Page 23 of The Raven's Alpha

I nod, feeling a sense of trepidation wash over me. "Of course," I say, trying to sound reassuring.

Darcy takes a deep breath before continuing. "I'm a virgin," his voice barely above a whisper.

I feel a jolt of surprise, but as I look into his eyes, I see something there that gives me pause. It isn’t shame or embarrassment – it’s vulnerability. And as I wrap my arms around him, holding him close, I know that I had to be gentle with him.

I feel a lump rise in my throat and my voice is barely above a whisper when I blurt out the words, "Me too.” I'm frozen, waiting for Darcy's reaction.

I'm terrified that he'll see me as a joke, or that he'll think I'm not mature enough to handle the truth. My mind is racing with all the worst-case scenarios as I gaze down at him.

But Darcy's expression doesn't change. He looks at me with a soft, understanding gaze, and my heart skips a beat. It's as if he's seeing me for the first time – not just my flaws and insecurities, but my vulnerability and humanity.

I take a deep breath and let it go, feeling a weight lift off my shoulders. Maybe this is what I needed – someone who gets it, who understands that sometimes it's okay to be imperfect.

Darcy's eyes shine with curiosity as he asks me why I'm a virgin. I take a deep breath, feeling a flutter in my chest as I consider how to respond. "Would it sound silly if I were to say I was waiting for you?" I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.

Darcy's expression softens, and he leans in closer. "If you mean specifically me, then yeah maybe," he says, his voice low. "But if you mean that you were waiting for your mate, then no. I actually think it's surprisinglyromantic."

I feel a warmth spread through my chest as I look at him. It's as if he's seen into my very soul, and understood the deepest parts of me. I nod, feeling a sense of vulnerability wash over me.

"I guess I was waiting for someone who would understand me," I tell him.

Darcy's eyes lock onto mine, and I can see the sincerity in his gaze. "I'm glad I'm that person for you," he says, his voice full of emotion.

"I've been waiting for my fated," I say, my voice quiet, but echoing in the stillness of the bathroom. "I never thought I'd be blessed with a mate, but somehow I feel like I've been given a rare gift." I take a deep breath, feeling a flutter in my chest as I look at Darcy. "I've never wanted anyone else," I continue, my voice trembling slightly. "It's not like I was saving myself for any other particular reason. It's just something I wanted to do."

Darcy's fingers wrap around mine and I feel a jolt of electricity run through my body. His touch is warm and gentle, sending shivers down my spine as he speaks. "Tell me about your family," he says, his voice kind and curious.

I take a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart. "My family's pretty standard," I say, trying to sound casual despite the flutter in my chest. "My mum's an omega, my dad's an alpha... I’ve got a few siblings, and they all live together in a pack land."

Darcy's eyes lock onto mine, his expression soft and curious. "Pack land?" he repeats, his brow furrowing slightly. "What's that like?"

I nod, feeling a sense of comfort wash over me as I talk about my family. "It's... it's nice," I say. "They’ve got a decent sized cabin with plenty of room for everyone. And the forest is right outside their doorstep - they can go hiking and fishing whenever they want."

As I talk about my family, I feel a sense of nostalgia wash over me. I miss them, miss our laughter and our arguments and our cosynights around the fire. But as I look at Darcy's face, I see something there that makes me feel like I'm home.

Darcy nods as he listens, his expression warm with an encouraging smile. "How come you live here then?" he asks, his voice low and thoughtful.

I take a deep breath, feeling a flutter in my chest as I consider his question. "To be honest," I say, my voice barely above a whisper, "I left home because I needed to get away from the traditional expectations. My parents wanted me to marry some omega and settle down, but I wanted to see what else was out there."

Darcy's gaze holds mine, "I don’t really know how that feels," he says, his voice soft and gentle. "I've always felt like I'm stuck in this rut, like I'm just going through the motions without any purpose."

As we talk, I feel a sense of connection growing between us. It's like we're sharing a secret, something that only we understand. The air around us seems to vibrate with tension, and I can feel my heart pounding in my chest.

Darcy's eyes seem to bore into mine, as if searching for something hidden deep within me. "Do you ever regret leaving?" he asks, his voice low and thoughtful.

I pause, feeling a pang of nostalgia wash over me. "Not really," I whisper. "But I do miss them all, especially my mum's cooking and my dad's bad jokes."

Darcy's gaze holds mine, his eyes filled with understanding. "I know what it's like to want something different," he says, his voice soft and gentle.

I take a deep breath, a sense of vulnerability washing over me. "I had a burning desire to break free from the suffocating expectations of the traditional ways," I say, my voice shaking slightly. "I wanted to forge my own path, to make my own decisions and create my own life."

Darcy's expression softens, his eyes filled with compassion. "And you did," he says, his voice filled with admiration. "You built a life from scratch, creating something beautiful and unique in this little cabin."

As Darcy's words sink in, I feel a warmth spread through my chest, like a gentle flame that's been lit within me. A sense of belonging washes over me, and for the first time in a long time, I feel like I'm exactly where I'm meant to be.

Darcy's eyes gleam with pride, his face lighting up with a warm smile that makes my heart skip a beat. His voice is like honey, sweet and soothing, and I feel myself melting with its warmth.

I look at him, really look at him, and see the sincerity in his eyes. See the way he believes in me, and it's like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I feel like I can breathe again, like I can be myself without fear of judgement.