CHAPTER 4: Hell No!

NARAYA

Most wolves reluctantly settle for the option of a chosen mate only when they have completely exhausted all hopes of finding their fated mate after decades of waiting. Or perhaps when their true fated mate passes from this world—that’s also after years of emptiness and loneliness.

But those rules didn't apply to Alpha Roger.

He had chosen my replacement even while I was standing right in front of him, alive and well. Telling me not to take anything to heart.

“You look like you could use a drink,” a bartender at mine and Zilla's favourite hangout spot urged as I slid into a corner booth. This part of BloodMoon Pack was never truly asleep.

“No. Water is fine,” I forced a smile so he could just leave me the fuck alone and get on with other orders.

“Water coming up for table twelve, then,” he reciprocated my smile, his a little more cheerful, before disappearing into the section meant only for staff.

I had actually thought Roger didn't mean what he said until he eventually went upstairs and their unadulterated moans shattered the quiet of the whole mansion.

An ache tore through my chest. Ava, my wolf, howled in pain. I fled before I could give in to the violent urge to match up those stairs and use the fork in my hands to carve marks on their bodies. Roger's, to be precise.

“Ding!”

My phone vibrated violently against my thigh. I pulled it from my coat pocket, the harsh screen light stinging my eyes. I had forgotten to turn off “Do Not Disturb Mode” all day, and now a series of texts from my mother flooded the display. Fuck, she’d been calling all day.

I scrolled through her messages.

“Where the hell are you?”

“You haven't sent money for your brother's hospital bills yet. Do you want him to die?!”

“PICK UP YOUR DAMN PHONE!!!” A red, furious emoji punctuated her final message.

Sure, Mother. Like I really wanted to hear you scream about money while my life is falling apart around me.

I was about to type out a reply and maybe call her later when I was more stable, when Father’s call interrupted. I went through my call history. Clearly, I’d missed some calls from him as well.

For a split second, I contemplated letting it ring out, but settled to answer. I bit my lower lip before swiping green.

“Hey, Dad,” I said, faking a smile I knew he couldn't see.

“Goodness, Naraya had me so worried sick, sweetheart. How are you doing?”

I almost lost my resolve, the waters behind my eyes threatening to fall. The bartender returned with a bottle of water and a glass. What immaculate timing he has.

I pulled the phone slightly away from my ear, dragging a deep breath to stabilize my voice.

“Hello? Naraya? Are you there?”

“Yes, Dad. I'm here,” I sniffled. “I’m doing alright. I'm sorry I missed your calls. How are you doing?”

“Thank goodness you are fine, my baby. How's our gentleman, Alpha?”

I swallowed the lump forming in my throat. Should I tell Father about his betrayal? About what happened today?

“Roger is fine, Dad.”

“Good, good,” I could hear the relief in his voice. “Could you please remind him as lovingly as you women always do that it's the end of the month, sweetie? He hasn't sent my monthly stipend.”

A cold numbness settled in my chest. Great. Just when I thought one of my parents was becoming sensible.

“Naraya, dear? Did you hear me?”

“I will deliver your message, Father,” I said, even though I had no intention of doing so.

“Thank you, baby. Oh, and you do remember you haven't sent the f*e for your sister's tuition for this session, right?”

My jaw clenched so hard I felt a dull ache behind my ears, but I managed to force the disrespect out of my tone.

“I haven't forgotten, Father.”

“When will you send it?”

“Soon!”

The sharp edge of my voice registered, and the line went quiet for a moment. “Alright, baby, let me allow you to get some rest. I'll speak to you later.”

My hand hurriedly reached for the bottle of water when the line clicked dead. I didn't even bother using the glass as I gulped it down directly from the bottle. Everything was just breathing down my throat at this point.

Movement across the fairly crowded bar caught my eyes. I spotted Zilla adjusting her glasses, her sharp blue eyes scanning the room.

“Over here,” I waved with the little strength I could muster. “Pajamas? Really?” I said, the moment she got to my side.

“Well, forgive me if I didn't have the time to dress up after my best friend called me at two in the morning sounding all distorted,” Zilla said. She immediately caught the eyes of one of the bartenders and ordered a drink.

Then she leaned in, her humour fading into the background.

“Tell me, Raya. What happened? Did Roger do something to you? Did… did he reject your proposal?” Her eyes held genuine concern, even though I knew that's what she’d wanted.

“Believe me, if he did, the Moon Goddess just did you a huge favour,” she added, thanking the bartender who had just arrived with her drink.

“Roger didn't reject me,” I started quietly. “Neither did I propose to him.”

“So what happened then?” she asked, dropping her glass to offer me her full attention.

I broke into tears as I remembered everything. Zilla immediately got down from her booth and wrapped her arms around my shoulders, patting me on the back.

“T… turns out he has a fiancée.” I choked. “They have kids. Three-year-old twins.”

“What?” Zilla's voice went razor sharp, causing the few wolves around us to glance our way, some baring their fangs.

She returned to her seat, fire blazing in her gaze.

“Are you freaking kidding me, Raya?”

I simply shook my head.

“Damn that miserable, cheating, lying son of a bitch!” she snarled, hitting the table with her fist. “I always knew he was up to no good.”

She stood up again, pulling me close, letting me soil her shoulders with my tears while she ran her fingers through my hair.

“Don't cry, Raya. That bastard… he doesn't deserve you.”

As my sobs became gentler, Zilla reached across the table and snatched my phone.

“W… what are you doing?” I sniffled, wiping my eyes.

“Setting things right,” she stated firmly, using her thumb to input my password. “I'm going to block him and make sure he doesn't have access to you. No more seeing him from today, Raya. And please change the password of your phone from that disgusting name of his to something better,” she spat, passing me my phone when she'd accomplished her mission.

“You know I… I can't just walk away from him.”

“What do you mean you can't?” Zilla fumed, her protective maternal instincts taking over. “Is he the air that you breathe? Even if he is, I would find you better elsewhere.”

“You know what he does for my family,” I muttered, looking at the floor. “The hospital bills. Tuition. He shoulders everything.”

Zilla let out a heavy, frustrated sigh, pinching the bridge of her nose. The bartender discreetly turned up the music in the bar due to the noise coming from our table.

“I think it's high time you let your parents shoulder their responsibilities,” Zilla said, picking up her drink and nearly emptying the tumbler in one swallow. “I mean… you are the only link between them and they want you to provide for their new families? As if not being there for you wasn't enough?”

“Don't say that, Zilla. No one made me do something I didn't want to. I wanted to help, and that's why I'm helping. Besides, you know Michael and Naomi are good children. I wouldn't want Michael to lose his life just because we couldn't afford medication, and Naomi… she's too bright to drop out.”

“Tsk,” Zilla poured herself another drink, swirling the tumbler in her hand. “You are impossible, Raya.”

She set the glass down with a firm clink.

“Regardless, there's no way I'm going to watch you go back to that monster. He could take his help to the grave for all I care. What this sounds like is a job problem. We need to get you a job. And for the love of Christ, Raya, if everything gets overwhelming, drop other responsibilities and choose yourself first.”

“Still, I can't.”

Her voice rose in exasperation. “You keep saying you can't, you can't. Is that how badly you want to end up with that miserable man all in the name of love?”

“I'm late.”

Zilla paused, her glass hovering halfway to her lips, her brow furrowing.

“Late for what? Your home?”

Slowly, my gaze dropped. I rested my palm flat against my stomach, the fabric of my coat suddenly feeling tight. Zilla stared at my hand, color instantly draining from her face. She shook her head, backing away.

“Hell no, Raya. Tell me you're kidding.”