Rhea.
He seemed really upset by the mention of Alpha Damien, and it made me wonder if it was just because of what happened to me when I was a slave in the Silvermoon pack. "Why do you want to be around someone who caused you pain your whole life?" he asked, his voice laced with a anger that took me aback.
Alpha Damien might have been cruel, but him and his had also helped my family when no one else would. I couldn't just dismiss that. "Are you sure it's just about what happened between me and Alpha Damien?" I responded, my voice softer, unsure of how to tread this unfamiliar ground.
Remus's expression shifted as if I had touched a nerve. He looked away, the muscles in his jaw tightening, before his gaze returned to mine. His eyes, usually so full of intensity, now held a mixture of conflict and something I couldn't quite place.
"I don't want to talk about it," he finally said, his tone firm. "If you want to invite them to the wedding, I won't stop you."
His words left me confused. There was a deeper reason behind his reluctance, but he wasn't willing to share it. I took a deep breath, searching for the right response. "I'm sorry, Remus. I didn't mean to upset you. You shouldn't let it get to you, not when it's our wedding. If we're inviting them, you should be okay with it too."
Remus didn't like the idea—I could see it in the way his eyes darkened and his posture stiffened—but he nodded, letting me put Alpha Damien on the guest list. The rigidity in the room was thick, but we pushed through it, continuing to discuss the wedding details, both of us trying to focus on the positives.
As we finished up and got ready to leave, I hesitated for a moment, then decided to tell him about Elara, his mother. "Remus, there's something else. Your mother... she embarrassed me earlier this morning when my mother and Aria arrived."
His brows furrowed, concern and anger flaring in his eyes. "What did she do?"
I took a breath, recalling Elara's sharp words. "She said, 'I hope you didn't bring any of your commoner habits here, Rhea. We don't need you lowering the standards of this family.' It was humiliating, especially in front of my mother."
Remus's face hardened, his fists clenching at his sides. "That's unacceptable," he muttered, anger simmering just beneath the surface.
"And then, while I was heading out with Aria and Rachel," I continued, "she did it again. She made a point to say that I should be careful not to 'embarrass the family name in public,' because we decided to have the wedding earlier than expected… as if I don't know how to behave."
He looked like he was ready to storm out and confront her, but I quickly reached out, placing a hand on his arm. "Don't, Remus. There's no point. I only told you because I'm getting fed up. But please, don't blame me if I decide to talk back one day."
With that, I turned and walked out of his office, leaving him standing there, and made my way home.
I arrived home, feeling really tired and exhausted from today's chaos. All I needed was a hot shower but instead, I headed straight to the guest room to check on my mother. I couldn't wait to share everything with her.
Pushing open the door, I found her sitting by the window, the soft glow of the night moon highlighting her gentle features. Her face lit up when she saw me, and I couldn't help but rush over, wrapping my arms around her in a tight hug.
"Mom! I missed you," I said, pulling back just enough to look at her.
She smiled warmly, her eyes sparkling with that familiar maternal love. "I missed you too, my dear. How was your day?"
I could hardly contain my enthusiasm as I sat down beside her, launching into a quick recap. "It was busy but... eventful. We found a wedding dress today. It's simple but so beautiful, just like I wanted. And then we went cake tasting, and oh, Mom, the cakes were delicious! But I have to admit, I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed. There's just so much to do, and with the wedding so close..."
She reached out, taking my hands in hers. "I'm so happy for you, Rhea. You're going to be a beautiful bride. But I understand the stress. Becoming a Luna is no small task, and it's even harder when you know your mother in-law doesn't like you that much."
Her words struck a chord, making my heart sink just a little. "I know," I admitted, my voice softening. "Elara hasn't exactly been welcoming. It's like everything I do is wrong in her eyes."
She squeezed my hands, offering a reassuring smile. "Don't let it get you down, Rhea. You are strong, and you're going to be an incredible Luna. Not everyone will see that right away, but in time, they will. Just be yourself, and don't lose sight of who you are."
Her words were a balm to my frazzled nerves, and I felt a small surge of confidence return. "Thank you, Mom. I needed to hear that."
We continued talking, the conversation drifting back to the wedding. I felt lighter with each passing minute, sharing the little details with her, laughing over the small hiccups that had already happened. Everything seemed to be falling into place, despite the stress.
But suddenly, a muffled sound from outside the room caught our attention. It was faint at first, but it quickly grew louder—voices raised in anger.
