Page 35

CHAPTER 35

Malakai

I’d rather go head-to-head with a defenseman twice my size than do this.

But here I am, standing outside Raven’s mom’s house with my hands shoved in my pockets, pretending like I’m not thinking about turning the fuck around and bailing.

I don’t get nervous . Not for games. Not for fights. Not for life-or-death situations. But this ? This is uncharted territory.

I wasn’t raised with family dinners. Never had some warm, welcoming home where people gave a shit about how my day was. My mom? Distant as hell, always looking past me like she was waiting for something better to come along. And my dad? He didn’t even acknowledge I existed.

So yeah. Sitting at a table, making nice, playing the role of boyfriend meeting the mom ?

I have no fucking clue what I’m doing.

Raven must sense it, because she squeezes my hand, tilting her head to look at me. “You good?”

I scoff. “I’m great .”

She raises a brow. “You sure? ‘Cause you kinda look like you’re about to fight for your life.”

I smirk. “Wouldn’t be the first time.”

She rolls her eyes but doesn’t let go of my hand. Instead, she drags me forward, pushing the front door open like she owns the place—which, to be fair, she does.

The second we step inside, warm scents of home-cooked food hit me.

It’s cozy. Lived-in. Pictures of Raven as a kid hang on the wall, and I almost stop to take a better look, but before I can, a soft voice cuts through the space.

“There’s my girl.”

Raven’s mom walks into the room, a dish towel in her hands, her eyes immediately lighting up when she sees her daughter.

She radiates warmth. The kind that makes something unfamiliar settle in my chest.

Raven lets go of my hand and rushes toward her mom, wrapping her up in a hug.

And then—those eyes land on me .

I brace myself.

Raven steps back, grinning. “Mom, this is Malakai.”

Her mom looks me up and down, like she’s assessing me.

I force myself to stand still, to not fidget, to not feel like I’m about to be fucking evaluated.

Then she smiles, stepping forward. “So this is the boy who stole my daughter’s heart.”

I blink.

Not what I was expecting.

But I nod, gripping her outstretched hand. “Guess so.”

She laughs. “Well, come in. You standing in the doorway like a lost puppy isn’t doing anyone any good.”

Raven snickers. I shoot her a glare, but she just shrugs, looking far too amused at my discomfort.

Her mom leads us into the dining room, and the table is already set—homemade food, candles, the whole thing.

I glance at Raven. “Fancy.”

She grins. “Mom doesn’t play when it comes to dinner.”

I huff a small laugh and take a seat, trying to not feel out of place.

But then her mom starts talking.

And suddenly?

It’s easy .

She doesn’t grill me. Doesn’t pry. Doesn’t treat me like a fucking criminal sitting across from her daughter.

Instead, she tells stories about Raven as a kid—how she used to run around barefoot in the backyard, convinced she was some kind of wild animal. How she tried to start a detective agency when she was nine and “solved” mysteries that were really just missing socks.

“Mom, please ,” Raven groans, but she’s laughing.

I smirk. “I need more details on this detective phase.”

Her mom beams , launching into another story, and Raven looks like she wants to crawl under the table. This is a defining moment, a moment that makes the tension melt away like it has no business being here in the first place.

For the first time in my life, I’m sitting at a family dinner where people talk . Where people care . Where no one is trying to manipulate or use each other.

It’s fucking weird . But it’s nice. Too nice, maybe. And I don’t know what to do with that.

So I just… exist in it.

Halfway through dinner, Raven’s mom suddenly grins, looking between us. “So. Are you two official official?”

I glance at Raven, smirking. “You mean, is she stuck with me?”

Raven glares. “ Don’t phrase it like that.”

Her mom laughs. “I just mean… this seems real .”

I hold Raven’s gaze. And something settles in my chest.

“It is real,” I say.

Raven looks at me for a long moment. Then she reaches under the table, lacing her fingers with mine. I feel something in that moment that I haven't experienced before. I realize I have a place.

I realize that I'm finally somewhere I belong .

I knew this was a bad idea.

The second I step into the campus café, I feel two very particular and watchful sets of eyes on me.

Erica and Lena—Raven’s partners in crime, chaos, and apparently, in embarrassing the shit out of me.

They smirk in unison as I slide into the seat next to Raven, their energy practically radiating mischief.

I exhale, leaning back in my chair. “Alright, let’s get this over with.”

Lena props her chin on her hand. “Get what over with, Malakai?”

I give her a flat look. “The part where you two pretend you’re not weirded out that I literally hunted you for sport a few months ago.”

Erica shrugs, taking a sip of her iced coffee. “Eh. We survived.”

Lena smirks. “And I got a nice little chase out of it, so no complaints.”

I stare. “You liked it?”

Raven snickers beside me, biting into her muffin like she’s thoroughly enjoying this.

Lena lifts a shoulder. “What can I say? Some of us enjoy a little danger.”

Erica sighs dramatically. “Honestly, the whole ritual was a little silly, wasn’t it?”

I rub a hand over my face. “You have no idea how hard it is for me to admit this, but… yeah. The whole thing is fucking ridiculous.”

