Chapter 7: Raven

Reid's POV Again

Mid 1800's

Somewhere on the South of France.

"You seem distracted."

I shook my head even though I knew the statement was not meant as a question. I was trying my best to keep up with the Alpha. He was swinging punch after punch at me and I was trying my hardest to block each swing. The Alpha believed that in order to be a strong warrior you needed to be able to fight in any state, so here we were in the middle of a gushing river attacking each other.

Neither of us had transformed either, apparently this was all apart of the training.

The river was situated just outside of our tiny village, embedded between two colossal grey stones that the Alpha had carved his name into. This was his territory now.

I grunted and flashed a lock of hair back out of my eyes. Even without transforming I still could feel my inner wolf trying to take control. Now was the time to rely upon my animal instincts; the need for survival was kicking in. Werewolves were natural hunters; I could be cunning and primitive if it was necessary.

The Alpha's brown eyes flashed red as I gripped him by the throat pulling him up out of the water by his neck. I was delirious and high on hormones. I had never done this before. Finally, the training was paying off. He felt like a scared pup in my hands. I suppose I was a bit too confident because before I could even blink the Alpha cut me a upper cut and my head was submerged under water.

Wildly, I was thrashing about, my hazel eyes were switching to golden globes as my wolf threatened to break free. I was under for what seemed like an eternity before the Alpha pulled me up. I was gasping for air and clawed desperately at my throat. Water spewed everywhere.

"You shouldn't be cocky unless the enemy is dead," he warned.

Terror made his way out of the water and unto the river's bank. I swore the water seemed to part in two when he wadded through it. He had an almost God-like statue, he was muscular, tanned and very tall. And this was coming from someone who was 6"4'.

I followed his course and flopped down on the stone beside him. We were both deep in thought when Terror spoke up, "What's bothering you, Reid? I was this close to killing you out there." I released a frustrated sigh. It was senseless to lie to the Alpha. He would know whether I was being truthful or not.

"It's Raven," I admitted for the first time out loud. I hadn't even voiced my concerns to Dishi. Terror rose a bushy eyebrow in my direction. He was silent while I poured my heart out. "She's worried that we might not be able to reproduce." Terror let go of a mighty snort. "Impossible. It simply isn't her time to bear children as yet."

Try telling that to Raven, I thought.

Raven and I had been together ever since we were pups. She was my soul mate in the truest sense of the word. In the areas that I was lacking, she was sure to make up for it. I couldn't imagine spending eternity with anyone but her. If I lost her, I was sure to die.

I knew her not being able to produce pups was putting a huge strain on our relationship, especially when she saw practically every woman in our little village pregnant or with a young pup. I tried my best to reassure her, to let her know that despite everything my love for her would not diminish. Nothing would ever make me love her less. Some days she understood, and well other days were a real hassle.

As if on cue, Raven emerged from seemingly nowhere and came into view. She was one view I would never get tired of looking at though. I drank in the sight of her. She had waist length black hair, skin that the sun blew kisses on often and piercing blue eyes that I swore could see into the depths of my soul. She looked scrumptious as she ambled up to us. She was perfection trapped in a woman.

She gave me a huge kiss as soon as she was within reach to do so and flopped down in my lap, wrapping her arms around my neck. "I missed you," she said with a small pout. Upon her arrival Terror had long since excused himself. For a reply I devoured her mouth with another kiss letting her know just how much I needed her. Our tongues danced to an unknown song and we drank deeply from each other's mouths.

Raven pulled back with a little giggle. "I love you so much."

I kissed the tip of her cute button nose and whispered against her lips, "I love you more."

With Raven I could be my honest self. Only thing she required from me was to be a trying man. And that I was. I was now the Alpha's Beta. His second in command. Man, it felt so good saying that. I was never the boastful type but the title did come in clutch.

She squirmed all over my lap in the most uncomfortable way. I grinned devilishly at her because that meant she had felt my growing erection through her many skirts. Playfully, she swatted my arm. "You're so naughty. Definitely not here." But there was a wicked gleam in her eyes and I knew that if I wanted to she wouldn't have protested if I decided to take her right now and here.

The water seemed to play a melodic tune as I gazed at my mate with so much love and tenderness.

Gently, I cupped her face and stared deep into those oceanic blue abyss of hers. My wolf longed to feel our flesh together as one. To feel once more just how wonderful she felt, beneath me. Pleasing me. Taking me. Suddenly there was a burning desire within me that only she could quench. I knew she saw the golden flashes in my hazel eyes. After all, she was the only person who had this effect on me.

Gruffly, I pulled her in for another kiss while my hands tried to make sense of the intricate design of her heavy dress. I grunted against her lips. I hated this. I never saw the need for so much undergarments. Now it was preventing me from getting what I wanted. And what I wanted was to make sweet, passionate love to my mate. Raven.

Raven pulled away. "Wait," she said in between breaths, "I have something to tell you." Instantly, my guard went up and I began to search her face as if the answer laid there. She chuckled, "Will you relax."

Another deep breath and she blurted it out, "I'm pregnant!"

It took a second for the words to register. You should have seen how happy I was. I picked her up and twirled her around laughing my face off. Unbeknownst to me tears were spilling down my face. This seemed like something out of my dreams. Raven was crying too as she pulled me in for a sweet kiss and our tears mingled together as one.

I was going to be a father. Finally.

Finally, we were complete.