Chapter three: The Mark of Shadows

Raven's POV

"Why didn’t you tell me?"

I stood in the middle of the room, glaring at Kael as he paced near the window. His jaw was clenched, his fists tightening and loosening at his sides as if he were wrestling with something he couldn’t say.

“I didn’t think it mattered,” he finally said, his voice flat.

“Didn’t think it mattered?” My voice cracked, anger rising like a tidal wave. “You knew the rogues were this close, and you thought it didn’t matter to tell me? I’m your—” I hesitated, choking on the word. “I’m your wife, Kael. If nothing else, I deserve to know when I’m in danger.”

His gaze snapped to mine, a storm raging in his eyes. “Do you think I don’t know that? Do you think I don’t see what this means, for both of us?” He shook his head, his frustration palpable. “This marriage is more than just a piece of paper, Raven. It’s a target on your back.”

I faltered, his words hitting harder than I wanted to admit. A target. The realization settled in my chest like ice, cold and unyielding.

“Why are they here?” I asked, my voice quieter now, though the edge of anger remained. “What do they want?”

Kael’s expression darkened. He turned away, his broad shoulders tense, the muscles rippling beneath his bare skin. “Darian Veylor doesn’t just want territory,” he said, his voice low. “He wants control. And you… you’re leverage.”

“Leverage?” My stomach twisted. “Why me?”

“Because your pack has power. And now, with this alliance, so do I.” He turned back to me, his gray eyes piercing. “Together, we’re a threat to him. Separately, we’re vulnerable.”

I swallowed hard, trying to ignore the growing knot of fear in my chest. “So that’s it? I’m just a pawn in this game between you and Darian?”

Kael’s expression softened, just for a moment, but it was enough to make my breath catch. “You’re not a pawn, Raven,” he said quietly. “You’re the reason this pack might survive.”

The hours dragged on, tension thick in the air as preparations were made. Kael had called an emergency meeting with his top warriors, their hushed voices carrying through the halls. I wasn’t invited, of course. Whatever plans were being made, they didn’t include me.

But that didn’t mean I was going to sit idly by.

I slipped out of the room as soon as Kael left, my steps light as I navigated the unfamiliar corridors. The packhouse was massive, its stone walls and high ceilings giving it a sense of both grandeur and isolation. I didn’t know where I was going, but I knew I needed answers, answers Kael wasn’t willing to give me.

The sound of voices drew me toward a small alcove near the training grounds. I pressed myself against the wall, straining to hear.

“She’s a liability,” a gruff voice said.

“She’s also the key to this alliance,” another voice argued. “Without her, we lose the Nyxhowl pack’s support.”

“And what happens when the rogues get to her? You know what Darian wants. If he takes her—”

“He won’t.”

Kael’s voice cut through the conversation like a blade. The others fell silent, their deference to him evident.

“We’ll protect her,” Kael continued, his tone leaving no room for doubt. “But I need all of you to be ready. Darian isn’t going to wait for us to make the first move.”

The conversation shifted then, turning to patrol routes and defenses. I stepped back, my mind racing. They thought I was a liability. A weakness.

I hated that they might be right.

Later that night, I stood at the edge of the forest, the cool breeze tugging at my hair. The packhouse was quiet now, most of the members having turned in for the night. But sleep was the last thing on my mind.

The weight of the day pressed down on me, the voices from the alcove replaying in my head. She’s a liability.

I clenched my fists, the words fueling a fire inside me. I wasn’t a liability. I refused to be.

“Raven.”

I turned sharply to find Kael standing behind me, his expression unreadable. He had a way of moving so silently it was almost unnerving.

Kael stood in the moonlight, his face partially shadowed, making it impossible to tell what he was thinking. His gray eyes locked onto mine, and for a moment, neither of us said a word.

“What are you doing out here?” he asked finally, his voice low but edged with something I couldn’t quite place, concern, maybe?

“Getting some air,” I replied, turning away from him to stare into the forest. The trees loomed like dark sentinels, their leaves rustling softly in the wind.

“You shouldn’t be out here alone.”

