Down by the River
Raven
Her question took me by surprise, but I simply shrugged.
“I haven’t been around for ages, Aunty.” She smirked.
“You girls do know, you and Kia,” she stated.
“But if you don’t want to tell me right now…
that’s fine, but nothing stays hidden. Besides, I have my assumptions.
” Trust Aunty Red to say that. She wasn’t dumb, I had to give her that.
I really didn’t want to ask her what she assumed because I might give something away…
“Aww, well, I hope you do get to figure it out. Aunty, if you ever need this little gummy bear babysat, I will do it willingly. She is so adorable!” I smiled at Azura, who was playing with my hair, and I wouldn’t deny that I liked it. She was so cute.
“Oh, I’ll definitely hold you to that,” Aunty said, smiling.
“Good,” I replied, thinking this place felt so much better to spend time at.
Night had fallen and I was in my room. My stuff hadn’t really been touched since I had gone and I was doing a clear out.
I would bin what I didn’t want, and what I did, I’d pack it up.
I needed to tell Mom and Dad about me moving, too…
but the moody look on Dad’s face had put me off. I didn’t want more drama.
I put on some Disney classic songs, singing along to ‘Colours of the Wind’ as I began on my wardrobe. Some of this stuff was way too childish. My phone rang and I hurried over to it, smiling when I saw Kia’s name pop up on the incoming video call.
“Kiki!” I said, answering it. “Ahh, and my babies!”
Kiara laughed as she sat there, feeding one of them. Goddess, those two were gorgeous. They were about three months now and were like two little dolls.
“I thought I’d video call whilst I’m feeding. How are you?” she asked. I plopped onto my bed and smiled.
“I’m great, I am going to start training tomorrow.
I saw Liam and Damon, both are doing great, and I asked your mom about moving to the packhouse,” I ended with a whisper.
She smiled gently, but from the knowing look in her eyes, I knew she saw past my facade.
Over the years, Kiara had become so much more observant. She didn’t fall for my fake smiles.
“You are brave,” she said softly. “You got this.”
“Thanks, hun,” I whispered.
“I’m going to try to visit in a few weeks’ time,” she said.
“Really? I can’t wait to meet these two munchkins.” I had only seen them when I visited her pack with Aunt Angela.
“I’m sure they want to see their aunty, too,” Kiara replied with a small laugh.
We sat there, chatting and talking like we did often enough.
Although Kiara had an entire pack to run, and as Queen it was more than just a pack, we still found time to talk to each other and it felt good.
After a good half hour, we said goodbye and I returned to clearing out my wardrobe.
I had just finished when a panicked voice came through the link.
Someone’s been killed down by the west side of the river! The man sounded fearful, and my own heart was thudding at his words.
An influx of voices came through the link as I rushed to my window. Opening it, I jumped out, not even realising I was barefoot until the stones beneath my window poked into my feet, but I was too worried to care as I rushed down towards the river.
It’s covered. No one panic and stay in your homes, Liam’s cold voice came through the link, sending a rush of warmth through me. I missed it… missed the mind-link with them…
I ignored his command as I approached the spot, slowing down to see several men standing around looking at something on the ground.
My heart thumped as I stepped closer. Damon was there, and when I approached, he looked up.
I didn’t miss the way he looked me over.
It was then that I realised I was only in my leggings and a crop top.
My heart thudded, but I tried not to focus on him as I stepped closer.
“Don’t come closer, Raven.” His deep seductive voice made me stop. “It’s not pleasant.”
“I can handle a lot more than you think,” I said, quietly stepping forward.
But maybe not. The face of the body had been cut from ear to ear, and the eyes had been removed. My stomach churned and I clamped a hand over my mouth feeling sick.
“The teeth have all been taken too,” the Delta, Zack, said quietly. I knew him as he was only slightly younger than I was.
“What the fuck happened?” Liam’s voice came from behind us. I turned to see him shirtless, and clearly, he had been in the middle of a shower.
He glanced at me, his frown deepening when he looked at Damon before he brushed past us both. Sparks flew through me at his touch and my breath hitched. Fuck…
“Scour the area. Did anyone witness anything? Who found the body?” he asked, his Alpha aura whirling around him.
