While staying by Alpha Riven’s side for eight years, I also had to raise the little wolf pup born to him and my deceased sister. Enduring constant humiliation and bullying from his mistress and their pup, I finally left the pack that brought me nothing but disgrace and lies. I returned to inherit the Crowhurst Pack—but there was a condition. I had to bond with Alpha Caelum, a man who had lost his mother in a tragic accident, was mentally unstable, and born without a wolf spirit. Ironically, he was also Alpha Riven’s half-brother. I thought Alpha Caelum was a cripple… until one day, he stood up. Ravenna’s POV I took a deep breath before answering the phone, “I’m ready to fulfill your condition and take my rightful place as the heiress,” I said, before hanging up abruptly. The weight of my decision hit me, but I knew it was the only way forward. Staring at the room that had been my sanctuary for eight long years, I felt a bittersweet smile tug at my lips. Years of devotion, patience, and love had led me here—empty-handed. My heart pulsed with the same bitter ache that had echoed through me for so long, the same ache that the wolves called the weight of a bond never realized. A piercing voice broke the silence, sharp and angry. “How dare you wear my mother’s dress!” Corvin’s words were like a slap in the face, and I turned to face him, fighting the urge to bare my teeth at him. His eyes were full of fury, but I had long since stopped caring. “You’re not going to respond?” He snarled again, his voice dripping with venom. I took a slow breath, controlling the beast inside me, the part of me that wanted to shift and rip him apart. “Go to your celebration, Corvin. Your pack is waiting for you.” My words were soft, laced with the weariness of someone who had fought too many battles with those who never saw her as a true part of their pack. “No!” He roared, fury dancing in his eyes as he grabbed the pitcher from the table, and with a swift motion, splashed the hot contents all over me. The burn hit me like a punch to the chest. “This is what you deserve!” He spat. “You can never replace my mother! You killed her with your jealousy and now you wear her dress like it’s your right!” His words were poison, each one a reminder of everything I’d lost and could never have again. I screamed, the heat of the coffee searing my skin, but I knew better than to fight back. The sting on my body was nothing compared to the sting in my heart. A maid rushed in, gasping at the sight of my scalded skin and coffee-stained clothes. “I’m so sorry, Miss Ravenna. Corvin ran off again. Let me take him away,” she quickly said, her voice trembling. As they scurried off, I stood there, feeling the rage of my wolf slowly subside, replaced by the cold numbness of defeat. That dress…it had never been Elspeth’s. It had been mine—given to me by my mother before her passing. But Elspeth had taken it, just like she had taken everything else from me. I sighed heavily as I stepped into the shower. The familiar sting of the hot water was nothing compared to the ache inside, the ache of losing everything I had ever wanted. Eight years ago, I was supposed to marry Alpha Riven Grimsbane, the Alpha who was once my childhood sweetheart, the one I thought I’d build a life with. But it all shattered when he chose Elspeth over me. She was the one who carried his bloodline forward, and their son, Corvin, became the focus of all their attention. But Elspeth died during childbirth, and I was blamed for it, accused of killing her out of jealousy. The truth, however, was far darker. As the only sister of the deceased, I had been forced to stay in their home and care for Corvin. I had been instructed by my stepmother to treat him as my own son. But the role I was given felt like a cage—no love, no respect, just the cruel reminder that my place was never as anything more than a mere servant. For eight years, I poured everything into Corvin, raised him, loved him, but nothing ever changed. Alpha Riven never loved me. He was a wolf who had chosen his pack over me, his mate over his promise. I had been a fool to believe otherwise. But the truth was clear now. I had no place in this house except as a discarded concubine. Every action from Alpha Riven, every word from Corvin, reminded me of my insignificant position in their lives. As I stepped out of the shower, the sound of Alpha Riven’s