Raven Black has always been the pack's weakest link, the frail Omega who is ridiculed and scorned. Her only dream was to find her fated mate, the one person who would love her unconditionally. But that dream shatters when the cruel, powerful Alpha, Smith Lockwood, rejects her in front of the entire pack. Smith, with his piercing silver eyes and unyielding dominance, dismisses her as unworthy. He believes a weak, timid mate would make him vulnerable, but the bond between them refuses to break, pulling them closer in ways they never expected. Trapped in the pack she can't escape and tormented by a mate who both rejects and possesses her, Raven must find the strength she never knew she had. As her hidden powers begin to awaken, Raven realizes she might be the key to saving the pack from a rogue threat lurking in the shadows. But Smith's refusal to accept her as his mate pushes her to the brink. Will he realize her worth before it's too late? Or will his pride cost him the only woman who could be his true equal? In a world where love is dangerous, and power is everything, can a broken girl and her ruthless Alpha find a way to heal each other?
Chapter 1 1
The scent of pine and rain lingered in the air, mixing with the earthy musk of the Whispering Pines Forest. The moon hung low, casting silver beams through the canopy, as if the goddess herself was peeking through the leaves, watching the night unfold.
Raven Black shivered as she knelt by the riverbank, her fingers brushing against the cold, wet stones. She was supposed to be gathering water for the pack - a menial task, as always - but tonight her mind wandered far beyond her mundane duties. The whispers of the pack still echoed in her ears, voices filled with scorn and pity.
Weak.
Unworthy.
Why did the Moon Goddess waste a mate bond on someone like her?
Raven squeezed her eyes shut, willing the voices away. She knew what they thought of her. At twenty-two, she was the lowest-ranking member of the Crimson Moon Pack - an Omega who couldn't even shift properly, who still trembled at the sound of the Alpha's growl. And yet, her heart had dared to hope, once. Dared to dream of a mate who would see past her frailty, who would love her for the gentle soul she was.
The mate she had found... only to be rejected.
Raven's heart twisted painfully at the memory of Smith Lockwood's cold, silver eyes. The way he had looked at her that day, like she was nothing. Less than nothing. She hadn't wanted to believe it, but his words had shattered every hope she clung to.
"You? My mate? Don't make me laugh, Raven. You're too weak. I would never claim you."
The words had struck like claws through her chest, tearing her apart piece by piece. But what had been worse, what had broken her completely, was the look of disgust in his eyes.
She swallowed hard, pushing herself to her feet. Her fingers were numb from the cold water, but she barely noticed. The pain inside was far worse.
"I have to get back," she whispered to herself, a habit she'd developed after years of being ignored. The trees were her only company, their rustling leaves the only ones who ever seemed to listen.
As she turned to leave, a scent hit her - fresh rain, pine, and something darker, more intoxicating. Her heart clenched in her chest. She knew that scent anywhere.
Smith Lockwood.
The Alpha of the Crimson Moon Pack stepped out from the shadows, his tall frame nearly blending into the darkness of the forest. His eyes glinted like molten silver under the moonlight, sharp and piercing as they landed on her.
"What are you doing out here, Omega?" he demanded, his voice a low, gravelly growl.
Raven instinctively took a step back, her pulse pounding in her ears. She could feel the bond pulling her toward him, a magnetic force that made her want to lean in, despite everything he'd done. She hated that even after his rejection, even after his cruelty, her wolf still yearned for him.
"I-I was just getting water," she stammered, holding up the small, half-filled jug.
Smith's gaze dropped to the jug, then back to her face. He took a step closer, and she could feel the heat radiating from his body, despite the cold night air. He was too close, close enough for her to feel his breath on her skin.
"You're trembling," he said, a hint of amusement curling his lips.
Raven gritted her teeth, forcing herself to stand straighter. "I'm not afraid of you."
He let out a low, mocking laugh. "Is that so?"
"Yes," she whispered, even though her voice betrayed her with a quiver.
Smith's hand shot out, gripping her chin roughly. He tilted her head up, forcing her to meet his gaze. "Liar," he murmured. His touch burned, like fire against her skin, but not in the way it should have. The mate bond still sizzled between them, despite his rejection, making her wolf whimper inside her.
"Why are you here, Smith?" she asked, summoning every ounce of strength she had left. "Haven't you hurt me enough?"
His smirk vanished, replaced by something darker, more intense. His grip on her chin softened, thumb brushing against her cheek almost tenderly. It made her breath hitch, this sudden change in his demeanor.
"You don't get to question me, Raven," he said softly, dangerously. "I am your Alpha."
Raven swallowed hard, feeling her wolf instinctively submit, but she fought against it. For once, she wanted to push back. She wanted him to see that she wasn't as weak as he thought.
"You rejected me," she said, her voice steadier now. "You don't get to claim me as your Omega anymore."
Something flickered in Smith's eyes - a flash of raw emotion she couldn't decipher. It was gone in an instant, replaced by the cold, unyielding gaze she knew too well. He leaned in, his lips brushing against her ear as he whispered, "I may have rejected you, Raven, but that doesn't mean you're free. You will never be free of me."
Her heart skipped a beat, not from fear but from the undeniable pull of the bond. She hated herself for it, for the way her body responded to him despite her mind screaming no.
"You can't keep doing this," she whispered, her voice breaking. "You can't reject me and still act like you own me."
Smith's hand dropped from her face, and he stepped back, his expression hardening. "You belong to this pack, Raven. And as long as you're here, you belong to me."
Before she could respond, he turned and disappeared into the shadows, leaving her standing by the riverbank, shaking and breathless. The chill of the night seeped into her bones, but it was nothing compared to the coldness that settled in her chest.
For the first time, she realized that she couldn't stay here anymore. She couldn't keep living under the shadow of a mate who would never truly want her, who saw her as nothing more than a possession he could discard and reclaim at will.
A tear slipped down her cheek, but she wiped it away quickly. She was done crying. Done being the weak, pitiful Omega they all thought she was.
"I will get stronger," she vowed to the moon above. "And when I do, I'll make you regret ever rejecting me, Smith Lockwood."
The wind rustled through the trees, as if the forest itself had heard her promise. And for the first time, a spark of defiance burned in Raven's heart, small but fierce.
It was the beginning of a fire that would soon consume everything in its path.
Chapter 1 1
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Chapter 2 2
15/11/2024
Chapter 3 3
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Chapter 4 4
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Chapter 5 5
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Chapter 6 6
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Chapter 7 7
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Chapter 8 8
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Chapter 9 9
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Chapter 10 10
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Chapter 11 11
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Chapter 12 12
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Chapter 13 13
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Chapter 14 14
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Chapter 15 15
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Chapter 16 16
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Chapter 17 17
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Chapter 18 18
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