Page 11 of The Raven's Alpha

When I swing open the door, my mind is already racing with possibilities – who could be visiting me at this hour? – and my heart beats with a mix of anticipation and unease. Instead of a person, I'm met with an empty expanse of concrete steps, the only sound the faint rustling of the wind. My eyes scan the porch, searching for some sign of life, but the area is empty. Then, my gaze falls on the packageperched at the top of the steps, a large box with my name scribbled in neat, black letters.

As I peer out into the darkness, my gaze falls upon the surrounding gates, still closed despite the lack of an intercom announcement. It's an unusual oversight, one that sends a shiver down my spine. Who could have left the package without alerting me?

I lift the box, its weight presses against my back, testing my strength. I make my way through the hallway and back into the conservatory, the silence of the room amplifying the sound of my footsteps.

I sink onto the sofa, wrapping the blankets around my shoulders as I regard the box with curiosity. The label bears my name, and apart from that, there's nothing overtly sinister about it. My curiosity gets the better of me, and I use my nail to carefully slice along the taped edges.

When I lift the lid, a sweet, nostalgic aroma wafts out – sugar cookies and fresh foliage – enveloping me in a sense of warmth and comfort. The scent is so potent that it's almost overwhelming.

I know the package is from my grizzly bear the moment I opened it. I can sense the familiar, rugged scent of my mate lingering on the box. I lean in closer, my nostrils flaring as I take a deeper sniff. The cardboard itself has a faint, generic aroma, but beneath that, I detect the unmistakable musky smell of my grizzly bear. It's a scent that always makes me feel a sense of warmth and comfort, like a gentle hug on a cold day.

The realisation hits me like a punch to the gut: my grizzly bear has come to my doorstep. He must have figured out who I am, and I'm left reeling from the thought. My mind is torn between two competing instincts: the urge to rush outside to see if he's still lingering and the need to examine the contents of the box beforemaking any rash decisions. But my brain refuses to entertain the possibility that this box is a rejection gift.

I stand up and rush towards the front door, scanning the surroundings frantically. At first, I don't see him, but my heart is racing with the possibility that he's lurking just out of sight. He could be hiding, waiting for me to give up and leave. I take a deep breath and call out, my voice echoing through the quiet air. "Grizzly bear? Are you there?" But there's only silence. Undeterred, I try again, my voice a little louder this time. "Eddy?"

I move down the path, my nose twitching as I hone in on the scent of my alpha. I shut out the sounds of the forest, the rustling of leaves, and the chirping of birds, and focus all my attention on the subtle aroma that wafts towards me. A faint whiff of his distinctive scent tickles my nostrils, and I'm convinced I'm on the right track.

But my raven's words cut through my determination.‘I don't get it,’my raven snaps, his tone sharp with scepticism.‘Why would he sneak here to just drop something off and then leave? Maybe it truly was a way for him to break our bond.’

I refuse to accept the notion. No, my Grizzly Bear wouldn't take the coward's way out, not if he truly intended to break our bond. If he wanted to sever our connection, he'd confront me head-on, not hide behind a flimsy cardboard box.

With my resolve firm, I stalk back to the mansion, my head held high as I slam the door shut behind me, the sudden noise echoing through the silent hall. I take a deep breath, steeling myself for what's to come.

I burst back into the conservatory, the memory of my mate's scent lingering in my mind like a tantalising promise. With a sense of trepidation, I rip off the lid, and the sweet aroma of my mate washes over me once more. My hands tremble with anticipation, my heart racing with excitement as I gaze into the mystery box. My heart skips a beat at the sight of a handwritten note nestled among the crimsontissue paper. The words, delicately written, seem to leap off the page, demanding my attention.

To Darcy. My darling Darcy. My little raven.

From the moment our eyes met, I knew there was something special about you.

The first time I saw you in your raven form, I was unsure if you were a shifter or a regular bird, but I knew we shared a connection that could be described as friendship.

I’m unsure how long you’ve been hanging around my property, but I want you to know that I’ve kept every gift you left at my doorstep and I’ll continue to treasure those trinkets for the rest of my life.

Even though the way we officially met may be seen as controversial, I can’t for one moment regret what happened. I hate that I’m the reason for your forced shift and I promise that if you give me the chance, I’ll spend the rest of my existence being the perfect partner and alpha.

One thing about me is that I’ve been waiting and dreaming of meeting my fated mate. Many people have called me delusional for waiting my whole life to meet you and I have to admit that sometimes I had my doubts that my perfect person was even out there. But I never lost hope.

I knew we would one day find each other.

Since that day, my heart has been brimming with an overwhelming desire for you and I know with every being of my soul that we are meant for each other.

I want to explain about what happened that day at my cabin. The female shifter you saw at my place was only a friend (an ex-friend) and I know she harbours some romantic feelings towards me, but I promise I have always kept things strictly platonic.

I’m so sorry she took your necklace, it was my mistake for not defending you. I thought about placing the necklace in this box for you, but I hope you don’t mind that I have it currently chained around my neck.

Please accept these gifts, each and every one of them were handpicked and reminded me of you, I hope that one day I can continue to add to the collection of special trinkets.

I hand delivered this box and I am currently hiding in the woods behind your mansion. Please don’t come and find me until you’ve had time to think about what you want from me, but know that my cabin is always open for you.

If and when you are ready to meet again, please come and find me.

Forever yours, Eddy Elwood.

I re-read the letter, my eyes sting with tears of joy. My heart is racing with excitement, but it's also filled with a mix of nervousness and relief. I can feel the butterflies fluttering in my chest, their wings beating wildly as they try to escape.

'He wants me,’my ravens’ thoughts are like a ray of sunshine breaking through the clouds, filling me with warmth and light. I feel like I'm floating on air, my senses heightened as I relive every moment we've shared.

I clutch the letter to my chest, feeling its softness against my skin as I let out a triumphant cry. It's like I'm finally home, finally where I'm meant to be. And as I stand there, holding the letter close and feeling its weight in my hands, I know that nothing will ever be the same again.

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