Chapter 6

Darkness surrounded Raven, cold and suffocating. She tried to move, but her body felt heavy, pinned by an unseen force. Her breathing quickened as a shadowy figure emerged from the void, its form shifting and flickering like smoke.

"You can't escape me," the figure said, its voice deep and echoing, sending chills down her spine.

Raven struggled against the weight pressing her down. "Who are you? What do you want from me?"

The figure's eyes glowed faintly, and it leaned closer. "You know what I want," it hissed.

"I don't!" she cried, her voice cracking.

The figure laughed, a cold, hollow sound. "I want you, Raven. You carry the mark, and you will fulfill the curse."

"No!" she screamed, her body jerking as the darkness consumed her again.

Suddenly, she felt herself falling, spinning through nothingness until her eyes shot open.

She gasped, sitting up abruptly, only to be pulled back by a sharp pain radiating through her back. The world came into focus, revealing a sterile hospital room. Her heart raced as the remnants of the dream lingered in her mind.

"Raven," a familiar voice said softly. She turned her head to see Alaric sitting close by, his dark eyes locked on her, filled with concern. Caspian stood at the foot of the bed, his arms crossed, his expression unreadable.

Sarah was by her side in an instant, gripping her hand tightly. "Thank God you're awake! You had us so worried."

Raven blinked, her mind still piecing things together. "What… happened?" she asked, her voice hoarse.

"You were attacked," Alaric said, his tone grave. "Some figure came after you in the woods. We got to you just in time."

Her eyes widened as the memories came flooding back—the shadowy figure, the claws, and… the water. She turned her gaze to Caspian, then back to Alaric, her chest tightening.

"I remember," she whispered, her voice trembling. "You… you're a werewolf."

Alaric stiffened, his eyes narrowing slightly.

Her gaze shifted to Caspian. "And you… you're a merman."

Caspian's jaw tensed, but he didn't deny it.

Raven's heart raced as she looked between them. "This can't be real. All this time? Sarah… you knew, didn't you?" She turned to her best friend, betrayal flashing in her eyes. "You lied to me!"

Sarah hesitated, her grip on Raven's hand loosening. "I didn't want to lie to you," she said softly. "But I couldn't tell you. It's not my secret to share."

Raven's anger simmered as she processed the revelations. She looked back at Alaric and Sarah. "Can you two leave the room? Please."

Alaric's brows furrowed in protest. "Raven, I—"

"Please," she repeated firmly.

After a tense pause, Sarah nodded, pulling Alaric with her as they left the room. The door clicked shut, leaving her alone with Caspian.

He stood silently by the window, his posture tense. Raven's eyes softened as she studied him. "You didn't have to stay," she said quietly.

Caspian turned to face her, his expression calm but guarded. "I figured you'd want some answers. And you don't know me well enough to hate me yet."

Despite herself, Raven let out a soft laugh, though it quickly turned into a wince as pain flared through her back. "Is it true?" she asked after a moment, her voice tentative. "You're… a merman?"

Caspian nodded, pulling a chair closer to her bed. "Yes. I've spent most of my life underwater. My… responsibilities don't leave much time for the surface."

"Responsibilities?" Raven asked, tilting her head.

"I'm the king of my people," he explained, his tone even, though there was a hint of weariness in his voice. "That's why I don't understand much about human culture. I've never really needed to."

Raven blinked, processing the weight of his words. "So… what's it like? Living underwater, I mean."

A faint smile touched Caspian's lips. "Peaceful, mostly. It's vast and quiet, but it can also be… lonely." He looked at her, his gaze unreadable. "We don't often interact with humans. It's safer that way."

"Why safer?" she pressed.

"Humans tend to fear what they don't understand," Caspian said simply. "And fear turns to violence."

Raven nodded slowly, realizing how little she understood about the world beyond her own. She hesitated before asking, "And Alaric? You two clearly don't get along. Why?"

Caspian's smile faded, replaced by a guarded expression. "Let's just say wolves and merfolk have a history. We don't trust each other easily."

Raven frowned, sensing there was more to the story, but she decided not to push further. Instead, she shifted slightly, only for pain to flare through her back again.

She reached around instinctively, her fingers brushing against something raised and tender. Her breath hitched. "What is this?"

Caspian's gaze darkened as he stood and walked closer. "It's a mark," he said gravely. "On your back. It's shaped like… a black rose."

Raven's stomach twisted as she remembered the shadowy figure's claws sinking into her flesh. "A black rose?" she repeated, her voice barely a whisper.

Caspian nodded. "It's not just a wound. It's deliberate. Whoever—or whatever—attacked you meant to leave it there."

Raven leaned back against the pillows, her mind spinning. The pain in her back felt like a constant reminder of the danger she was in.

"Why?" she asked, her voice shaking. "Why would someone do this?"

