The Raven Wolf King: Wolfless novel Chapter 8

Chapter 8

Valeria

As the morning progresses, I eat breakfast in my room, mostly staring at the toast while I move scrambled eggs around with the fork.

Raphael is so adamant about rejecting me and keeping his distance, but he doesn’t seem able to help himself. I think, somehow, his Wolf is still holding on to what was meant to be. Is that even possible? If so, then has the mate bond really broken? Is it truly gone? I know I’ve accepted it, but deep down, I want him too. I mean, the fact that he’s so gorgeous probably plays a part in it. Maybe that’s all it is, pure, simple attraction. Anyway, I’m not an idiot. Even if his Wolf wants me, Raphael himself doesn’t.

I release a weary breath. I don’t want to think about him anymore, but he’s all that’s on my mind.

Mother suddenly rushes in. “Get ready!”

“What? What do you mean? I thought I was supposed to stay in today.“.

“Yeah, well, the King wants everyone to gather for the first meeting. All Generals and their whole family. Trust me, it’s the last thing I want, but we have no choice. We can’t refuse the King. You have ten

minutes to hide those bruises.”

She storms out angrily, as if all of this were my fault.

Thankfully, I’m on strong painkillers, so I’m not in pain, but my ribs haven’t completely healed yet. It might take a few more days. Still, as Wolfless, we heal faster than humans, and I’m grateful for that.

I do my makeup as fast as I can and pull on dress pants with a white, long–sleeved button–up shirt. I dry my hair quickly, but it stays half wet, so I clip it back to keep it out of my face.

Ronan escorts me downstairs. As we walk through the hall, loud noises from outside make me jump. Through a window, I spot a line of people in black leather, aiming guns at practice dummies.

“Who are they?” I ask.

Ronan stands next to me, looking out the window. “The Royal Firing Squad, made entirely of Wolfless.”

“Wolfless?”

He nods. “They’re part of the King’s Army. Wolfless can’t fight or shift like normal Werewolves, but they can still fight–mostly like humans would.”

I’m amazed. I didn’t know such a thing existed in the Royal Pack. “Can anyone join?”

“Anyone who’s Wolfless, yes. No point in a normal Werewolf joining when they have Werewolf power at their disposal.”

Any Wolfless, meaning… I could join.

Ronan leads me to the meeting room, where I join my parents and Jade. The room is filled with long

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tables arranged in rows, each one set slightly higher than the one in front. We take our seats near the top, close to the highest row. I sit beside Jade at the end of the table.

Sitting among us on the bottom and first tables are Princes Emmet, Dorian, and Antonio. Emmet looks back at us and smiles at Jade. Jade immediately gives him a wave. I guess seeing her nasty side didn’t do much to deter him from mating with her. She probably weaseled her way out of it.

From here, the Royal Thrones are visible, with tables set before them facing the Generals‘ rows. As if summoned, the three legitimate Princes enter–Tobias, Finn, and Raphael.

The moment Raphael steps in, his head snaps toward me, as if I’d called his name aloud. I force myself to look away, refusing to give him what he wants. Still, no matter how hard I avoid his gaze, I can feel his eyes burning into me.

What is he expecting? I can’t be the one to do all the work. He has to try too, but I don’t see that happening right now.

Tobias remains standing while the other two sit. “The King will be here shortly,” he announces. His eyes scan through the crowded room until they land on my father. “Alpha Albert, I remember you. We met at

the Mating Feast. You and your family.”

Father gets up and bows. “Yes, we did.”

It must have been when I was out in the Garden, when I was being rejected. I had no idea any of the Princes were at the Feast… wait. A sudden memory flashes–Tobias and Finn together that day. We did

meet.

All I carried from that night was Raphael’s rejection, but now I remember. Tobias gave me a huge smile, though I didn’t realize then that he was a Prince. That shows how little attention I was paying.

My thoughts snap back to the present. Tobias sits on his Throne… staring at me? No, I must be wrong. He’s probably looking at Jade beside me. That makes more sense.

More people arrive. Among them is Stephan, the man I danced with at the Ball. He climbs the steps and stops beside me. “May I?”

I slide closer to Jade, who grunts and shifts, leaving space for him to sit.

“Thank you, Miss Valeria,” he says.

I smile and nod. When he settles down, I carefully stare at him. Besides meeting him yesterday, he does

look familiar.

“You said you knew me?” I ask.

He doesn’t turn, keeping his eyes on the Royal men. “I do. We met when we were children. My brother got attacked by Ravens that day at your Pack.”

I slap a hand over my mouth to stop the gasp that almost escapes. My lips sting.

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The memory hits me. His brother had been cruel, teasing me, when the Ravens attacked. I only came away with a scratch, but his poor brother suffered badly. Some of his hair was even torn straight from his head.

Stephan chuckles. “You remember.”

“I do. That seemed like a lifetime ago.”

“Yeah. But I never forgot it.”

I nod. “I think that’s when my fear of Ravens began.”

For the first time since he’s been here, he looks at me. “You fear them?”

“Yeah. They attacked unprovoked, which means they can do it anytime. I don’t trust those winged bats from hell.”

He smiles and looks away.

The King finally arrives. He takes huge steps, reaching his Throne quickly, and sits.

“Let’s begin. I asked you and your families to attend this first meeting to make everyone aware of the situation we’re facing. When I informed you all that we were attacked, I didn’t mention the severity of the situation. Alpha Astaroth–my brother and self–proclaimed King of the South–decimated one of the border Packs, the River Stone Pack. Alpha Manuel and his whole Pack were destroyed. No warning, no declaration of war. The cowards took us by surprise.”

The King gets up. “I wanted you all here to understand that this is war, and many lives will be lost. Changes will be made. Those who aren’t meant for a fight might just have to enter the battle. Hug your family and friends. Once we enter the playing board, it might be the last time you ever see them.”

Hearing the King speak with such severity makes it all real. This is what we’re here for.

“That being said, here in the Castle, you are the safest. It is our strongest line of defense…” He continues speaking in more depth about war, I don’t have an interest in war, and I don’t understand half of what he says, so this eventually bores me. But I do my best to pay attention because it’s a serious matter; however, it’s hard to concentrate when those icy blue eyes seem to bore a hole in me. Raphael doesn’t stop. Even when his father speaks to him, Raphael answers while still staring at me.

The man is on the verge of making it obvious to everyone, but thankfully, thirty minutes later, we’re told to leave. Only the Generals remain with the Royals.

Out in the hall, I draw a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves, only to flare with anger when Jade slams her shoulder into Grimm as he passes by. She does it on purpose. He stumbles, nearly crashing into the wall, the box in his arms wobbling, about to fall.

“No sense of where you’re walking!” she says. “Watch out for your betters!” She stomps away angrily,

trying to catch up to Mother.

I approach him. “Are you okay?”

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“Yeah,” he replies. “That’s your sister, isn’t she?”

I huff under my breath. “Yeah. But if it makes you feel better, she treats me just as she did you.”

“What a bitch.”

“Big time.”

“Grimm!” A brown–haired woman with green eyes hurries in our direction. “We have to hurry. There’s so

much to do!”

“Yes, Mom.” Grimm looks at me. “See ya later.”

I wave to him. His mother looked young. He shares some of her features, but if I’d seen them together, I never would’ve guessed. He must take more after his father.

I stop at a fork in the hall. I remember this. The Royal Quarters. A Guard leans against the wall. After a moment’s hesitation, I make up my mind and walk past him.

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