EPISODE 2

Raina’s POV

“No,” I say after a dragged silence. My voice sounds sharper and more composed than how I feel. I am crashing inside, my temperature running higher than a volcano. “No, I refuse to sign this.”

I refold the letter, tuck it back into the envelope, and toss it the same way it came.

Xavier’s nose flares, but he says nothing. He picks up the envelope and tucks it into his pocket.

His brows lower slightly, and creased lines form along his forehead. His gray eyes are now the same shade as the night sky, flashing and reflecting the lightning that stretches past.

“Raina, just sign it,” Mother whispers beside me, her voice a bit shaky. “It will make this process easier for you.”

“Yes, for all of us,” Dad adds from the sidelines.

“I promise to pay you handsomely for taking care of my son for these three years,” Xavier’s father says, already pulling out a cheque book.

Watching him write down the amount, with a satisfied smile etched on his face as his wife looks on approvingly, my stomach churns..

I have been reduced to a number written on paper. I thought by now, they should know I didn’t marry their son for money, and surely, I wouldn’t leave him because of money.

“Take this.” He stretches out his hand to me. “It’s a sum of five million mooncoins.”

My brothers and parents gasp at the amount. Mum snatches the cheque and proceeds to thank my in-laws with more words than necessary.

“I will not be compensated with money,” I say, slamming my palm on the dinner table as I spring to my feet.

“Then what do you want?” Xavier asks. I hear the irritation in his tone, and it stings my heart. Why does he think I would accept money?

Jayda whimpers beside him, shaking her head as a single teardrop trickles down her porcelain cheeks. “She wants her husband. She wants you, Xavi. I’m so sorry for coming in between you and Raina. I should have known you two would be in love by now.”

Xavier wraps an arm around her, cuddling her like she is as delicate as glass. “There’s nothing to be sorry for. You did nothing wrong by coming back home.” He turns his head to face me again.

I hate the way Xavier’s eyes darken as he stares at me, and the striking contrast of the mild, tender softness he shows Jayda.

Mum pushes the cheque toward me and whispers, “Five million mooncoins, Raina! Five whole million. Think about how rich you’ll become.”

I pick up the cheque and rip it into shreds. Xavier’s parents’ excited faces drops in utter disbelief.

“No!” I snap again before storming out of the chambers.

“Raina!” Mum yells after me. “Come back here. Think about…”

I slam the double doors shut, burying Mum’s haunting voice. Wind blows icy droplets of rain into my face, and that serves as the final blow to release the scream buried in my throat. 

The guards are all gone, and I’m alone facing the storm with my back pressed against the door. 

I scream out again and again until all that I can make out from my mouth is a wheezing sound. It’s a moonless night, hence there’s no comfort for my wailing wolf.

The storm later dies down, at the same time I lose energy to scream. I sit on the floor, soaking in my misery while the cold bites angrily at my skin.

My eyes catches sight of movement in the dark distance

I spring to my feet at once, crossing the courtyard with a strength I didn’t know I had left.

Four men are taking down a statue of me. They hold mallets in their hands, and the statue is already damaged.

“How dare you!” I snap.

They back away from the statue, and one of them, marked as a Gamma, speaks up. “The Alpha requested it to be brought down.”

“Why?” I can’t believe my ears. This statue was placed here after I helped the health sector of the pack conduct a test to get rid of a dangerous disease that could have wiped everyone out. I risked my life to save the pack, and this statue was meant to honor that sacrifice.

“The Alpha says his new bride is allergic to stone sculptures, so we’re taking down all statues around the packhouse.”

I bite my tongue as a wave of anger burns through my insides.

“His new bride,” I repeat, a smile curling at the corner of my lips as tears trickle down my face. So the whole pack knows? 

“I’m sorry,” he says before resuming the destruction of my statue.

As they bash my stone replica, it feels like I am the one being struck.

I turn and run as fast as I can toward the packhouse.

The guards rise to their feet as I rush past, but they don’t bow or try to stop me.

If my eyes weren’t blurred with tears, I would have noticed that all my pictures have been taken down and replaced with Jayda’s.

As I reach the door to our bedroom, my nose catches Xavier’s scent, but he isn’t alone.

Cold sweat drips down my face and back. I feel the urge to turn around and hide until tomorrow, to avoid seeing something that will shatter my heart even more.

I am about to give in to that urge when I hear it.

“I need an heir,” Xavier says. “Raina hasn’t gotten pregnant once in the past three years.”

The air is knocked out of my lungs, as if I have been punched in the chest. Xavier has never complained about having a child to me. I never even knew it was a problem.

I hear kisses and I feel like bursting through the door and tearing them apart. But I remain still, like my statue, while their words shatter me.

“Raina had a bad accident when we were younger. I feared even back then that she might be barren,” Jayda whispers.

I gasp, covering my mouth with my hands. Jayda swore never to tell anyone about my accident, the one that happened when I tried to save her as children.

“I can’t have a barren mate,” Xavier mutters.

“It’s not Raina’s fault,” Jayda moans. “I feel so bad for taking my sister’s man.”

I hear the bed squeak, followed by more sounds and Xavier’s raspy voice. “No, you’ve done nothing wrong. You’re the kindest woman I know. Raina will be fine. I’ll compensate her in the best way I can.”

I can’t bear the insult anymore.

I push the door open and walk in.

They jerk in shock, quickly rearranging themselves on the bed.

“Raina!” Xavier calls out.

I ignore them and head straight to the walk-in closet. I throw a few clothes into a small bag and turn to leave.

“Wait!” Xavier orders.

I turn around to see his eyes glowing red.

Xavier has never used his Alpha voice on me before. My feet root to the floor, and no matter how much I want to run, I can’t move.

“What else do you want from me?” I ask, tears forcing their way down my face.

He breaks eye contact and looks back at Jayda who sits cross-legged on our bed, half-naked.

“The wedding is tomorrow.” He clears his throat uncomfortably. “I’d love for you to be there.”

A stifled chuckle escapes my lips. I take a deep breath and exhale slowly. My heart feels heavier than lead, and although the last thing I want to do is smile, it’s all I have the strength left for.

I turn to Jayda and force a faint smile. “Congratulations, sister. I wish you and my…” I pause. “You and Xavier, a happy married life, blessed with the children I couldn’t bear for him.”

“Raina, wait!” Xavier calls.

But I am already out the door, running into the darkness, through the woods with no destination in mind.