Chapter 3

C3: Dark Figure

Raine ducked instantly as the arrows brushed past her hair, missing her by inches.

She hugged herself tightly and slowly opened her eyes, wondering who had shot the arrows.

“Are you alright?” she heard a man's voice ask in front of her.

She slowly looked up from the large, calloused hand stretched out to help her, then to his face. She froze.

“Mr Grip?” she gasped, her eyes widening as she stared into those gray ones.

“It's you,” the man said softly as he helped her up.

“You are quite swift. What are you doing here?” he asked as they walked toward a bench at the other end of the training ground.

“I came with my parents. And you? Are you a warrior?” she asked as she sat down.

“I am a warrior. My name is Raphael, Raphael Ezrae  And you?” he replied, turning to her as a strand of his blond hair fell over his face.

 The name sank in, he is the son of the late former beta.

Raine took a sharp breath as her heart began to race. She quickly looked away before she embarrassed herself.

“Raine… My name is Raine Elmore Orion ,” she said, at first hesitant to say her full name but she still said it softly as she played with her fingers.

“Raine. It's a beautiful name,” he said quietly as he repeated her name.

“I didn't know I would meet the Alpha's daughter. Thank you for saving me, and I apologize for choking you,” he added as he turned fully toward her.

“You're welcome, even though I nearly died. You gripped my neck so hard,” she said while rubbing her neck unconsciously.

Raphael looked down for a few seconds, feeling guilty.

“I'm sorry about that. I had to stay alert.” He had fought several rogues alone, and they had seemed trained and numerous.

“Is that why you called me Mr Grip?” he asked with a chuckle, his dimples appearing.

Raine stared at him for a moment before slowly nodding. Soon she began laughing as well.

“Yes. I didn't know your name then,” she replied, pushing a strand of her red hair behind her ear.

They chatted for a while before Raphael offered to escort her back to the general training ground since it was getting late.

“It would be nice to have you around. Would you mind being friends with me?” Raphael asked, extending his hand to her.

Raine stared at him in disbelief.

She had no friends, and no one had ever wanted to be her friend.

But the young man in front of her had not only thanked her for saving him, he had spoken with her freely and now wanted to be her friend.

She hesitated for a moment before placing her hand in his. The difference in the size of their hands was obvious.

“Thank you, Raine, for letting me see you again,” he said softly as his eyes looked deeply into hers.

The Moon Goddess knew how much he had searched for her. The Alpha's Beta had refused to tell him who she was.

“Raine. Raine, where are you?” Alice called out from a distance.

Raine quickly pulled her hand away.

“We will meet another time. When I am free, I can visit the training ground,” she said with a smile before turning to leave with quick steps.

Raphael watched her retreating figure. The way her red hair swayed as she ran away made him want to call her back, but he stopped himself.

Meanwhile, Alice glared at Raine. She had seen them together but had not gotten a clear view of the man Raine had been with.

“Mother will certainly punish you for that. We came here to arrange my training tutor, yet you are here flirting with a man,” Alice said mockingly.

“He is someone I know, and I wasn't flirting with anyone,” Raine corrected her with a frown.

Alice chuckled and folded her arms across her chest.

“Really, dear sister? He must be the one you were with last time that made you come home late,” she said thoughtfully.

“I only saved him, nothing more,” Raine replied with frustration as she walked away.

“You slept with him to save him, right? Because we all know how useless you are without your wolf,” Alice mocked.

Raine did not respond.

“How dare you walk away from me,” Alice said as she grabbed Raine's arm and forced her to turn back.

Raine tried to pull her hand free, but Alice held on tightly.

Seeing their parents walking toward them, Alice suddenly let go and staggered backward with a small cry.

Her mother rushed to her, her face full of concern.

“Are you alright, dear?” she asked.

Alice shook her head softly.

Raine watched them in disbelief. The next moment she felt a sharp slap across her face.

“How dare you try to hurt her,” her mother shouted while Alpha Elmore simply glared at her.

Raine said nothing. She was tired of explaining herself whenever Alice created trouble. It only led to more punishment and harsh words.

She simply walked away.

Some of the warriors who had noticed the scene stared at her with disgust as she left the training ground.

That evening her mother ordered the maids not to give her any food, and she went to bed hungry.

Raine woke up, but she was no longer in her room. She was in a smoky place. There were no houses and no people around.

“R...ai...ne,” she heard a distant, broken voice call her.

She looked around but could not see anyone, so she began to run.

No matter how far she ran, it felt like she was trapped in the same place.

Finally, she saw a figure as dark as the night standing before her with its back turned to her.

“R...ai...ne,” it called again, its voice hoarse and broken, but louder now.

She stepped back slowly, her eyes fixed on the dark figure as it began to turn.

She caught a glimpse of one of its eyes. It was black and extremely dark, glowing strangely.

The sight seemed to pull at her soul.

Desperate to escape, she turned and kept running until she suddenly woke up with a gasp.

She rubbed her temples. Her nightdress was damp with sweat, and her stomach growled loudly, reminding her how hungry she had been before she fell asleep.