Chapter Two : The Devil I Left Behind
1023 Words
KADE.
Before I see her, I take a whiff of her. ".
Smoke and steel. A hint of wild rain. A fragrance that I could never forget, no matter how many times I attempted to burn it.'
Raven.
It's been three years. After three years of rejection and her disappearance, she cut off the last connection between herself and me.
And now—.
There she is.
In a dirty alley, she was holding her bloodied escapee by the wrist, with dark eyes defiant. What happened next. Her stance is firm, as though she has already been caught. The part that catches my eye isn't the sight of her.
It's him.
I experience the aroma of him melting in my nose.
Luca Devereaux.
And the lost heir of the Crimson Fang pack.
She has no idea what she just did.
A dangerous smirk that goes on slowly tugging at my lips.
Raven, are you skilled at choosing your battles?
She stiffens. Turns.
Our eyes meet for the first time in three years.
I wish her expression would be more shrill than what she has. Her features lack remorse, guilt, or shock, only fading away with a faint recognition.
“Kade,” she says flatly.
Her use of her name makes me feel like I'm a different person and feels like an outsider, which sends resentment. Yet, it's not evident to me.
Moving forward, I slowly move my attention towards her.'". With rusted fire escapes and flickering neon lights from the back entrance, the alley is narrow. It smells like spilled liquor and gasoline. Somewhere in the distance, a car engine revs before fading into the night.
No escape routes.
She knows it.
She shifts her stance, subtly angling herself between me and the boy. Protective. Stupid.
“Step aside,” I say.
Her grip tightens around Luca's wrist. He looks between us, pale and tense, but he's smart enough to keep his mouth shut.
“Not happening,” she says.
A low chuckle escapes me.
“Not happening?” I echo, tilting my head. “You have any idea what you just did, little wolf?”.
“Saved a kid,” she says. “You should try it sometime.”.
My smirk fades.
“You don't get it, do you?” My voice drops, deadly quiet. “This isn't just any rogue.
That kid you're holding? He's a Devereaux. A direct blood heir to the Crimson Fang pack.”.
Raven doesn't react, but I see it—the faintest shift in her breathing, the slight clench of her jaw.
She knows the name.
She just doesn't know the weight of it.
I take another step forward. “You just declared war, Raven.”.
Her expression darkens. “You think I care about your pack's politics?”.
“I think you don't know what the hell you're dealing with.” My voice turns sharp. “They'll burn entire cities to find him.
And you?” I shake my head. “You just painted a target on your back.”.
“Wouldn't be the first time,” she mutters.
Damn her.
Damn that stubborn fire in her eyes, the same fire that used to drive me insane in all the wrong ways. She never knew when to back down, never knew when to walk away—except from me.
I exhale through my nose, forcing myself to stay calm.
“Enough of this,” I say. “You're coming with me.”.
She lets out a short, humorless laugh. “That's cute.”.
I don't smile. “Wasn't a request.”.
Before she can react, I move.
She shoves Luca back just as I close the distance, twisting away from my grip. I pivot, blocking her path, but she's fast—faster than she used to be. She ducks low, aiming for an opening, but I catch her wrist and slam her back against the brick wall.
She sucks in a sharp breath. Not in pain—she never shows pain.
I press in close, caging her between me and the wall.
“Let me go,” she grits out.
I lower my head, voice dropping to a murmur. “Make me.”.
Her nostrils flare. A slow, dangerous smile creeps onto her lips, and for a split second, it almost feels like old times.
Then she moves.
A knee slams toward my ribs, but I catch it just in time. She twists, wrenching her arm free, but I counter, spinning her back into my grasp. She grunts, slamming her elbow toward my face—I let her get close before I block it, grabbing her from behind, locking her arms in place.
“Still predictable,” I taunt.
She jerks against me. “Still an asshole,” she snaps.
“Always.”.
She suddenly goes still.
Too still.
My instincts scream too late.
Her head whips back, cracking against my jaw.
Pain explodes through my skull.
I curse, grip loosening just enough for her to slip free. She spins, eyes blazing, and before I can fully recover, she kicks me square in the chest.
I stagger back.
By the time I regain my footing, she's already grabbed Luca and bolted down the alley.
I watch them go, breathing hard. My jaw throbs, but the pain is distant, drowned out by something darker.
She still runs.
She still fights.
And she still makes the worst damn decisions.
I roll my shoulders, exhaling slowly.
She thinks this is over.
It's not.
Not even close.
I lift my wrist, pressing a button on the sleek communicator wrapped around it. A soft beep echoes.
“Lock down the city,” I order. “She's not getting away this time.”.
There's a pause. Then a voice crackles through.
“Copy that, Alpha.”.
I lower my hand, glancing toward the direction she ran.
She doesn't understand what she's just done.
By saving that boy, Raven didn't just reignite a war.
She put herself right back in the middle of it.
And this time—.
- Writer