Caspian's expression darkened. "That's what we need to figure out."

As silence settled over the room, Raven felt a chill run down her spine. The killer's voice echoed in her mind once more: You can't escape me.

Later that day

After the initial shock of the revelations, Raven found herself lying in the hospital bed, staring at the ceiling. Her mind swirled with questions about the black rose-shaped scar on her back, the shadowy figure that attacked her, and the impossible truths she had learned about Caspian and Alaric.

The door creaked open, pulling her from her thoughts. Sarah stepped inside, clutching a small bag of snacks and a hopeful smile.

"I brought you something," Sarah said, holding up the bag like a peace offering.

Raven sat up slowly, wincing as her back protested. "Thanks," she murmured, though her tone lacked warmth.

Sarah placed the bag on the bedside table, then perched on the edge of the chair beside the bed. She hesitated before speaking. "Raven… I know you're upset. And you have every right to be. I should've told you about… everything. About us".

"You think?" Raven said, her voice sharper than intended. "You're my best friend, Sarah. I've told you everything about my life, and you were keeping this huge secret from me. Werewolves? Mermaids? What else don't I know?"

Sarah looked down at her hands, guilt written all over her face. "I wanted to tell you. I swear I did. But there are rules—laws. If I told a human, it would've put you in danger. And I couldn't risk that."

Raven exhaled, some of her anger softening. "I guess I understand," she said quietly. "But I'm still a little bit hurt that you hid it from me. You're my best friend, Sarah. If anyone should've trusted me, it should've been you."

"I know," Sarah whispered. "And I'm sorry. I never wanted you to feel like I didn't trust you. I was just… scared."

Raven studied her for a moment, then gave a reluctant nod. "Okay. Just… no more secrets, okay?"

Sarah's face brightened slightly. "No more secrets," she promised.

The door opened again, and Alaric stepped inside. His presence filled the room, commanding attention without effort. He glanced at Sarah, who quickly stood.

"I'll give you two some privacy," Sarah said, her voice soft. She slipped out of the room, leaving Raven and Alaric alone.

Alaric approached the bed, his expression a mixture of concern and something deeper—something Raven couldn't quite place.

"How are you feeling?" he asked, his voice gentler than she expected.

"Confused. Angry. Hurt," she said, not holding back. "Take your pick."

He nodded, as if he understood perfectly. "I know this is a lot to take in. But I need to tell you something important."

Raven folded her arms across her chest, meeting his gaze. "Go ahead. At this point, nothing you say will surprise me."

Alaric sat down in the chair Sarah had vacated. For a moment, he was silent, as though searching for the right words. Then he spoke.

"In my world—in the world of werewolves—there's a bond that connects us to one person in our lifetime. A mate. It's… not just love. It's deeper than that. It's instinct. It's fate." He paused, his golden eyes locking onto hers. "You're my mate, Raven."

Raven blinked, her breath catching in her throat. She opened her mouth to respond, but no words came.

Alaric continued, his voice steady but tinged with vulnerability. "I didn't want to believe it at first. I didn't want to accept it. But the bond doesn't lie. I'm meant to protect you, to be with you. And I know how unfair that sounds—to have this forced on you without a choice."

Raven finally found her voice, laced with disbelief. "What about Emily? You're with her! What is she, if not your mate?"

Alaric's jaw tightened, and he hesitated before saying, "She's not my mate."

Raven stared at him, her heart hammering in her chest. "So that's it? Just because she's not your mate, it doesn't matter? You've been with her for years, Alaric. You can't just—just erase that."

"It's not that simple," he said, his voice low, strained.

"Seems simple enough to me," she snapped. "You've been with her all this time, and you never cared for me. Not once. You never even saw me."

His expression twisted, a mixture of pain and guilt flickering in his eyes. "Don't you think that doesn't kill me?" he said sharply. "Don't you think it doesn't hurt me to know I wasn't there for you? That I ignored you, dismissed you, when you were right in front of me all along? I tried to fight it, Raven. I tried to stay away, to protect you. But I can't anymore."

She looked away, her heart pounding. Part of her wanted to believe him, to trust the sincerity in his words. But another part of her was overwhelmed, drowning in everything she'd learned in the past day.

"I don't know how to feel about this," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

"I'm not asking you to feel anything right now," Alaric said. "I just wanted you to know the truth. That's all."

Raven nodded, though her mind was still racing. "Okay. Truth for truth, then. If you're my mate… does that mean this bond is permanent? That I don't get a choice?"

Alaric hesitated, then shook his head. "The bond is there, but it's not a prison. You always have a choice, Raven. Always."

She didn't respond, unsure of what to say.

After a moment, Alaric stood. "I'll let you rest. But if you ever have questions—about me, about this—just ask. I'll always be honest with you."

As he left the room, Raven leaned back against the pillows, her mind spinning with everything he'd said.