Chapter Seventeen

Raine POV

I hate this. Acting like everything is fine, like nothing is wrong. The dirty rags are gone. Now I’m wearing a nice dress, a fake ass dress.

When I walk down, Serena stops me. “Enjoy it, witch. It’s not going to last much longer.”

She shoves me forward and I slam into the wall, stopping myself just barely before my head hits it. Spinning around, I glare at her. “You don’t scare me, and next time you lay a hand on me, you’ll pay.”

Laughing, she nods. “Oh, just wait until your brothers go. Let’s see you standing up to me then. Go on, get in there.” She turns and walks off.

Pushing open the door, I step in and try to smile.

“You fucked a human?” Cain’s voice is loud and I jump.

Kai walks over to me. “I had to tell them you weren’t a virgin. Me and your brothers have no secrets...” His voice lowers. “Venom,” he sneers. “Don’t worry, I didn’t tell them you’re having a bastard child. They would want it dead.”

“It’s not like that,” I whisper, looking at my brothers.

“No? So he’s lying? You didn’t fuck a human?”

I can’t be honest. I can’t mention Brax. That will cause more drama. “I was drunk. We were out having fun. It just happened. And why am I being treated like a monster when you four have fucked plenty of humans?”

“That’s different. We’re not future Luna. We’re allowed. The women are to be pure, to stay clean for their mate.”

“Well, guess what? Kai isn’t my mate,” I snap.

The room falls quiet, and Kai glares across at me. I don’t care. Let him glare. He thinks I’m just going to sit here and let him treat me like crap? For all I know, the spell is fake. It might not even be real.

“Explain,” Cain snaps.

Maybe I should just say it. Say that Kai’s father is dying because of Kai? The moment I think it, a weird feeling spreads across my stomach, almost numb.

No. I don’t believe it. Kai isn’t the sort to kill a baby. “Cain,” I whisper. My mouth opens to speak but pain explodes through my stomach and I fall to the floor.

“Venom!” Vane moves and grabs me just as Kai does.

“Hey, are you okay?” Kai looks at me, almost like he’s soothing me. He leans in closer. “Go ahead, say it. Now you know what happens if you even consider doing it.”

“Step back,” Vane snaps and pushes Kai away. He grips my face and looks at me. “Are you okay? You don’t look well.”

“She’s fine. It was a late night. She’s likely just tired,” Kai says. “I’ll have an Omega close all the curtains upstairs and she can get some sleep. That’s all you need, right?” Kai glares at me.

“I’m fine, I swear. I don’t need to rest.” I look at Cain. “I’m sorry I disappointed you.”

His face softens. “You didn’t disappoint me. You shocked me. The Raine I know wouldn’t throw her virginity away for anyone, especially not a worthless human.”

I wouldn’t. That’s the thing. I’m still that person I was.

“I’m sorry, Raine, but I don’t get it. You spoke so much about saving yourself for your mate, and it wasn’t a wolf you slept with. That’s why it’s a struggle.”

I get that, but I can’t tell him it was a wolf. They will demand to know who. I can’t tell him it was my mate either, because then they will demand to know who. So the safest option right now is to lie.

Not only that, but I’m not sure how my brothers would react if they found out I was carrying Brax’s child, part vampire.

“You should go get some sleep. Rest, as I know yesterday was a long day and tomorrow you have a big tattoo, don’t you?” Axel stands and hugs me.

“I don’t want to. I just got to see you.”

“It’s fine. We’ll visit. Plus it gives us time to talk to Kai. Go get some rest.” Cain smiles at me.

“Rosa,” Kai calls out and the Omega steps in and looks at us. “Please help Raine get to her room, and ensure Serena knows whatever she wants, she gets.”

My body tenses. “I’m good here,” I whisper.

“No, go on. We need to talk.” Cain nods to the door. I want to tell them, but the moment I think it, that weird feeling in my stomach starts again.

Turning, I follow the Omega out. She guides me through to a small room and knocks. “Luna Serena, Alpha has said to ensure Raine gets to her room and that you know whatever she wants, she gets.”

Serena chuckles. “You can leave,” she says. The Omega walks off and I step back.

“You need to take that dress off and put this back on.” She throws rags at me.

“No.” I won’t fucking do it.

“Get changed, then get down to the cells.”

Cells? “I’m not sleeping in the cells,” I snap.

She steps closer. “You can either walk, or I drag you by your hair.”

I don’t even think. I just swing and hit her. She stumbles back and snarls.

I watch as she shifts partially, her nails coming free. Then she moves, swiping forward. A scream leaves my lips instantly as her claws rake across my shoulder.