Awakening The Silver Wolf

RAVENNA POV 

When I had finally managed to pull myself together, Dalian pulled away and held my face, a small smile on his face. 

"It's still looking at the female version of myself," he said softly, brushing a lock of hair out of my face.

I scoffed. "I said the same thing." 

"Grandmother had said we would be identical twins but Mother didn't believe her. She said we looked nothing alike when we were still infants and so we would grow to have different looks." 

"What was she like?" I asked. "Mother." 

That sadness returned to Dalian's eyes and he pulled me into his arms again. "She was a wonderful woman. She was soft but tough when she wanted to be. She trained some of the best warriors in our tribe. She was well respected and loved. If she lived to grow old she would have become one of our tribe's elders. Half of our tribe even voted her to be our leader but she wanted nothing to do with that life." 

"How…" I swallowed. "How was she killed?"

Dalian's arms tightened around me and he took a deep breath. "I don't know. I wasn't there that day. And I regret not being there every day of my life. The people who were with her that day said those bastards had found her. They wanted to capture her and take her back to their territory but she fought them. Fought them hard. They saw that they wouldn't be able to tame her so they killed her." 

Just like they had done the same to Darius' mother. That rage filled me again. I wanted to find those men kill them, and torture them until they begged for death.

"Why did she give me away?" I asked to drag my mind away from that dark place. 

"Our women are the ones hunted the most," he answered, his voice hard. "They capture them and take them to their packs, turning them into breeding slaves. They have no use for our men since they can't breed them. They are used like that until they can no longer provide pups and then they're discarded."

Dalian's arms were now tight around me and I could feel the anger coming out of him. My own anger boiled within me, curling my insides. They treated our women like animals, animals they could use as they liked. 

They didn't see us as people, they just saw us as tools. 

"Mother always knew they would come for her one day," Dalian said, his voice trembling with rage. "And she knew that when they did, they'd come for you too. So, she sought out a witch who could lock your wolf away in your mind when you were just a baby. If you couldn't shift, they wouldn't be able to track you, and you'd stay safe. The witch warned her that if you found your mate, the spell would break. 

So, Mother knew you couldn't stay in the tribe after that. She took you to a pack she trusted, one with a reliable Alpha and Luna. She believed you wouldn't find your mate there, so she made sure to tell them you should never leave the pack. If you stayed, you wouldn't find your mate, and you wouldn't shift—ensuring your safety."

We remained silent after that. I knew he wanted to ask me why I left the pack but was holding back. Thank God. I wasn't ready to dive into that story today. I might have another emotional breakdown. 

When my body had finally become stiff from sitting on the ground for too long I finally pulled away from Dalian. I rose, extending a hand. He grasped it, pulling himself to his feet beside me. 

"I have so many questions I want to ask," I said softly, still holding his hand. 

He smiled that small smile and nodded. "I know." 

"I'm sure there will be a spare room in this vast castle when you can stay." I released his hand and walked towards the door. "I'll tell Darius to find–"

I opened the door and saw Darius and Mia standing outside, their backs resting against the wall. They turned as soon as the door was opened. 

"We missed you," Mia said. 

I laughed softly. "I'm sure you did." 

My eyes went to Darius who kept silent and was looking tense. 

"Come on, Dalian," Mia said, linking her arm with his. "I'll show you to your room, and I can finally observe your lovely face well." 

Dalian looked over at me and I gave a small nod. He turned and let Mia lead him. 

"Did you know that if Ravenna was a guy I would date her?" Mia was saying as they went. "She's sure a lovely creature. Are you as lovely as she is? Because that would be…" Her voice trailed off as they went out of sight.

I turned to look at Darius who was still silent. "Hi," I said softly and went to him.

"Hi," he replied with a small smile on his face. 

I walked into his open arms and just let him hold me, rubbing my face in his chest.

"I'm tired," I whispered. 

"I know, baby." He picked me up and I wrapped my leg around his waist, my hands around his neck. He raised his head and I leaned mine down to meet his kiss, sighing softly into his mouth. 

His kiss was soft and slow, and I relaxed into his hold. All the tension left my body slowly and I held him tighter. It was like coming home after a long cold day and warming your feet at the fire. 

We broke the kiss and Darius began walking without taking his eyes off me. 

"You should watch where you're going," I said even though I didn't want him to take his eyes off me. 

"Hmm-mmm," was his reply.

I smiled and kissed the tip of his nose softly, then his cheeks, and moved to his eyebrows. 

"It would be your fault if we fell off these stairs and died," he mumbled.

"Then at least I'll die in your arms," I whispered, placing a soft kiss on his lips. 

Darius' face turned serious. "Don't say things like that. Just don't, okay?" 

I wanted to ask what was wrong but the way his voice shook and the pain that was shining in his eyes stopped me. "I won't. I'm sorry." 

"Don't be." 

We got to his room and Darius placed me on the bed softly before he knelt in front of me and took my hands, looking deep into my eyes as he said, "I know you want to leave." 

I frown at him. "What are you talking about?"

"I know you would want to know your tribe, your people." 

"Oh." Yes, I wanted to. I had thought about it and I couldn't help myself. I wanted to know my grandmother. I wanted to know what my people were like. "Yes, I do." 

Pain flashed in Darius' eyes before it cleared. "I won't stop you." 

His words, and the way his eyes held mine, made me feel like he thought I was leaving for good. My heart wouldn't allow it. Being away from him for long wouldn't be bearable; I'd be drawn back to him, irresistibly. 

I left the bed and knelt in front of him, taking his face in my hands. "I do want to know my people. But that is not where my home is. My home is where you are, baby." 

Darius inhaled sharply and his hands shook as he cupped my face. "Say that again." 

I raised my eyebrows. "Baby?"

"Fuck, yes. Say it again." 

I smiled before I leaned into him, my face inches from his, and whispered against his lips, "I love you, baby." 

He growled before he slammed his lips on mine.