I scoffed, folding my arms across my chest. “Are you going to lock me in the room now, too? Maybe add guards to make sure I don’t wander off?”

Kael stepped closer, his presence commanding even when he wasn’t trying. “This isn’t a game, Raven. If Darian’s rogues find you out here—”

“Then what?” I spun to face him, the frustration I’d been holding back finally bubbling over. “They’ll take me? Kill me? I know what’s at stake, Kael. I’m not an idiot.”

His jaw tightened, the muscles ticking as he stared me down. “No one said you were. But you’re not invincible either.”

“And neither are you,” I shot back, my voice trembling now. “But that doesn’t stop you from throwing yourself into danger every chance you get.”

Kael exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. “This isn’t about me.”

“Isn’t it?” I demanded. “Because from where I’m standing, it feels like you’re the one who gets to call all the shots. You get to decide who’s protected and who’s expendable.”

His eyes darkened, a storm brewing in their depths. “You’re not expendable, Raven.”

The intensity in his voice startled me, cutting through my anger like a blade. For a moment, I couldn’t speak, couldn’t think. There was something raw in his gaze, something unguarded, and it sent a shiver through me.

“Then stop treating me like I am,” I said softly, my voice barely above a whisper.

Kael’s expression shifted, the hardness in his features softening ever so slightly. He took a step closer, his presence overwhelming. “I don’t treat you like that because I think you’re weak,” he said, his voice low and steady. “I do it because I can’t afford to lose you.”

His words hung in the air, heavy with meaning. My heart raced, my emotions a chaotic tangle I couldn’t untangle. I wanted to believe him, to trust the sincerity in his voice, but the walls I’d built around myself refused to come down so easily.

“Why?” I asked, my voice trembling. “Why can’t you afford to lose me? Is it because of the alliance? Because of what I represent?”

Kael hesitated, his gaze dropping for a moment before meeting mine again. “It’s more than that,” he said finally, his voice barely audible. “But I can’t explain it. Not yet.”

Frustration bubbled up again, but before I could press him further, a low growl echoed through the forest.

We both froze, our senses sharpening instantly.

Kael moved in front of me without hesitation, his body tense and ready. “Get back to the packhouse,” he ordered, his voice a quiet command.

I opened my mouth to argue, but the growl came again, closer this time. My heart pounded as I caught a glimpse of movement in the shadows…something large and fast, circling us like a predator stalking its prey.

“Raven, go,” Kael said, his tone more urgent now.

But I couldn’t move. My feet felt rooted to the ground, fear gripping me in a way I hadn’t expected. The rogue stepped into the moonlight, its eyes glowing with an unnatural light, its teeth bared in a snarl.

Kael shifted in an instant, his wolf larger and more menacing than I’d imagined. He launched himself at the rogue, the two wolves colliding in a flurry of fur and claws.

I stumbled back, my breath coming in shallow gasps as I watched the fight unfold. Kael was faster, stronger, but the rogue was relentless, its attacks wild and brutal. Blood splattered the ground, and the snarls of the two wolves echoed through the forest.

“Kael!” I cried out as the rogue landed a blow, sending him sprawling.

He recovered quickly, his claws raking across the rogue’s side with a ferocity that made my stomach churn. The rogue yelped, retreating into the shadows, and Kael shifted back to human form, blood streaking his skin.

“Are you hurt?” he demanded, his voice rough, his eyes scanning me for injuries.

“I’m fine,” I managed, though my hands were trembling. “Kael, you’re bleeding—”

“It’s nothing,” he said, cutting me off. “We need to get back.”

He grabbed my arm, his grip firm but not unkind, and led me back toward the packhouse. My mind raced, the adrenaline still coursing through my veins.

As we reached the safety of the packhouse, Kael turned to me, his expression hard. “This is exactly why I didn’t want you out there alone.”

I opened my mouth to argue, but the words died on my tongue. He was right. As much as I hated to admit it, he was right.

But what scared me more than the rogue’s attack was the look in Kael’s eyes as he fought. There was something dark there, something dangerous.

And I couldn’t shake the feeling that this was only the beginning.