Second Chance, First Love

With Child

BACK TO PRESENT

RAVEN

The silver chain felt like ice against my palm, like a reminder of everything I’d lost.

I stared at my mother’s portrait, memorizing every brushstroke as if I was seeing it for the first time even though I’d been coming to this room everyday for exactly three hundred and sixty-five days. Her kind brown eyes seemed to follow me wherever I go, filled with the same warmth that had once made me believe the world was a place where good things happened to good people.

How naïve I’d been.

I gazed at the necklace. The same necklace that had been worn by the two women I had ever loved in my whole life. The ones I could take a bullet for. It was beautiful and broken, just like everything left behind. One whole year of dreaming about her voice calling out to me with affection like always, still the rage burned as bright as ever.

Not just grief. If it was, it could have been manageable. This was... something far more corrosive. This was the kind of fury that ate you alive from the inside out, the kind that transformed a man into a beast.

A soft knock interrupted my thoughts and I closed my fist around the necklace until the silver bit into my skin.

“Alpha Raven?” The soft feminine voice came. It was one of the newer maids who hadn’t yet learned that disturbing me in this room was tantamount to a death wish.

“What?” I let out with a hoarse voice, furrowing my brows.

“The senior Alpha requests your presence in his study, sir. He says it’s urgent.”

I turned to look at her and she flinched at whatever she saw in my eyes before bowing. I could literally see her trembling out of fear.

“I’ll be there shortly. Tell him that.” I answered before dismissing her and she practically fled. I looked at the portrait one last time, at the face that had loved me unconditionally, the face that had believed in honor and justice and all the beautiful lies that made life bearable.

I took in a sharp breath and placed the necklace gently on the table beside her picture before walking out of the room. My father wanted to see me, which meant there was pack business to attend to. Politics to navigate, alliances to forge or destroy. Good.

Alpha Magnus Dieter, my father, sat behind his massive desk, surrounded by towers of books and scrolls that seemed to grow higher each day. His silver hair caught the moon light reflection into the room as he looked up from whatever document he was invested in.

“Raven” He started; concern etched in his tone.

I took the seat across from him without ceremony, noting the way his jaw tightened as he took in my appearance. I probably looked like hell. Well, I felt like hell so I had no energy to pretend I was fine.

Today had been a quiet day. For me. For him. for the pack. A reminder for the day the Luna of this pack passed away but it was more than that for me.

“You said it was urgent.”

He slid a thick folder across the desk towards me. His expression was grim like something was off. “I received these reports this morning. This situation is.... troubling.”

I opened the folder and my blood chilled as I scanned the contents. Several reports of people dying. Dozens of people.

“Thirty-seven confirmed deaths in this past month.” He spoke quietly. “All showing the same symptoms: fever, hallucinations, organ failure. The healers called it Lupus Mortis-Wolf’s Death. I’ve finally received information about the cure. A place where the cure is being grown.”

“Where?” I looked up.

“A remote pack in the eastern mountains. it's a flower. A plant.” He pulled out a map where he had marked a location with a red X. “I am letting you know this because we are heading there.... by morning. I already sent out a message to the Alpha of the pack. I also sent out some warriors and I just got news few minutes ago that they have identified the pack.”

“Tomorrow? Why? Since the guards have identified the place, why couldn’t they just get the flower? You are powerful and every Alpha would want be glad to have you come get something at their pack so they would definitely honor your request.” I furrowed my brows.

“It doesn’t work that way.” He stood up and proceeded to the windows. “We have to build trust and such trust can only be built when we meet with them physically.” He turned to look at me almost immediately. “You’ll understand when we get there. It’s the ways of an Alpha.”

It still didn’t make any sense. If this was an emergency, he could have easily sent a letter and gotten the plants. Whatever alliance it was could wait for some other time. Why on earth was this even necessary at this point?

A sharp knock interrupted his words and we both turned towards the door with matching irritation. Who on earth dare interrupt this meeting?

“Come in.” Father called out, his voice carrying a warning edge.

The head physician practically bounced through the doorway, his face split by a grin so wide it looked painful. He was always a reserved man, serious about his duties every time and sparing with his smiles. Seeing him this animated was.... unsettling.

“Alpha Magnus, Alpha Raven.” He spoke, offering hasty bows that did nothing to contain his obvious excitement. “Please, forgive this interruption but I simply couldn’t wait to share the wonderful news.”

“What news?” Father raised an eyebrow.

“It’s about the Junior Luna.” His grin somehow managed to grow wider. “I’ve just completed by examination and I am happy to confirm that the Junior Luna is with child!”