Chapter 5

C5: The Nightmare

“She is not feeling well. She had to stay at home for a few days,” Alice lied smoothly.

“Then I have to visit her,” Raphael said before he could think.

Alice furrowed her brows.

“That won't be necessary. She will be fine soon. You don't have to bother,” she replied instantly.

The young man nodded and returned to his practice, somewhat relieved that Raine would be back soon. Still, his heart felt heavy. He did not know why. Maybe he was worried about her health.

Raphael left the inner training ground and returned home once he was done without glancing at Alice.

Meanwhile, Alice stood there watching his retreating figure, her eyes gleaming.

She swore in her heart that she would have him.

Throughout the ride home, she daydreamed about being with him.

When she arrived home, she went straight to her father's study, knocking gently on the sturdy mahogany door. After hearing his approval, she stepped in and shut the door behind her.

“Good evening, Father. How was your day today?” she asked sweetly as she sat down.

Alpha Elmore smiled warmly.

“It was not so good without you, my dear daughter,” he said kindly.

Alice's face brightened.

“Father, I have a request to make. May I?” she asked, blinking cutely.

Alpha Elmore looked at her fondly.

“What would that be, dear?” he asked as he set aside the parchment he had been checking.

“It's about my tutor. I want a new one. I have found someone more capable,” she said sweetly.

“Beta Mascot is already a good tutor for you. But if you say so, who is this person?” he asked.

“Raphael. I think that is his name. His fighting skills are impressive,” she said as she recalled the way he moved with strength.

Alpha Elmore tapped the table lightly to bring her back to her senses.

“You mean my elite warrior Raphael Ezrae?” he asked with amusement.

“It sounds more like you are interested in him. But that won't happen soon. You are not trained enough to go to the inner training ground,” he pointed out.

Alice pouted and her expression darkened. She knew how to get her parents to do what she wanted.

Seeing this, Alpha Elmore shook his head.

“Fine, fine. You will be the end of me. I will change your tutor to Raphael,” he said, raising his hands in defeat.

Alice brightened and stood up with a wide smile.

“Thank you, Father. I love you the most,” she said happily.

Alpha Elmore shook his head.

“Are you sure about that?” he asked with a smile.

Alice then went to her mother and pleaded for Raine to be released the next day.

Luna Indira believed she was being a thoughtful sister who always wished the best for others, while Alice did not want to appear cruel in front of Raphael.

She smirked as she left the room after receiving approval. She knew she had to play her cards well.

Meanwhile…

Raine remained in the wine cellar. She had poured some wine on her back. The pain was intense, but she could not risk an infection.

One thing she always did was take care of herself no matter how much she suffered. She did not want to make things worse for herself.

She wished badly that she had a wolf. If she did, none of this would be happening to her.

She would have her parents' love and be treated well by the pack members. If only that were possible.

She found a blanket and wrapped it around her body.

The perfectly grilled steaks she had made before being thrown in there were still in her emergency bag.

She stared at them and counted.

“One, two, three, four, five,” she said weakly. She had eaten half of them during the past two days.

She bit into one slowly as fresh tears filled her almond brown eyes.

She was tired. Tired of the mistreatment.

She wondered what it would feel like to kill herself, but the thought made her shiver.

“I can't die. I have not had a beautiful ending yet,” she muttered through tears while eating the second steak.

Raine remembered those gray eyes and the fiery glint within them. She smiled slightly.

Then she remembered his confession. She could still hear his words.

“Raine, I have something to say. I met a savior who saved me but stole something in return. Do you know who my savior is and what she stole?”

She shook her head as she recalled it.

“My savior is you, and you stole my heart. Your fiery red hair burned into my heart, and your kindness made it beat faster.”

Those words echoed in her mind again.

This time she giggled softly.

She could still remember the way he held her hands like they were precious, and how he leaned close to speak to her, making her think he was about to kiss her.

She stomped her foot on the bare floor and accidentally hurt her back, making the wound ache.

“Ouch,” she said, wincing in pain.

Still, the sweet memories eased her suffering.

She wrapped the blanket tightly around herself, rested her head on her knees, and held them with her arms.

When she opened her eyes again, she was standing in the same garden filled with different flowers, but this time it was denser than before.

“R...ai...ne. R...ai...ne,” she heard her name being called.

The voice was loud, hoarse, and seemed to come from everywhere.

She turned around, searching for the owner of the voice, but saw nothing. Thick smoke filled the place, even in the garden this time.

“Who are you?” she asked out loud, forcing herself to be brave.

Her courage, as she liked to say, came from her steaks….

*My courage comes from my steaks* she would quote.

But her words echoed back to her, as if the question had been directed at her.

She froze when she felt something hot against her back.

The aura she sensed was powerful, yet she wondered why she was not on the ground rolling on her belly in submission.

Instead, she slowly turned.

Her eyes widened in fear as she met a pair of eyes only a few inches away from her.