—WESTLAND DEANOLE, 185KM AWAY FROM MOONCREST PACK—
Raven sat on top of the hill, watching the moon rise as she dangled the keys in her hand. It was a pleasant evening and the view of the half moon chasing away the orange sky was the nicest view anyone could get.
Her legs dangled beneath her and briefly, she looked down at the monsterous rocks lying thirty feet below her. She was sitting on the sharp edge of a cliff and one single mistake could send her crashing against the rocks beneath her.
Not like she cared anyway.
Life was of no value to her in every way possible. She was void and life would be granting her an easy pass to hell. Raven glanced down at the rocks again and smiled. Life needed more than rocks to kill her by the way. She'd have liked the idea of falling off the cliff four months ago. Four months ago, when she had no purpose in life. She had suddenly found a rather interesting purpose now. One that not just anyone could get.
She started seeing a little bit of life when she met Rex, someone who created a purpose for her and then suddenly snatched it away. It was a relief she had something to hold on to when she found out Eliana's body was just a shell covering the bitch she wished to stab to death.
Ever since she came—after drowning—Rex had tossed her aside. Though, they were only fuck buddies but she had someone to lean on. She was happy knowing she could satisfy Rex in some way even if he'd never let her into his life. Rex had never discussed his life with her, not even his work. And when she would try to pry, he'd warn her to back off but it was still something. Atleast they were together and then, his good looks got into her head and she found herself tripping over him, seeing him more than what he told her they were.
She began to plan all ways to eliminate Eliana since Rex didn't like her at all and maybe, just maybe she could finally have him to herself. He was right, she should have killed Eliana when she was unconscious and then the bitch called Avice would never exist.
She ruined everything!
Raven was never going to let it slide. She was given an opportunity to see life for what it was, a stray girl was never going to snatch it from her even if it meant dragging Avice to hell with her.
Raven's ears bristled, cutting her thoughts short as she heard a rough pant and body movement from behind. She looked down at the keys in her hand and realised she had been clenching it hard while she thought of Avice. She had a lot of plans for her, all she needed to do was sit down and carefully list them out in order.
"What is it?" She asked the animal panting behind her, still staring down at the keys.
She heard a grunt, followed by a rough cracking of bones before two heavy footsteps. The shifting happened within a span of ten seconds and the fresh air she had been enjoying suddenly got polluted.
Ugh, rouges were the definition of 'stink'. Well thanks to Avice again, she had to work with stench drenched wolves. Vampires and werewolves weren't supposed to be allies but the rouges she had been making use of weren't werewolves again. They were monsters and it was easier to use them since all they wanted was the blood of their fellow innocent ones and she had promised them the power in return for helping her.
"Anything new happening in the pack?" She asked, staring up at the sky that was getting dark.
"No. Just a rumor about Eliana". He replied.
Raven chuckled. She was yet to drop the bombshell in the pack. She was yet to tell everyone who "the Eliana' really was. She noticed the pack members had gone soft on her. Heard she threw a tantrum about judgement or some shit. On a nice note, Eliana would never do that.
"What about it?" She asked the man behind her.
"I confirmed while sneaking around, the rumor about Rex kissing her in public is true".
Raven's head flew back, so hard, her neck cracked and her hair slapped her face. "Rex did what?"
"He kissed her two days ago. It was quite passionate I heard and that he mindlinked everyone to stay the fuck out of her busi—"
Raven flew up, her claws growing out of her fingers as she grabbed the rouge's neck. With all her strength, she spun him and slammed him against the ground, dragging him up until his head was dangling off the edge. She threw her right leg over his naked chest and straddled him, not caring if they both tumble over and unto the rocks waiting to collect them.
The man grabbed her arms, scratching her face also. He was trying to push her off his body or better still, toss her over but Raven wasn't just a vampire girl at the moment, she was a raging and obsessive vampire and her strength tend to multiply ten folds.
Avice was really challenging her and it was getting on her nerve as much as it was exciting her. She planned to give her a break after sending the wolves who failed woefully after her. But it seemed Avice just declined with a slap on her face. And sitting back wasn't happening any longer. It was time to strike. Time to destroy her from the inside before Rex start to lose his fucking mind.
Focusing back on the person convulsing beneath her, she forced a smile. "I guess it's time to bring in Crane. He must have been waiting for this moment".
☆
Avice shook her head and pursed her lips as she returned the dress back to its place. She had taken her time to filter out some clothes that were not her style. And now, the closet looked almost empty and she still couldn't find what to wear.
"I need to go to the mall myself. I can't have anyone picking out clothes fo—" Avice stopped, her brows creasing at a drawer at the bottom part of the rack. The drawer was almost invisible and it was the first time she'd notice it. She had opened every drawers in the closet except the one she was staring at.
Adjusting her towel properly on her chest, she crouched down and pulled it out. Avice's mouth fell open at the things her eyes laid on in the drawer, or better still, the toys in the drawer.
