Obsidian: Raven (Book 3) (The Reaver Chronicles Spin off Series)

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

“You have to promise me! You can never tell a soul, ever. It’s of the utmost importance that no one in your realm suspects a thing. She will grow up to be a Wolf, just like you. She will develop as a Wolf, she will mate as a Wolf, so long as she never steps foot in this realm. Do you understand?” Asher said, and I could tell he was extremely nervous.

His platinum hair clung to his forehead in wisps, delicately outlining his pale face and ice blue eyes that reminded me of falling snow. I looked down, placing a hand on my stomach. The life inside was stirring with magic from both realms, but I knew what needed to be done.

I didn’t belong here, and traveling between realms was rough on a mortal body. The toll this place had taken on me in the short time I was here was already showing. I stayed silent, feeling the weight of our conversation on my shoulders. The weight that I would carry for the rest of my life… and hers.

Asher cupped my face gently, “You know I love you, right? And I would do anything to change this if I could. But we both know the laws here…” He trailed off, pressing his lips to mine, sending a surge of cold throughout my body.

Kissing him was like making snow angels on a winter day, cool and refreshing. Just his touch calmed me in a way no one’s touch ever had. I savored this moment because I knew this was the last moment I would ever get with him. I pulled away reluctantly, but the portal was unstable and I wasn’t sure how much longer it would last… or how much longer I would last here if it closed.

“Promise me, Rebecca.” He said, one last time, as I walked towards the portal. I looked back and locked eyes with Asher, my love, my forbidden mate. “I promise.” I said, and I turned and stepped through the portal before he could see the fountains of tears streaming down my face.

(21 years later)

(Raven)

“This school is a f*****g prison, and I don’t want to go there anymore!” I shouted, throwing a temper tantrum in my living room. My mother just looked at me with one eyebrow raised, handed me my lunch, and sent me on my way. She was babbling something about my birthday coming up, but I wasn’t even listening.

I threw my head back and groaned out loud while she pushed me out the door. I knew, despite my attitude, I wasn’t going to win this fight. “Have a good day!” She said all bubbly and s**t. I growled at her mood.

It didn’t matter that this was my last few days having to go to school at Obsidian, and that I would be turning 21 in a week, I was still miserable. How was she always in such high spirits? The woman was a conundrum to me. She never took a mate, and told me she was never blessed with one here, whatever that meant.

The only man she ever loved was my father, Asher, but she refused to talk about him. I didn’t even know what he really looked like. She didn’t even have a photo of him but she always said she cherished the short time they were able to be together. The only thing I knew about him was that I looked like him.

I had platinum blonde hair with a tint of an icy blue hue in a certain light. It fell to my waist in waves, never staying tame, even if I tried to tame it. My mother said it reminded her of the waves in the ocean, although I never could see it that way.

My eyes were ice blue, with white swirls that she said reminded her of the snow. My porcelain skin had a soft glow that reminded her of the reflection after the rain. She was always so descriptive when describing me, and I couldn’t help but wonder if those were the same words she used to describe my father.

I was athletic and about five foot eight, but most of us Wolves were athletic, it was just how we were built. The training every morning, I'm sure, helped.

Plus the fact that we were Wolves and could shift, I'm sure, also had something to do with it. I grew up here in The Obsidian pack, going to school at Obsidian. I had gone here my entire life, and from my first day here in kindergarten I was tormented by Alpha Drake's son, Talus.

He was insufferable to say the least. He had his crew, the four other Wolves and two Reavers that were always with him, always by his side. They were no better than him. They made sure to make my life a living hell from the very start. The first day of kindergarten I made the mistake of trying to talk to Talus, and boy has that incident haunted me.

His friend Derek, hit my lunch tray out of my hand, spilling my lunch all down the front of me. Talus just laughed about it. That's when it all started. I honestly only wanted to talk to him because his eyes were like mine. Icy blue with white swirls. I had never seen anyone else with eyes like mine before and I was interested.

Well that quickly faded, and turned into an ever blossoming hate. And I mean, hate from my very core. I have lived 15 years in misery at this school, dealing with Talus and his cronies. I couldn’t wait another week to just turn 21 and be done with it all! That's what I kept telling myself, once I'm 21, I will just be done.

They don’t require Wolves or Reavers, which we share lands with, to go to school after 18, but they suggest it. Everyone does it. It’s rare to see a kid under 21 not at school. So here I am in this f*****g hell hole.

My Wolf, Aya, stayed quiet most of my walk to school, just listening to my thoughts. She knew exactly how I felt and always had my back, no matter what. I got her when I was 15, and for the past 6 years she's been my main companion.

I didn’t talk to many people anyways. I was more of a loaner, I liked it better that way. I was torn from my internal bickering when I realized I was at the front gate of Obsidian. The snow was falling in soft tufts around me, and I just wanted more than anything to stay out here.

I didn’t get cold often, not like the other kids, so I was wearing just a light hoodie. That’s part of the reason I liked to be out here. The other reason was that some small part of me thought the snow reminded me of my father. Or at least what little my mother had told me of him.

It was almost like he was there, even though I honestly didn’t even know if he was alive or dead. She didn’t either, and that’s what made it so much more confusing. I learned to quit trying to figure out the conundrum of my father at an early age. It never got me anywhere anyways.

I stood outside the gate just looking inside, debating if I should ditch and play in the snow. Yes I should, I definitely should. I thought, and turned to the right, walking straight towards the forest.

As early as it was in the morning the snow should have been a lot more icy, but it wasn’t. It was fluffy and light. It caught in my hair making me look like I had a snow cap on. I shook my head to remove the snow but it didn't seem to help. It just melted on my hair, dripping down off the ends in small glistening strands.

I got into the forest and looked up, admiring the snow covering the branches of all the trees. It was like a winter wonderland here, and I loved it. I might never go home. I suddenly stopped because I heard a sound, footsteps. Not coming my way, but they seemed like they were through the trees in a small clearing.

I slowly walked over to see who was over there, when through the trees I saw Talus. He was alone and he was holding his hand out, catching the snowflakes, and then looking at them before they melted. I knew the cold never really bothered him much either. I had seen him multiple times outside during winter with only a light shirt on and he always seemed fine.

I stayed behind the tree trunk, I sure as hell didn’t want to be seen. I could only imagine the teasing that would ensue after that, and I wanted absolutely no f*****g part of it.

As much as I loathed him, I couldn't deny that he was the most gorgeous man I had ever seen. His hair was a medium length platinum color very similar to mine. He always had it a little messy, but it was like he did it that way on purpose.

He was probably about six foot three, if I had to guess. He was at least a head taller than me, with perfect porcelain skin, and those icy blue eyes that just seemed to stare straight into your soul...

I hated him. And I hated that I was attracted to his strong jawline, and his perfect f*****g body, with rippling muscles. I hated that he was wearing a shirt that clung to literally every dip along his chest and arms. And I hated that I was standing here looking at him like this.

I turned away from him and leaned back against the tree. Aya was practically panting in my mind, and I had to push her to the back before she got on my nerves.

She was all for Talus, no matter how much he tormented us. It was like anytime he was around she just rolled over and gave in. She was literally no help to me at all when it came to him.

I let out a breath I had been holding and started walking back towards the trees and away from the clearing. Whatever he was doing, he could do it without me.

He had turned 21 last week and it made me wonder who his mate would be, and would he be an insufferable prick to her too? I snickered at the thought.

Good f*****g luck, whoever you are. You’re going to f*****g need it.