Chapter Four

Raine POV

I know we’re not meant to mix with hybrids, but I can’t turn down work, and I can’t let my business suffer because of pack rules. Usually I wouldn’t be so reckless, but the truth is, Brax didn’t hurt me.

We all have this notion that hybrids are beasts that can’t be controlled. It’s wrong.

Stepping into the house, I walk to the kitchen and tense when I see my mother. She looks at me and tuts.

I go to step back, to back out of the kitchen because it’s the safest thing to do, but she steps in front of me. “You bring shame to this family.”

Before I can react, her hand swings and hits me.

“Mother!” Vane’s voice makes me tense. “She did nothing.” Vane looks at me, and I wipe the blood from my lip. I don’t flinch, I don’t cry, I don’t even react.

I’m used to this now.

“She did nothing? I got a call. Lucky they let me know and not your father,” she sneers and steps closer. “You were seen a little too cosy in your shop with a man.”

I stare at her. “That’s a lie. I’ve been working.”

“Working doesn’t involve you straddling a man on a table!”

Oh fuck. “I…”

Vane looks at me. “Venom?”

“It’s not like that. I wasn’t doing anything.”

My other brothers appear at the door. Kai is with them, and he stares at me.

“Then what was it like?” Vane snaps.

“Oh, come on, you know what it was. She’s wild. She’s likely not a virgin anyway. She’s a disgrace to this family.”

I try not to flinch.

“Raine, explain,” Vane snaps.

“Cain was meant to fix the chair!” I snap back. “I was working and the chair broke. I’m lucky he didn’t hurt himself and try to blame me for it! So I had to have him lie down, and I hate doing tattoos from the side, you know that.” I glare at him. “How can you think I would do something so wrong, something so bad that it would impact our pack?”

Vane’s face softens and he hugs me. “I’m sorry, Venom. I’ll sort this, but go see Father. He wants you.”

I nod and step back, but as I get to the door his voice stops me. “With Kai.”

What? I don’t ask. I just walk with Kai directly behind me.

“Are you okay?”

I nod, but he stops me near my father’s office and turns me. His thumb brushes against my lip. “You’re a fast healer.”

“Always was,” I mutter.

“Is that why you don’t react when she hits you?”

“No. I don’t react because I won’t let my own mother make me feel worthless.” Turning, I step into the office and my father smiles at me.

“How are you feeling?” He looks me in the eye. “You’re healed.”

“I did nothing wrong, Father. I simply walked in.”

He nods. “I’m sure you did. I need to speak with you and Kai.”

Nodding, I gesture for him to continue. “We’re both here.”

“You’re set to become Alpha of your pack soon, right?” My father looks at Kai.

“I am. Within the next six months or so.”

My father nods. “That’s good. Your father trained you well.”

Kai smiles, a look of pride on his face.

“Raine, with the hybrids expanding and more wolves agreeing to become them, we need to be stronger. We need to be in an alliance.”

“I understand that. It’s why the packs allow each other to come through, to build that alliance.”

“Yes, well it’s not enough. I spoke with your father,” he says, looking at Kai, who nods. “He’s sounding very weak.” I know his father’s death is closing in. “He’s agreed that he thinks you and Raine marrying will benefit both packs.”

What? My body stills. “I…” His hand goes up and stops me.

“Mates are becoming rare because so many wolves are turning into hybrids.”

“But I have a mate somewhere. What happens if they show up here once I’m married and claimed?” I ask.

My dad shakes his head. “Darling, you won’t ever have a mate.”

I tense. “You don’t know that.”

He looks from me to Kai. “I trust you not to take this out of this room, Kai. As future Alpha, I’m putting trust in you.”

Kai nods and straightens.

“Daddy, I am leaving at twenty-one. I’m finding my mate.”

“And as I said, you have no mate. Your mother’s dislike isn’t because you two are so similar.” He looks at Kai then. “I trust you to protect her.”

“Always, Alpha.”

My dad nods.

“I always say we’re nothing alike,” I snap.

“You’re not her daughter. We had issues with the hybrids. I needed a witch’s help, and they needed something in return. Your mother was a witch.”

I stagger back. “She needed something in return? What, to fuck an Alpha!” I roar, and his eyes widen.

“Basically, yes. She was pure. The hybrids were using her. To make it so she wasn’t anymore meant sleeping with her. She shouldn’t have gotten pregnant. She showed up eight months later, handed me you, and left.”

No. “But that means…”

He nods. “You’re possibly a hybrid. Most magic comes through between eighteen and twenty-one for hybrids.”

I shake my head.

“No one can know, Raine. If your magic comes through, you’re a risk. Witch hybrids are not like vampire ones. They are outcasts, shunned even by their own family and packs.”

“I can’t marry him.”

“You have to. There is no traveling, there is no training camp. You’re becoming the Luna of the Blackmoor pack. That will link their pack to ours. People will know the Blackmoor pack and Shadowvale pack are working together.”

Turning, I look at Kai. He needs to refuse this. He’s the future Alpha of the Blackmoor pack. If he refuses, my father has no choice but to let it go.

“Sorry, Venom, but to keep you safe, I’m agreeing.”

“He’s my brothers’ best friend,” I snap and look at my father. “He’s twenty-six. The age difference…”

“Age means nothing. Now go to bed. I need to let your brothers know.”

I stare at him.

“Leave, Raine.”

Nodding, I turn and walk out. This can’t be happening. I can’t marry Kai. I should have known this would happen. Everyone talks about how me and Kai look so good together. He’s like a brother though, at least in my eyes he is.