Chapter 5

Voices roared to life like a hive of angry bees ready to swarm an intruder. Raina painfully realized that she was their intruder invading their hive and trespassing on their territory, but she was frozen in shock. Had Kian just chosen her to offer up her own egg for this medical procedure? Wait! Had he just casually declared he would've chosen her as his chosen Luna too like he hadn't just said that he wouldn't touch her even if she was the last she-wolf?

But he wants her egg to be fertilized by his... She flushed, realizing that he technically still wouldn't be touching her. Everything would be done in Sterling's laboratory. Her genetics were apparently good enough, but she overall wasn't. Her heart twisted at the crushing weight of pain and heartbreak.

"She isn't suitable to be a candidate, Kian," Elder Richmond growled out. "Who is this-this woman? Who are her parents?"

"Our parents died saving this pack during those vicious rogue attacks when you refused to give your Alpha information about the planned ambush," Sterling growled out, fixing Elder Richmond a glare that seemed to quiet the room. Raina could feel the edge of her warning and she couldn't be grateful for her interference.

Elder Dorinda's eyes widened in realization. "Miranda and Luke's daughters," she gasped as her eyes glanced back and forth at them. Something dawned in recognition before she blinked back her tears. "They-They would've been so proud of you two."

She watched as Dorinda looked down. She knew who Dorinda was. She was the female Beta during that time and Richmond was the male Beta. Dorinda had always shown remorse and sadness over the rogue attacks. Richmond never did. He was too proud and blamed others for his failures. He had gained prestige and fame when he had helped Alpha Rhys with finally killing the rogue king to weaken their forces indefinitely.

It had been a long time since then. Rogues still ventured close to their territory, but none ever showed aggression. They were just passing through and would sometimes exchange information with Deltas at the perimeter for food and directions to the nearest safe waterhole and sheltering spots not in occupied territory. There had been a shift of civility between them and rogues and it was welcomed after years of fighting.

There was a murmur of hushed voices as they regarded Raina. Surprisingly, most eyes had thawed and showed agreement in Kian's decision. Raina had yet to find her voice. All she felt was her anxiety mounting as this situation continued to unfold.

"The heroics of your parents aren't lost on us," Richmond said. His eyes zeroed in on Raina inspecting like she was an insect he'd very much like to step on. "What makes her more suitable then my own granddaughter?"

Mia would forever haunt her. She swallowed, feeling the overbearing weight of his disdain. It wasn't lost on her that Mia should be Kian's rightful Luna and the woman to birth his heirs. She was surprised that Kian hadn't said anything since mentioning her name or even Sebastian. Her eyes flicked to them and almost felt betrayal for being so blindsided by everything.

"Mia holds a place in my heart, Richmond," Kian admitted. There was a softness in his voice and eyes and it tore her up inside. "But she's also in my past for a reason. I'm not the same man as I was back then." His eyes drifted to her, studying her for a moment. "I admire my Beta's strength and resilience. She's the strongest warrior. Our genetics will ensure my bloodline would continue. She's the only woman I trust with my children."

"Trust to birth your children?" Richmond scoffed, shaking his head. "That sounds like you're planning to have more children with her. What is she good enough to be your breeder but not enough to be your Luna?"

Just like that, unimaginable pain fractured her. Sterling's eyes immediately went to her. The concern within them. She squeezed her eyes closed, shutting everything out. She tried to but his words kept coming to break her even more. How could break even more when she was already shattered?

"If you're not even at least planning on make her your Luna, which is another issue that needs to be addressed because an Alpha can't lead without a Luna by his side, then this ridiculous procedure can be scrapped," Richmond stated sternly. Raina opened her eyes and stared at the Elder as he regarded her dismissively like she was spoiled goods.

"Fine." Kian's voice was dark and vengeful.

"So you agree that you need to forget this ridiculous idea and--"

"The procedure still continues," he said firmly. "But Raina will be my Luna after my first heir is birthed." Raina's eyes snapped to him. What?! This was getting out of hand! She was his Beta not his Luna. "A Luna is a leader of the pack and she is the highest female ranking leader of the pack. It only makes sense that she would be Luna. Just like I chose her as my Beta, I chose her as my Luna and I will claim her after my child is born by surrogate. We all know markings between chosen mates dissolve at the appearance of fated mates. She will still be allowed to be with her fated mate when they appear."

Raina's mouth dropped open. Her eyes went to her sister, who looked equally shocked before amusement replaced the shock. She was going to kill Sterling. All this happened because her medical suggestion of IVF and surrogacy. She couldn't believe this was happening.

Richmond having caught her reaction, he chuckled. "Have you even asked your trusted Beta if she even is up to the task?" Raina looked directly into Richmond's eyes and saw the scorn. "I don't blame you, little lady. I wouldn't expect you to take on such a task. Only a true Luna would be able to--"

"You're mistaken," she cut in, enjoying a little too much the look of surprise on his face. She even savored the irritation that flickered through his eyes and body. "I don't question my Alpha's judgments. I was chosen by him to be his Beta and if this is a task he believes I'm capable of handling then it will be done."

