Raven stormed into her chambers, slamming the door harder than she meant to. Her wolf clawed beneath her skin, pacing, restless, torn between desire and fury. She pressed her palms to her face, groaning. "What is wrong with me?"
"You tell me," came a familiar voice.
Raven dropped her hands and nearly jumped. Elara was sprawled across her bed, boots kicked off, auburn hair spilling like fire against the pillows. Her best friend had the nerve to smirk as though she hadn't just broken into Raven's room uninvited.
"Elara," Raven sighed. "What are you doing here?"
"Waiting for you," Elara said cheerfully, rolling onto her side. "Word spreads fast, you know. Half the pack saw you storming out of the Alpha's quarters looking like you'd been kissed and clawed at the same time." She arched a brow. "So… which was it?"
Heat rushed to Raven's cheeks. "Neither."
"Mmhm." Elara propped her chin on her palm, grin widening. "You're a terrible liar."
Raven paced the room, trying to shake off the lingering feel of Ronan's hands on her, his lips stealing her breath. "He drives me insane. One moment he's infuriating, arrogant, impossible—and then he's…" Her voice faltered, her chest tightening. "Then he's something else. And I don't know how to handle it."
Elara's eyes softened, though her grin never left. "Ah. So it was kissing."
"Elara," Raven groaned.
"What? You can't drop confessions like that and expect me to stay quiet." Elara sat up, hugging her knees. "So, did you like it?"
Raven froze mid-step. The truth clawed at her throat, but she bit it back. "That's not the point. He kissed me, and I— I shouldn't have let it happen."
"But you did." Elara's tone was teasing, but her gaze was sharp, reading Raven like an open book. "And judging by the color in your cheeks, you more than liked it."
Raven turned away, gripping the window ledge. Outside, the moonlit forest stretched endlessly, shadows whispering of threats. "It felt… dangerous. Like I was losing control."
Elara hopped off the bed, padding over to stand beside her. "Control isn't everything, Raven. Sometimes letting go is the only way to find what you really want."
Raven shot her a glare. "Easy for you to say. You're not the one being toyed with by an Alpha who doesn't know how to respect boundaries."
"Boundaries?" Elara snorted. "You've been throwing yourself into danger since the day I met you. You like fire, Raven. Maybe it's time you admitted that Ronan is fire—and you don't actually want to put him out."
Raven's heart hammered, her wolf snarling in agreement, but her mind fought back. "He's dangerous, Elara. If I give in, if I let myself fall, he'll consume me."
Elara tilted her head. "Or maybe he'll match you. You're not fragile, Raven. Stop acting like you'll shatter in his hands."
The words struck deep, forcing Raven to swallow the lump in her throat. Elara always knew how to slice through her defenses, to remind her of the strength she tried to deny.
Still, the memory of Lyra's smirk burned hotter than any kiss. "And what about her? Lyra waltzes into his quarters like she still owns a piece of him. She touched him, Elara. Right in front of me."
Elara's nose wrinkled. "Ugh, that snake. Don't waste your fury on her—she feeds on it. Besides, I've seen the way Ronan looks at you. If Lyra's holding onto the past, that's her problem."
Raven shook her head. "It's not that simple."
"Of course it is," Elara said brightly. "You like him. He likes you. You're both too stubborn to admit it, and in the meantime the entire pack is betting on when you'll either kill each other or mate under the moon."
Raven nearly choked. "They're what?"
Elara grinned wickedly. "Don't worry, I put my silver on 'mate.' Don't make me lose, alright?"
Raven groaned again, dragging a hand down her face. "You're insufferable."
"And you're hopeless," Elara shot back. She nudged Raven's shoulder, gentler this time.
"Listen. You've fought rogues twice your size. You've stood up to every elder who doubted you. But this? This scares you more than anything. And that tells me it matters."
Silence stretched, heavy but not uncomfortable. Raven stared at the forest again, her reflection faint in the window glass—eyes shadowed, lips still tingling from Ronan's kiss.
Elara leaned her head against Raven's shoulder. "You don't have to decide tonight. But stop pretending you don't care. Because the more you deny it, the harder you're going to fall."
Raven's throat tightened, emotion swirling with the storm inside her. She wanted to argue, but the words wouldn't come. Instead, she let out a shaky laugh. "Since when did you become wise?"
Elara grinned. "Since I realized my best friend is in love with the Alpha and too stubborn to admit it."
Raven rolled her eyes, but her chest warmed despite the ache. "You're impossible."
"True," Elara said. "But at least I'm right."
Raven didn't answer. She couldn't. Not yet. But as the moonlight bathed the forest and her wolf howled silently within her, she knew Elara's words had struck too close to the truth.
And that truth terrified her more than any rogue ever could.