Raven's POV
"They think WHAT?" I stare at Caspian in disbelief.
"That you're helping Kieran." He runs a hand through his hair, frustrated. "Someone's been feeding him information—pack schedules, guard rotations, your location. The council found evidence that whoever it is has accessed your room multiple times."
"So they automatically assume it's me?" Anger burns through my shock. "Of course they do. The omega must be the traitor."
"I don't think it's you—"
"But your father does." I crumple Kieran's note and shove it in my pocket before Caspian can see it. "Let me guess. More guards? More restrictions? Maybe chains this time?"
"Raven—"
"Get out." I'm so tired of this. So tired of being accused, controlled, trapped. "Just get out."
He opens his mouth to argue, then closes it. For once, he actually listens.
The door shuts. I'm alone.
I pull out the note again, smoothing the wrinkled paper. Choose freedom. Choose yourself.
How can I choose anything when every option feels like a trap?
They come for me at sunset—two female pack members I don't recognize, carrying another expensive dress.
"Pack dinner tonight," the older one announces. "You're required to attend."
"I'm not hungry."
"It's not optional." Her tone brooks no argument. "Alpha Magnus insists you sit with Caspian. Show pack unity."
"I'm a prisoner, not a united pack member."
"You're whatever the Alpha says you are. Now get dressed."
They don't give me privacy. They strip me like I'm a child, force me into a deep blue dress that exposes too much skin, and pin my hair up in a way that makes my neck feel vulnerable.
When I look in the mirror, I see a stranger. A doll dressed up to play a part.
Not me. Never me.
"Beautiful," the younger woman says, but it doesn't sound like a compliment.
They escort me through corridors filled with pack members heading to dinner. Everyone stares. Some with curiosity. Others with suspicion.
One warrior spits at my feet as I pass.
The guards don't even reprimand him.
We enter the great hall, and my stomach drops. Long tables fill the space, packed with wolves already eating and drinking. The noise is deafening—laughter, arguments, the clatter of dishes.
At the head table, Magnus sits like a king. Caspian is beside him, looking miserable. And on Caspian's other side...
An empty chair. For me.
Every eye in the hall turns to watch as the guards escort me forward. The noise dies down. Whispers start.
"That's her?"
"The omega who's been with the Alpha heir..."
"I heard she's working with rogues..."
"Traitor..."
I keep my head high, even though I want to disappear. Want to run. Want to be invisible again.
But I'm not invisible anymore. I'm on display.
Caspian stands when I reach the table, pulling out my chair like a gentleman. I ignore him and sit without acknowledgment.
His jaw tightens, but he says nothing.
Magnus raises his glass. "Pack! Tonight we celebrate unity. Despite recent... challenges, we remain strong. Together."
It's clearly directed at me. A warning wrapped in false hospitality.
The pack cheers. Drinks. Returns to eating.
I sit frozen, unable to touch the food in front of me.
"You should eat," Caspian murmurs beside me. "You haven't had anything all day."
I don't respond. Don't even look at him.
"Raven, please—"
"Don't talk to me," I say quietly, so only he can hear. "Don't pretend we're friends. Don't act like this is anything but what it is—me being paraded around as proof you own me."
He flinches. "That's not what this is."
"Isn't it?"
Across the table, Isla sits with her warrior friends. She's staring at me with pure hatred, her knuckles white around her fork.
Our eyes meet. She smiles—cold and cruel—and mouths two words: "You're dead."
I look away, my heart racing.
"Are you alright?" Caspian notices my fear.
"Fine," I lie.
The dinner drags on endlessly. Course after course. Toast after toast. All while I sit silent and trapped, feeling hundreds of eyes judging me.
Then Magnus stands again, his glass raised.
"I have an announcement," he declares. "As you all know, our pack has faced instability recently. Wolves going feral. Power fluctuations. Rogue threats." His eyes find mine. "But we've discovered the solution."
My stomach knots.
"Miss Raven Thorne possesses a rare gift—the ability to stabilize Alpha power and strengthen pack bonds. She has graciously agreed to serve the pack in this capacity."
Lies. All lies. I agreed to nothing.
"Therefore," Magnus continues, "she will reside permanently in the Alpha wing under Caspian's protection. For the good of us all."
The pack erupts in confused murmurs. Some look relieved. Others angry. A few seem disgusted.
"An omega?" someone shouts. "Living in the Alpha wing?"
"It's unnatural!"
"She's manipulating him!"
Magnus slams his hand on the table, silencing everyone. "This is not up for debate. The council has decided. Anyone who challenges this decision challenges me."
Silence falls like a hammer.
I want to scream. Want to tell them all the truth—that I'm a prisoner, not a volunteer. That their precious Alpha is forcing me to save a pack that never wanted me.
