Chapter 3

RAVEN

"Welcome home, Princess Honey Pearl." Someone said tapping my back lightly and I swerved to meet a familiar yet unfamiliar face and a troop of maids behind him.

That's not me is it?

That should be the name of my so called reflection, but I thought they called her Eleanor earlier.

"Welcome home, princess Honey Pearl. We've been expecting." The maids chanted as they circled me and I noticed that every other person excluding the maids were staring at me in confusion.

"Honey Pearl, you remember me don't you?" A male voice questioned and I turned to peer at the man.

Somehow his face rings a huge bell inside of me and the name-Honey Pearl- it sounded way more than familiar.

"Okay, I think you all have this mixed up. I've answered like three different names since I stepped foot into this weird place that I never knew existed and it makes me sick to the extent that I think, I might even forget what my actual name is," I yelled In frustration, pulling my hair in the process while looking at the faces that didn't indicate they were even hearing me out or understanding my phrase, "I'm not Eleanor or Honey Pearl, my name is Raven! Raven! Okay?" I yelled.

Damn, is that hot liquid that just streaked down my eyes? Great, now they are turning me into an emotional wreck as well.

"I just want to go home." I pleaded.

"I can't find my way home and that's why I'm still here conversing with y'all. So all I'm asking, is some kind of maps or direction or even guards to lead me back to hell...I mean home." I finished up and heaved a sigh.

"But your eyes gave off the golden glow which means you're from this clan?" The man who asked if I recognized him inquired and I gave him that foul look, scrunching my face up in confusion.

"Okay, I don't know what that means but I need to go home now." I stated and they began whispering within themselves.

"The punishment of an intruder amounts to death, if you insist on leaving...you'd pay the price. It's much better if you stay till we have all these figured out." The beta informed and I chuckled in disbelief.

"But I have to..." I was saying and then trailed off because I felt a heavy hit on my head and darkness started creeping in slowly.

Blinking my eyes furiously, trying to adjust to the light in the room, I tried rolling and felt a hard, sharp objects pierce through my skin.

That should leave a definite scar. I finally opened my eyes and surveyed my environment. The blinding darkness in the room made me unable to see a thing but hold up! What was the blinding light that shone on me earlier making me unable to see?

My eyes still hurts from the impact. Finally, my eyes adapted to the darkness and I was able to make out some objects. At least, I could see and feel the chains that held me bound.

Chains? Why am I chained? I can't think of any situation that led me to this situation.Wait a minute, after calling me their princess they threw me into the dungeon?

Is that how they treat their princesses? Am I suddenly accepting that I'm their princess? Am I accepting the name Honey Pearl?

Suddenly, I heard a tiny little creak and I turned my eyes to the direction only to see the door of the dungeon opening slowly.

"Princess Pearl—Raven—The council would meet with you now." I was informed and he began unlocking the chains that had already formed scars on my wrist and ankles.

"The council? What council?" I questioned. Gosh, I wonder why all these events isn't given me a throbbing headache like it should.

I wonder how my step parents are faring now. I wonder if they're even looking for me, maybe not.

The guard finished unlocking the chains and helped me up. He led me out of the dungeon and we walked along a hallway to wherever the council is to meet with me.

I could hear disgusting whispers as I passed by but I decided to pay no attention to them. Getting to the door of the council, the guard opened the door up for me and led me in.

This is the part of packs were I dislike the most. The part of having grumpy looking old men question me, it makes my skin crawl.

"Step onto the podium." One of them ordered in a hoarse voice.

"It's not like I'm about to give some kind of speech or sermon," I muttered before eventually stepping unto the podium.

"Little girl, show some respect for the elders. You only speak when you're spoken to." The elder who was nearest to me, who had probably heard me few seconds ago voiced out and I couldn't fight the urge to roll my eyes so I rolled my eyes in disgust.

"Technically, I was spoken to." I abrased and none of them replied. It was like they unanimously agreed to ignore me.

"What's your name and which pack are you from?" The spokesman asked and I cleared my throat before answering.

"Since I stepped foot in here, I've been called Eleanor and Princess Honey Pearl and I'm really glad that finally y'all are asking my real name. In that course, my name is Raven of Black moon pack." I answered and Alpha Claw who I hadn't realized was at this gathering scoffed.

"It was possible for her to answer the questions without ranting." My reflection—The other girl— Eleanor, scoffed and all I had to was glare at her before sending my facial expression back to normalcy.

"It would be nice if you answer the questions a little nicer, Miss Raven." The spokesman admonished.

"Too bad, she'd never do that. It would take the last blood in her veins to reply any nicer because she's divergent." A familiar voice came and I turned to face my brother, Karl who I had mourned for 13 years after he died in an attack on our pack that claimed the life of my mother.

"The hell are you doing here?" I queried, twitching my brows incoherently as tears dazed my gaze before eventually streaming down. I had mourned every year on this day that is my birthday only to find out he was actually alive and not bothered to search for me

"What everyone else is."

"And what is everyone else doing?" I yelled and walked over to him sending a slap across his face as my heart twisted in my chest.

"Tell me what they are doing,' I yelled yet again and sent a kick to his groin making him squat low in pain. He didn't retaliate regardless, he just let me venge my anger.

"Why aren't you dead?" I screamed and he finally stood up and held both my hands, encircling me in a hug.