THE QUEEN WITHOUT A WOLF

THE QUEEN WITHOUT A WOLF Chapter One: A Marriage of Monsters By Scarlett Rivers The first time Raven Veyra saw her future husband, she imagined three ways to kill him. The first involved the ceremonial dagger hidden against her thigh. The second involved the poison in her ring. The third required a balcony, a little luck, and a man foolish enough to stand too close to the edge. Unfortunately, Dante Moretti looked like a man who rarely made foolish mistakes. He stood at the altar in a perfectly tailored black suit, his dark hair neatly styled and his expression unreadable. His eyes followed Raven as she approached. He didn’t smile. Neither did she. Wonderful. At least we agree on something. The cathedral glittered with gold and crystal. Powerful werewolf Alphas occupied the front rows, while human politicians and criminal kings filled the seats behind them. Everyone had gathered to witness the marriage that would unite two dangerous worlds. Raven had no interest in unity. Eleven years ago, her family had been destroyed. Their home had burned, their name had disappeared from official records, and everyone who might have known the truth had learned to remain silent. Raven had survived. But survival wasn’t justice. She had spent eleven years searching for answers. Now, marrying Dante Moretti offered her something she desperately needed: access to his family’s private archives. If the truth was hidden anywhere, she would find it. And if Dante stood in her way, she would make him regret it. He extended his hand as she reached the altar. “Are you planning to leave me standing here?” he murmured. “Are you planning to give me a reason to?” His mouth twitched. “Already threatening your future husband?” “Already regretting my future husband.” “Good. I’d hate for this marriage to become boring.” Raven placed her hand in his. His fingers closed around hers, warm and firm. For a brief moment, she noticed the faint scent of cedar on his clothes and the intensity of his gaze. She immediately decided she hated him. The ceremony began. The officiant spoke about loyalty, unity, and the sacred responsibilities of marriage. Raven barely listened. When asked whether he accepted her as his wife, Dante answered without hesitation. “I do.” Then it was her turn. Raven looked directly into his eyes. “I do.” She had never lied so calmly in her life. The officiant pronounced them husband and wife. Applause filled the cathedral as Dante lifted her hand and kissed her knuckles. “Smile, darling,” he whispered. “Everyone is watching.” Raven gave the crowd a beautiful, insincere smile. “Enjoy it while you can, husband.” His eyes darkened with amusement. “Oh, I intend to.” ⸻ By midnight, Raven had discovered three things about the Moretti estate. It was enormous. Its security system was disturbingly sophisticated. And her husband had an irritating habit of appearing wherever she least wanted him. She found him in the private library, standing beside a wall of ancient books with a glass of whiskey in his hand. “Lost, Mrs. Moretti?” “Looking for the exit.” “Unfortunate. I had the doors reinforced this morning.” She stared at him. He took a sip of whiskey. Raven decided her dagger was becoming increasingly attractive. “I need access to your family’s archives,” she said. Dante lowered his glass. “We haven’t been married for twenty-four hours, and you’re already making demands.” “I’d hate to waste time pretending we’re in love.” “How considerate.” “I want every document concerning the supernatural council, the ancient Alpha bloodlines, and the Veyra family.” Something changed in his expression. It was brief, but she noticed. “The Veyras,” he repeated. “Is there a problem?” “Several, probably.” “Then answer my question.” Dante set down his glass. “The archives are restricted.” “Unrestrict them.” “You negotiate like a woman who has never been told no.” “I negotiate like a woman who knows what she wants.” After a moment, he extended his hand. “You may access the library and its records, provided you don’t enter restricted rooms or interfere with my business.” Raven shook his hand. “My conditions are simple, too. I want control over my own movements, and I want the right to leave this marriage if you betray our agreement.” His amusement vanished. “Leave?” “I won’t be your prisoner, Moretti.” They stared at each other before he finally nodded. “Agreed.” “One more question,” Raven said. “Why did you agree to marry me?” “Because the marriage benefits my empire.” “That’s all?” “Would you prefer a love confession?” “I’d prefer the truth.” “Then we have a problem.” Raven turned toward the door. “Be careful what you uncover in this house,” Dante called after her. “Some truths are more dangerous than the people hiding them.” She glanced over her shoulder. “Is that a warning?” “Consider it a wedding gift.” “Keep your