The Alpha's Forbidden Raven

Chapter 3:The Raven's Awakening

It was dawn when Reina and I finally got out of bed.

The first rays of sunlight were beginning to creep through the tiny window of our room, painting the basement walls with faint golden streaks.

Reina stretched and yawned.

"Looks like my threat to call Princess Marci to wake you finally brought you back to your senses."

She smirked.

I shot her a horrified look.

"No way."

She laughed as we hurried out of the room.

"Don't worry. I wouldn't actually do that."

"Good."

I shuddered.

"I'd rather sleep forever."

We were almost at the kitchen when a sharp voice stopped us.

"Hey! You two! Stop right there!"

My body instantly stiffened.

I knew that voice.

Reina and I turned around.

Princess Marci stood several feet away, surrounded by two of her friends.

My fingers curled into fists.

I fought the urge to tremble.

"Yes, Princess?" I asked.

She looked at me with disgust.

"Get me tea."

I lowered my head.

"Yes, Princess."

"Take it to the garden. I'm having a tea party with my friends."

She looked at Reina.

"And you..."

Reina immediately lowered her head.

"I'm tired of seeing you frolicking around with this lowlife all the time."

My jaw tightened.

I knew exactly who she was referring to.

Me.

But I kept my mouth shut.

"And what are you still standing there for?" Marci snapped.

"I'm sorry, Princess."

I hurried toward the kitchen.

Behind me, I heard Marci laugh.

I tried to ignore it.

I had learned a long time ago that surviving in the Houston Pack meant swallowing your pride.

A few minutes later, I prepared the tea and carefully arranged the cups on a tray.

Just as I was about to leave, Reina returned.

She looked exhausted.

Her breathing was heavy.

"What happened?" I asked.

She dropped into a chair.

"Marci."

My heart sank.

"What did she do?"

"She made me run one hundred laps."

My eyes widened.

"One hundred?"

"Twice."

"What?"

She laughed bitterly.

"Apparently, she needed entertainment."

I stared at her.

She was barely able to catch her breath.

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be."

She waved me off.

"Just be careful."

I nodded.

"I will."

I picked up the tray and hurried toward the garden.

When I arrived, Marci was sitting beneath a large tree with her friends.

She looked at me and rolled her eyes.

"Finally."

I lowered my head.

"I'm sorry, Princess."

"I thought it took you forever to make tea."

Her friends laughed.

"Serve us."

"Yes, Princess."

I carefully poured the tea into each cup.

One by one, I served her friends.

Then I turned toward Marci.

I lifted the teacup.

But before I could hand it to her—

A foot suddenly shot out.

It caught my ankle.

I stumbled.

The tray tilted.

The hot tea splashed across my dress.

And onto Marci.

The teacup slipped from my hand.

Crash!

It shattered against the ground.

For a moment, nobody moved.

Then Marci screamed.

"Are you insane?"

I immediately dropped to my knees.

"I'm sorry!"

I looked at the tea dripping from her dress.

"I didn't mean to."

She slapped me.

The force knocked my head sideways.

My cheek burned.

Tears immediately filled my eyes.

"It wasn't my fault," I whispered.

Marci's expression darkened.

"What did you say?"

"I..."

She slapped me again.

"How dare you blame me for your clumsiness?"

I fell against the ground.

One of her friends laughed.

Marci stepped forward.

"You filthy little Omega."

She looked down at her dress.

"Do you think it's easy maintaining skin like mine?"

"I didn't do it intentionally."

"You evil child."

She stepped on my hand.

Pain exploded through my fingers as the broken glass beneath my palm pierced my skin.

I screamed.

"Please!"

She didn't stop.

"You tried to burn me."

"I didn't!"

Blood began running down my hand.

Marci finally removed her foot.

"Deal with her."

Her friends immediately surrounded me.

I tried to crawl away.

"Please..."

But nobody listened.

Pain came from every direction.

A kick.

A slap.

Another kick.

I curled myself into a ball, trying to protect my head.

Then one of the girls picked up the teapot.

My eyes widened.

"No..."

She smiled.

Then poured the remaining hot tea across my back.

"AHHHHH!"

The scream tore from my throat.

Pain consumed me.

I fell forward.

My body trembled uncontrollably.

I could smell the burned fabric against my skin.

"Let's go."

Marci turned away.

"That should teach her a lesson."

They walked away laughing.

I remained on the ground.

Alone.

The garden blurred before my eyes.

I tried to move.

I couldn't.

The pain was too much.

And then—

Everything went black.

---

When I opened my eyes again, it was night.

My throat felt raw.

I tried to move.

A sharp pain ripped across my back.

"Ah!"

"Hey!"

Reina's voice immediately reached me.

"Don't move!"

She rushed toward me.

"Let me get you some water."

She grabbed a cup and carefully helped me drink.

I swallowed slowly.

My eyes drifted toward her.

They were red.

She had been crying.

I looked down at my hands.

They were wrapped in thick bandages.

I tried to turn.

A sharp pain stopped me.

"Don't!"

Reina gently pushed me back.

"You're going to make it worse."

Tears filled my eyes.

"It's too much, Reina."

My voice cracked.

"I didn't do anything."

"I know."

She wiped her eyes.

"I know you didn't."

I began crying.

"I didn't do anything."

"I know, Lara."

She hugged me carefully.

I cried against her shoulder.

Then darkness took me again.

