Chapter 40 FORTY
Raven clenched his hands together and looked straight at Brienne as he began to talk.His voice was low but steady, carrying the weight of ancient truths.
"Long ago, there was a Moon Goddess named Selene who watched over the world," he began. "She created many creatures, but one of her most cherished creations was the wolf," he added. Raven paused for a moment to collect his thoughts before going on.
"These wolves were special—unlike any others. They were intelligent, loyal, and fiercely protective of the forests they called home. Selene, moved by their devotion, bestowed upon them a sacred gift—the ability to transform into humans. These were the first of our kind, her children, blessed by the Moon itself. Over time, humans gave us a name: werewolves," he said.
Raven stopped briefly to see Brienne’s reaction. She looked guarded, and her eyes flickered with a mix of interest and hesitation, but she didn't say a word, telling him to keep going.
"For hundreds of years, werewolves have lived among humans, hiding in plain sight," he continued. "We exist, Brienne. We’re here, even if most of the world refuses to believe it," he added. Raven let out a slow breath, his heart pounding as he awaited her response.
"This is the truth about what I am and the world I come from," he said. "Goddess knows how much I wanted to tell you the truth, Brienne. But I was terrified—terrified of how you’d react. I was so scared you’d hate me for what I am, and I wasn’t wrong. That day... when you saw me and pushed me away with fear in your eyes... it felt like my whole world shattered. In that moment, I wished I could just disappear," he added. His voice faltered, and he lowered his head, the memory cutting through him like a blade.
"I know I was wrong to keep it from you," he said, feeling bad about what he had done. "But I thought the only way to keep you safe was to hide it.The last thing I ever wanted was to hurt you," he added. Before Brienne could respond, Raven suddenly dropped to his knees in front of her, his desperation pouring out in waves.
"I’m so sorry," he whispered, his hands trembling. Brienne’s eyes widened in shock as she quickly stood up, her heart pounding.
"W-What are you doing?!" she exclaimed. Raven looked up at her, his voice breaking.
"I’ll do anything to earn your forgiveness, Brienne. Just... please, don’t push me away again," he muttered. "I love you... I really do," he added.
As Brienne watched Raven beg in front of her, her chest tightened.She couldn’t bring herself to meet his gaze, her own tears threatening to spill. She quickly wiped them away, her voice trembling.
“G-Get up,” she whispered, her tone soft but firm.
“P-Please, darling,” Raven choked out, his voice cracking with raw emotion. “Please, don’t leave me. I can’t... I can’t do this without you,” he begged, tears streaming down his face as he struggled to hold himself together. Brienne swallowed hard, her heart aching at the sight of him so broken.
"Raven, get up," she said again, this time with a weak but firm voice. She stepped up slowly toward him.“I hated that you lied to me,” she admitted, her voice quieter, yet heavy with the weight of her pain. Raven lifted his gaze to her, his eyes red and sad.
“I’m sorry...” he murmured, his voice barely audible. Brienne took a deep, shaky breath, steadying herself.
“S—Stand up,” she said, her voice gaining strength. “Stand up, and l-let me see it,” she added, her words laced with both fear and resolve.
Raven froze, understanding what she meant. There was a moment when only their breaths could be heard in the room. Then he slowly stood up, his heart beating fast.
"Do you w-want to see me in my w-wolf form?" Raven clarified his question, his voice hesitant and uncertain.
Brienne swallowed hard but nodded slowly, her hands trembling at her sides. It sounded crazy—beyond anything she thought she'd ever agree to—but for some reason she had to see the truth for herself.
Raven took a deep breath, his nerves evident as he glanced around the apartment. It was spacious enough to accommodate him in his wolf form, but the thought of transforming in front of her still made his chest tighten.
"Okay," he said softly, getting ready. After taking off his shirt, which showed off his toned upper body, he slid out of his pants. When he put his hands on the waistband of his shorts, Brienne quickly turned her face away because her cheeks were burning.
The transformation began before she could fully process it. Dark fur started to sprout from his body, and the unnatural and eerie sound of his bones cracking and shifting filled the room. However, Raven bore the pain without making any noise. His limbs elongated, his face extended into a wolf’s snout, and his hands morphed into powerful, clawed paws.
Brienne’s heart raced as she dared to peek, her breath hitching when she saw the creature before her. He was massive, his fur a deep, silken black that seemed to absorb the light, and his blue eyes glowing. He stood tall, his form both terrifying and majestic.
Brienne was so scared and amazed that her knees were about to give way, but she kept her balance and kept her eyes on him. She couldn’t look away now. This was Raven, stripped of pretense and hiding nothing.
“Raven...” she whispered.
Raven bowed his head and took a soft, humble stance, as if to promise her in silence that he would never hurt her. Brienne thought for a moment, her hand trembling as she slowly reached out and brushed it against his thick, black fur. Raven whimpered softly at her touch, causing Brienne to quickly pull her hand back, startled. However, his soft whimper again drew her courage forward. With a deep breath, she placed her hand back on him, this time caressing his fur.
"You really are a... wolf," she said, her voice barely above a whisper, her heart pounding like a drum in her chest. But as she looked at him, she felt something deeper than fear—understanding. This was her Raven, the man she loved. He was no monster. Tears streamed down her face as she stepped closer and wrapped her arms around his massive form, burying her face in his fur.
"I'm sorry," she choked out, her voice breaking. "I'm sorry for calling you a monster," she added. God knows she didn’t mean what she had said back then. She was scared and angry.
Raven’s body began to shift, the sound of cracking bones and rustling fur filling the room once more. When he returned to his human form, he embraced Brienne tightly, holding her as if he’d never let go.
"Darling," he murmured, his voice thick with emotion as he stroked her hair. "Forgive me for lying to you. I swear, I’ll never hide anything from you again," he added, raising his hand to promise. Brienne pulled away from him and looked straight into his eyes.
"Raven," she began, her voice trembling. "You also need to know something," she added. It has been long overdue. Raven needs to know about her pregnancy. He tilted his head, concern flickering in his blue eyes.
"I'm p-pregnant," she whispered, her hands instinctively resting on her stomach.
Raven froze, his expression a mixture of shock and joy. His mind raced as he recalled Sam’s earlier hints, realizing they were true. Slowly, his lips parted.
"I'm going to be a father?" he asked. Brienne nodded.
"Yes," she replied softly. The shock melted into pure elation.
"I’m going to be a father!" he exclaimed, his voice loud and full of joy. Unable to contain his excitement, he spun Brienne around in a circle, laughing with delight.
"Raven! Put me down; I’m going to get dizzy!" Brienne said and softly hit Raven’s shoulder. Raven immediately set her down, his grin wide and full of love. He placed a tender kiss on the top of her head before holding her face in his hands, gazing deeply into her eyes.
"Thank you," he said softly, his voice full of sincerity. "Thank you for giving me a chance, for forgiving me, and for trusting me with this. I promise, Brienne, I will do everything—everything—to protect you and our child. You are my world, both of you. I’ll be the mate and father you deserve, no matter what," he added and tucked the stray hair behind Brienne’s ear. Brienne smiled through her tears, resting her forehead against his.
"Just don’t keep any more secrets from me, okay?" she said.
"Never again," Raven vowed.
And they stood there, holding each other in the quiet of Janice and Sherry's apartment.