Chapter 20
1383 Words
C20:Strange Feeling/ Unwanted Kiss
“What… do… you think” the figure asked, his palm circling her belly, Raine felt a swarm of butterflies there, her eyes slightly closed.
Raine woke up abruptly, her breath uneven.
A strange heat settled deep within her, spreading slowly through her body.
She frowned, placing a hand on her racing chest as if to calm herself.
“What is this…” she muttered softly.
The feeling was unfamiliar.
It wasn’t pain, but it wasn’t comfort either.
Her body felt warm and aching, especially her core, and no matter how much she tried to ignore it, it lingered.
Raine sat still for a moment, trying to steady herself.
“It’s nothing, just another dream” she whispered, even though she wasn’t convinced.
Pushing the thoughts aside, she got out of bed and headed to wash up.
After getting ready, she left her room and made her way to the dining hall.
The atmosphere there was calm, they seemed complete without her.
Alpha Elmore sat at the head of the table, Luna Indira beside him.
Alice sat close to Raphael.
Raine walked in quietly and took her seat, greeting her parents but didn't bother if they accepted it or not.
A maid served her roasted pork.
She began to eat slowly, she could feel something heavy on her,Raphael’s gaze.
It was intense, fixed on her like he was trying to read her thoughts.
Raine ignored it, keeping her eyes on her plate as she ate.
Across the table, Alice leaned closer to Raphael, her hand resting lightly on his arm.
She laughed softly at something he said, her fingers brushing against his shoulder.
Raine’s grip on her spoon tightened slightly, but she did not look up.
She kept eating, stuffing the pork into her mouth.
“Are you prepared to leave tomorrow?”
Alpha Elmore’s voice broke the silence.
Raine paused for a second before lifting her head slightly.
“Yes,” she replied softly, her voice plain,
No hesitation. No emotion.
Luna Indira nodded in satisfaction and continued her meal.
Alice glanced at Raine with a small smile before turning back to Raphael, whispering something to him, which he responded to with a hum.
Raine finished her meal in silence.
Without waiting for anything else, she stood up.
“I’m done,” she said quietly before turning and leaving the dining hall, no one spoke to her.
The moment she stepped outside, she exhaled deeply.
The air felt cooler, but the strange heat within her still lingered.
She walked toward the garden, it was her favorite spot.
The garden was a quiet space she would hide whenever she wanted to be alone.
She went to the swing which had a flower shade over it, she sat on it closing her eyes briefly.
The wind brushed against her skin, calming her slightly.
But her mind was far from calm as she recalled the figure's scent, it was intoxicating.
It smelled like rose and wet earth.
Refreshing, comforting, most importantly intoxicating.
“You agreed to go.”
Raine’s eyes opened immediately, her thoughts interrupted.
She turned to see Raphael standing behind her, the sun shining radiantly behind him.
His expression was tense, his eyes locked on her.
“I did,” she answered calmly.
Raphael stepped closer.
“Why?” he asked, his voice low but firm.
Raine looked away, her heart clenched, she didn't want him to care.
It would only hurt.
“It doesn’t concern you,” she replied.
His jaw tightened, the words felt like a strike.
“It does,” he said. “You’re leaving, Raine, to a place where you might not survive.”
She turned back to face him, anger rising within her.
“And what do you expect me to do?” she asked. “Stay here?”
Raphael frowned slightly “Yes,” he said. “Stay”.
Raine let out a small pained chuckle.
“Stay and do what?” she asked. “Watch you and my sister?”
Her words were a bit calm in contrast to how she felt, but they carried weight.
Raphael’s expression darkened as he rubbed his temples.
“That’s not what this is about,” he said in a low tone.
“Then what is it about?” Raine asked, her voice rising slightly.
Silence stretched between them, the answer felt heavy for them.
Raphael stepped closer, closing the distance between them.
“You know how I feel about you,” he said.
Raine shook her head.
“It doesn’t matter,” she replied. “You made your choice.” she shook her head, “the moon goddess has decided your future and I'm certainly not in it” she replied slowly, the sadness she had buried resurfacing.
His hand moved suddenly, grabbing her wrist.
Raine’s eyes widened slightly.
“Let go,” she warned, trying to wriggle out of his hold, but the half lycan hold on was too tight.
“No,” Raphael said firmly.
Before she could react, he pulled her closer and kissed her. It was not gentle.
It was sudden, intense, almost desperate.
Raine froze for a second, shock running through her.
She felt disgusted, not because she didn't love him, but because it was wrong.
It was no longer right, not when he belonged to her sister now and not after he had marked her.
She pushed him hard with all the strength she could muster.
Breaking free, her hand moved instantly.
A sharp slap echoed in the garden.
Raphael’s head turned slightly from the impact.
Raine’s chest rose and fell quickly, her eyes filled with anger and pain.
“Don’t do that ever again,” she said firmly .
Raphael looked back at her, his face filled with hurt and guilt as he clenched his teeth.
Raine walked away quickly, she couldn't risk staying there any longer. She did not look back.
Her steps were fast, her emotions heavy.
Raine returned to her room after leaving the garden.
She closed the door quietly behind her and leaned against it for a moment, her hand flew to the sizzling mark on her neck, it started burning the instant Raphael kissed her.
Her thoughts were chaotic as she tried to figure out what it was, but she pushed them aside and focused on packing the remaining belongings she had.
Unknown to her, a servant had seen them in the garden and had told Alice, once she returned to the mansion.
The door flung open, revealing an angry Alice, she marched straight to Raine and slapped her across the face.
Raine looked up holding her cheek, her face filled with astonishment.
“What was that for?” she asked, confused and angry.
“Oh you don't know, but you're busy kissing my mate, mine” Alice snarled angrily.
“I didn't…, He did, and I pushed him away.” She corrected in a calm tone, though her anger had not fully subsided.
“You didn't?, who doesn't know you are a desperate w***e who would do anything to get my mate.
Raphael isn't so low to kiss you on his own” Alice scoffed as she folded her hands.
“Desperate w***e?” Raine muttered as she clenched her fist and unclenched them, the next second she returned the slap, stunning Alice.
“You are the desperate one who would put your life on the line to get what is not yours, you are also a w***e who would give your body in order spite me” Raine said, her voice rising as tears filled her eyes.
“How comfortable do you feel humiliating and bullying me? You took everything I've always desired.
My parent's love, my own room, everything I liked.” She continued as the tears fell freely.
She stepped forward and Alice stepped back, shocked.
Raine had never fought back, if anything she had withdrawn the more after Raphael chose her.
“Yet it wasn't enough” Raine continued “You still took Raphael, you flaunted him every second to spite. You still had the guts to call me a desperate w***e, then what are you?”
She asked in a lower tone, Alice flinched.
Immediately the door creaked open.
“What is going on here?”
- Writer
