THE QUEEN OF THE BLACK RAVENS

n came by every day, hoping I would talk to them. I never did. Because I was exhausted. Exhausted from crying. Exhausted from secrets. Exhausted from betrayal. For twenty-one years, I had believ

ll freely now. And finally, there is something you must know. I stopped breathing. Not everyone in the Black Ravens wanted you and Amelia in the club. I looked up sharply. "What?" Dad went pale. I looked back at the letter. Be careful who you trust, sweetheart. Sometimes betrayal comes from the people closest to us. The letter slipped from my hands. The room was silent. "Dad," I whispered. He couldn't meet my eyes. "Who didn't want us here?" Silence. I stood up. "Dad." He sighed heavily. "Some members believed your mother's problems would bring danger to the club." "Who?" Again, silence. I shook my head. "No." I grabbed my car keys from the nightstand. "Aria, where are you going?" "Away." "Sweetheart" "No." I turned to face him. "For years, everyone has lied to me. Everyone." My voice broke. "I can't do this anymore." Dad looked heartbroken. "Please don't leave." I wiped angrily at my tears. "I need to find out who I am without all of you." "Aria" "I love you, Dad." His eyes filled with tears. "But I can't stay here." For the first time in my life, I walked past him without looking back. I carried only one bag. Everything else stayed behind. The clubhouse. The memories. The promises. The heartbreak. As I climbed into my car, a motorcycle suddenly pulled into the driveway. Jaxon. Of course. He removed his helmet and rushed toward me. "Aria, wait." I shook my head. "No." "Please." "No." Tears filled his eyes. "Where are you going?" "I don't know." "Then let me come with you." I laughed through my tears. "You can't." "Why not?" Because you broke me. But I couldn't say the words. Instead, I whispered, "Because some journeys have to be taken alone." Jaxon looked shattered. I started the engine. "Aria" I drove away. And for the first time in my life, I left the Black Ravens behind. I didn't know it then, but it would be five years before I returned. And by then. Everything would be different. I drove for hours. I didn't have a destination. I didn't have a plan. I just drove. The farther I got from the Black Ravens clubhouse, the lighter I felt. But the pain was still there, buried deep inside my chest. I had spent my entire life inside that club. E