But what's the point? They wouldn't believe me. Wouldn't care.
Omegas exist to serve. That's all I am to them.
The dinner finally ends. I stand immediately, desperate to escape.
"Raven, wait—" Caspian reaches for my arm.
I jerk away. "Don't touch me."
I run. Through the hall, past staring pack members, down corridors that all look the same. Guards follow but don't stop me.
Why would they? I'm running back to my cage.
I burst into my room and slam the door, locking it behind me. My hands shake as I lean against the wood, gasping for air.
The connecting door opens. Caspian appears, looking wrecked.
"I didn't know he was going to announce it like that," he says desperately. "I swear, I didn't—"
"I don't care!" I spin on him. "Don't you understand? It doesn't matter what you know or don't know! I'm still trapped! Still being used! Still—"
A crash from outside cuts me off.
We both freeze.
Shouting. Screaming. The sound of wolves fighting.
Caspian runs to the window. His face goes pale.
"What?" I demand. "What is it?"
"Fire," he breathes. "The omega quarters are on fire."
My heart stops. "No. No, no, no—Luna! The other omegas—"
I run for the door, but Caspian blocks me.
"You can't go out there!"
"They're burning! People I know are—"
"It's a trap," he insists. "Don't you see? Kieran is creating a distraction. Drawing the guards away from you."
"I don't care! Let me go!"
We struggle. He's stronger, but I'm desperate. I claw at him, kick, bite—anything to get free.
Then the lights go out.
Complete darkness.
Emergency alarms wail. More shouting. Chaos everywhere.
"Stay here," Caspian orders. "Lock the door behind me. Don't open it for anyone."
"Caspian—"
But he's gone, running toward the chaos.
I'm alone in the dark.
I fumble for the lock, my hands shaking—
Then I smell it. Smoke. Not from outside.
From inside my room.
A match flares in the darkness.
Isla stands in the corner, holding a torch. Her smile is manic.
"Hello, omega," she purrs. "Time for us to have a little chat."
Behind her, three of her warrior friends emerge from the shadows.
They've been hiding in my room. Waiting.
"How did you—" I start.
"The connecting door has two keys, stupid girl." Isla tosses something on the ground—a silver key. "Magnus gave one to Caspian. But I stole the spare months ago."
She steps closer, and I see madness in her eyes.
"You ruined everything," she hisses. "He was mine. The pack was mine. My future, my destiny—all mine! And then you came back with your pathetic omega scent and stole it all!"
"I didn't steal anything! I didn't want—"
"LIAR!" She lunges.
I dodge, but her friends grab me. Strong hands pin my arms. Hold me in place.
Isla approaches slowly, the torch flame dancing in her eyes.
"Here's what's going to happen," she says sweetly. "There's a fire. Chaos. Rogues attacking. And poor little Raven Thorne tries to escape to join her rogue lover... but tragically dies in the flames."
"You're insane," I breathe.
"No. I'm solving a problem." She brings the torch closer to my face. "Goodbye, omega. Burn in—"
The window explodes inward.
Glass sprays everywhere. The warriors holding me stumble back.
A figure drops through the shattered window, moving like liquid shadow.
Kieran Nightshade stands in my burning room, his amber eyes glowing in the firelight.
He looks at Isla and her friends. Then at me.
"Well," he says with that dangerous smile. "This is convenient."
Isla screams and charges.
Kieran moves faster than should be possible. One moment Isla's attacking. The next, she's unconscious on the floor.
Her friends attack together. Kieran fights like a demon—brutal, efficient, unstoppable. In seconds, all three are down.
He turns to me, extending his hand.
"I believe," he says calmly, like he didn't just take down four wolves, "you have a choice to make. Stay and burn with them? Or come with me and live?"
Fire spreads across my walls. Smoke fills the room.
The door crashes open. Caspian bursts in, his eyes wild—and stops dead when he sees Kieran.
"Raven," Caspian breathes. "Step away from him."
"She's coming with me," Kieran states.
"Over my dead body."
"That can be arranged."
They face each other—two Alphas ready to kill.
And I'm caught between them with fire consuming everything and only seconds to choose.
"Raven!" both shout simultaneously. "Come here! Now!"
The ceiling starts to collapse.
I have to choose.
Right now.
But when I open my mouth to answer, a different voice cuts through the chaos—cold, ancient, and coming from inside my own head:
"Choose neither, little Primordial. Choose yourself."
And suddenly, I'm not afraid anymore.
Suddenly, I'm angry.
Power explodes from me in a wave—raw, primal, unstoppable.
Both Alphas drop to their knees.
The fire... stops spreading. Just stops.
And I stand in the center of my burning room, finally understanding what I really am.
Not a victim.
Not a tool.
Something far more dangerous.