Chapter 9
After that, Ravenna fell into silence. Her days passed between working on her designs and staring into the forest her window. These final ten days felt like counting down to her own execution, all attachment to life bleeding away.
Valdrin abandoned his Alpha duties to remain at the healing den, forcing her through endless. assessments. Blood draws, healing herbs, her arms marred by ritual needles – she endured it all without a sound. Her silence unnerved him more than any rage.
Passing Winter’s chamber, her father’s face twisted with suspicion. “What game are you playing? Since when does a simple fever require so many rituals?” “Is this another performance to gain our sympathy?”
Ravenna offered no defense. Her face grew paler each day, her form more ghostlike, her eyes never meeting his.
Her father’s anger erupted: “You’ve always been different from your sister. Scheming, poisonous! These manipulations only make us despise you more. If you had any honor, you’d leave our territory and never return!”
‘His power lashed out, striking her. Already weakened, Ravenna crumpled, her assessment scrolls scattering across the stone floor.
Her father startled. “Playing victim now? From a mere touch? Would you manipulate even your own Alpha father?”
Ravenna remained silent, gathering her fallen scrolls through gritted teeth. Each one detailed her ritual preparations.
Her father snatched one up: “Why are you having your wolf heart examined?”
As he reached for another, Winter’s soft voice drifted from behind: “Father.”
She sat in her wheeled chair, looking fragile. “Please don’t be angry with sister. She just wants your
attention.”
You’ve been by my side so long… it’s natural for her to feel jealous. Go to her, I’ll be fine.”
Even as she spoke, Winter clutched her chest, her breath faltering.
Her father instantly dropped the scrolls. “Toolish pup, you’re barely holding on, yet here you are
defending her? Instead of helping her sister, she’s feigning illness for attention!”
If not for her, would you have been born with a weak heart?”
Such a touching display of family devotion. But Ravenna’s heart had long since turned to stone.
Valdrin’s Alpha power flooded the corridor as he moved with predatory grace, snatching up the sacred scrolls before seizing Ravenna’s arm. His grip was iron as he dragged her back to her chambers, his rage a tangible force in the air.
With one fluid motion, he unleashed his power, sending her crashing onto the bed. The ritual assessment scrolls scattered around her like fallen leaves, each one a testament to her impending sacrifice.
Tell me, Ravenna,” his voice dropped to a lethal whisper, the kind Alphas used before delivering judgment. “Did you orchestrate this little scene?”
Ravenna’s face went white as snow. The impact had slammed her side against the bed’s stone edge, pain shooting through her body like liquid silver. She couldn’t speak through the agony.
“You deliberately dropped these where Winter would see them. You wanted her to feel guilty, to refuse the ritual.” Valdrin’s power filled the room with crushing force. “Your cruelty knows no bounds, Ravenna!”
His cold accusation struck like a killing blow.
A hollow laugh escaped Venna’s lips as she eased herself back onto the bed, each movement carefully measured against the pain in her side. “Believe what you will, Alpha. You always do.”
What use were denials when Winter’s word was law? Her family, her mate, even her own pup- they’d chosen their truth long ago. Winter’s truth.
“Is there something else you need of me?” Her voice held the quiet resignation of a wolf who’d stopped fighting fate.
Valdrin’s silence filled the chamber. His gaze fell on her ruined design book, torn apart by Sweet’s claws.
“Winter has one wish before her ritual to stand as a craftmaster at the Great Gathering. Give her your place at next year’s ceremony.”