voice pulled me back into reality. “The celebration is starting. Where are you, Ravenna?” He called out, his voice full of authority, like the Alpha he was meant to be. I took a deep breath, steadying myself before exiting the bathroom. He entered just as I had finished drying off. His eyes immediately fell on the coffee stains, and I saw the disappointment flicker across his face. “I heard what Corvin did. Don’t take it to heart,” Alpha Riven said, his voice soft but laced with a warning. “He’s still just a boy, and he does care about you.” I scoffed. “That child knows nothing of love. Not when it comes to me.” My words were sharp, a bitter truth I had come to accept long ago. His face tightened. “Don’t say that, Ravenna. He’s a good boy.” I turned away, ignoring the way his presence made my skin crawl, and grabbed the soothing balm from the nightstand. I applied it to my scalded skin, the ointment cooling the burn. It would heal by morning, just like my heart had learned to heal over the years. “Let me help you, Ravenna.” Alpha Riven’s voice broke through the silence, and before I could stop him, he took the balm from my hands and began to rub it into the inflamed skin. A few years ago, I would have melted at his touch, but now, it just made my skin crawl. “You don’t get it, do you?” I muttered under my breath, but he didn’t hear me. His breath was warm against my neck as he whispered, “You have to be patient with him.” I jerked away, feeling the familiar pull of the wolf that wanted to fight back, to push him away. “I need to tell you something,” I said, my voice hard. Alpha Riven frowned. “Can’t it wait? The birthday celebrations are starting.” “No, it can’t,” I said, my voice steady, the decision clear in my heart. “Today marks the eighth year. I’m leaving. I’m done.” Alpha Riven stared at me, confusion and disbelief written on his face. But I had made my choice. There was no going back now.
Ravenna’s Pov “What nonsense are you spewing now?” Alpha Riven’s voice rumbled like thunder, shaking the very air between us. The tension in the room was palpable, but I stood my ground, unflinching under his piercing gaze. “It’s been eight years, Alpha Riven,” I declared, my voice steady, yet edged with finality. “I’m leaving.” Alpha Riven’s features twisted in a snarl, his wolfish anger rising to the surface. His aura pressed down on me, almost suffocating. “Why are you making a fuss now? Corvin’s just a cub. Don’t take his childish antics to heart. Today is his birthday. Come along, don’t be difficult. I’ll deal with him later.” Before I could respond, his hand clamped around mine, tugging me toward the door. I yanked my hand away, my eyes cold as I faced him. “You promised me, Alpha Riven. When Corvin turned eight, I was free to go. Why am I making a fuss?” As I spoke, a voice sliced through the thick air, sharp and biting. “Ravenna, how dare you cause such a scene? You always manage to steal the spotlight, even on a day meant for my grandson!” I didn’t need to turn around to recognize Sara’s voice. She was the one who had struck the deal with Alpha Riven, promising me freedom once Corvin turned eight. So why was she now making such a racket? “I’m not stealing anything, Sara,” I shot back, my words laced with ice. “You were the one who said I could leave after eight years.” Her lips twisted into a venomous sneer. “On Corvin’s birthday, Ravenna? You couldn’t wait until tomorrow?” Alpha Riven intervened, his voice too smooth, too calculated. “It’s fine, Sara. Ravenna didn’t mean to disrupt things.” I could see through him now. Years ago, I would’ve believed it, but now I knew his words were just an empty attempt to keep me by his side, trapped in this unending cycle. “Come, let’s go join the party,” Alpha Riven said, a hint of impatience creeping into his voice. I didn’t protest, letting him lead me into the crowded celebration. Corvin and his friends were already in the middle of their chaos, but as soon as Corvin saw me, his face hardened, turning to stone. “Look, Corvin,” one of his friends called, “Your mother is here.” Corvin’s lip curled in disgust. “She’s not my mother.” The sting of his words didn’t pierce my heart like they used to. Now, I stood unmoving, only watching as Alpha Riven sighed deeply, pulling Corvin into line. “We don’t speak like that, Corvin. Ravenna is your mother now. She’s taken care of you like her