The Alpha's Forbidden Raven

Chapter 2: The Secret They Would Kill For

"Caw."

I froze.

"Elara, snap out of it!"

Reina's voice pulled me back to reality.

I blinked several times before turning toward the kitchen window.

Nothing.

No ravens.

No strange forest.

No red eyes staring back at me.

Only the quiet courtyard stretched beyond the glass.

I frowned.

Had I imagined it?

Was that another vision?

During the day?

"Elara."

I turned to Reina.

She was staring at me with concern.

"Are you sure you're okay?"

"I'm fine."

The lie came too quickly.

Reina narrowed her eyes.

"Since you came back from the wine cellar, you've been acting strangely."

I looked away.

How could I tell her?

How could I tell her that I had accidentally discovered the Luna was having an affair with Beta Wilson?

And that the Beta had threatened to kill me if I told anyone?

No.

I couldn't.

If Beta Wilson found out that I had spoken about it, I might not live long enough to regret it.

"I'm just tired," I said.

Reina didn't look convinced.

Before she could question me again, a familiar voice came from the kitchen entrance.

"Elara?"

I turned.

One of the Luna's personal maids stood there.

"The Luna is calling for you."

My stomach dropped.

"What?"

Reina and I exchanged a worried glance.

"Are you sure you didn't do something wrong?" she whispered.

"It's unlike the Luna to send for you."

"I didn't do anything."

But my voice lacked confidence.

The Luna already knew.

I could feel it.

She knew what had happened in the wine cellar.

And if Beta Wilson had already told her...

I didn't want to think about what would happen next.

"I'll be right back," I said.

Reina caught my hand before I could leave.

Her eyes softened.

"Be careful, Lara."

Lara.

That was what she called me whenever she was worried.

I forced a small smile.

"Yes, Mom."

She rolled her eyes.

"I'm serious."

"I know."

I followed the maid out of the kitchen.

The moment I stepped into the corridor, my heart began pounding.

We climbed the stairs to the third floor.

The farther we went, the heavier my footsteps became.

The Luna's chambers were at the end of the corridor.

The maid opened the door.

I stepped inside.

"Elara."

The Luna was standing beside the window.

Her back was turned toward me.

"Yes, Luna."

She slowly turned.

Her expression was unreadable.

Then she looked at her maid.

"Leave us."

The maid bowed.

"Yes, Luna."

The door closed.

Silence filled the room.

The Luna walked toward me.

"I know."

My heart stopped.

I lowered my head.

"I don't understand, Luna."

"Don't lie to me."

Her voice was quiet.

Somehow, that made it more frightening.

"I know you heard us in the wine cellar."

My fingers curled into fists.

"Beta Wilson said he handled you."

She stopped in front of me.

"But I'm not convinced."

I remained silent.

She grabbed my wrist.

Her claws extended.

Pain shot through my arm.

"Please..."

Her claws dug deeper.

Blood trickled down my skin.

"I don't know why my husband brought you into this pack."

Her voice became colder.

"He clearly hates you."

I stared at her.

She leaned closer.

"But I know there is more to you than anyone realizes."

My heart pounded.

What did she mean?

"I've watched the way the Alpha avoids you," she continued. "He refuses to look at you. He doesn't even want you near him."

She tightened her grip.

"Why?"

"I don't know."

It was the truth.

I had wondered about it for years.

The Alpha had never liked me.

He never spoke to me unless absolutely necessary.

He acted as though my very existence offended him.

And I had never understood why.

The Luna's eyes narrowed.

"Whatever happens between me and the Beta is none of your concern."

"I won't say anything."

Her claws dug deeper.

"I swear."

"Good."

She released me.

I immediately clutched my injured wrist.

Blood covered my palm.

The Luna turned away.

"Because if I hear you breathe a word about what happened in that cellar..."

She glanced over her shoulder.

"I'll tear you apart."

My entire body trembled.

"Killing you wouldn't be difficult."

Her gaze dropped to my wrist.

"After all, what would protect a wolfless Omega like you?"

Tears gathered in my eyes.

"I won't say anything."

"I didn't see anything," I whispered.

The Luna walked toward the door.

"Get out of my sight before I change my mind."

I didn't wait.

I hurried from the room.

The moment the door closed behind me, tears blurred my vision.

I wiped them away.

I couldn't cry here.

Not where someone could see me.

I started down the stairs.

My thoughts were spinning.

Then—

Bam!

I collided with someone.

The force sent me crashing onto the floor.

My injured hand struck the stone.

Pain shot through my arm.

I gasped.

I looked up.

And my blood ran cold.

The Alpha.

He stood over me.

His blue eyes were filled with fury.

"What is your problem?"

I immediately lowered my head.

"I'm sorry, Alpha."

He stared at me.

"What are you doing here?"

"I... I came to run an errand for the Luna."

A lie.

His eyes dropped to my hand.

The bleeding had worsened.

For the briefest moment, something softened in his expression.

Concern.

It was gone almost immediately.

His face became cold again.

"Treat that hand."

I stared at him.

"Alpha?"

"I don't want your blood staining my floors."

He stepped closer.

Then his voice became cruel.

"Or do you want people to think I've finally wasted your damned life?"

My heart shattered.

I lowered my head.

"Yes, Alpha."

He walked past me.

Beta Wilson followed behind him.

As he passed, he looked at me.

His finger slowly moved across his throat.

A silent threat.

Say nothing.

