Chapter Five

Despite their efforts to get her to talk, Rae didn't say another word to her parents.

She didn't regret her decision and was certain that she never would. She didn't care that it looked bad on their part. She wasn't going to act as if what they did didn't hurt her and remain in the pack. She would rather be a rogue than be a laughing stock. Kara and Negan could look bad. In fact, they could die for all she cared.

Rae sat beside the window until the sun went up. She didn't feel tired, only emotionally drained. She tried not to think about how excited she was only a day before. She thought she would mate with the man she loved and live happily ever after but it seemed life had other plans for her. Or perhaps there was no plan. Perhaps she was destined to live an unremarkable life deep in the woods. She would find an empty cabin and inhabit it and forever be the rejected Luna.

She didn't care. All she wanted was to leave.

She hadn't decided what to take with her on her journey. Taking nothing seemed like the best option because she didn't want any reminder of BloodMoon but she had to agree that it wasn't necessarily practical. She couldn't venture out into the wide world without some resources. But even so, food and water could only last her a few days. And clothes she wouldn't necessarily need if she had to shift to hunt. There was also the possibility that she would be chased by a group of other rogues or other fierce animals and she'd have to abandon everything when she shifted.

Human hunters were also a problem.

Still, she had to find a solution and she had to do it quickly. She wanted to be gone before the day ended. She got up and showered simply because it was something she always did. She reminded herself that out in the wild she wouldn't be able to take showers and her resolve weakened, she couldn't lie. She began thinking of everything that would be limited to her and she found it all unfair.

Kara and Negan found their happiness together but ruined her life. It wasn't fair. She would live happily as a Luna and have her pups while Rae would waste away in BloodMoon if she chose to stay. She couldn't see who else would want her after what happened. She'd have to mate within the pack if no other suitable match was made and every male in their pack repulsed her. If they chose to mate with her, it would be because of their future position as Alpha since she was the Alpha's daughter. In any case, there wasn't one male that she found agreeable, not one.

And she wasn't willing to mate with someone she couldn't love.

Rae got out of the shower and dressed. She was just starting to pack a bag when her mother entered her room. She acted as if she didn't see her and put a few shirts into her bag.

"Rae," her mother said, "stop this foolishness!"

"I don't know how you can walk in here and say something like that to me," she replied, glaring at her. "After everything you've done you feel the need to tell me what to do?"

"You heard your father," she said, "we had no control over what happened. Your sister and Negan fell in love."

"I'm sure you convinced her to fall in love with him," she said angrily, not looking at her. "I didn't want to say it in front of father but I know you're the one who told her to pursue Negan. I'm not excusing what you did, I'm only telling the truth. Do you deny it?"

She raised her chin. "No, I do not. I'll repeat what I said last night; it was for the well-being of the pack."

"How embarrassing," Rae hissed. "How shameful of you. How desperate. You convinced your daughter to lie with a man who wasn't her mate for your benefit? I've never seen anyone sink lower than that."

Her mother advanced but Rae put a hand up. "You have no right to try to correct me, not after what you did. I'll say what I have to say and you'll listen or you can leave. I didn't ask you to come here. The reason why you chose Kara wasn't that you think she's more generous but because she's more gullible than me. You influence her easily and what has happened is proof of the power you have over her. You knew I would never listen to you but she's a different story. Kara being Luna of StonePaw practically makes you Luna of StonePaw. Congratulations, you've achieved everything you wanted but you broke your family up. You ruined us. I will never forgive Kara or you for what you did to me. You've lost a daughter, but I don't believe this matters to you, does it?"

She didn't answer her. They glared at each other for a few moments and then she turned on her heel and left. Rae packed in peace. She wasn't disturbed. Once she finished packing, she grabbed her backpack and put a cap on her head. She looked around at her room one last time. It would be the last time she'd ever look at it.

Rae thought of leaving through the backdoor but decided against it. Why should she leave like a fugitive? She was wronged, not the other way around. If Kara left with her intended mate through the front door, why should she hide?

The living room was thankfully empty. She didn't come across any employees and she wondered where everyone was. It wasn't normal, there was usually someone around. The front door was wide open and when Rae walked through it, she understood why the house was so empty.

Everyone was gathered outside. Kara was standing beside Negan and her parents were with her, saying their goodbyes. They lied to her about them; they hadn't left. They were probably in bed when Rae confronted them about their betrayal.