“Ralf… his brother,” Zack said, motioning to the side with a jerk of his head.
I turned to see a boy around twelve or thirteen sitting under a tree, shaking, and rocking himself. An omega child. Shit, why the hell was no one comforting him? I hurried over to him and sat down, wrapping my arms around him.
“Hey, it’s okay, I got you,” I whispered, seeing his hands tangled tightly into his hair.
“It’s not true. It’s not true,” he muttered repeatedly. Liam approached, looking down at him.
“When did you find him?” he asked. The boy continued to mutter, not even hearing Liam, who frowned.
“Can’t you see it has affected him greatly and you’re asking questions?” I asked icily. His gaze snapped to me, and his eyes flashed.
“And didn’t I say to everyone to stay inside?” he growled.
“You did.” But that doesn’t mean I would listen!
I looked away from him, feeling two pairs of eyes on me, but they could look and get as mad as they wanted because right then, I was more concerned about the kid who had seen his brother in that horrifying state. I knew his face would haunt my dreams too.
“Scour the area, track any scent that lingers here, and I want anyone whose scent is here to be brought in for questioning. Maybe they saw something... this doesn’t look like a normal killing.”
“What was the cause of death?”
“No fucking idea…”
“Maybe poison. Request an autopsy,” Liam muttered.
“There’s no strange scent from him…”
“Wait, what is that?” Damon said suddenly, making me look up sharply as he bent down and took a piece of paper from the man’s hand. The group of men fell silent, and I looked at them curiously.
“What does it say?” I asked. No one spoke, and I frowned. “Tell me.” Damon turned, his eyes meeting mine, and he frowned, holding it up.
“Who’s next?”
Last night, the image of the omega, Ryan, kept replaying in my mind.
I couldn’t sleep or anything. The way his mouth had been cut open, his teeth ripped out, and no lingering scent?
It was creepy. I shuddered, unable to remove that image from my head as I got dressed for training in a sports bra, leggings, and an oversized hoodie before grabbing my portable music player and jumping out the window.
It had always been my way out, and although my parents hated it, if Dad wasn’t so controlling, I wouldn’t have to. Okay, maybe I still would.
I walked to the training fields, and, to my dismay, Damon was standing there, dressed in baggy bottoms, a black vest, and sneakers.
He was leaning against the wall and looking at the throng of people who were training.
My heart skipped a beat as I looked him over.
He really had gotten even more handsome over the years, if that was even possible.
He had lost the boyish look he once supported; his face was more angled and rugged.
His eyes snapped towards me, and my heart skipped a beat when I thought I saw them flash pale green as he looked me over.
He gave me a small smile and pushed himself away from the wall.
“Hey,” he said, looking down at me.
“Hi, are you here for the training session?” I asked, taking out the bandages for my hands and beginning to wrap them up. I didn’t want to just stare into those eyes of his.
“Partially… we didn’t get to talk properly yesterday. I, uh, congratulations on the new rank.”
I glanced up at him. Had he been thrown off by seeing me yesterday? I wasn’t sure if it was that or that I saw him step away from Robyn a little too quickly.
“Thanks.”
“I checked out the training plans. I liked them, a lot. Especially the wolf vs human sparring. That’s something we haven’t actually done, and your points were pretty neat.
” I nodded and began doing my stretches.
We hadn’t spoken much in three years, so why should that change now?
“Welcome home, Raven.” His voice was soft, and I didn’t miss the sadness in it.
I looked up at him sharply. My chest felt painfully tight.
As much as I felt his sadness was genuine, we both knew his duty to his Alpha and the bond he had with Liam clearly outdid what we had.
That did hurt, but I couldn’t blame him.
Was that why the Moon Goddess gave me two mates?
In hopes that perhaps one might just accept me?
Or her having sympathy for someone like me?
All I had wanted was someone who would love and cherish me.
“Thanks,” I said, giving him one of my fake smiles. He smiled back, and I turned towards the group. They were all young adults, and I knew they were all full-fledged warriors.
“Alright, everyone, those butts should be warmed up, and you all should be standing to attention!” I called loudly, my eyes skimming them all; taking note of those who were already standing, those who were clambering to their feet, and those who were distracted.
I would target them at their weakest point and see who did best.