18.
1829 Words
CHAPTER 18
RAFE POV
Have you ever had your heart ripped out and known you only had yourself to blame?
That’s exactly how I felt as I watched Rini cry as she admitted this minuscule act of kindness and desire had broken some of her solitary strength. When she admitted in a broken little voice that she would rather have never known a moment of kindness if it meant she would have to go back to what she called her reality.
In that moment I hated myself, my brothers and especially my parents. We had been taught since her arrival that she was less than us, a burden we were forced to bear and absolutely not worthy of our time, affection or basic human rights.
Why the f**k hadn’t I pushed back sooner? I knew at 5 years old that treating the tiny little creature like an unwanted pet was wrong. I had tried to rebel against my parents in subtle ways by throwing out nearly brand new clothes so that Rini would have proper winter wear (even if they were 3 times too big), forcing my mum to buy her new underwear, cleaning up after myself so she wouldn’t have to and beating the s**t out of any guy that thought to take advantage of what the pack thought was the lowest most insignificant member.
It wasn’t enough.
The fact that someone making sure she wasn’t living in pain or dying from an infection was an unheard of notion for her made me feel sick.
Ralph and Lyall wanted to go back to business as usual today. Had declared that we would make sure Rini had the medical care she needed but would continue to remain at a distance both physically and emotionally.
I hadn’t agreed and I would not agree.
I didn’t give a s**t about the so called mate we were waiting for. In the shifter world, once you turned 18 the shifter magic kicked in and if you mate was also of age, the magic bound you together, tightening and tightening until you found each other. It was a bond for life, it couldn’t be broken, even in death.
I didn’t give a f**k.
We were destined to share a mate between the three of us, so whoever she was, she could get her fill of my brothers and I would be a mate in name only.
The first time I had seen Rini with her dark blonde hair, slightly asian eyes coloured an impossible blue, and kindness written over ever inch of her aura, one word filled my mind… mine.
I admit I resented her for it for years, for the way I couldn’t forget her. That when I closed my eyes and touched other girls it was her face that I saw. That I was actually still a virgin because my d**k refused to stay hard for another girl.
My brothers and the community at large believed I had been around the block more than a few times but in reality the furthest I had gone was pleasuring females with my fingers and mouth.
I hated it. They tasted wrong. They felt wrong. And I had blamed Rini for it. Had punished her with indifference and silence when she had done nothing to deserve it.
No. f**k the rules, f**k my parents and f**k the unnamed mate. Things had changed and I couldn’t go back now, I wouldn’t.
I only hoped this wouldn’t destroy the bond I had with my brothers. I knew they wanted Rini too but I also knew that neither of them would let themselves have her, not when the threat of a mate hung above them.
Well they were welcome to that female, wherever she was. She wasn’t mine. The truth teller must have gotten it wrong.
After kissing my baby girl and feeling her body come alive for me, I knew. I knew the truth I had denied for over a decade now, she was mine and always would be.
I couldn’t tell her though. Not just yet. History would make her believe it wasn’t real, that I was playing a cruel prank on her.
No, I would be patient. I would ease her into this and I would also ease my brothers into this too. Things were changing around here and I was finally going to take control of my own destiny.
I only hoped Rini would eventually accept what I knew us to be; soul mates.
“Rafe?”
I snapped my attention back to the female, my female, still beneath me. f**k she felt good there, my d**k wholeheartedly agreed too.
“Yes?”
“Can you uh… get off me? I need to get up and make breakfast for everyone.”
Yet another of my failures.
“You’re not making shit.”
Her eyes blazed. “Yes I am. You may get to come and go however you please in this house but if I stop being useful, I stop having a shelter to live under.”
It struck me then, how she had never, not once, ever called it home. Because it wasn’t, I realised. This wasn’t her home and she likely felt it never would be.
Wait… would that mean she was serious when she told us she would be leaving as soon as she’s 18 and finished school?
When was she 18, any way? f**k. I didn’t even know her birthday, none of us had ever celebrated it. I wonder if she even knew?
She’s awake I sent down the line to both Lyall and Ralph. And fighting me every damn second.
Ralph sent laughter down the line and Lyall an eye roll.
