The Wolves Among Us

Chapter6

Raven’s P.O.V.

Adam sighed heavily, shaking his head as if he couldn’t believe what had happened with me driving back into Fairview.

“You can’t just walk back in and expect everything to be the same.”

I met his gaze, resolute.

“I don’t. But I’m here now.”

It wasn’t enough.

Not yet.

But it was a start.

the weight of their gazes pressed on me like an unbearable burden, but none heavier than Adam’s expectant stare.

“Why did you leave all those years ago?” Adam’s voice was steady, but there was an edge to it, a quiet demand for the truth. I exhaled sharply, shoving my hands into my pockets.

“You already know why.” My voice was rough, worn from years of silence.

“I couldn’t stay in Fairview. I couldn’t keep living in a town with everyone looking at me like I was some broken thing to be pitied.”

Skye scoffed, crossing his arms.

“And you think you were the only one feeling that way?” His tone was sharp, cutting deep.

“We all felt it, Raven. But none of us ran for the hills.”

My patience snapped like brittle glass. A low, guttural growl escaped my throat as I took a step toward my older brother, my muscles taut with restrained anger.

“You don’t understand, Skye. You have no idea how deep that pain ran. Losing them—it shattered me. I couldn’t breathe in this house, in this town, with everyone whispering behind my back, reminding me every damn day that our parents were gone.”

Silence hung between us, heavy and suffocating. Adam’s expression softened slightly, and he nodded.

“I get it, Raven. I do. But you didn’t just leave Fairview. You left us. You never called, never wrote. For all we knew, you were dead.”

I swallowed and nodded, guilt coiling in my gut like a living thing. I had convinced myself that leaving was the only way to survive, that cutting ties would make it all easier for everyone. But I had never considered what it did to those I left behind. Skye’s voice cut through the quiet, laced with something raw and unfiltered.

“You hurt Eluna and Selene the most.”

My breath hitched.

“They cried themselves to sleep over you, Raven,” Skye continued, his voice breaking with emotion.

“Losing Mom and Dad was bad enough for them, but then you left too. You were supposed to be there for them, for us. And you weren’t.”

A sharp pain lanced through my chest. I had spent so much time drowning in my own grief, that I had never once thought about theirs. I had left to escape my own pain, never realizing the wounds I carved into those I loved in the process.

“I—” I started, but no words came.

What could I possibly say?

That I was sorry?

That I hadn’t thought about how much they would hurt without me?

None of it seemed like enough.

I dropped my gaze to the ground, shame settling over me like a thick fog.

“I didn’t know,” I admitted finally, my voice barely above a whisper.

“I didn’t think… I was so lost in my own pain, I didn’t stop to see how much I was hurting all of you.”

Adam sighed, running a hand through his hair.

“Yeah, well… now you know.”

I lifted my head, looking at them—my brothers, my family. I had spent so long running, but maybe it was time to stop running. Maybe it was time to finally come back home. It surely felt surreal sitting here with them after all these years. Koda leaned forward, his dark eyes locked onto mine with curiosity.

"Tell me about the pack, Raven. What's it like? Living among them? What did you learn?"

I took a slow breath, my gaze shifting to the kitchen as memories flooded my mind.

"It's different," I admitted.

"Living in a pack means being surrounded by wolves who understand what you are, who live by instincts while we were always forced to suppress. There were no secrets, no hiding what we truly are. If you needed to shift, you shifted. If you needed to run, you ran. It was... freeing."

I glanced at Skye, who was listening intently, arms crossed over his chest.

"I learned things we never knew growing up. How to live with your inner wolf as a partner, and not constantly push him back. How to work together with others in a way that made us stronger, not just as fighters, but as a family. I wish... I wish you could have experienced it."

Skye nodded slowly before his eyes narrowed slightly.

"Is that where you met Lucy's mother?" The way he said it, I knew where his mind was heading.

"When is she arriving?"

A heavy silence settled over the room. I clenched my jaw, feeling the weight of their anticipation pressing against me. Finally, I exhaled and shook my head.

"She won’t be coming."

Stunned silence.

My brothers exchanged glances, their confusion thick in the air. Koda’s brows furrowed.

"What do you mean?" He asked, voice quiet, cautious.

"How can you have a child without the mother being—"

"She’s dead," I cut him off, my voice barely above a whisper. Saying it out loud still burned.

"She’s gone."

Adam’s sharp intake of breath filled the space between us.

"What happened to her?"

I felt their eyes on me, waiting for an answer. But I couldn't—wouldn’t—go there. Not now. My fingers curled into fists as I forced the memories back.

"I don’t want to talk about it. Right now, it’s just Lucy and me. That’s all that matters for now."

Another stretch of silence. Then I met Adam’s gaze again, the Alpha of our family, the one who had every right to cast me out or invite me in.

"I need to know," I said, my voice rough,

"if there’s still a place for us here."

Adam studied me for a long moment before nodding.

"You can stay. Lucy can stay. You're still our brother, Raven. That hasn't changed."

A breath I hadn’t realized I was holding slipped out in relief.

I had a place here.

Lucy had a place here.

But just as that relief settled in, Blade pushed himself from his position leaning against the wall. Without a word, he turned on his heel and strode out the door, his frustration palpable in the tension of his movements. We all watched him go, his silence louder than any words he could have spoken. I glanced back at Adam, who sighed, rubbing his temples.

"He’ll come around. Just give him time."

I wasn’t so sure. But right now, I had bigger things to focus on. Like making sure Lucy had the family she deserved.

“I can’t change the past,” I said, voice heavy with regret.

“But if you’ll let me… I would like to try and fix what I broke.”

Adam exchanged a look with Skye, and after a long, tense moment, he gave a small nod.

“Then start by coming back and actually staying this time.”

For the first time in a long time, I felt the smallest flicker of hope. Maybe, just maybe, I still had a place with them after all. And for my little girl, I would do anything in my power to make it happen.