Raven chokes on her drink, laughing.

Lena claps her hands together. “See? Now that’s personal growth.”

I groan. “I walked straight into this setup, didn’t I?”

Erica grins. “Absolutely.”

I shake my head, reaching for Raven’s coffee and taking a sip just to piss her off.

She gasps dramatically. “You absolute menace .”

I smirk. “You love it.”

Lena wiggles her eyebrows. “Ooooh, speaking of love … how about a little game?”

Raven narrows her eyes. “I don’t trust you.”

Erica grins. “You shouldn’t.”

I exhale, glancing at Raven. “You ready to take the bait?”

She huffs. “Might as well.”

Lena claps her hands together. “Alright. Truth or dare?”

Raven smirks. “Dare.”

Erica leans forward, eyes twinkling. “I dare you to chase Malakai through campus . ”

I blink .

Raven tilts her head, amusement dancing in her eyes. “Chase?”

Lena grins. “You know. Like he did to us during the ritual.”

Erica wiggles her brows. “Gotta balance the scales, babe.”

Raven slowly turns to me, her grin downright dangerous .

“Oh, you’re on .”

I make it halfway across campus before I realize I might actually be in trouble.

Raven is fast .

The second we bolted from the café, she was on me, weaving through students, dodging obstacles, gaining .

I cut through the courtyard, narrowly avoiding a group of freshmen, laughing as I hear her right behind me.

“You better run , Malakai!” she calls, her voice teasing.

I pump my legs faster, darting behind the library, cutting through the alley that leads toward the dorms.

But I underestimate her.

Because the moment I turn the corner?—

She tackles me.

I grunt as we hit the grass, rolling, her breath hot against my skin as she lands on top of me.

I blink up at her, still catching my breath. “You cheated .”

She smirks. “You’re just slow.”

I chuckle, shaking my head. “You really think you’ve won, huh?”

Her brows lift. “Did I not just take you down ?”

I exhale sharply, flipping her fast .

Now she’s under me, wrists pinned above her head, her breath catching as my weight presses her down.

She gasps, her body arching slightly. “Malakai?—”

I lower my head, my lips brushing against her ear. “I think you need to be reminded who the real hunter is, princess.”

Her breath stutters.

I smirk.

And then I pick her up, throwing her over my shoulder and carrying her toward my apartment.

Once inside, we head straight for the couch, and I sit her down on my lap. She doesn't protest, and I know she is happy to be here.

Just to tease me, Raven squirms in my lap, trying to look defiant, but the flush creeping down her neck tells me everything I need to know.

She likes this.

She wants this.

And I’m about to give it to her.

I tighten my grip on her waist, keeping her firmly in place, her body stretched across my lap, her ass perfectly positioned for me. She’s breathing fast, her fingers curling into the fabric of my shirt, but she’s waiting —for the next move, for my next word.

For me .

I drag my fingers slowly down the curve of her ass, teasing.

“You thought you could outrun me?” My voice is low, deliberate.

She shifts, her breath hitching. “Technically, I did .”

I smirk. “ Technically ?”

The first slap lands hard, sharp against her soft skin.

She gasps , her back arching, hips twitching in my grip.

But she doesn’t pull away.

I smooth my hand over the warm spot, my touch light, soothing. “Is that so?”

She lets out a shaky breath. “I mean?—”

Another slap. Harder this time.

Her whole body jolts .

I can feel how much she likes it—the way she shivers under my touch, the way she presses her thighs together like she’s aching for more.

I drag my fingers over the red mark, watching the way her skin reacts, how sensitive she is to every movement.

“You’re awfully mouthy for someone in this position,” I murmur.

She bites her lip, shifting against my lap. “Maybe I like pushing your buttons.”

I chuckle darkly, wrapping my hand around the back of her neck, pulling her head back just enough for her to feel the control I have over her.

“Oh, you never learn, do you?”

She exhales shakily. “Guess not.”

I shake my head. “Then I guess I’ll have to teach you.”

The next slap is the hardest yet, the sound echoing through the room.

She whimpers , her body going tight before relaxing into me like she wants to be handled, like she needs me to take control.

I lean down, my lips brushing against the shell of her ear. “You like this, don’t you?”

She swallows hard. “I?—”

Another slap.

A choked moan spills from her lips.

I grin. Got her .

I grip her chin, tilting her head so I can see her expression. Her pupils are blown, her cheeks flushed, her lips parted.

Completely wrecked.

Completely mine .

I press my lips against her ear. “Say it.”

She shudders. “I… I like it.”

I hum, trailing my hand between her thighs, feeling just how soaked she is.

“I can tell,” I murmur.

She lets out a whimper , her hips bucking against my hand, desperate for more.

I grip her jaw, tilting her face toward me, forcing her to look at me.

“You belong to me, Raven.”

She nods, her breath coming fast. “I do.”

I smirk, my fingers slipping under the waistband of her shorts, teasing the edge of her soaked panties.

“Then let me destroy you in the best way possible."

And this time?

She doesn’t try to run.