It stung, seeing them together. It hurt so much that she wanted to run toward Kara and tackle her to the ground. She should've turned back, she thought of doing so because if someone saw her, it would be more humiliating.

But she didn't, and when she realized it, everyone was watching her.

She met Negan's eyes. Her whole world stopped for a fraction of a second and then everything came rushing back. Kara touched his arm and that was it. Something snapped inside of her and she charged forward. Her parents stepped in front of them and her father put a hand on her shoulder to stop her. "Rae," he said, "Rae, please."

"Just leave," her mother said through her teeth, "Go."

"Now you want me to leave?" Rae asked in a loud voice. Her father was trying to convince her to go back inside but she wasn't listening to him. She was glaring at the newly-mated couple over his shoulder.

"Congratulations," she said, "I was told you left last night but that clearly wasn't the case."

"Rae!"

"I don't understand why you didn't tell me sooner," she continued, pushing past her mother. "I would've gladly attended your mating ceremony. I don't know why you decided to keep the truth from me until the last possible second." She then looked down at Kara's belly. "You're not showing yet. How lucky. Congratulations nonetheless."

Kara looked horrified. She was looking from side to side. Negan's brows were furrowed but his anger didn't scare her. The only thing that scared her at the moment was her fury.

Her mother grabbed her arm. "You're overstepping a line!"

"Don't touch me!" she bellowed. "I'm overstepping a line? There is no line! They erased it long ago. Come now, mother, let's not act like this was a secret. The only person who was blind and clueless here was me. I'm sure everybody here knew what was going on between them, which is why everyone looked at me strangely. I didn't understand it before but now I know. I'm sure they even heard her moans in the middle of the night!"

"You will not speak of my mate in such a manner!" Negan yelled. "She is the Luna of StonePaw and you will show her respect!"

"Oh, go fuck yourself with your whore's title!" she said. The pack gasped. Her mother was horrified. Rae didn't care. She was beyond caring. "Your titles here are simple a courtesy. You have no jurisdiction here. I'll talk to you however I want, you pieces of shit!"

"Rae!" her father yelled. "Enough!"

"You all betrayed me!" she continued. "All of you! I bet you laughed every time you saw me and this...this jerk together because you all knew! And you, Kara," she said, turning to fix her sister a look. "You're the worst of them all, you envious bitch. You wanted what was mine because you couldn't get anything better yourself. You should be ashamed of what you did! Ashamed! You think you won? Oh, you know nothing. You'll never win. You might be the Luna of StonePaw but your little pup will be a bastard! A bastard! In a few decades, a bastard will be the Alpha of StonePaw. There is nothing more shameful."

She stopped. She was breathing hard but her heart was lighter. She felt clean. She stepped back and met her family's eyes. Kara was crying silently but Rae didn't pity her.

Negan left her side and approached her. His nostrils were flared. Spittle flew from his mouth when he spoke. "You speak of us as if you have any clue of what transpired between us. You think your sister pursued me but it was I who pursued her! I pursued her because I saw right away how much better than you she was and I knew that I would be making a grave mistake if I made you my Luna. Look at you. You're cheap and immature. Why didn't you tuck your tail between your legs and disappeared like you intended to? You think you're so much better than her, don't you? You thought you were irreplaceable."

Rae narrowed her eyes at him. "I am irreplaceable. I am better than her. At least I didn't spread my legs for a male who hadn't even asked for my hand as she did! You're trying to justify what she did because you've already mated with her but I'd be careful if I were you. A whore will always be a whore. She'll sleep with every male in your pack and allow them to ravage her the same way you did!"

Their mother crumbled to the floor and Kara rushed to her side. Rae didn't care and apparently, neither did Negan. She continued. She had plenty to say. "I'm not ashamed to admit that I loved and admired you but now I see you for what you are. You're weak, you couldn't handle someone like me. You weren't even male enough to admit to me that you were fucking my sister!"

"Rae, leave!" her father commanded.

"I'll leave when I'm finished."

Negan tilted his head and said, "I'm glad you have such a high opinion of yourself, Rae of BloodMoon, but know this: a weak male didn't want you as his mate. How does that make you feel? I'd rather father a bastard, a million bastards, than father a pup with you."

Rae wished she could say that his words didn't sting but they did. She stared at him hard and then looked at everyone. They were all watching her as if they expected her to say something back but she bit her tongue. She humiliated herself far enough. It was better if she left. Besides, she had said everything she intended to say. She didn't have time to waste, she had a long day ahead of her.

She turned around and left.