Sixty

Sixty
Raven’s P.O.V.

The late evening sky was painted with hues of orange and purple as I returned from another exhausting day at the training grounds. The pack had been on edge for weeks, everyone on high alert since Kane's escape. The tension was thick in the air, and it felt like every day, the pressure mounted just a little more. Everyone was waiting for something to happen—for the next attack, for the next disaster.

But amidst all that chaos, my personal struggles felt just as overwhelming. Carden had been distant, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t seem to get through to him. It was like there was this invisible wall between us, and no matter what I did, I couldn't break it down. His heart felt like it was slipping further and further away from me, and the harder I tried to hold on, the more helpless I felt.

I pushed open the door to my cabin, sighing in relief as the warmth of the room washed over me. All I wanted was to collapse on my bed and forget about everything for a while—about Carden, about the pack, about all the uncertainties swirling around me.

But as I stepped inside, something unusual caught my eye. A small envelope lay on the floor just beyond the door. It was plain, unmarked, with no indication of who had left it. My heart raced as I bent down to pick it up, a sense of unease washing over me.

I unfolded the note with trembling fingers, my eyes scanning the hastily scribbled words. As I read the message, my blood ran cold.

Raven, I can help you get what you want. Meet me tomorrow night, just beyond the eastern border. We can both benefit from this arrangement. You know who I am.

My hand shook as I stared down at the note, the implications hitting me all at once. Kane. It had to be him. Who else could it be?

My heart raced as I tried to make sense of it. Why would Kane reach out to me? What could he possibly want? And how did he know what I wanted—how did he know about the doubts, the insecurities I’d been harboring about Carden?

I stood frozen in place, the letter crumpled in my hand as a storm of emotions surged inside me. Fear, curiosity, confusion... and, somewhere deep down, a flicker of temptation. Kane was dangerous, manipulative, but there was no denying that he was also powerful. If he was offering to help me, did that mean he knew something I didn’t? Something about Carden?

I sank into a chair, my mind racing as I considered what to do. Part of me knew I should tell someone—Elara, maybe, or even Carden himself. But I also knew how dangerous that could be. If Carden found out that Kane had contacted me, he would see it as a betrayal. And what if it wasn’t just about me? What if Kane was planning something much bigger, something that could hurt the pack?

My stomach twisted as I considered my options. I couldn’t just ignore this—if Kane was reaching out to me, it meant something. But the idea of meeting him alone, of going behind Carden’s back, filled me with dread.

I stood up abruptly, pacing the small space of my cabin as I tried to think clearly. This could be my chance to get answers, to figure out what Kane was really after. And if I could use this opportunity to help Carden—to finally break down that wall between us—then maybe it was worth the risk.

\---

The next day passed in a blur. I trained with the pack as usual, going through the motions while my mind was miles away. Every now and then, I caught a glimpse of Carden across the training yard, his face hard with concentration as he sparred with one of the younger warriors. He hadn’t spoken to me all day, and each time I saw him, the knot in my stomach tightened.

I couldn’t stop thinking about the note. About what Kane had offered. I had tucked it into my jacket, keeping it close all day as if it held the answers I so desperately needed. Part of me wanted to confront Carden, to ask him straight out if there was something—anything—that he wasn’t telling me. But every time I thought about it, the fear of his rejection stopped me in my tracks.

By the time the sun had begun to set, my decision was made. I would meet Kane. I would hear what he had to say, and then I’d figure out what to do from there.

As night fell, I slipped away from the pack grounds, my heart pounding in my chest as I made my way toward the eastern border. The forest grew darker with each step, the familiar landscape taking on an eerie quality in the shadows. My senses were heightened, every rustle of the leaves sending a shiver down my spine.

When I finally reached the designated meeting spot, my breath caught in my throat. There, standing just beyond the treeline, was Kane. He was leaning casually against a tree, his arms crossed over his chest as if he had been waiting for me all along.

“You came,” he said, his voice low and smooth, with a hint of amusement.

I swallowed, keeping my distance as I faced him. “What do you want, Kane?”

He chuckled softly, pushing away from the tree as he stepped closer. “It’s not about what I want, Raven. It’s about what you want.”

My heart raced as he spoke, his words sending a chill down my spine. “And what makes you think you know what I want?”

Kane’s smile widened, his eyes gleaming in the moonlight. “Because I’ve been watching. I’ve seen the way you look at Carden. The way he looks right past you, as if you’re not even there.”

My breath caught in my throat, and I clenched my fists, trying to keep my emotions in check. “You don’t know anything about me or Carden.”

Kane raised an eyebrow, his expression unreadable. “Don’t I? He’s still hung up on Aria, isn’t he? No matter how hard you try, you’ll never be enough for him. You’ll always be second to her.”

His words cut deep, hitting on the very fears I had been trying so hard to suppress. But I refused to let him see how much they affected me.

“What’s your point, Kane?” I asked, my voice trembling slightly. “Why are you telling me this?”

He stepped closer, his eyes locking onto mine. “Because I can help you. I can give you what you want—what you deserve. Carden will never be able to look past Aria unless something... shifts.”

I frowned, my mind racing as I tried to make sense of his words. “What are you saying?”

“I’m saying,” Kane continued, his voice dropping to a whisper, “that I can remove the obstacle standing between you and Carden. All you have to do is accept my help.”

A chill ran down my spine as his meaning became clear. He was offering to take care of Aria—to get rid of her, one way or another.

My heart pounded in my chest as I stared at him, my mind reeling. I had wanted Carden’s love for so long, had yearned for him to look at me the way he once looked at her. But this… this was different. This wasn’t about winning his heart. It was about eliminating his choice.

I shook my head, stepping back from him. “I can’t do that, Kane. I’m not… I’m not going to hurt her.”

Kane smirked, his eyes narrowing. “You wouldn’t have to. Leave it to me. You can keep your hands clean, and Carden will finally be yours.”

I swallowed hard, my thoughts a tangled mess of fear, desire, and guilt. This was wrong—everything about this was wrong. But the temptation gnawed at me, the idea that maybe, just maybe, this could be the way to finally have Carden’s love.

But at what cost?

“No,” I said firmly, taking another step back. “I won’t do it.”

Kane’s smile faded, replaced by a cold, calculating look. “Think about it, Raven. You’ll never have Carden if Aria’s still in the picture. She’s the only thing standing between you and him. You know that as well as I do.”

I shook my head, my heart pounding in my chest. “I won’t do it,” I repeated, though my voice wavered. “Stay away from me. And stay away from Aria.”

Kane chuckled softly, shaking his head. “You’re making a mistake. But don’t worry—I’m a patient man. I’ll be around if you change your mind.”

With that, he turned and disappeared into the shadows, leaving me standing alone in the clearing, my heart racing and my mind spinning.

As I made my way back to the pack grounds, the weight of the encounter pressed down on me. Kane’s offer hung in the air like a dark cloud, and no matter how hard I tried to shake it, the temptation lingered.

I had made the right choice. I had walked away. But deep down, a part of me couldn’t help but wonder…

What if he was right? What if Aria was the only thing standing in the way of the one thing I wanted more than anything?

What if I had just thrown away my only chance to have Carden’s heart?