Page 37 of The Raven's Alpha
A sudden pounding on the passenger side window makes my heart thud in my chest as I pull away from him. The sound of knuckles thudding against the glass is like a punch to the gut, and I feel a shiver run down my spine. Eddy's eyes flash with a warning as he subtly shakes his head at me, his jaw clenched in a tight line. He rolls down his window a couple of inches, and a faint hint of moonlight illuminates his face as he speaks, "Good evening, we're just passing through to visit family at Grizzly-Fields."
As the only light comes from the moon and distant stars, the darkness seems to swallow everything around us. The air is heavy with the scent of damp earth and decaying leaves as I strain to see beyond the shadows, trying to make out the features of the man outside. His imposing figure is shrouded in darkness, but his broad shoulders and muscular build hint at his alpha status. I can feel his eyes on me, like cold weights pressing against my skin, as he stands there, silent and unmoving
Suddenly, the man's patience wears thin as he points his finger at the window. His long finger extends like a rod, pointing straight at us. The air seems to vibrate with tension as he speaks, his wordsdripping with an air of menace, and I can feel the weight of his gaze like a physical force. "Roll that all the way down and give me your IDs," he demands, his tone cold and unyielding, as if daring us to defy him.
Eddy's hand darts across the console, his fingers closing around the passports like a vice as he extracts them from the glovebox. I'm frozen in place, my body tensed like a spring, my mind racing with worst-case scenarios. The sound of the window rolling down is like a scream in my ears, and I can feel my heart pounding in my chest. I force myself to take even breaths, trying to calm my ragged breathing and steady my racing heart as Eddy passes our passports to the man without looking at me, his movements mechanical and detached.
"Is the omega yours?" the man growls, his voice like a low rumble of thunder on a summer night.
Eddy's eyes flash with anger as he growls out the words, his nostrils flaring with indignation. "He's my fated mate.”
The man leans down and rests his forearms on the window, his biceps bulging with muscle as he peers into the truck. His hot breath washes over me, making me shiver. "Is he claimed?" he asks, his voice dripping with malice.
Eddy shakes his head, his jaw clenched in anger. "No."
The man's smile is a cold, calculating thing, his eyes glinting with malice as he leans closer to us. His eyes blazing with hunger as he sniffs at me like a predator sizing up its prey. His head dips lower, his hot breath washing over me like a wave, making my skin crawl. “You smell delicious, omega,” he growls, his voice low and menacing. My heart is pounding in my chest, my mind racing with worst-case scenarios as I stare up at him, frozen in fear. I can feel his eyes burning into me, like a brand searing itself onto my skin. The air seems to grow colder as he looms over me, his presence suffocating. I'm trapped and helpless, unable to move or speak as he gazes at me with an unnerving intensity.
“I’d appreciate it if you could just let us through, my family is expecting us,” Eddy tells the man.
The man's head snaps up, his eyes narrowing at my alpha before he examines our IDs with a savage scrutiny. The silence seems to grow louder, taking on a menacing quality that sends shivers down my spine. “I'd mark your omega before anybody else finds out an unclaimed bitch is roaming around,” he growls, his voice low and menacing. “I'd take that omega from you and make him beg for mercy. And I'd make sure you never see him again.” His words hang in the air like a threat.
As soon as the man stands up to his full height, he chucks our ID’s through the window and slams his fist against the door, Eddy floors it, the engine roaring as we speed away. The tires screech in protest as we hit the gas, sending us careening down the street like a wild animal on fire. A plume of black smoke billows behind us, a cloud of grey fog chasing us down like an avenging spirit. The truck’s tires shred the ground like a hot knife through butter, sending shards of concrete flying in all directions.
I wait until I can no longer see the man's menacing figure in the rear-view mirror before I exhale a shaky breath. My heart feels like it's been ripped in two, a dull ache spreading through my chest like a slow-moving fire. My throat clicks with dryness as I swallow hard, the sound echoing through my mind. The taste of fear lingers on my tongue, bitter and metallic. I'm aware of every ragged breath I take, every pound of my racing heart. My skin is slick with sweat, my palms feeling clammy against the leather seat.
"Are you okay?" Eddy asks, his voice low and gravelly, like a growl rumbling in the back of his throat. His meaty fingers wrap around the steering wheel like a vice, his knuckles white as he grips it. The angry scent of his adrenaline-fueled fury wafts through the cab, making my head spin.
I hesitate, my voice caught in my throat like a bird struggling to free itself from a trap. "I...I think so," I manage finally, my words barely audible over the pounding in my ears. His gaze flicks to me, his eyes blazing with concern, but I can see the tension still simmering beneath the surface, waiting to boil over at any moment.
