I got home, exhaustion had taken its toll. The day had been long and filled with tension, and I could feel the weight of it bearing down on me. I headed straight for the dining room, the faint clatter of dishes and silverware guiding me.As I approached, the scene before me felt like something out of a bad drama. Emerson sat at the head of the table, staring blankly at his plate, while Raven, across from him, toyed with her food in silence. Lila, of course, was seated nearby, her presence a constant thorn in my side. The quiet was heavy, and I could feel the tension the moment I stepped into the room.“Clark,” Emerson acknowledged without looking up, his voice tired. Raven didn’t even glance in my direction.I took a seat, feeling the need to break the ice. “I owe you an apology,” I said, looking directly at Emerson.That got his attention. He set his fork down and raised an eyebrow, clearly waiting for me to continue. Raven’s eyes flickered to me, though she remaine
ClarkI packed my files into my briefcase, my mind still replaying the earlier events of the day. The lingering feeling of Raven’s slap, the tension between us, and the way I couldn’t shake her from my thoughts weighed heavily on me. I needed to focus, needed to remember why I had come back in the first place. But it was hard, especially when every time I closed my eyes, her image flickered back into my mind.The door creaked open behind me, pulling me from my thoughts. I didn’t need to turn around to know who it was. Marcus Greer. The man’s presence was like a shadow that never left, always hovering in the background, always watching.“Clark,” he greeted in that calm, measured voice of his. The kind of voice that made people listen, made them respect him. But not me. I didn’t respect Marcus Greer, not one bit.I turned to face him, forcing a neutral expression. “Marcus. Something on your mind?”Marcus closed the door behind him, his gaze sharp as he walked further into the room. He w
Clark What was I thinking?The question kept circling in my mind, gnawing at me, replaying in an endless loop since the moment I’d made that stupid attempt to kiss Raven yesterday. I rubbed my jaw, the faint sting from her slap still echoing like a bitter reminder. What the hell was I even doing? I was supposed to be focused on my plan—on why I had come back in the first place. But one look at Raven’s sharp beauty, her captivating presence, and I’d lost my head, completely thrown off course.Her words still echoed in my mind, a stern warning to stay away from her, to respect her space. It wasn’t just her voice—it was the look in her eyes, that cold, hardened gaze that sent a chill through me. She meant every word.And what did I do? I made it worse. I made advances at her like an idiot, knowing full well she wasn’t in the right headspace for it. Hell, I wasn’t in the right headspace for it. The more I thought about it, the more I realized how reckless and impulsive I’d become around
RavenThe next morning felt like a dull blur. The early rays of sunlight barely managed to seep through the thick curtains in my room, casting a soft glow across the floor. It was supposed to be a new day, a fresh start. But everything felt bland, muted, like the vibrant colors of life had drained away, leaving only shades of grey.Clark had left for work without a word. No lingering gazes, no witty remarks, no attempts to provoke me like he usually did. He had simply walked out of the house, leaving an unsettling emptiness in his wake. Strangely, it hurt. The silence, his absence… it shouldn’t have, but it did. At the same time, it made me feel better—relieved, even. Perhaps this was what I needed—a little distance from him, from the tangled mess of emotions he stirred within me.As I got ready, I tried to shake off the unease clinging to me. I couldn’t afford to dwell on Clark, not when my mind needed to stay sharp, focused on the real goal. Emerson. Lila. My revenge.Downstairs, I
Raven The cold night air still clung to my skin as I made my way back toward the house, each step heavier than the last. My thoughts were tangled, my emotions raw from everything that had happened. The moonlight illuminated the path before me, but it didn’t soothe the storm brewing inside my chest.As I approached the house, I saw a figure standing just outside the door. Clark. He was waiting for me, a heavy blanket draped over his arm, and a bottle of water in his other hand. I stopped in my tracks, my heart pounding with a mixture of irritation and confusion. Why was he here?“You’re freezing,” Clark said softly, stepping closer and offering the blanket. “Take this.”Without a word, I accepted it, wrapping the thick fabric around my shoulders. The warmth was immediate, but it didn’t thaw the coldness lingering in my heart. I took the bottle of water from him, my throat parched after the run. As I drank, my eyes unconsciously drifted upward, landing on Emerson’s window.There he sto
RavenThe tension was suffocating from the moment the car pulled into the driveway. Clark had driven me home in silence, his face betraying nothing, while I was lost in my own storm of thoughts. As soon as I stepped out of the car, I saw Emerson and Lila arriving at the same time. Great. I barely had time to prepare myself for another exhausting interaction with Emerson.I barely made it two steps toward the door when Emerson rushed to me, grabbing my arm more forcefully than I would’ve liked. His eyes were pleading, yet there was a desperation beneath them that I couldn’t quite place.“Raven,” he said, his voice low and strained, “we need to talk. Privately. We barely had time to speak at the office, and—”I yanked my arm from his grasp, glaring at him. “I don’t want to talk, Emerson.”Before I could walk away, Clark stepped in between us. His broad frame blocked Emerson from reaching me again, and his voice was calm yet firm. “If she doesn’t want to talk to you, Emerson, then you sh