gifts, Dante.” She left without seeing the strange silver light flickering beneath a locked cabinet. ⸻ At 11:43 p.m., Raven returned to the library. She hadn’t intended to. Something had kept her awake, an inexplicable feeling pulling her toward the east wing. The library was empty, moonlight spilling through its tall windows. Then she saw it. A narrow wooden cabinet stood between two bookshelves. A strange symbol had been carved into its surface: a crescent moon surrounded by seven stars. Raven froze. She knew that symbol. Her mother had worn it on a silver pendant, the only object Raven had kept from the night her family died. She pulled the pendant from beneath her nightdress and held it beside the carving. They matched perfectly. “That’s impossible,” she whispered. Why would the Moretti family possess something connected to her mother? Raven reached toward the cabinet. The instant her fingers touched the wood, pain shot through her hand. Silver light spread beneath her palm, tracing glowing patterns across the cabinet. Then everything vanished, leaving a single silver crescent surrounded by seven stars. Raven stumbled backward. “What the hell are you?” “That’s an excellent question.” She spun around. Dante stood in the doorway. His gaze moved from her face to the symbol, and for the first time since their meeting, he looked genuinely afraid. “Step away from the cabinet,” he ordered. “Excuse me?” “Raven. Move.” She obeyed, watching him approach the strange object. “How did you open it?” he demanded. “I didn’t.” “Don’t lie to me.” “Then stop asking stupid questions.” Dante’s jaw tightened. In his hand was a folded, yellowed letter. “What’s that?” Raven asked. “A letter from my father. I received it three days ago.” “Your father is dead.” “Yes. He left instructions concerning a woman who might one day enter this house.” Raven’s stomach tightened. “What woman?” Dante looked directly at her. “A woman bearing the mark of the First Luna.” “The First Luna is a myth.” “That’s what I was taught.” He handed her the letter. The handwriting was old-fashioned and deliberate. If a woman bearing the silver crescent enters your home, do not allow her near the eastern archives. Raven’s fingers trembled. The next line made her blood run cold. If the seven stars appear, send her away before the council discovers her existence. Beneath the warning was a name. RAVEN VEYRA. Her own name. “My father knew about you long before our marriage was arranged,” Dante said. “How?” “I don’t know.” “You’re lying.” “Perhaps.” Raven glared at him. “Your father knew my name. Your family has a cabinet marked with my mother’s symbol. My family was destroyed eleven years ago. And you expect me to believe you know nothing?” “I expect you to understand that I have questions, too.” “Then answer one. Why didn’t you send me away?” Dante hesitated. “Because I think my father knew what you were.” Before Raven could respond, the cabinet began to shake. The silver crescent blazed with light. Seven stars appeared beneath it, one after another. The floor trembled. Somewhere deep within the estate, a bell rang. Once. Twice. Three times. Raven gasped as the library disappeared. She stood beneath a black sky filled with silver stars. Thousands of wolves knelt before her, their heads bowed. Above them stood a woman wearing a crown of silver bones. The woman’s face was Raven’s. Beside her stood Dante, dressed in black, holding a shattered crown in his bloodstained hands. The wolves began to howl. The crowned woman raised her hand, and every wolf fell silent. Then she spoke. The throne was never yours. The vision shattered. Raven stumbled, and Dante caught her before she hit the floor. “What did you see?” he demanded. She could still hear the wolves. She could still see the broken crown. Before she could answer, the final bell rang seven times. The cabinet fell silent. Outside, wolves began howling across the estate. Hundreds of them. Raven looked down at her palm. A silver crescent had appeared on her skin, surrounded by seven tiny stars. Dante stared at the mark. “God help us,” he whispered. Raven pulled away from him. “What does this mean?” His expression was grim. “My father was right.” “About what?” Dante looked into her eyes. “You were never supposed to survive.” Raven’s blood turned to ice. For eleven years, she had believed her family’s destruction was a tragedy. Now she understood something far worse. Someone had tried to erase her from the world. Someone had known exactly who she was. And someone had been terrified of what she might become. “Tell me everything,” she demanded. Dante looked at the mark on her palm. “I can’t.” Raven’s expression hardened. “Then pray I find the answers before I find a reason to kill you.” For the first time, Dante didn’t smile. “Believe me, wife. I’m beginning to pray for exactly the same thing.” END OF CHAPTER ONE