sixty one

sixty one
Raven’s P.O.V.

The night after my encounter with Kane, sleep was a distant memory. My thoughts were a whirlwind, spinning in an endless cycle of guilt, desire, and fear. Every time I closed my eyes, I heard his voice echoing in my mind, soft and persuasive.

"You’ll never have Carden if Aria’s still in the picture. She’s the only thing standing between you and him."

I tossed and turned, my heart heavy with the weight of what Kane had offered. The temptation had been stronger than I wanted to admit, but I had walked away—told him no. But even now, that seed of doubt had been planted, and it was growing, taking root deep inside me.

As dawn approached, I sat up in bed, the early morning light filtering through the window. My chest felt tight, as if my heart was trapped in a cage, beating against the bars, desperate to be set free. I had told Kane I wouldn’t go along with his plan, that I wouldn’t hurt Aria. But that didn’t stop the thoughts that followed me into the silence of the night, whispering to me in the quiet.

Would it really be so terrible if Aria was out of the way?

I wrapped my arms around my knees, pulling them to my chest as I stared blankly out the window. Carden had been distant for weeks now, and no matter how hard I tried, no matter what I did, it always seemed like there was something pulling him away from me—something keeping us from truly being together. And that something was Aria. It had always been her.

From the moment I came into Carden’s life, I knew she was a part of him. At first, I told myself that she was just a remnant of his past—someone he cared about, but no longer loved in the way he had once. I convinced myself that he could love me, that with enough time, he’d see me the way he once saw her.

But I’d been wrong. No matter how much he tried to hide it, Carden’s heart was still wrapped around Aria, tangled in the memories they shared. And no matter how patient I was, no matter how hard I worked to be the perfect partner for him, I was never going to be Aria.

I closed my eyes, the ache in my chest deepening. I had tried to tell myself that I didn’t mind, that I could live with being second best as long as Carden stayed with me. But as the days passed, as I watched him grow more distant, I knew I couldn’t. I couldn’t stand to be second anymore. I wanted more. I deserved more.

Kane had seen that. He had recognized my fear, my desperation, and he had offered me a way out—a way to finally be free of the shadow Aria cast over my life.

If she were gone, Carden would have no reason to hold back anymore. He wouldn’t be torn between us, wouldn’t be caught up in the memories of what could have been. I would be his only choice, his only option. I could be the one to heal him, the one to make him whole again.

But at what cost?

I sat there for what felt like hours, the war between my heart and my conscience raging inside me. Could I really do it? Could I agree to let Kane take care of Aria, knowing what it would mean?

My hands trembled as I pressed my palms to my eyes, trying to stop the flood of emotions. I wasn’t a monster. I didn’t want to hurt anyone—especially not Aria. But wasn’t it time I thought about myself for once?

I had spent so long being the understanding partner, the supportive one, waiting in the wings while Carden struggled with his feelings for her. And now? Now I had the chance to finally have what I wanted—to finally be with Carden without Aria standing in the way.

As the sun climbed higher in the sky, I made my decision.

I would reach out to Kane.

\---

That night, after the pack had settled in and the darkness of the forest had swallowed the world outside, I slipped out of the cabin. My heart pounded in my chest as I made my way through the trees, every step feeling heavier than the last. Part of me was still screaming to turn back, to stop this madness before it went too far. But another part of me—the part that was tired of being second, tired of waiting—pushed me forward.

When I reached the edge of the forest, I found a small clearing where the moonlight filtered through the branches, casting long shadows across the ground. I stood there, my breath shallow as I waited.

And then, as if he had been watching me all along, Kane appeared.

He stepped out from the shadows, his presence sending a shiver down my spine. His eyes gleamed in the darkness, a knowing smile playing on his lips as he approached me.

“You came,” he said, his voice smooth and almost pleased.

I swallowed hard, trying to steady my breathing. “I want to hear what you have to say.”

Kane’s smile widened, and he gestured for me to follow him deeper into the woods. I hesitated for a moment, but then I followed, my heart pounding in my chest. He led me to a secluded spot, far from where anyone could overhear us.

Once we stopped, Kane turned to face me, his expression unreadable. “So, you’ve had a change of heart.”

I met his gaze, my voice shaking slightly. “I want to know what you’re offering.”

He raised an eyebrow, a satisfied smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. “Simple. I can remove Aria from the equation. No more competition. No more divided loyalties. You’ll have Carden all to yourself.”

A chill ran down my spine at the way he said it, so casual, as if he was offering me nothing more than a cup of tea. But I wasn’t naive. I knew what he meant, and I knew that once I agreed, there would be no turning back.

“What would you do to her?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Kane tilted his head, his smile widening. “What happens to Aria isn’t your concern. You don’t need to worry about the details. All you need to know is that once she’s out of the picture, Carden will be yours.”

I felt sick, my stomach twisting into knots. But at the same time, I couldn’t deny the flicker of hope that Kane’s words ignited inside me. If Aria was gone, I wouldn’t have to compete anymore. I wouldn’t have to live in her shadow. Carden could finally be mine.

“Why are you doing this?” I asked, my voice shaking. “Why help me?”

Kane’s eyes gleamed in the moonlight, and he stepped closer, his voice low and dangerous. “Because I want something too, Raven. And having you on my side would be beneficial. We both get what we want.”

I swallowed hard, my heart pounding in my chest. This was wrong. I knew it was wrong. But the more Kane spoke, the more I found myself leaning toward him, the temptation of what he was offering pulling me in.

“I don’t want her dead,” I said, my voice trembling. “I just… I want her out of the way.”

Kane smiled, his eyes gleaming. “Consider it done.”

I hesitated for a long moment, my mind racing with thoughts of Carden, of everything we could have together if Aria was gone. And then, before I could stop myself, the words slipped out.

“Okay,” I whispered. “Do it.”

Kane’s smile widened, and he nodded. “You won’t regret this, Raven.”

As he turned and disappeared into the shadows, a cold chill settled over me, the weight of what I had just agreed to pressing down on me like a boulder.

I had made my choice.

And there was no turning back now.

\---

The walk back to the pack house felt like a dream—or more like a nightmare. Every step I took felt heavier, as if I was sinking deeper into something dark and irreversible. My mind kept replaying the conversation with Kane, his words echoing in my ears.

I had agreed to this. I had agreed to let Kane remove Aria from my life, knowing full well that it could lead to something terrible. I wanted Carden so badly that I had let my desperation cloud my judgment.

When I reached my cabin, I collapsed onto the bed, my heart still racing. I told myself that this was for the best—that once Aria was out of the picture, Carden and I could finally be happy.

But as I lay there in the dark, a gnawing feeling of guilt twisted inside me, making it impossible to find peace.

What had I done?