I exchanged a quick glance with my mother before rushing out of the room, my heart pounding in my chest. The sound led me down the hall, and as I turned the corner, I found myself face-to-face with a heated argument between Tessa and Aria.
"What's going on here?" I asked, my voice sharp with concern.
By the time I arrived, Remus, Rachel, and Elara were already there, all of them looking as shocked as I felt. Remus's expression darkened as he stepped forward, his gaze locking onto Tessa. "What's happening here?" he demanded, his voice stern.
Tessa turned to him, her face twisted in anger. "Your fiancée's sister stole my expensive necklace!" she accused, pointing a finger at Aria.
My heart skipped a beat as I looked at Aria, who was shaking her head vehemently, her eyes wide with disbelief. "I didn't steal anything! I swear, I didn't even touch your necklace! I don't even know where your room is"
Elara's voice cut through the tension like a knife. "I warned you, Remus, about bringing lowlife into this house. And now look what's happened—they're stealing from us!"
Remus opened his mouth, probably to defend Aria, but I cut him off, my voice trembling with anger. "I've known my sister her whole life, and stealing is the last thing she would ever do. Tessa, you're either lying, or someone else took it. Or maybe you misplaced it somewhere else."
The room erupted into a chaotic argument. Rachel stepped in, trying to calm everyone down, but Tessa wasn't backing down, and neither was I. Remus was torn between intervening and letting us settle it, his hindrance evident in the way he clenched his fists. Elara continued to throw insults, each one stinging like a slap across the face.
"Enough!" Remus finally roared, his voice silencing the room. But before he could say anything more, I spoke up, my voice calm but firm.
"This is ridiculous," I said, turning to Remus. "We're getting married, and this is the kind of drama we're dealing with? I'm not going to stand by and let my family be disrespected like this."
I looked at him, hoping he understood just how serious I was. Then, without waiting for a response, I turned and walked away, my heart heavy with anger and hurt.
Since I arrived in Shadowclaw, I've tried so hard not to tear up or show any sign of weakness. But tonight, I couldn't hold it in any longer. The moment I stepped into my room, I locked the door behind me and burst into tears. The burden of everything that had happened finally crushed me.
I cried for what felt like hours, my tears soaking the pillow as I curled up on the bed. I thought about everything—whether I truly wanted to stay in Shadowclaw or if it was better to leave.
Part of me wanted to run, to escape the constant judgment and hostility, especially from Elara and Tessa, who seemed to think I was weak and didn't belong here.
But another part of me, the part that still had some fight left, wanted to prove them wrong. I didn't want to be the weak girl they thought I was. I wanted to show them I could be strong, that I could stand tall in the face of their cruelty.
But there was also Remus. Did he really love me, or was he just saying the words? Did he see any worth in me, or was I just another obligation? The indecision gnawed at me, making the tears flow even harder.
A knock sounded on the door, soft but insistent. I ignored it, too drained to answer or even care who it was. The knocking continued for a moment, then stopped. Whoever it was eventually gave up and left me alone. I remained curled up on the bed, tears still streaming down my face, until exhaustion finally pulled me into a restless sleep.
I don't know how long I slept, but the feeling of someone's presence and the slight movement beside me stirred me awake. My eyes fluttered open, and I gasped when I saw Remus staring down at me. I bolted upright, almost smashing our foreheads together, but he quickly leaned back to avoid the collision.
"How did you get in here?" I demanded, my voice still shaky from crying.
Instead of answering, he just chuckled softly, a sound that both soothed and irritated me. The events of the night rushed back into my mind, and I looked away, furrowing my brows, trying to push the painful thoughts aside.
"Do you trust me?" Remus asked suddenly, his voice low but clear.
I blinked, confused by the abruptness of the question. "What?" I whispered, not sure if I heard him right.
"Do you trust me?" he repeated, his tone more insistent this time.
If I didn't trust him, I wouldn't have followed him home at the first place. I nodded slowly, still unsure but wanting to believe.
Remus's lips curled into a small, almost relieved smile. "Then come with me," he said, stretching out his hand toward me.
I hesitated, my eyes searching his face for any sign of deceit. But all I saw was the same peace I'd seen in him before. I reached out, placing my hand in his, and he gently helped me out of the bed.
Together, we left my room, the silence of the night wrapping around us like a cloak. I didn't even know where we were going or why he had woken me up at such an odd hour, but I trusted him. And right now, I just wanted to get away from this toxic house, away from the pain and doubt, and see where Remus was taking me.