"I heard through the supernatural grapevine that you'd found someone special," Ravena said, her gaze shifting to Elarose with obvious curiosity. "I had to come see for myself."
She stepped onto the platform with fluid grace, extending a hand to Elarose. "You must be the famous mate everyone's talking about. I'm Ravena Velastra."
Elarose shook her hand, surprised by the firmness of her grip and the genuine warmth in her touch.
"Elarose Vaspera. Though I'm not sure about the famous part."
Ravena laughed, a rich sound that seemed to chase away the tension that had been building on the platform.
"Trust me, word travels fast in our world. A new werewolf with moonblood abilities? You're practically a legend already."
"I don't feel very legendary," Elarose admitted. "More like a disaster waiting to happen."
"Oh, honey." Ravena's voice was full of understanding and sympathy. "I remember that feeling. The weight of everyone's expectations, the fear of disappointing people, the constant pressure to be something you're not sure you can be."
Elarose felt something tight in her chest begin to loosen. Here was someone who understood. Someone who looked at her with compassion instead of judgment or calculation.
"You were new once too?" she asked.
"We all were. And let me tell you, some of us made much bigger messes than glowing pebbles when we were learning." Ravena glanced at the small stones, which were still emanating their soft silver light. "This is actually quite impressive for someone so new to their abilities."
"That's what I keep telling her," Varek said, though he was watching Ravena with an expression that was hard to read.
"Well, maybe she needs to hear it from someone who's not part of this pack," Ravena said with a gentle smile. "Sometimes outsiders see things more clearly."
Draven stepped forward, his posture tense. "Ravena, perhaps we should speak privately—"
"Oh, don't mind me," Ravena said airily. "I'm just here as a friendly neighbor. When I heard about Elarose, I thought she might appreciate having another powerful female to talk to. Someone who understands the unique challenges of being a woman in a male-dominated world."
There was something regal about her bearing, a confidence that seemed to radiate from her like heat from a fire. Elarose could sense the power in her, though it was different from Draven's Alpha authority. Ravena carried herself like someone who had earned respect and influence through her own strength and intelligence.
"I'd like that," Elarose said honestly. "I don't really have anyone to talk to about... all of this."
"Of course you don't," Ravena said with understanding. "You're dealing with mate bonds and power awakenings and pack politics all at once. It's overwhelming." She shot a pointed look at Draven. "Especially when certain people think the best way to help is to maintain emotional distance."
Draven's jaw clenched. "My approach to training has nothing to do with emotions."
"Doesn't it?" Ravena's tone was still light, but there was an edge to it now. "Because from where I'm standing, it looks like you're so afraid of your feelings for this girl that you're sabotaging her confidence."
The air on the platform suddenly felt charged with tension. Varek looked like he wanted to be anywhere else, and Elarose could feel undercurrents she didn't understand flowing between Draven and Ravena.
"My training methods—" Draven started.
"Are turning a powerful young woman into a nervous wreck," Ravena finished. She turned back to Elarose with a sympathetic expression.
"How are you sleeping, honey? Eating? Because you look like you haven't done either properly in days."
Elarose felt heat rise in her cheeks. Ravena was right - she'd been so focused on proving herself that she'd been neglecting basic self-care. And having someone actually notice, actually care about her wellbeing, made something inside her chest ache with relief.
"I've been... focused on training," she said.
"Of course you have. You're trying so hard to be what everyone needs that you're forgetting to take care of yourself." Ravena's voice was full of gentle reproof. "That's not sustainable, and it's not healthy."
"She needs to learn control," Draven said firmly.
"She needs to learn balance," Ravena corrected. "Control without confidence is just fear wearing a different mask." She placed a gentle hand on Elarose's shoulder. "What you need is someone who can teach you to embrace your power instead of being afraid of it."
"I'm not afraid of it," Elarose said automatically, then stopped. That wasn't true. She was terrified of her power, terrified of what it might do, terrified of failing everyone who was counting on her.
Ravena seemed to read the truth in her expression. "Oh, sweetheart. Of course you're afraid. Anyone would be. But fear is just another thing to master, not something to hide from."
The understanding in her voice, the complete lack of judgment, made Elarose's eyes burn with unshed tears. After days of feeling like she was failing at everything, having someone look at her with such compassion was almost overwhelming.
"I don't know how," she whispered.
"That's what I'm here for," Ravena said softly. "If you want, I could work with you. Teach you some techniques that might help. I've mentored several young wolves over the years - it's something I'm passionate about."
"She's not ready for advanced training," Draven said sharply.
Ravena raised an eyebrow. "How do you know what she's ready for? Have you asked her? Because from what I can see, she's got incredible raw potential that's being stifled by overly cautious methods." She squeezed Elarose's shoulder gently. "And from what I can sense of her power, she's got more raw strength than most wolves ever develop."
The words sent a thrill through Elarose that she tried to suppress. Alpha energy. Luna status. The idea that she might actually be strong enough, important enough, to deserve those titles was intoxicating and terrifying in equal measure.
"I don't want to overstep," she said carefully, glancing at Draven. "If this pack has a way of doing things—"
"This pack's way of doing things has resulted in a thousand years of suffering," Ravena said bluntly. "Maybe it's time to try something different."
The words hung in the air like a challenge. Varek looked uncomfortable, Draven looked furious, and Elarose felt caught in the middle of something she didn't fully understand.
"Ravena," Draven said, his voice carrying a warning that made the hair on Elarose's arms stand up. "That's enough."
"Is it?" Ravena's tone was still sweet, but there was steel underneath it now. "Because from where I'm standing, it looks like your traditional methods are failing this girl just like they've failed your pack."
"You don't know what you're talking about."
"Don't I?" Ravena turned to face him fully, and for a moment, the mask of gentle concern slipped. There was something cold in her blue eyes, something calculating. But it was gone so quickly that Elarose wondered if she'd imagined it.
"I know what it's like to watch potential being wasted because someone's too proud to admit their approach isn't working."
Draven took a step forward, his power rolling off him in waves that made the air shimmer.
"Careful, Ravena."
But instead of backing down, Ravena smiled. The expression was beautiful and terrible at the same time, like watching a predator bare its teeth while pretending to be friendly.