Remus.
"I swear, I wouldn't hesitate to retaliate if he tries me," I vowed as my mother adjusted my tie. She looked at me with those familiar, gentle eyes, her fingers working deftly. "I had no idea my son had lost his home training," she commented, patting my tie gently before brushing past me.
"I don't mean it, Maa," I said with a sigh, my frustration bubbling up. "I just... hate that guy," I said, my teeth gritting in anger.
She paused, then sighed softly before turning to look at me. Her head tilted as she smiled, walking back to me. She cupped my face in her warm palms, her touch soothing the storm inside me. "If you could read my mind right now, you'd be shocked by how much I despise Alpha Damien and what he did to our pack. I'm not doing this for him; I'm doing this to protect your priorities and also the pack. Don't let him get to you. Be as strong as I know you to be. Your father would be proud of you for this," she said to me, her voice steady and reassuring.
I stared down at her, my throat burning with agony. She was right. Not accepting this invite could only mean that we were in for a war with the Silvermoon pack. The thought made my chest tighten, but I knew I had to be strong. I didn't care what people thought; I only cared about what my mother wanted.
"Now hurry up and get going," she said, caressing my cheeks one last time before walking out. Her words echoed in my mind, giving me the strength I needed to face whatever lay ahead.
I heaved a sigh when she stepped out of the room and turned to look at myself in the mirror. I tilted my head as I checked my suit. It was a dark blue suit with a white undershirt. The invite said to wear grey, but I chose what matched my mood. I knew Alpha Damien wouldn't dare send me away since he wanted to make peace after what he had done to me and my family.
The door to my room swung open, and I looked back. I furrowed my brows as she gasped, taking in my appearance. "Seeing you in that suit just took my breath away," she commented, approaching me.
She placed her hand on my chest and gently moved it down to my lower abdomen. I grasped her hand and gave her an intense glare. "I don't have time for this, Tessa," I said, trying to keep my nerves calm. She irritates me so much that sometimes I felt bad for the way I treat her.
She snatched her hand away and rolled her eyes. "You sure you don't want me to come along?" she asked, closing the gap between us. Sometimes, I didn't feel guilty for the way I treated her. She never listened and always got in my way. "I don't need a distraction," I told her, stepping back and walking to my chest drawer to get a watch. I grabbed a silver Rolex and put it on.
"You know you can't avoid me forever, not when we're getting married soon. You better suck up this pride and let things work without making it hard for yourself. You know we are happening, whether you like it or not..." she said. Then I heard the door to my room open and slam closed. I turned to find myself alone.
I swallowed hard and heaved a sigh. I couldn't take this. I couldn't let this happen. I couldn't be with someone like Tessa, spoiled and selfish. She was just not what I wanted in a girl. Rhea was everything I wanted.
**
When I first stepped into the event center an hour ago, I felt grumpy and moody. I didn't want to be here. I hated crowds, honestly, and I really didn't want to be here at all. "Alpha Remus, didn't know you were coming," a voice called out. I turned my head to find an old friend from Moonlit Pack.
"James? Is that you?" I said in awe. It had been ages since I last saw him.
"Shocking, right?" he said, giving me a manly hug. I hadn't smiled since I arrived, but seeing James changed that.
"Long time no see," I said with a smile as we shook hands.
"Yeah, I left home and went to Florida. Now I'm back again," he said. "I didn't know you'd..." His words trailed off as he pointed at Alpha Damien, who was standing with his new wife, exchanging pleasantries with the guests. I furrowed my brows and sighed.
"Yeah..." I mumbled, not wanting to talk about it.
But then something caught my eye. It was a girl with brown, wavy hair. She was wearing a servant's uniform. She looked so tired that I almost didn't recognize her. The sun had already set, but she seemed to glow.
"Excuse me," I told James and started walking toward her, but Dante stopped me.
"Alpha Remus," he said. "It's time to leave."
"Not now, I need to see someone," I told him, looking at her.
"Who?" he asked, following my gaze. "Is she the one?" His brows shot up in shock.
I nodded slightly, watching her as she packed dirty plates. She sighed again and paused, looking like she was thinking of something, then someone called her name. She looked at the couple, and the bride waved at her to come over.
"Why don't you go to the car and I'll get her info for you..." Dante suggested.
"No, Dante, I'll do it myself..." Before I could finish speaking, Rhea collapsed.
I rushed forward, my heart pounding. The space seemed to blur as I pushed through the crowd. People were gasping and whispering, but I only had eyes for Rhea.
"Rhea!" I shouted, reaching her side. I knelt down, my hands shaking as I touched her face. She was pale and her breathing was shallow.
"We need help here!" I yelled, my voice echoing through the open space.
The guests moved aside, giving us space. I lifted Rhea gently, feeling how light she was. She seemed so fragile. A girl approached me, mumbling something under her breath. Worry was evident on her face.
