Chapter 16 Not The Best Fit
Kian had stayed away from Raina for a week and half, not that she was keeping count. She was starting wonder if maybe he was getting cold feet now. Her body had recovered, but now that her body knew what awaited her, it craved him. It wasn’t that he completely ignored her. It just seemed like he avoided contact with her.
The last time she encouraged him to break off this off with her so he could be with Mia, he punished her for not trusting him. Though, the punishment wouldn’t be something that she minded, she was starting to wonder if he had finally take her up on her offer. Had he finally caved?
He had been acting strangely since his conversation with Mia, keeping to himself a lot more. He hadn’t allowed her to walk the pack house alone though. No, that still hadn’t changed. She was still accompanied and escorted by others who she had helped trained. Although, neither she or they had voiced their thoughts on the absurdity of it, she could tell by their reaction that they didn’t believe at all that she needed their assistance.
She wanted to go into town to pick up some supplements that Sterling had told her what help her with the swollenness and soreness when they started having sex again. Even though, she had a sneaking suspicions that these would be no longer needed, she decided it was better to be out and about than watching the screens with Poppy and desperately locating Kian’s whereabouts.
Kian had stationed a personal guard by the name of Meri. She knew Meri, because she like the rest of the guards he enlisted to guard her were old students she helped train. She had always like Meri, short for Meridian Kayce. She had seen a lot of potential in her and she could see her raising up in the ranks to be on the level as a Gamma. The other three guards, just like Meri, were a part of the elite class, meant to guard the Alpha if he left the territory grounds. The Elites also were the Deltas that undertook special missions in the field. She knew, because she and Sebastian had meticulously picked them specifically for this group. It was a bit unnerving that their specialities were lost on such a small little job as guarding her.
When she walked inside the apothecary where her sister put in a special order for her, Ginger Balvin’s eyes widened and jumped to her feet to immediately tend to her needs. Ginger and her were friends in school and still maintained a close friendship after. They would trade stories and shoot the breeze when she would come into town.
“Ginger, are you going to act like we didn’t break into your parent’s secret stash of liquor with Poppy?” she asked incredulously.
Relief immediately spread across her friend’s face. “Oh, thank the Moon Goddess,” she muttered, squeezing her eyes shut. “I didn’t know how to--”
“I’m already dealing with all this,” Raina gasped, gesturing to Meri and the others who were outside, waiting for her and Meri. “No offense, Meri.” Meri smirked at that. “But I trained all of them,” she gasped, shaking her head. “And their talents are wasted on me.”
Meri shrugged. “I wouldn’t say wasted. You’re my Luna--”
“Luna-to-be,” Raina corrected.
“What the difference?” Meri asked. Her confusion was clear in her eyes and face. “You’re still going to be Luna and everyone knows the Luna must be protected at all cost unless you want suffer the Alpha’s wrath.”
“She does have a point,” Ginger added as she handed her a bag which she assumed was the medicine. “I added some goodies in there too to help.”
Raina frowned at that. “Goodies?”
“Well, yes, to help, y’know, enhance both of your pleasure,” she explained, winking at her. Raina immediately blushed at that. “I mean he’s an Alpha and Alphas are pretty intense.” Her friend’s eyes observed her face and her mouth dropped open in realization. “You already know that, don’t you?!”
“N-No,” she denied, feeling the heat on her cheeks.
“You did!”
Raina glanced over at Meri and she wasn’t any help. The girl looked ready to laugh. She knew instantly that Meri probably heard her and Kian that night. She was certain everybody was at the pack house and surrounding it heard.
“And you said Luna-to-be?! Ha!” Ginger gasped, shaking her head. “I should probably start brewing you stuff for your upcoming pregnancy then instead of sexual enhancement potions, because I doubt it’ll take him long to get you pregnant.”
Raina glanced over at Meri for as they walked down the sidewalk. Meri caught her looking at her and she chuckled when Raina immediately looked away.
