Awakening The Silver Wolf

RAVENNA POV 

"Dawn's just an hour away," Darius said, his voice low as we shed our clothes in the woods, preparing to shift. "When the wolves are out, let yourself fade into your consciousness. Think of it like falling asleep. We'll shift back when the sun rises and then I'll take you to your surprise." He ended with a playful smile. 

I rolled my eyes at him. "If you're not going to tell me what it is then don't rub it on my face."

"Patience, my love." 

I now stood naked, wrapping my arms around myself to keep warm from the cold air. It was also a struggle to stay on my feet. I was so dizzy from the alcohol, a single breeze could knock me off my feet. 

"Okay, baby. Deep breaths," Darius instructed once his last layer of clothes was gone. "Just like the last time you shifted. Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth. Don't rush it, just let it take its course." 

I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply, the smell of earth and snow filling my nose. I exhaled and I could already feel my body relax.

"Good girl," Darius praised, his voice sounding near. "Now let her through." 

My wolf was already at the edge and I didn't even need to pull the shift before she was ripping out. I clenched my teeth, my hands fisted as the shift took its course. 

I continued to breathe as Darius instructed, and soon… the pain ended. I was now standing on all fours, now staring at Darius from the back of my mind. 

Darius bent with a smile and patted my wolf in my head before he stepped aside and shifted. He didn't even make a sound, not a single wince of pain and there he was, standing on all fours, his black fur blending with the night. 

He walked to me and rubbed himself all over me, a deep purr rumbling in his chest. He moved away and took off into the trees and my wolf followed suit. 

I did what Darius said and fell back into my consciousness and soon everywhere went black. 

***

I woke up on the ground, covered in dirt, my entire body aching. I nearly jumped out of my skin when someone touched me. 

"It's just me, baby." I relaxed at the sound of Darius' voice and looked up to see him standing there, naked, with a blanket in his hands. Exhaustion was written all over his face. 

He wrapped the blanket around me and lifted me to my feet. 

It was already morning. The sun was breaking through the sky, casting golden light upon us. 

I looked around before I looked back at Darius. "Where are we?" I asked, my voice hoarse. 

"Somewhere a little far from where we shifted," he answered as he took my hand and started walking. "Now, for the moment of the hour." He looked down at me with a smile. 

Right! My surprise. 

I was particularly bouncing on my feet despite exhaustion weighing heavily on my bones and I walked with Darius through the trees. We walked until we came out from between two trees and into a clearing. Sitting in the middle of the clearing was a small cabin. 

It was tucked into the trees, almost hidden, and the morning light bathed the wooden structure in a warm, golden hue. 

It looked so inviting, so peaceful, and I couldn't quite place it at first. The place felt like it belonged to someone who wanted peace and solitude, a place to escape to.

I turned to Darius, my eyes wide. "What is this?" I asked, still in awe.

He grinned, a boyish look on his face. "This, my love, is your surprise."

I blinked at him, still trying to process. "Mine?" My voice was soft, full of disbelief.

"Yours," he confirmed. He looked back at the cabin. "I know things have been a little overwhelming for you. I wanted to get you something that could give you ease, give you time and space to process everything. What better place than a cabin in the woods?"

I swallowed the lump in my throat and hugged him. "I don't know what to say." 

He stroked my hair tenderly. "Then say nothing. Go check it out." 

I pulled away from him and took a few tentative steps toward the cabin, still unable to wrap my head around what he was saying. Was this really for me?

He walked beside me, watching my every reaction with a tender smile. "I hate to admit this but I didn't know what you liked or what you do, so I tried to cover all the bases. There's a little something for you in every corner."

I pushed open the door, my breath catching in my chest. The interior of the cabin was perfect. Small, cozy, and warm—exactly the kind of place I had always imagined as an escape. 

The scent of fresh wood filled the air, and the large stone fireplace in the corner gave the room a homey feeling.

My eyes moved from one corner to the next, taking in everything. A little nook with shelves filled with books sat against one wall. I walked over and pulled one from the shelf, my fingers brushing the spine. 

They were books I'd never seen before, books I had always wanted to read but had never found time for. My heart fluttered.

"I wasn't sure what kind of books you liked," Darius explained, standing behind me. "So there are all sorts of genres."

I nodded, overwhelmed, and moved further into the cabin. There, in another corner, was a small easel with a canvas, a set of brushes, and paints neatly arranged. 

A painting space? 

"I thought you might like a little studio," Darius continued. 

Tears welled in my eyes, and I quickly blinked them away, not wanting to ruin this moment. I turned to Darius, my chest tight with emotion. "This is... beautiful, Darius." 

He smiled warmly, his hand gently brushing mine. "It's yours, Ravenna. All of it. A place where you can escape, where you can be yourself—whether you want to read, paint, bake, or just have time alone. Whatever you need, whenever you need it. When you come here I'll know you need space and won't bother you, and so will the others. And rest assured that this place is secured. There's tight security, even though you can't see them."

I felt the tears start to fall then, and I didn't bother to stop them. This wasn't just a cabin—it was a gift of freedom, of love, and of understanding. 

Darius had thought of everything, from the small kitchen area with everything I'd need to bake, to the garden out back that I could tend to when I needed peace.

I wrapped my arms around him, holding him tight, not knowing what to say. His thoughtfulness had taken my breath away, and for a moment, I couldn't find words.

"I don't know how to thank you," I finally whispered.

"You don't have to, my sweet," he murmured, pressing a kiss to my forehead. "Just be happy here. This is your place, whenever you need it."

I took another deep breath, letting it all sink in. I had a place I could call my own, a place to unwind, to create, to just be. And I couldn't imagine a better gift.

"There's a–" Darius' voice cut off by the sound of beeping. He pulled away from me and walked to a small table, picking up a telephone—a literal telephone. 

When he answered I could hear Lucian's voice say, "Darius, you need to come back to the packhouse. And bring Ravenna with you."