The Alpha's Raven- SAMPLE

Chapter 11

A SOFT touch to my forehead pulls me from sleep, but I stay still. I try to enjoy the gentle show of affection for as long as I can until they notice I'm awake. I already know how it is by the smell, but then who else would be brushing my loose hair behind my ears the way they are? Certainly not Troy, and most definitely not the guard.

I hear Sebastian shift and a second later, he pulls his hand away. "You can open your eyes now, Raven." And I do, my eyes quickly flitting to the window to see the sky is still dark. He follows my gaze. "It's a little past midnight. I got back not too long ago, and figured I'd come see you." His eyes return to me, glancing me over once. "Sorry to have woken you."

I shake my head. "No, it's okay," I say, my voice still groggy with sleep, as I sit up and face him. "You were dealing with alliance matters, right? Why did it take you only a day?"

He tilts his head, his gaze wandering around my face. "I know those things usually take a couple days, depending on what packs are being included and how far away their territories are. But it was just one pack that I had to deal with and they're only a few miles South of us." He smirks. "You might know them."

A small, breathy laugh escapes me, and I slump against the wall. "So, you made an alliance with White Wolf?"

Sebastian grins, shaking his head. "Oh, no. Why would I want an alliance with the pack that exiled my mate?" He leans back in his spot on the floor, bracing himself on his palms. "I actually went to break the alliance." I stare at him like he just grew two heads. Why does he seem proud of that?

"Why the hell would you do that?" I ask, exasperated. "Is there a brain up there, Sebastian? Aren't you supposed to be making the best decisions for your pack? Not ones that might put their lives at risk?"

He furrows his brows. "Even with the alliance, we never really got along with White Wolf. We were always on edge with each other. Besides, our pack is big enough that if they decide to cause any trouble, we won't have any problem at all with handing them their asses."

I don't miss the way he said ours instead of my, and I can feel a blush starting to burn its way up my neck. I'm guessing he already sees me as a leader of this pack. The initiation into the pack still needs to happen, and I don't even know when that will be. Maybe shortly after he gets these shackles off me and I'm out of this cell.

I pause at that thought, then look down. Lifting my arms, I stare at my wrists. My bare wrists. The shackles and heavy chains are gone. My skin finally had a chance to heal and the red, raw spots are gone, replaced with normal and healthy skin.

I slowly look at Sebastian, who has a soft smile on his face, with astonishment. "You took the chains off?" I whisper, feeling relieved that I am no longer held down. One step closer to being free. "Are you going to let me out of this cell, too? I was hoping that maybe I could go have a run in with White Wolf. Maybe get in a little tussle with some old packmates for fun."

Sebastian gives me a pointed look. "If I let you out of this cell, you are not going to immediately run off and cause trouble with a pack I just broke an alliance with. We don't need to start a war between the packs. Like I said, you'll be monitored and escorted until I trust you won't take off on me." He leans forward, reaching out and hesitantly taking my hand in his, almost as if he's worried I'll snatch it away. I consider it. "I'm sure, though, that you can feel our mate bond already forming."

I give him a small nod in reply, most of my attention on our hands that are folded together. His hand is large, almost swallowing mine whole. Callouses cover the main pressure points on his hands, showing that he works hard. His skin is warm and it pulls me in, making me want more.

Internally, I shake my head and pull my hand from his, placing it back in my lap. The little things might be getting to me now, but he'll have to work hard to win me over once I'm out of this cell. It'll be harder for him to make me want him when he's stuck in meetings and office work, and I'm out exploring the pack's territory. I'm reluctant to be pulled in completely.

Suddenly, I remember how I wanted to ask Sebastian about the guard. "What's her name? The guard you have bring my food?"

He furrows his brows, obviously confused, but answers anyway. "Kristy Wilkins. She's been a guard here at the prison for almost seven years, I think. She's been a good friend of mine for a long time, and I trusted her to treat you well. I hope she has been."

Pursing my lips, I shrug. "She's been okay. I don't think she's too fond of having to look after a rogue, of all people. I'm sure she'd be more than happy to take meals to anyone but me." I glance at him to see a look of slight anger appearing on his face. "There hasn't been anything I couldn't handle. It was just a few harsh words." I give a small, dark laugh. "And trust me. With the words I threw back in her face, she probably won't want to mess with me again any time soon."

He clenches his jaw as his gaze darkens. "As much of a friend Kristy is to me, if she gives you enough trouble, I'll look the other way if you throw the first punch."

I expect him to be joking, of course. Why would he want the future Luna of his pack attacking a pack member? But he is dead serious.

The stoic aura he gives off combined with the carnal look in his eyes is enough to be considered sinful. I almost need to hold myself back from jumping him on the spot. I blame that feeling on the growing mate bond between us.

A rumble sounds from deep within his chest. "Look at me that way again, Mate, and I might mark you before you're ready," he grumbles, his voice low and husky. His green eyes are quickly filled with lust. I involuntarily shiver and lower my gaze. "Now, if you want to, I can show you around the pack. We can even get you settled into that room I promised you."

I swallow the nerves that started building up inside me before I take a deep breath. "That sounds great," I agree. My hands fiddle with the thin blanket that's across my lap. "I think that I might need to get a new wardrobe seeing as all of my clothes were left at White Wolf."

Sebastian nods, then stands, holding out a hand to help me to my feet. I just stare at his hand for a second, debating on whether I should take it or not, but I do anyway. He effortlessly pulls me up.

"I'm sure you could borrow an outfit from my sister for now. You look to be about her size."

I raise a brow, disbelieving. "You have a sister?" That was something I never heard of in the rumors about Blood Moon. Hell, even in the pack meetings where we discussed matters about other packs, I never heard it mentioned that he had any living family, let alone a sister. "What's her name?"

"Olivia," he replies, turning and heading towards the door. "She's two years older, and the pack's Beta. She tends to keep to herself outside of matters that directly involve her. I think she'll like having you around, though." He gives a signal to the guard outside the door, and it slides open with a metallic whimper. He hesitates before stepping out of the cell and faces me once more. "Are you sure you'll stick around? If you try to run, I will find you. Now that our mate bond has started forming, it won't be very easy for you to stay away from me."

The hint of warning in his voice makes me nod. "I promise that I'll stay, Sebastian. I won't try to run from you."

The words full of lies burn my tongue and I keep quiet after I say them. There's a small twinge of guilt in the back of my mind for lying to Sebastian so easily. As soon as I get time away from prying eyes, I'll be gone. But he doesn't have to know that until I'm far away from Blood Moon's territory.