Page 24 of Raven

They eventually left, but not without a prolonged, calculating glare. The lead Human leant in, his eyes raking over me—not with the lust he'd directed at Tia, but assessing me in a crude display of dominance. If he wanted to play the dick-measuring game, so be it.

Before they cleared out, he locked gazes with me, his expression one of smug provocation. Reaching over, he deliberately plunged his finger into the centre of our cake, scooping out a piece and shoving it into his mouth. His eyes dared me to retaliate. I restrained myself, refusing to grant him the satisfaction.

After they departed, Tia and I sat in an oppressive silence. The man had disappeared back into the kitchen, leaving the formidable woman to watch over us. “Don’t go chasing after those four. They’re nothing but trouble. Keep your nose clean,” she cautioned, her tone firm but not unkind.

I nodded, silently assessing her. Maybe she was one of the rare Humans who genuinely advocated for equality and peace, who despised how we were treated. Maybe. But we were still banned, and her ambiguous warning lingered in the air like a stale scent.

“I’m sorry,” I said to Tia. “They ruined our evening. Are you okay?”

“It’s me who should be sorry. They wouldn’t be harassing you if it weren’t for me.”

She hesitantly placed her hand back on the table. I reached over and gently took it in mine. “They would have found a reason. You see it in them. This is what they do; they thrive on stirring shit and bullying those they deem weaker.”

“I know. I just …” Tia exhaled deeply, her gaze drifting out the window where the Humans had disappeared. Good riddance. I didn’t give a damn where they went as long as it wasn’t near us.

“Maybe we should head back?” The night was thoroughly spoilt. “Come on. We’ll take the long way home, shake this off. The evening’s still ours to enjoy.”

“Yeah.” Tia gave me a slow smile, and I would have kissed her right there if it weren't for the watchful eyes of the woman behind the counter.

We gathered our things and walked over to her. I set them down with a respectful nod. “Thank you,” I said. She simply nodded back, her expression unreadable.

The air had grown chillier as we stepped outside. Tia wrapped her jacket tightly around herself. I walked over to my bike to retrieve the helmets we had locked there. The lane was dark, devoid of streetlights or the glow from other vehicles—it was that kind of night. But my shifter eyes adjusted quickly, piercing through the darkness.

I had just grabbed the helmets when I realised we weren’t alone. The Humans hadn’t gone anywhere at all. The lead one was perched on a picnic bench in the car park, his cronies flanking him, still chewing his gum with obnoxious smugness. “Where are you going?” he called out to Tia.

I stepped back, positioning myself protectively in front of her. If they tried anything, she could make a dash back into the diner.

Or so I thought. The woman who had spoken to us earlier now came to the door, but she didn’t open it. Instead, she flipped the sign to 'Closed' and locked the door. A moment later, the lights inside the cafe flicked off, leaving us illuminated only by the dim glow from the car park lights.

“I don't want to fight,” I said. The last thing I needed was that.

Tia and I stepped back as the Human stood from the picnic bench. My panther prowled just beneath my skin, a familiar brush of fur against my consciousness. But mixed with that readiness to fight, there was something else stirring inside me—not quite panic or fear. It might have been coming from Tia,but entangled with my own heightened state, it was hard to decipher.

“But maybe we do owe you something,” he sneered.

They were prepared, more so than I expected. If they had left, it was only to arm themselves. Like a rehearsed dance, each of them pulled silver knuckle dusters from their pockets, slipping them on with a chilling synchronicity.

Then chaos erupted. They charged, and I met their aggression head-on. I lunged at them, my fists raised—claws still sheathed, but ready.

It escalated rapidly, each punch and block fuelling the chaos. I focused on the leader, knowing if he went down, the others would falter. But they were unnervingly coordinated, and their strikes were vicious and calculated. Each hit from their knuckle dusters felt like slamming against concrete.

As I dodged a particularly savage swing, another caught me off-guard, a heavy blow to my ribs that sent a sharp jolt of pain radiating through my body. I staggered, momentarily winded, my breath coming in harsh, ragged gasps. They used my moment of weakness, closing in like wolves on a wounded deer.

It was the silver. The fucking silver. It slowed me, weakened me.

“Tia, run,” I managed to yell, my voice strained with effort and pain. I didn’t need to see her to know she was hesitating, torn between fleeing and staying to help. But I couldn’t focus on her; every second was a battle to stay conscious.

The Human advanced with a grim smile, his eyes cold and merciless. As he raised his fist for another strike, I braced for the impact, trying to shield my head. The world tilted, my senses reeling under the onslaught. I was losing, and the ground seemed to rush up to meet me as I struggled to maintain my footing.

I had to fight. I had to keep standing, but the silver embedded in their knuckle dusters was like poison in my veins, each strike weakening me more profoundly than the last. Silver—a bane to my kind—sapped my strength, clouding my vision and slowing my reflexes.

Gritting my teeth against the searing pain, I forced every ounce of willpower I possessed to push back against the crippling effects of the silver. With a guttural roar, I allowed the shift to take hold where I needed it most. My hand morphed, bones cracking and reshaping, fur bristling through my skin, claws extending with deadly intent.

With a feral snarl, I lashed out. My clawed hand swiped through the air, catching the Human across the chest. Fabric tore and a howl of pain erupted as my claws found their mark. The sight of their Human faltering, wounded by my counterattack, sowed a moment of chaos among them.

“Leave us the fuck alone,” I managed to say.

It was only a flesh wound. He wouldn't die from it. But he screamed at me, a raw, agonising sound that echoed in the night. His friends pressed on, relentless. In the chaos, I lost sight of Tia; my focus narrowed to the immediate threats surrounding me. Then, suddenly, the night exploded with lights—big, blue, flashing lights and the wail of sirens that seemed to pierce through the darkness.

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