chapter 3- Announcement

The next day, 

Gently, I opened my eyes to the sounds of drums. My vision was clear and my eyes looked at the grass thatched round hut. My neck hurt like hell that I could barely move it but still, I lifted my head. I looked around me only to realize I was in a one-person cell. Smelly, dark, stuffy, and with barely any space for circulation. 

My hands were tied behind me on a pole. I was held captive in a pack. I felt thunderous footsteps surrounding the hut and then the door to the cell opened, allowing light in. I closed my eyes slightly and bent my head under my knees to protect my eyes from the hasty light. 

"It has been a while, Raven." I heard a familiar voice 

My mind stopped thinking for seconds as my eyes looked up in the voice's direction. That familiar sensation in her voice. Warm and calming. 

The woman was beautiful. She was dressed in a black overcoat with a hoody covering half her face to the eyes. Her skin was flawless and pale, radiating a full-grown beauty around 45 years old. Her eyes, sharp-pointed, and pink lips were beautiful. She was like a fallen Angel from Heaven. That woman was my mother, the woman I believed to have died five years ago in the fire I started. It was my fault that dad and mom died. 

How in hell did she end up in a pack? A place she forbade me from stepping foot in. 

I closed my eyes for a bit as memories flooded my mind. I was sure this was a dream. There was no way my mother Natalia Love Cruz was in a pack. I huffed a long breath as I opened my eyes. She was no longer there, she was gone but the door was still open. That means she was there. My mom was alive. 

Tears streamed down my face as I sniffed. At least something good happened for the past five years. I had many questions to ask her. Why did she disappear? What happened? Why in the hell would she lie about her death? 

I was lost in my thoughts and sobs that I didn't realize the door was opening. Two black men wearing shorts were standing in front of the tiny cell. I looked up at them and smiled sheepishly. 

It was so shameful to watch a grown-up ass man crying with snort and tears over his face. 

Without saying anything, one of the men handed me a knife and walked away before I could ask anything. 

For damned hell's sake, I had tons of questions to ask. I focused my mind and burned the rope that was trying my hands. I didn't like to use the fire ability but I rather burn the rope than cut my flesh with a knife. I crawled out of the cell and stood 6 feet tall as I looked around for my mother. 

"Looking for something?" the man from yesterday smiled. I jumped from the sudden shock before sighing "The fuck is wrong with you, cracked head!" I hissed at him.

"Alexander," he snapped his fingers and looked at me "Alexander Lima is my name." he stretched out his hand for a handshake. 

I looked at him from head to toe, my hands crossed along my chest before shaking my head. Was I supposed to shake hands with a man who almost killed me a day before? He's got to be kidding me. 

"Raven Love Cruz." I spat my name out and walked away. What was I even doing here in the first place? I walked around the pack like a headless chicken, I had no idea about a shit that was going on. I noticed some decorations as I wandered around. Maybe some kind of party was happening in the pack any time soon. I noticed some people giving me side eyes as they whispered among themselves. That shit was none of my business so I just found my way out of the crowd. 

"Mate," My wolf told me. 

For a moment, I smelled a strong chocolate-like scent. It was soothing, calming, and addictive. It was my first time smelling something like that other than my mother's wood scent. I ignored my wolf and continued walking west. I noticed some wolves with supernatural abilities practicing their powers, others training with swords, and others training in shooting. I bumped into someone and stumbled backward but I gained my footing quickly. 

I raised my eyes. Seeing a beautiful dark-skinned lady with brown eyes that sparked gold under the bright sunlight. Her lower lip sucked in her teeth with a flustered face trying to collect her dress that flew in the direction of the wind. She was wearing a black round dress with a belt emphasizing her tiny waist. She wasn't wearing anything on her feet. Her curly indie waves flew in the direction of the wind revealing her long neck and black lipstick tinted on her lips. 

"Mate," my wolf sounded excited. 

"Are you okay?" I asked giving off a lustful look and extending my hand to help her keep her dress put she brushed my hand off and ran in the opposite direction. I stared at her confused but I shrugged and continued walking since it wasn't my fault that she was dressed in a round dress in that kind of weather. 

"It would be better to avoid people of this pack," I whispered to myself with a raised brow. 

Someone pulled me and placed their hands on my mouth and eyes. I couldn't see them but I smelled them and knew. It was my mother, Natalia. I brushed her hands off pissed and looked at her with a face boiling with anger. 

"You must hate me?" she smiled after observing my face 

"Are you even human? How can a person disappear on her son in that situation and come back after years?" I asked her frustrated, I almost grabbed her neck but then clenched my hands into fists because no matter how bad a parent is, I had to respect her because she brought me into this world, that's what my dad taught me. 

My mother looked at me disappointed. "There wasn't a day when I never thought of you Raven. I have always loved you. I have always cared for you. I have been watching you over the years but I didn't have the guts to come near you. I thought you hated me." My mother wiped a tear from her face. My heart sank seeing my mother cry for the first time. I really wanna know what happened five years ago but I'm scared that I will be disappointed with myself. 

"You've only cared about yourself since forever. You never cared about anybody else mother but yourself. I hate you. I fucking hate you." I punched the tree in front of me. 

"You are getting married today." My mother's words tasted like something bitter as announced words at me. This was funny. I gasped and looked at her in disbelief "Are you my mother?" I asked with hatred in my voice. She didn't have any touch of guilt on her face but she was happy as if she had found a treasure for her. 

"I want the best for you sweetheart." she smiled and stretched her hands to touch my shoulder but I took two steps back and avoided her. "That's an order. It's either you marry her or we send you to the wolf rogues. Your life is in your hands now. This is Moon Blood pack, not the Mangrove tree you've been sleeping under."