Raven (Book One of the Dark Lycans Series)

I ran out of my room, and down the stairs. Hovering my hand over my thigh, where a dagger was hidden, I burst into the living room. I was not expecting what I found. My shoulders dropped from their tensed posture, and I crossed my arms over my chest.

"Really? I thought you were actually in trouble. And by the way, Lisa, you still scream like a six year old girl." I said pursing my lips in irritation. She was lying on her back on the floor, with Max standing on the couch above her.

"Whoops. Sorry," they replied sheepishly.

"What were you two doing anyway?" I rolled my eyes at them.

"Trying to get that," Max said pointing towards the ceiling. I looked up to see cup with its bottom on the ceiling. I took a step back in surprise.

"I am supposed to be seing a cup on the ceiling right?" I asked shaking my head. Lisa got up and nodded.

"We accidentally got it stuck up there, and we need to get it down before mom sees," she said with a panicked tone. I chuckled, shaking my head.

"How did you 'accidentally' get it stuck there." They both shrugged and I laughed.

"Here," I said lacing my fingers together and holding them out. Lisa put a bare foot into my hands, and held my shoulders.

"Now get on my shoulders." I instructed. I told Max to make sure she doesn't fall.

"I remember when we did this to pick fruit off trees. But aren't I too heavy now?" She asked. I shook my head.

"Nope, I can lift Max are you kidding me?" They both laughed and Max took a step back, his hands raised up in surrender.

"I'm good thank you." He said quickly, and I chuckled at him.

"Can you get it?" I asked Lisa as she stood on my shoulders, I held her ankles, and Max stood on the couch so he could easily stabalize her by her waist.

"Wow, it is stuck on here pretty good. Wait, got it!" She said as it gave way. If Max wasn't holding her waist, we both would have toppled over from the force of her pull.

Max picked her up by her waist and set her on the couch.

"Wow Max, you've gotten strong. Have you shifted yet?" I asked him.

"No, but I have been getting stronger and faster in the past few years." He said. I nodded.

"You will only get stronger, and then be at your strongest after your shift. Which is very painful by the way," I shrugged, frowning.

"How do you know so much about a wolf's shift?" He asked confused.

"Well, when I turned sixteen, I shifted into a wolf." I said quietly. Both of the siblings' eyes widened.

"What do you mean you shifted? You're a Hunter, not a werewolf?" Lisa asked.

"Actually, I'm both. My mother was Luna Blackwood of the Dark Forest Pack, and my father is a Hunter." I explained.

"Luna Blackwood? But she's like famous, and she never had a child?"

"I guess I was a secret because she didn't want anyone to know she was mated to a Hunter." I shrugged.

"Can we see your wolf?" Lisa asked excitedly.

"Which one?" I said in a mysterious voice. Before they could react, I ran out the front door and into the wooded area, surrounding their house. I hid behind a tree, and took off Blake's T-shirt and shorts, before shifting into my smallest wolf.

I was pure white, and looked similar to an arctic fox, just a little bigger. I hid in a bush, and waited for the siblings to find me. They came to the clearing where I was and looked around, both confused.

The trees cast a shadow directly in front of me so I shifted into a small black wolf, and crept out from under the bush. I was hidden in the shadows, as I crawled towards the children, their backs to me.

I growled lowly, and the two slowly turned around. When they were facing me, I flattened my ears against my head and growled again. I shifted into my normal, black wolf. Lisa screamed.

I let out a loud howl, that sounded similar to a battle cry. Baring my teeth, I charged at the two. Lisa and Max both ran back towards the house, but not fast enough.

In one leap, I landed on Max's back, knocking him to the ground. Using a large black paw, I flipped him over so he could look at me. I stopped growling and baring my teeth, and let my tongue hang out the side of my mouth.

"Raven is that you?" His eyes widened in realization. I nodded my wolf head. We both turned our heads when we heard Lisa scream again.

"I wonder how long before she realizes I'm not behind her anymore?" I shook my head and snorted. Max just laughed. He looked at me expectantly, and I tilted my head confused.

"You can get off me now!" He said frustrated. I jumped off of him and sat down. Max stood up and brushed the dirt from his shorts.

"We better go find Lisa, before she finds mom or dad. Wait, so you can shift into any wolf you want?" I nodded in reply.

"Do it again. But this time be an amber colored one." Max commanded. I rolled my eyes but shifted anyway. Since it was my first time in this form, it felt similar to my very first shift. My bones broke and rearranged themselves, and I clenched my teeth against the pain.