"Rhea," she called out, on the verge of tears. She looked so much like Rhea, and I knew she had to be her sister.
"Rhea," another lady called out, this time looking like an older version of Rhea. "She's my daughter, please let's take her home."
We rushed her home while Dante called a doctor. As we entered the house, I laid her on the couch. By then, Rhea wasn't even moving, which made me panic more.
"Where the hell is the doctor, damn it!" I yelled at Dante, my body trembling with fear.
"He's on his way," Dante assured me, then stepped out of the house.
I stared down at Rhea with so much conflict in my heart. I had met this girl once, slept with her, and somehow fell for her without even knowing who she really was. Meeting her now, seeing her unconscious, just made me fall for her even more.
The girl who looked like Rhea's sister knelt beside the couch, holding Rhea's hand. "She's been working so hard," she said softly.
The older woman, Rhea's mother, placed a hand on my shoulder. "Thank you for bringing her home," she said, her voice shaking.
Finally, the doctor arrived. He was a tall, stern-looking man with a black bag. He moved quickly, checking Rhea's pulse and breathing.
"She's exhausted," he said after a moment. "She needs rest and proper care. She's been overworked and stressed. This kind of collapse happens when someone pushes themselves too hard."
I watched as he worked, feeling a mix of relief and anger. Who had been pushing Rhea so hard? Who had allowed this to happen?
"But…" the doctor murmured, taking a closer look. "What is it?" I asked, glancing between him and the unconscious Rhea.
"She has bruises all over her body," he said, and I looked down at her. My eyes widened at the sight of the bruises on her arms, her back, and even her thighs.
"Who did this to her?" I demanded, looking at her mother and sister. Her mother burst into tears and shook her head.
"I don't… I don't know… I don't know when this happened. Do you?" Her mother looked at Rhea's sister, who shook her head.
"I don't know either," she said, her voice cracking. "They seem to be new, a day or two days old," the doctor said after further observations.
I was boiling inside, almost unable to contain myself. My fists clenched, and I felt a surge of anger. Who could have hurt her like this?
Rhea's sister, tears in her eyes, whispered, "She never said anything. She always tried to hide when she was hurting."
"Will she be okay?" I asked, my voice trembling.
"Yes," the doctor replied. "But she needs rest. No work, no stress. She needs to take it easy for a while."
I nodded, feeling a weight lift off my shoulders. "Thank you," I said quietly.
The doctor nodded and left, leaving me alone with Dante, Rhea, and her family. I sat beside her, holding her hand, feeling a strange sense of calm wash over me even though I was somehow boiling inside.
Dante stood by the door, watching silently. "We need to find out who did this to her," he said, his voice firm.
"I know," I replied, my grip tightening on Rhea's hand. "I won't let this go. She deserves better."
Rhea's mother sat down on the other side of the couch, tears streaming down her face. "She's always been so strong," she whispered. "She never asks for help."
I looked at Rhea, her face pale and still. "She won't have to anymore," I said softly. "I'll make sure of it."
The room was quiet, the only sound was Rhea's steady breathing.
"I'm sorry I have to ask, but... who are you, please? And why do you care so much about my daughter?" her mother asked me. I looked at her tear-stained face and managed a smile before returning my gaze to Rhea's sleeping face.
"I'm Remus Blackthorn, the Alpha of Shadowclaw pack. I met Rhea two weeks ago," I explained briefly as I gently massaged Rhea's hand.
"Oh," she mumbled, then nodded. "Would you like anything? Tea? Water? Or maybe orange juice?" she offered, and I smiled.
"I'm good, thank you," I politely declined. All I wanted was to make sure Rhea was fine and to find out who did this to her.
"Maybe you should go home and get some rest. I'll be here with her," Dante suggested, but I shook my head.
"I'm not leaving her side," I said firmly, staring at Rhea.
Suddenly, Rhea stirred. Her eyes fluttered open, and she looked around in confusion. When her gaze landed on me, her eyes widened in shock.
"Remus?" she whispered, her voice weak.
"Yes, it's me," I said softly. "Rhea, how... how are you feeling? Who did this to you?"
She looked away, her face pale and her eyes filled with fear. "I... I can't say," she murmured, her voice trembling.
Her mother leaned forward, her expression filled with concern. "Rhea, please. You have to tell us. We need to know who hurt you."
Rhea hesitated, biting her lip. She glanced at her mother, then at me. Finally, she took a deep breath and spoke. "It was Alpha Damien and his new wife, Rosy. They punish me at the slightest inconvenience," she confessed, her voice barely above a whisper.
A surge of anger coursed through me. How could they do this to her? Another reason to hate Damien. "I won't let them hurt you again," I vowed, my voice steady despite the fury boiling inside me.
Rhea's mother gasped, covering her mouth with her hands. "Oh, my poor girl," she cried, tears streaming down her face.