I glance over at Eddy and I see his expression soften, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he apologises. His voice is low and gentle, like a warm breeze on a summer day, and I feel my tension ease ever so slightly. “I'm sorry,” he says again, his words dripping with sincerity.
“Edgar, are you alright?” The unfamiliar voice shouts through the phone.
“Yes, Dad,” my alpha responds warily. “We're through.” Eddy's eyes flicker towards me, his expression softening as he says, “We won't be long.” His voice is low and calm, but there's a thread of annoyance beneath it, like a guitar string vibrating with tension.
I block out the rest of Eddy's conversation with his father as I try to process the man's words from earlier. They still sting like a slap in the face, my insides feeling like they're tangled in a knot. My heart races with indignation and my mind reels with self-doubt. I've always prided myself on being strong, but now I'm not so sure. That word -'bitch'- still echoes in my mind, making me feel like I'm nothing more than a fragile, insignificant thing. The stranger's treatment has left me feeling raw and exposed, like a wound that's been ripped open and left to bleed. As I sit there in the darkness, trying to make sense of it all, I realise that being an omega isn't just about biology - it's about being treated like dirt by people who don't understand or care.
Eddy's hand brushes against my leg, making me jump in surprise. I apologise hastily, my heart racing as I realise it's just him.
“No need to say sorry, Darcy,” he says, his voice barely above a whisper. The words are like a gentle rain on parched soil, soothing my raw emotions. “I feel awful about what happened,” Eddy continues,his voice low and husky. “If I knew it would have been like that, I wouldn't have brought us here.” The sincerity in his voice is like a balm to my soul, and I feel a lump form in my throat as I try to process everything that's happened.
I shake my head, feeling a mix of emotions swirling inside me like a turbulent sea. I look at Eddy, his eyes searching mine for understanding. “No, it's fine,” I say, trying to sound convincing. “It's not your fault, plus I really want to meet your family.” Eddy's expression softens, his face relaxing into a gentle smile. He reaches out and gently brushes a strand of hair behind my ear, his touch sending shivers down my spine.
“You're sure?” he asks, his voice low and unsure.
I nod, trying to swallow past the lump in my throat. “Yeah, I'm positive.” His eyes crinkle at the corners as he smiles again, relief washing over me like a wave.
We drive in silence, I feel Eddy's fingers wrap around mine like a warm blanket, his touch a gentle reminder that he's still with me. The darkness outside seems to press in on us, but his calming pheromones waft in like a soothing balm, easing my tension and calming my racing thoughts. I glance over at him, his gaze is intent, his jaw clenched as he works to keep his emotions in check. His fingers tighten around mine for a moment before releasing, and I feel a pang of empathy for him. I know he's still angry with what happened earlier, and I want to reach out and reassure him that everything will be okay. But for now, we just sit in silence, the only sound is the soft hum of the engine and the creaks of the old truck. Eddy's touch is all that breaks the stillness - his thumb tracing gentle circles on my palm as he exhales slowly, releasing some of his tension into the night air.
When we pull up to the log cabin in the woods, I'm struck by its rustic charm. The darkness makes it difficult to see every detail, but I can make out the rough-hewn logs that form its walls, the steeply pitched roof that seems to disappear into the trees. The sound ofcrickets and distant hooting owls fills the air, and I breathe in deeply, taking in the scent of pine and damp earth. I smile, feeling a sense of peace wash over me. This is where Eddy's family lives - where they've raised him and his siblings, where they've shared countless memories. It's a place of comfort and security, where I feel like I belong.
I hastily vacate my seat and scramble onto Eddy's lap, his strong arms wrapping around me in a warm embrace. As I nestle into his chest, his body heat seeps into my chilled skin, calming my racing heart and soothing my frazzled nerves.
His warm breath whispers against my ear as he suggests, “Why don't we skip the introductions for now and get some rest? You can meet the family in the morning when you're feeling more refreshed?”
As much as I yearn to muster up the courage to face his parents, I know I’m not ready to put on a brave face just yet. “Is that really okay with you?” my voice barely above a whisper, as I cling to his chest.
He tightens his arms around me and I feel a sense of calm wash over me. “Of course it is,” he whispers, his breath caressing my ear. “Your comfort is my main priority right now.” A few more moments of tender intimacy passes, the scent of our entwined bodies mingling in the crisp evening air. When I finally feel ready to face the world again, Eddy helps me out of the truck, and we make our way towards the cabin, our bags slung over his shoulders.