As the words passed through her lips, she knew she had sealed her fate and stepped into an irreversible destiny. It was almost like fate had literally stepped in and shoved her back on her supposedly intended path. How was she going to explain this to Kian? How was he not going to find out the truth?

Her eyes went to Kian and he held her gaze confirming her full cooperation. Gratitude and visible relief were the first things she saw and it quieted her panicked thoughts. A smile crossed his face and he scanned the faces of the Elder Council.

"There you have it," he told them. "You have secured your Luna and your heir."

***

The moment the meeting was done. Raina immediately rushed out after her sister. She had no desire yet to discuss any of this with Kian or Sebastian or both. This had obviously been a risky political move that paid off for them, but it wasn't going to pay off for her. She felt like her entire world was falling apart.

"Sterling, I'm faster than you!" she reminded angrily as she chased her down the hallway.

Sterling stopped, visibly taking in a deep breath and releasing it before she turned around to face her. Raina opened her mouth, but a couple of Elders walked by. She flushed when the both bowed their heads as if she was already a Luna. She awkwardly gave them a smile and they continued to walk by them. Her eyes snapped to Sterling who was trying to keep from laughing.

"This isn't funny," she grumbled as she looked around, spotting the small hallway leading to the bathroom.

"But it is actually," her sister chuckled as Raina dragged her to the small hallway out of the main hallway in the pack house. "You can't be mad at me. I only suggested the procedure and surrogacy to Kian and Sebastian this morning. I had no idea Kian was going to choose you."

She glared at her sister. "This was not supposed to happen tonight," she gasped in frustration. "I was going to tell him tonight and I-I was going to accept his rejection."

"I just suggested the procedure and surrogacy. That's it," Sterling gasped. Her eyes met hers desperately. "I didn't know you were--"

"It's okay, okay," she cut in. It wasn't okay, but she didn't want to escalate to full on panicking... even though she was. She definitely was. "Why did you suggest it?"

Sterling flushed, looking down for a moment. Raina studied her sister as she shifted her weight back and forth from each feet before starting to slightly bounce. Her sister was nervous and she finally growled out in frustration.

"I knew if Kian had to choose a Luna that you'd suffer again," she admitted softly. Sterling looked up at her and Raina saw her desperation. "I didn't want to deal with it. You've gotten so healthy after all that. I didn't want you to get hurt."

Raina sighed. "It's my decision to keep it a secret."

She tried to reach out to console her sister, but Sterling shrugged her off and stepped away. Tears fell down her cheeks and Raina's heart sank when her sister finally looked her in the eyes again.

"You don't get it," she gasped, shaking her head. Her tears were free flowing now. "You don't get what it does to me every single time. I had to see all those bruises all over your body. I had to watch you be in excruciating pain when he slept with Mia. I thought you were going to die, Raina. Do you know what that's like almost watching someone you love whither away like that and there's nothing I can do but watch?"

"Sterling--"

"When Kian and Mia broke up, you got better," she gasped. She wiped at her face with her hands, but the tears kept flowing. "And I had my sister back. I didn't have to be scared if you were going to die anymore." Her sister trembled and Raina realized how traumatic it had been for her. "Then I heard that the Elder Council was going to force Kian to take a Luna and I heard that Kian was waiting for his fated mate so Sam and I came up with this brilliant plan to save my stupidly brave sister. I don't regret it, Raina. You can be mad at me all you want, but I'm not sorry that this happened. I'm not sorry that he chose you, because maybe, this was supposed to happen. Maybe, you're actually supposed to be with Kian. It's your fate. It's your destiny."

Raina watched her usually composed and reserved sister put herself back together. It was a brilliant idea logically. Kian would've never had to touch anybody and she wouldn't be suffering from Kian giving his body away to somebody else. She admitted it was a good plan and she couldn't blame her for the turn of events. That has been all Kian.

"I don't know what I'm going to do now," she whispered as she leaned herself against the wall.

Sterling sighed as she walked over and joined her by leaning against the wall, mirroring her. "You could still tell him the truth that you're actually his fated mate... or you could go through the procedure and have him figure out your his mate when he claims you as his Luna."

"Sterling, he said he'd never touch me even if I was the last she-wolf," she finally confessed that painful truth. Sterling frowned at that, confusion in her eyes. "I-I heard him and Sebastian talking the other day when they were sparring." A few tears managed to escape down her cheeks before she quickly brushed them away. "There's not going to be a happy ending for me when it comes to Kian."

She glanced at her sister and she couldn't help it when all her walls came down. Sterling immediately grabbed her up in her arms and held into her tightly and Raina clung to her as she released all the pain.

"I tried. I've tried to be enough," she gasped, choking on her emotions. "I thought it would be enough if I became his Beta, but it hurts. It hurts to be so close to him and now I know how he truly feels about me as a woman."

Sterling held her tightly. "We'll figure something out," she promised. "We will."