---

I didn't know how long I was unconscious.

When I opened my eyes again, it was past midnight.

Reina was sitting beside my bed.

She was asleep.

Her head rested against the wall.

Tears had dried on her cheeks.

She looked exhausted.

"Reina."

Her eyes opened immediately.

"Lara?"

She leaned toward me.

"Are you feeling uncomfortable?"

"No."

"Do you need anything?"

"I'm fine."

She sighed.

"The healer said you can't move around too much."

She looked at my back.

"The burns are bad. You'll probably be in bed for a week."

She swallowed.

"Maybe longer."

I looked at my bandaged hands.

"And my hands?"

"You can't use them properly yet."

Tears filled her eyes again.

"Reina..."

"I thought I lost you."

She covered her face.

"When I heard you screaming..."

Her voice broke.

"I couldn't do anything."

She wiped her tears.

"I wish I could have protected you."

"You tried."

"It wasn't enough."

She looked at me.

"You nearly died."

My eyes widened.

"What happened after I blacked out?"

Reina took a breath.

"The Alpha gave an order."

I stared at her.

"What?"

"He ordered them to take you to the healer."

My heart skipped.

"Why?"

"He said he didn't want your blood staining his grounds."

I lowered my eyes.

Reina continued.

"He also said he wouldn't have a dead body defying his pack."

I was silent.

A strange feeling settled inside me.

So even though the Alpha hated me...

he had still ordered them to save me.

Perhaps that was his version of caring.

Cold.

Distant.

Almost cruel.

"If he doesn't want me here," I whispered, "why doesn't he just let me leave?"

Reina's eyes widened.

"Don't say that."

"I could become a rogue."

"Shhh."

She covered my mouth.

"Never say that again."

She looked toward the door.

"If anyone hears you, you'll be punished."

I sighed.

"Okay."

"You need rest."

She helped me settle onto my stomach.

"You can't sleep on your back."

"You should rest too."

"I'll watch over you."

"Reina..."

"Mariah gave me a few days off."

She smiled faintly.

"Apparently, someone around here has a heart."

I smiled.

"That's nice of her."

My eyes became heavy.

"Sleep, Lara."

I closed my eyes.

Darkness slowly swallowed me.

But this time...

I didn't dream of the ravens.

I dreamed of the moon.

---

I stood barefoot in an open clearing deep within the forest.

The full moon shone directly above me.

Trees surrounded the clearing.

And sitting upon their highest branches were the ravens.

Hundreds of them.

They didn't caw.

They didn't fly.

They simply watched me.

I slowly knelt on the grass.

Then the moon suddenly became brighter.

A powerful light descended from the sky.

I shielded my eyes.

Someone was coming.

A woman.

I couldn't see her face because of the intense light surrounding her.

But I could feel her presence.

Powerful.

Graceful.

Ancient.

I lowered my head.

The woman approached.

"I have seen your tears."

Her voice was gentle.

"I have seen your suffering."

I looked up.

"Then why?"

My voice cracked.

"Why would you allow me to suffer while you watched?"

She smiled sadly.

"I'm sorry, my child."

She stepped closer.

"But this was the path you needed to walk."

"For what?"

"Your awakening."

I frowned.

"My awakening?"

The woman looked at the ravens.

"Raven."

I stared at her.

"Why do you keep calling me that?"

She looked at me.

"Because that is what you are."

My heart stopped.

"What?"

"You are a Raven, Elara."

I shook my head.

"No."

"You are."

"I don't have a wolf."

"You were never meant to."

I stared at her.

She reached toward me.

"You are my child."

My breathing became shallow.

"I don't understand."

"I gave birth to you for the Raven King."

My eyes widened.

"The Raven King?"

She smiled.

"You are a Raven."

The world seemed to spin.

"Then who is my father?"

The woman didn't answer.

Instead, she looked toward the dark forest.

"Your destiny is beginning."

"What destiny?"

"The one waiting for you."

"Who will help me?"

"Someone will come."

"Who?"

She smiled.

"The one who will protect you."

I frowned.

"Protect me from what?"

"The darkness."

Her voice became distant.

"He will lead you toward your destiny."

"Who is he?"

I reached for her.

"Wait!"

But the light surrounding her became brighter.

"Child..."

"Wait!"

"I will protect you until he comes."

"Who are you?"

Her voice faded.

"Remember who you are."

The clearing disappeared.

---

"Elara!"

I screamed.

My eyes flew open.

I tried to sit up.

Pain exploded across my back.

"Ahhh!"

Reina rushed toward me.

"Lara!"

She grabbed my shoulders.

"Why didn't you call me?"

I was breathing heavily.

"I..."

I looked toward the window.

Something was there.

My blood froze.

A raven.

It sat perfectly still on the windowsill.

Its feathers were black.

Its eyes were dark red.

It was staring directly at me.

"Reina..."

She followed my gaze.

"What?"

I pointed toward the window.

"The raven."

She looked.

Her face immediately changed.

"Oh my goddess."

The raven tilted its head.

It didn't move.

It simply watched us.

Reina whispered,

"Is that one of the things from your dreams?"

I couldn't speak.

I simply nodded.

The raven suddenly spread its enormous wings.

It flew away into the darkness.

Reina and I stared at the empty windowsill.

Neither of us moved.

Neither of us spoke.

Because we both understood what had just happened.

The ravens weren't part of my dreams.

They were real.

And somehow...

they had found me.