“Yes,” Meri told her. Raina frowned at that as her eyes met hers. “I was there that night.” Raina groaned at that, which only made Meri laugh at her reaction. “I don’t think it was a bad thing. I mean isn’t it a good thing that Alpha Kian and you are sexually compatible?”
She sighed. “I think it’s more that everyone knows.”
“Well, you were both pretty loud,” she told her, with a shrug of her shoulders. “Obviously everyone was going to know. It’s expected when it comes to an Alpha.”
Meri’s eyes widened for a moment and she cleared her throat. Raina glanced ahead and saw Mia and her brother, Octavius, approaching her. She almost thought they were going to blow by her, but it was Mia that stopped in front of her and offered a her small smile.
It was Meri, who took a protective stance. She partially stood in-between them in case a fight broke out. Octavius smirked at Meri before his eyes swept over to Raina. The way his eyes took inventory of her was a bit unsettling. It was like he was stripping her bare, but locating all her weak points. When he was done with his supposed assessment, the look in his eyes seemed to mock her as crossed his arms.
“This is your replacement, truly?” he asked Mia. He shook his head in obvious disappointment.
“Watch your tongue,” Meri growled out to Raina’s surprise. Raina immediately felt the air charge up and she spotted the other three guards visibly ready themselves to step in.
He snorted at that. “And you were his Beta?” he laughed. “You look more like a scared rabbit?”
“Octavius, stop,” Mia gasped.
Octavius glanced over at his sister then he growled before he stomped off. Mia sighed, watching her brother go. Raina waited until Mia’s eyes met hers. There no longer that edge in them anymore. There was only sadness, defeat, and submission. Tears filled her eyes before she tried to blink them away.
“Forgive me for my behavior the other day,” Mia finally spoke. Her voice was soft and remorseful. “You have to understand. I was with him for nine years. He told me he wouldn’t claim anyone unless it was his mate and then he chose you instead.”
Raina swallowed. “You have your grandfather to blame for that one.”
Mia frowned at that.
“Wh-What do you mean?”
Of course, Elder Richmond wouldn’t tell Mia the entire situation. Kian only agreed to claim her as a Luna after he was pushed into a corner by the Elder Council. Kian and her sister had come up with an entirely different way to secure his bloodline and legacy without claiming a Luna until his fated mate came. He would’ve kept his promise to her.
“You already know he didn’t even want to chose a Luna not until his fated mate came,” Raina explained. “Mia, he was forced into this situation. The Elder Council had been pressuring him for an heir. Your grandfather was the one pressured him the most.”
Mia swallowed, digesting that information. “Well, what is done is done,” she said tiredly. “The pack needs a Luna and Kian — I mean Alpha Kian — decided you were the best candidate. He is my Alpha and I accept you as my Luna.”
Raina swallowed. She could feel Mia’s pain radiating off of her. She was trying to project a strong front, but she was failing. Tears fell down her cheeks.
“Please forgive me,” she whispered. “It’s just difficult.”
Raina didn’t even try to stop the blond from walking by her to most likely catch with her brother. She and Meri watched her go and Raina noticed Meri visibly relax now that both brother and sister had left.
“Are you ready to go back home?” Meri asked.
Raina nodded her head. Meri gave her a quick smile and she knew she was mind linking with the others, telling that it was time to return back to the pack house. She wasn’t even surprised when a car quickly came around the corner. Meri opened the door for her and Raina slipped inside with Meri after her.
This was going to be life now, being protected at all cost, having cars drive her around, and having a body guard with her all the time. She sighed, wondering if it was just all wrong. She wasn’t truly cut for this role as a Luna. She never thought she’d be the Luna and she never thought she’d be the best fit as one.
The scenery swiftly changed from the quaint town to the forest before arriving at the gate that led up a long driveway to the sprawling mansion. A crazy idea popped in her mind as the car stopped in front. Poppy wouldn’t agree, but maybe, it was time to show Kian and everyone else that she truly wasn’t the best fit at all.