"That's my Eliana". Avice huffed out as she picked a vibrator from the drawer. Of course there was no way Eliana could help herself out with Rex being cruel to her. She needed something to get off on. Adeline told her that werewolves had something called heat period. A short period when female werewolves crave for sex extraordinarily which could hardly be controlled. "Do you fuck yourself with these?" Avice mumured to herself as she stared down at toys amusingly.
Suddenly, a loud steel colliding with the floor downstairs jerked her attention away from the drawer, her heart dropping an inch away from its original position. She was about to continue her toy exploration while considering using one as well, when another thing jerked her attention away.
This time, her door opened and Adeline's voice followed. Avice dropped the vibrator in her hand and stepped out of her closet, still in her towel.
"What is it?" Avice asked.
Adeline rushed to her and grabbed her bare shoulders, squeezing it hard. She closed her eyes to shake off the fear in them and took in a deep shaky breath before opening them.
"Are you okay?" Avice asked again, cupping her face.
"Please tell me you remember Crane". Adeline said. "Oh shit, tell me you remember him, Eliana. You can't forget him".
"I don't. Who's Crane?" Avice stepped away from Adeline's firm grip, tightening the towel around her chest.
"Crane...crane is Rex's uncle. The one who used to constantly get on your nerve? You don't remember?" Adeline asked, her expression filled with worry and concern. Although, there was no Adeline without worry. She had been spending every single day of her life worrying about the littiest things. But the Adeline in front of her was not only worrying, she was panicking.
"Calm down. Who the hell is Crane? And what if he's Rex's uncle?" She asked, shrugging nonchalantly. "Hold on, he's not Jordan's father, is he?"
"No. Jordan's father is dead. Rex's father has only two siblings. Jordan's father and Crane. Crane is the middle child and Rex's father was the first".
"Uhm...okay, what I'm supposed to do with—"
"Crane hates you!" She grunted through gritted teeth, grabbing her shoulders once more and shaking her. "Crane hates you for many things".
Avice sighed. "Are we going to pretend like he's the first person to hate me?"
"It's different. Crane hates you because you are stronger than him". She stepped closer and whispered. "You used to beat his ass whenever you compete and he actually left this pack because of you. He doesn't even like the fact that you're Rex's mate. He hates every organ breathing in you". She moved away and ran a hand through her hair.
"Okay, I still don't get this whole conversation. Am i supposed to be fricking the fuck out because he hates me? That's his problem".
"Used to be his problem. Eliana, you don't have your wolf in you. No one has a damn clue about it and he might challenge you to a fight. How will you fight him without a wolf?" Adeline leaned in to say, her eyes now burning red.
"Goddamnit". Avice muttered and it was her own turn to start panicking. "Wha—"
A knock came on the door and Jordan shot his head inside before any of them could answer the door. His words were cut short when his eyes fell on Avice who was wrapped in a white towel that barely covered her thighs.
Adeline's eyes darted between them before clearing her throat when she noticed Jordan was staring too much. Ever since the kiss with Rex three days ago, he had been giving her a cold shoulder. Not a out of anger cold shoulder, more like a space to remind himself who she really belonged to.
"Uh—" He snapped out. "Crane wants both of you downstairs".
"Alright, thanks". Adeline pulled a smile that dropped the moment he closed the door. "Put on some clothes and act properly. No cursing. I'll be waiting for you downstairs".
Avice nodded and rushed into the closet. She yanked out the dress she put back earlier and hurried for her underwear. Minutes later, she was out of her room. She was about to rush down the stairs when she remembered Eliana wouldn't do that. Eliana was a gentle girl and she just needed to toss her own godforsaken personality aside and use Eliana's own.
She came to a halt when she saw Adeline discussing with a man near the door. He was just like she imagined. He was the kind of book you could judge with the cover. He had a tall, threatening, semi-big stature and a little beard that that was starting to welcome some white strands. His hair was black and one of his fingers was missing. The ring finger of his left hand was missing.
She wondered if Eliana cut that off.
"Eliana". The man called, drawing her expression from his missing finger. His voice was stiff—like she expected.
"Hi...Crane?" She moved forward, closer to the man who was going to make her life a living hell. "It's very...surprising that you're here". She managed to smile.
He chuckled and stretched his hand for a shake. "It's nice seeing your lovely face after all these years".
Avice pulled out her own hand to meet his. She was about to withdraw when he grabbed it again, squeezing it so tight Avice swore a bone cracked. She bit her lip to suppress a wince that was growing larger and larger in her throat, not wanting to show any weakness in front of him.
Fucking motherfucker!
The man smiled when he saw the pain creeping up her eyes but he still didn't let go. He was trying to remind her who he was and what he was back for. Avice would have sworn him off for trying to break her hand but getting pissed on first encounter wasn't really a good idea. So instead, she kept the smile even if her eyes were betraying her.
"It's really nice seeing you again. We can finally play the little game that we've missed so much". He tilted his head, the creepy smile still on his face. "Don't you think?"