own.” Corvin’s face contorted with rage. “She’s not my mother! She killed my mother!” His voice cracked with fury as he pointed at me, accusing me before the entire room. Whispers rippled through the hall, the guests’ eyes darting to me like I was some kind of pariah. “She’s the boy’s aunt.” “Why does he act like that toward her?” “Obviously, she’s done something wrong. He doesn’t like her…” Alpha Riven’s booming voice cut through the murmur of voices. “Apologize to Ravenna, Corvin!” I raised my hand, stopping him in his tracks. “Let him be, Alpha Riven. It doesn’t matter anymore.” Without a word, I turned and walked out of the room, my steps composed but my mind swirling. In the past, Corvin’s words would have crushed me. But now, I was numb to his hatred, numb to the way Alpha Riven’s love always belonged to someone else. “Why would you cause a scene on his birthday, Ravenna?” Sara’s shrill voice echoed behind me, and I turned to face her, my expression neutral. “What do you want, Sara?” I said, my voice dripping with exhaustion. “I’ve fulfilled my duty for eight years. I’m done.” Her eyes narrowed with disdain as she took a step closer. “You should treat Corvin like your son. Endure his fits, care for him as if he’s your flesh and blood. If my daughter were alive, she’d have handled him better.” I gave a nonchalant shrug, the bitterness of the situation settling in. “Pity, your daughter is dead.” Without warning, Sara’s hand shot out, aiming for my cheek. But I caught her wrist effortlessly, my grip like iron. “Don’t try it, Sara. I’m not in the mood for this. Eight years ago, you forced me to come here and care for them. The contract is over. Corvin is eight. I have every right to leave.” She jerked her hand away, glaring at me as she rubbed her wrist. “Do whatever you want, Ravenna,” she hissed, “No one will ever love you. Not even your father.” She turned on her heel and stormed off. A hollow smile twisted on my lips as I watched her leave. It had been eight years since I’d last seen my father. Ever since his beloved daughter had died, he’d sent me away and never looked back. “I’m sorry, Ravenna. I brought you a gift.” A quiet voice broke my thoughts, and I turned to see Corvin standing there, holding a small, neatly wrapped box. His innocent smile was almost too much to bear. “You shouldn’t have,” I said, my voice flat, though I could see the hint of irony behind my words. Corvin giggled, a light, almost playful sound. “I wanted to. Please, open it.” With a shrug, I unwrapped the box. The moment I opened it, an overpowering stench hit me. Inside was the lifeless body of my cat, an arrow lodged through its heart. “That will be you, if you don’t leave me and my father alone,” Corvin said, his voice dripping with sick amusement, his eyes gleaming with a chilling intent. Chapter 3 Ravenna’s Pov I was mortified staring at my only pet that I had been allowed to bring to the pack mansion nestled deep in Bloodpine Forest, the ancestral land of the Moonclaw Pack. The same way I have taken care of Corvin. The air was sharp with winter frost, my Beta senses pricking at every sound, but all I could hear was my own heartbeat—and Corvin’s angry growl. “Don’t mess with me and don’t get my father upset with me!” Corvin snapped, his wolf aura flickering in his eyes, golden like his father’s. I watched as he stomped off while I stared at the arrow in my cat’s body. A silver-tipped arrow. Wolf-forged, cruel, precise. Fate is indeed mocking me because I was the one who taught Corvin how to shoot arrows. I taught Corvin everything he knows and now he’s using it against me. I cradled the box as I stared at Lin Lin, my best friend, and a single tear slipped from my eyes. “Why are you out in the cold, Ravenna? Don’t get sick on me!” Alpha Riven Grimsbane’s deep voice carried through the thick wooden door, laced with command and concern. He immediately stood behind me as he draped me with his jacket, his scent—pine and steel—enveloping me in a wave of unwelcome familiarity, which I shrugged off. “What’s wrong?” he queried. His face twisted in slight disgust when he saw the dead cat in the box. “Your son came to apologize,” I stated. Alpha Riven’s frown deepened, “He’s your son too.” I scoffed, “He hates me, Alpha Riven! He killed my cat.” “Come now, let’s go inside. I’ll have a talk with him in the morning, and you can bury the cat tomorrow. I’m sure