I swallowed.

Why was my life like this?

Couldn't I have one peaceful day?

I picked myself up and hurried away.

By the time I returned to the servant quarters, night had already fallen.

Reina was waiting.

The moment she saw me, she rushed toward me.

"Lara!"

Her eyes widened.

"What's wrong?"

Then she saw my hand.

"You're bleeding!"

She grabbed my arm carefully.

"I knew it! I knew the Luna calling you meant something was wrong."

"I'm fine."

"You're always saying that!"

She hurried back into the kitchen and returned with a first-aid kit.

"Come on."

She pulled me toward our room.

We walked down to the basement where the servant quarters were located.

Once inside, I sat on the edge of my bed.

Reina cleaned my wound.

I winced.

"Sorry."

"It's fine."

She carefully wrapped the bandage around my wrist.

Unlike me, Reina had a wolf.

Her body could heal injuries within minutes.

But I wasn't that lucky.

Without a wolf, even a small injury could take days to heal.

Sometimes weeks.

Sometimes longer.

Reina sat beside me.

"Are you okay?"

"Yes."

"Lara."

She gave me a look.

"You and I both know you're lying."

I looked down.

She sighed.

"Whatever happened, you can tell me."

I remained silent.

"The Moon Goddess didn't bring us this far just to abandon us."

She pulled me into a hug.

"The Moon Goddess protects her creations."

Tears escaped my eyes.

I buried my face against her shoulder.

She was the only family I had.

The only person who had ever made me feel like I mattered.

Even when the pack treated us like dirt, Reina always found a way to make me smile.

After a while, I pulled away.

"You really trust the Moon Goddess that much?"

"Of course."

She smiled.

"She knows what she's doing. She knows why we were brought here."

She squeezed my hand.

"Everything will be fine."

I smiled weakly.

"Okay."

"Now get some sleep."

We changed and climbed into our beds.

The room fell quiet.

"Reina?"

She turned toward me.

"What?"

"Could you keep something a secret?"

She sat up.

"Of course."

I hesitated.

Then I told her everything.

The wine cellar.

The Luna.

Beta Wilson.

Their affair.

The threat.

The strange words about the Alpha's father forcing the Luna to marry him.

Reina's mouth fell open.

"Oh my goddess."

"I know."

"I can't believe it."

"Neither can I."

She moved closer.

"That means the rumors were true."

"What rumors?"

"The maids were talking about it earlier."

She lowered her voice.

"They said the Luna was originally Beta Wilson's mate."

I sat upright.

"What?"

Reina nodded.

"They said the Alpha's father forced her to marry the Alpha instead."

My hand flew to my mouth.

"Then why did Wilson agree?"

"Because refusing the Alpha's father would have meant death."

I stared at her.

"So he became the Alpha's Beta."

"Exactly."

Reina sighed.

"And apparently, he has never stopped loving her."

I fell back onto my pillow.

"This is madness."

"Shhh."

She looked toward the door.

"We could both get killed for knowing this."

I nodded.

"You're right."

She smiled.

"That's why we're going to forget everything we heard."

"Agreed."

She lay down.

"Now sleep."

I laughed softly.

"And don't sleep like a dead body this time."

I shuddered.

"Don't you dare send Princess Marci to wake me."

Reina burst out laughing.

"You should have seen your face!"

I smiled.

For a few precious minutes, everything felt normal.

Then darkness slowly pulled me under.

The last thing I heard was Reina's voice.

"Goodnight, Lara."

I smiled.

"Goodnight."

But I didn't hear the rest of what she whispered.

Because sleep had already claimed me.

---

NIGHTSHADE PACK

The moon hung high over the Nightshade Pack.

Inside the Alpha's chambers, a tall man stood before the window.

His broad shoulders were tense.

His blue eyes were fixed on the dark forest beyond the territory.

Alpha Kael had been searching for one person for years.

A person he had never forgotten.

His Beta, Darius, stood behind him.

"Alpha."

Kael didn't turn.

"Still nothing?"

Darius hesitated.

"No."

Kael's jaw tightened.

The Council had been mounting pressure for months.

They wanted him to accept the woman they had chosen for him.

The woman they believed would strengthen the Nightshade Pack.

The chosen mate.

But Kael wanted none of it.

"I don't understand," Darius said carefully.

"We have searched every territory."

Kael finally turned.

His blue eyes were cold.

"Then search again."

"The Council is demanding an answer."

"I don't care."

"They're threatening to withdraw their support."

"Let them."

Darius sighed.

"They're sending appeals every day. If you cannot find her, they want you to accept the chosen one."

Kael's expression darkened.

"No."

"Alpha—"

"I said no."

His voice echoed through the chamber.

"I will find her."

Darius studied him.

"You don't even know if she's alive."

Kael looked toward the moon.

Something inside him tightened.

"I know."

"How?"

Kael's hand closed into a fist.

"Because my wolf still feels her."

Darius went silent.

Kael had never explained what had happened years ago.

He had never told anyone about the girl.

The girl who had disappeared before he could find her.

The girl whose presence had haunted his dreams ever since.

He didn't know her name.

He didn't know where she was.

He didn't know what she looked like now.

But he knew one thing.

She was his.

And somewhere in the vast world beyond the Nightshade territory...

she was alive.

Kael turned back toward the window.

"I'll find her."

His voice was barely above a whisper.

"And when I do, no council, no Alpha, and no chosen mate will keep her from me."