She thinks if she doesn’t make breakfast mom will kick her out.
Fucking dramatic Lyall grumbled.
Fucking accurate Ralph countered. Which is why I’ve already got eggs and bacon cooking.
How thoughtful of him.
Hey, do you know Little Rabbit’s birthday?
Silence greeted me but tendrils of shame dripped down the bond.
Fuck, we were such pieces of s**t.
Aunt Arley will know Lyall finally said.
Doubtful Ralph snorted. Just ask the little Kitten.
Huh. Kitten being the baby term for a Rabbit. Was that an endearment from my stoic twin?
And admit we’ve gone 12 years without knowing or caring? I return. Thanks bro, I think I’ll dodge that bullet… OW!
What happened? Lyall demanded.
I glared down at Rini who was staring defiantly at me, her teeth bared.
She f*****g kicked me I grumbled Barely missed my balls.
And why is she anywhere near your balls? Lyall asked with quiet threat.
Ralph had cut the connection.
I sighed and didn’t reply to Lyall, cutting my own connection to focus back to Rini.
“Don’t ignore me,” she said grumpily. “And get off me.”
I moved back so she wasn’t boxed in but I stayed on the too small bed, making a note that I would have to arrange for something bigger. A single bed for a teenager was a joke. I would get her little spit fire friend to help me with that too, basic amenities weren’t enough to repent.
“Doc is stopping by this morning,” I told her. “If you want to go to school today you need the go ahead from him.”
Her face paled. “Tell him not to come,” she demanded. “Your mom - the Luna is already furious with me, I need the money I earn each week and she’s going to take a huge chunk out of it for medical care.”
Fuck. So she was saving money to leave.
“It’s non negotiable,” I clipped. “I will take care of the medical expenses and you better believe if he says you’re not fit for school then I’ll sit on you to keep you here.”
“You can’t keep me here! I can’t miss school, I need to pass everything so I can graduate with enough honours that I have a chance at a scholarship somewhere.”
She wasn’t leaving. She didn’t know that yet and I wouldn’t win any favours by telling her that now, so I let it go.
Instead I gently pushed her hair out of her face.
“You look beautiful,” I tell her honestly. “Even though your hair looks like a pineapple in the mornings.”
She yanked away from me, patting her hair down in an attempt to hide the blush I could clearly see.
The scent of breakfast wafted up and I begrudgingly moved off the bed and opened the door just as Ralph walked in with a plate of food… wearing a goddamn apron over boxers and nothing else.
Rini’s eyed him hungrily and not because he was holding food.
“Good morning Kitten, sustenance so you can live to torment us another day.” He told her dryly as he placed the food in front of her.
“My name is Rini, you arrogant prick,” she snapped but her tone lacked any real heat.
“That’s the spirit,” he replied, ruffling her hair.
“Did you make this?” She asked in a way that clearly meant have you poisoned this?
Ralph smirked. “If I wanted to end you Kitten I would be more creative about it than a pathetic poisoning.”
She hesitated a moment and then ate a mouthful of scrambled eggs, a moan leaving her lips at the first taste.
“Oh Ralph, this is delicious.”
He turned and left without another word but I saw the tented apron. Looks like that little moan didn’t just get to me.
“Knock knock,”
We looked over to Lyall leaning against the door jam with the doctor behind him.
“Good morning Rini,” Doc said with a gentle smile. He eyed the various medical contents on the stool and turned sharp eyes to us. “If there was a need for it, I should have been called. People die from incorrect doses every day.”
I waved his concerns away. “I’m trained Doc and studying to be a doctor too, I had it covered.”
“Even still,” he said. “I expect to be called next time. Rini is my patient.”
I couldn’t help it, his casual claiming of her set me off and I growled deep in my throat. She was mine, patient or not.
Lyall stepped in front of the doctor and my eye line.
“Cool off,” he commanded. “And get ready for school.”
It was only my unconditional respect for my brother, my alpha, that made me obey.
“See you soon little Rabbit,” I told Rini with a smirk and then sauntered from the room.
I had to check in with Silas and Suzie anyway, day 1 of Rini’s new reality started today.
- Writer