he was just messing around and it was a silly prank,” Alpha Riven said. I shrugged away from him as I carried the cat and headed into the garden. The moon above was nearly full—another cruel reminder that I wasn’t his Luna, only his obligation. I wasn’t going to let my cat stay out all night for some animal to poke at him. Alpha Riven followed me, complaining about how I was being stubborn, but he stayed with me while I buried Lin Lin. When I was done, I went inside. The party was over, and the guests had all gone home. The pack house was silent now, except for the distant howls echoing through the valley. It was already late and windy. I sneezed just as Alpha Riven held me. We got to my room, and he sat me down on his lap. His touch no longer warmed me—it burned like an unwanted bond. I cringed inwardly. “What do you want?” I snapped. Alpha Riven sighed, “What’s wrong, Ravenna? I’ll get you a new cat.” “I want to leave, Alpha Riven. Tomorrow,” I stated. Alpha Riven tensed. A flicker of Alpha command slipped into his gaze, but I held mine, refusing to submit. “Corvin is a child. I don’t trust anyone to take care of him except you. Besides, where do you want to go? It’s not like you have anyone else.” I shrugged, “I’ll worry about that. I have no place here. You have refused to marry me after eight years.” Alpha Riven sighed, “I already told you, Ravenna, I can’t take another mate now.” “I’m not asking you to. In fact, I don’t want to marry you. I just want to leave.” “Okay, why don’t you have a child for me? That way I can secure your future and that of your child. If you have a child for me, no one would dare say a bad word against you. And then Corvin will have a little sibling.” I smiled sadly. I had reduced myself to nothing and discarded my pride and yet eight years still he wants me to have an illegitimate child for him. All this just to protect Corvin and keep me in the same house as him. “I’ve instructed the maid everything she needs to know about Corvin. He’s homeschooled, so you can get the best tutors for him or send him to school. He doesn’t need me again,” I stated. Alpha Riven kissed me, his lips cold despite the heat of his wolf. “Sleep on it and tell me how you feel in the morning.” That night I didn’t sleep a wink. I packed my luggage and I kept seeing the face of Lin Lin. In my dreams, Lin Lin ran under moonlight… until the arrow struck again. Morning came sooner than expected, and after a quick shower, I dragged my suitcases outside. It was finally happening. I was leaving. But of course, I wasn’t going to leave in peace. A slow clap echoed through the courtyard, followed by a familiar, mocking voice. “Well, well, well,” Kiera’s shadowed voice cut through the early dawn fog. She leaned against the stone pillar of the eastern gate, her Beta aura bristling beneath her flawless skin. “Have you finally come to your senses?” I sighed. Kiera, my Alpha Riven’s mistress, always knew when to strike with her venomous charm. Corvin adored her. She never let me forget it. I ignored her and kept walking, but she stepped into my path, tilting her head in amusement. “Eight years, Ravenna,” she continued, crossing her arms. “Eight years of playing house, of waiting for an Alpha who never claimed you. And now, after all that time, you’re finally leaving.” She chuckled. “Took you long enough to realize that Alpha Riven and Corvin will never love you. You’ve been nothing but a worthless concubine.” I met her gaze, my expression unreadable. “Enjoy it, then,” I said simply. “Do whatever you want. None of this concerns me anymore.” Her smirk widened. “Oh, I will. Don’t worry,” she whispered. “Soon, I’ll move in and take your place.” Before I could respond, the front doors swung open. Alpha Riven stepped out, followed closely by Corvin. And in an instant, Elspeth’s entire demeanor changed. She gasped dramatically and dropped to her knees, clutching the hem of my coat as if her life depended on it. “Ravenna, please!” she sobbed, her voice thick with desperation. “Please don’t go! Corvin needs you! You’ve been taking care of him all these years—how could you just leave him like this?” I stared down at her blankly. “Corvin loves you, he really does,” she continued, her voice cracking. “He’s just a child! Please, don’t leave him. I’m so sorry for everything, just please, Ravenna—”
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