Page 3 of The Raven's Alpha

I've been following him for weeks, learning his routine and studying his behaviour. I've come to realise that he's not just a handsome bear; he's a complex individual with his own joys and struggles. He works hard every day, pouring his heart and soul into his bakery.

As I follow him home, I can't help but feel a sense of excitement building inside me. Over time I've grown accustomed to his gentle strolls through the woods. He's always alone, never with anyone else, and I find myself wondering what his story is. What drives him to work so hard? What keeps him up at night?

I land on the roof of his cabin, my eyes scanning the surrounding area for any sign of movement. The stars are starting to shine brightly overhead and the night air is cool and crisp. I take a deep breath,feeling the tension in my body ease as I find the tree I’ve claimed as my own and settle in for the night.

As I wait for the grizzly bear to come out, I start to think about all the things I've learned about him. He's a hard worker, always putting in long hours. He's kind and gentle, always willing to lend a helping hand. But there's something about him that seems... lost. Like he's searching for something he can't quite find.

After what feels like an eternity, I start to get antsy.

‘Where is he? Is everything okay?’My raven can be so dramatic sometimes, but there's something about this that doesn't feel right. I carefully climb down the branch and make my way over to the window, my eyes scanning the room for any sign of movement.

That's when I see him, sitting on the sofa, his eyes red and puffy from crying. His wide shoulders shake as he heaves breaths through the sobs. My heart thuds and I feel a pang of concern.

‘What's going on? Is he okay?’

I don't know what to do. Part of me wants to fly down from the windowsill and comfort him, to tell him everything is going to be okay. Another part of me is worried about getting too close.

I take a deep breath, trying to make sense of it all. Maybe tomorrow will be a better day for him, and maybe our paths will cross soon. Maybe we'll have a chance to talk about what's going on in his life? Maybe we'll have a chance to get closer?

As I perch there in silence, watching over the grizzly bear, I realise that maybe this is just the beginning of our story.

‘We should leave him a gift,’my raven suggests.

Chapter Two

Eddy Elwood

For years, I've grown accustomed to the old-school alarm clock's ear-piercing shriek. But on mornings like this, I'm reminded of how much I loathe it. The sudden jolt of the ‘EEEEE!’ sound shatters my peaceful slumber, leaving me disoriented and irritable.

My heart racing, I force my eyes open, only to be met with the blinding light of dawn. The tears I'd been holding back since last night's commute had finally given way to a cathartic sob fest. I'd spent hours crying quietly to myself after getting home from work, the emotional weight of the day's verbal abuse finally overwhelming me.

I've lived in Everlong for over two decades, ever since my 18th birthday. While my parents didn't agree with my choice, they ultimately supported my decision. I know they wished I'd stayed in pack lands, found a mate, and started a family. But I had other plans.

I do want a mate and a family – just not the kind that came with settling down with a random omega just because they could provide me with offspring. I’m waiting for my true mate, someone who will accept me for who I am, unconditionally.

I'm a romantic at heart and I'm convinced that my fated mate is out there, waiting for me to find them. As I sit up in bed, the shrill alarm clock finally silences, the only sounds are the morning melodies of the forest. The cacophony of bird chirps, rustling leaves, and distant calls of unknown creatures is music to my shifter ears.

As a bear-shifter, I've developed a good sense of hearing, capable of picking up sounds from miles away. It's a blessing and a curse, as I can tune it out when necessary, but on mornings like this, I revel in the symphony of nature. The racket is almost overwhelming but I've learned to filter out the noise, savouring the subtle sounds that make my heart skip a beat.

I made the bold decision to leave my pack and start anew, but I knew one thing for certain: I wanted to stay close to the woods. The forest has always been a source of solace and comfort for me, and I couldn't imagine living anywhere without its tranquillity. When I stumbled upon this quaint little cabin, nestled deep in the heart of the woods, I knew I'd found my forever home. As a broke eighteen-year-old with barely a penny to my name, I was grateful to find a realtor who took pity on a fellow shifter and worked with me to make the dream a reality.

It took years of hard work and dedication to make ends meet. I took on every odd job I could find, from scrubbing toilets, to cleaning up after messy restaurant goers. And when I finally got my pay checks, I handed most of it over to the realtors, who patiently waited for me to scrape together enough funds to make the mortgage payments. It was a slow and arduous process, but the thought of owning my own home kept me going.

Growing up in a small pack of grizzlies, I was used to being surrounded by familiar faces and familiar scents. When I moved to Everlong, I was thrown into a whole new world of shifters. There were bears, wolves, foxes, and even the occasional cat or two. It was overwhelming at first – like being a small fish in a big pond – but as I got to know the other residents, I realised that most of them were kind and friendly. Not too friendly, especially the omegas, who seemed to hurl verbal abuse at me once they realised I wasn’t interested in them. But there was a sense of community here that I'd never experienced before.

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