Silent bound

Chapter 1.

Silent bound.

Raven woke to the soft sound of birdsong filling the air, the first rays of the morning sun warming her face as she stretched beneath the canopy of trees. The world outside felt peaceful, calm. She took a deep breath, inhaling the crisp forest air and relishing the quiet beauty of the pack's territory. It was rare for her to feel this light-hearted, this at ease. Most days, Raven kept to the shadows, staying out of the way of the Alphas, keeping her distance from the drama and rivalry of the pack.

But today, she felt free.

The morning had gone perfectly. She had spent time in the meadow with the pups, watching as they tumbled over each other and played, their laughter filling the air. She couldn't remember the last time she had laughed like that—genuinely and without hesitation.

Raven had been raised to believe she was the lowest of the low—an omega with no purpose except to serve the pack. She had accepted that reality, learning to blend into the background, invisible and silent. But today... today felt different. Today, she felt a quiet joy, a happiness that filled her chest in a way she couldn't explain.

And then, as she walked toward the center of the pack's clearing, she saw him.

Kieran, the Alpha of their pack, stood tall and strong, as always, surrounded by a few of the other pack members. His dark eyes met hers, and for a moment, she thought she saw a flicker of warmth in his gaze.

"Raven," Kieran said, his deep voice smooth and easy. "You look happy today."

Raven smiled, her heart fluttering. "I am," she said softly. "It's been a good day."

Kieran chuckled, stepping a little closer. "I'm glad to hear that. We could always use someone with your positive energy around here."

Raven's cheeks flushed at his words. It wasn't the first time Kieran had spoken to her kindly—he had always treated her with more respect than most of the others—but today, for some reason, it felt different. She couldn't help but smile, her heart racing at the thought that maybe, just maybe, she wasn't invisible to him after all.

But that fleeting moment of happiness quickly turned to dread.

It started when Raven found herself in the pack's central clearing, near the area where the Alpha girls often gathered. She was collecting firewood, her arms full of the dried branches she had gathered, when she heard the unmistakable sound of footsteps approaching behind her. She turned, a smile on her lips, but it vanished when she saw who it was.

Vesper, the second in command of the Alpha girls, was walking toward her, her eyes narrowed with the kind of disdain Raven had grown all too familiar with. The other Alpha girls—Elara and Nyx—were a little farther back, watching with interest as Vesper stalked forward, her lips curled into a sneer.

Raven felt a knot form in her stomach. She knew, instinctively, what was coming.

They were standing in a tight circle, their eyes narrowed as they watched her and Kieran, their expressions filled with jealousy and disdain.

She knew the looks they gave her. They didn't hide their dislike of her, especially after the rumors started circulating about Kieran's kind gestures toward her. They'd never liked her, always seeing her as an easy target because of her status as an omega. But this—this was different. They didn't just dislike her. They were angry.

But, what had she done? She was simply doing her job...betting fire wood for the pack. It was getting cold and the pups would need way more fire this winter season because a blizzard was coming this year. She hasn't understood there intentions or what they wanted but she knew what to do—something she did every day...head down, walk straight. No eye contact or interrupting anything. Just get to A and B then back.