When I felt the breaking stop, I looked up at Max. I was smaller than before, so I was shorter than him now.

"Wow! Hey, you have gold eyes too. Are they always gold?" I nodded. He walked over to me and ran a hand through my fur.

We both heard another scream, and I took off running towards the house. I burst through the trees to see Lisa yelling at her mom. I caught part of what she was saying.

"A black wolf came out of the trees, and then it changed into a huge black wolf. It was the biggest I have ever seen! And then it attacked Max!" Lisa yelled. She looked to be hyperventilating, and her mom had wide eyes.

Max started to laugh beside me, and I sat back on my haunches. I tilted my head to the side, my tongue lolling.

Lisa and her mother turned to us and froze.

"Max be very careful, there is a wolf next to you." Lisa spoke carefully. Max and I looked at each other, and started laughing again. I laughed the only way a wolf can, by hanging my tongue out and huffing.

Lisa and Lilliana were very confused.

"Max, what the hell is so funny?" Lilli yelled.

"It's Raven!" He said pointing to me. I rolled over onto my back and pretended to play dead.

"Idiot," Max muttered under his breath. Sitting up, I glared at him then rolled my eyes.

"She can change into any wolf she wants to." He explained, looking at me expectantly. I huffed in annoyance, and shifted into my big black wolf.

"Woah!" Lisa yelled, staggering backwards.

"That is the biggest wolf I have ever seen!" Lilliana exclaimed, before walking to me slowly. She reached out and pet my fur.

"Come on, let's go talk inside." Lilli said before leading the way back to the house.

I followed her and shifted back into my small white wolf so I could fit through the door. I bounded up the stairs and to my room. Quickly, I shifted back and put on a new pair of red lace panties, a matching bra, a pair of super short jean shorts, and a pink tank top.

Downstairs, Max was explaining what happened, and Lisa added a few details every now and then. I stood in the doorway listening, until Max waved me over. I sat down on the couch next to him.

"Raven, so you can shift into any wolf you want to?" Lilli asked me.

"Yes, but the big black wolf is the one I originally shifted into. And if you think my wolf is big, you should see my mate's," I said remembering Blake's red wolf. I heard Akira whine at the mention of our mate. Shaking my head to clear my thoughts, I turned back to Lilli.

"Well, is there any way to know if its you or some other unfriendly wolf?" She sighed. I smiled, and nodded.

"I have gold eyes, they never change. It is easy to tell its me because what other wolf has unnatural colored eyes." I replied shrugging.

"Aren't you just full of surprises." Max said shaking his head.

"You have no idea." I closed my eyes and sighed. Without waiting for a response, I grabbed a pair of white heels from the bag in my room and started to walk out the front door. I stopped when Lilli jumped in front of me.

"Where are you going?" She asked with narrowed eyes.

"I am heading into town, there are some things I need to do. I also need to get some more clothes." I explained. She nodded and asked if I wanted to borrow her car.

"I'll just walk, I like the view anyway." I shrugged her off. It was a ten minute walk to get off Lilli's property, and to the path into town.

The path was concrete now, but I remembered when it was merely a worn down dirt trail, leading to the main shops. I was surprised because the path was empty, not a single person passed by on the thirty minute walk to the town center.

Not many people were outside, those who were, were all waiting in a long line outside a dark building. There was a bright sign that said "Silver Moon", the whole place had an eerie feel to it. For some reason, I was drawn to it.

I walked past the line of people, and towards the VIP line. There was a buff man waiting by a red rope, guarding the entrance to the night club.

"Do you have a pass?" He asked in a gruff voice.

"I don't need one. I'm here to speak with the owner, I have some business with him." I said in a powerful, and professional voice. He nodded, moving the rope aside, and led me through the dark club.

There was fog coming from some machine, and lazer lights all over the dance floor. The loud music was addictive, and I couldn't help but sway my hips to the beat as we walked.

I followed the bouncer to the back of the club the owner's office. He knocked three times and then left to return to his post. The door opened a few seconds later, revealing a young man with blonde hair.

"Yes, can I help you miss?" He asked politely.

"I would like to request a job here." I said professionally.

"As what?"

"A bartender would be preferable."

"Show me what you can do," he appeared to be skeptical, but it made sense since all his bartenders were male. I smiled at him.

"Gladly."