Chapter 15 A friendly encounter
Antonella Erickson - POV
Despite Maximus’s assurance that Ravhel would not bother me, I was still feeling uneasy. Everything around me was gradually losing my control, and this created a sense of fear within me. I don't know how long this charade will last until someone notices.
I walked to the mirror and stared at my altered reflection. “I think we should just leave.” I told my wolf when she shook her head.
"It's not safe outside, Ella. Elijah is looking for us, and we have no idea why. I think it would be best if we…” I was abruptly broken from my conversation when my room door banged open. I turned around and I saw a tall brunette woman standing near my doorway beside the woman who wanted me at the training grounds.
“You must be Evangeline?” the brunette asked with a smile on her face.
“Yes, and you are? ”I trailed off.
“I am Rachel Edward," she introduced herself when my eyes slightly widened in alarm, and within minutes the atmosphere around us turned awkward. I didn't know what to say when she walked into my room and stopped right in front of me. “You look surprised,” she asked me.
“I didn't know you would come to meet me.” I told her when her smile widened.
“I guess my sister must have told you that I was betrothed to Maximus?” she asked me.
“She did.” I said when I looked at the woman standing beside her who dlessly didn't look happy. “And I believe you are here to ask me to leave your mate?” I asked her when she shook her head.
“Maximus and I are childhood best friends, and we were only arranged to get married because he didn't find his mate. But now that he has, I am happy for him," she said, and this only made me scrunch my eyebrows.
“No woman would ever willingly give up such an important position.” I pointed out.
“I was never after the Luna position, Luna Evangeline. I wanted this pack to maintain its status, and also I wanted to see Maximus happy.” Her words sounded convincing, but there was still this nagging feeling in the back of my mind. “Anyway, I got you something to wear for dinner tonight," she told me when I saw her eyes cloud over, and a few minutes later an omega walked inside with a stack of boxes.
“Where can I place these, Luna Rachel?” the omega questioned with her head bowed.
“Place them on the bed. And I am not the luna.” Rachel said with a smile on her face as she turned to face me. “Evangleine is.”
“Rachie, shall we go?” her sister asked when Rachel nodded her head.
"Evangeline, it would be an honor if you could join us for lunch,” Rachel asked me.
“I don't want to intrude.”
“You won't. I just want to get to know you better," she insisted, and I know I cannot refuse.
“Sure.”
“Great, I will meet you downstairs then," she told me, and the sisters left my room.
“I think you are making a stupid mistake, Ella.” Lia warned me.
“We are going to be inside the pack, Lia. Moreover, I feel like she doesn't even care that she isn't going to be the Luna of this pack.”
“She looked genuine. But I think we will just keep our guard up.”
Rachel Edward - POV
As soon as we reached the landing, Cynthia grabbed my arm and turned me around to face her. “I thought you would send her back to where she belongs!”
“I don't think I want to fight for something that I will never have, Cici.”
“What do you mean?” she asked me, sounding confused when I let out a sigh and turned to face her.
“I am happy that Maximus found his mate, and the least I could do is support him in his decisions.”
“But you even rejected your mate for him, Rachie. What about your life?”
“I will figure out a way, Cici.” I told her, but she was still not satisfied. It was easy for Cynthia and me to grow up in this pack. We had to fight our way up when our parents were killed in a rogue attack. And she knows how much hard work I put in to make sure Maximus chose me to be his Luna. I did everything he asked me to do. I even rejected my mate because he asked me.
“But, Rachel, you…” Cynthia paused when we heard footsteps, and I turned around when I saw Evangeline descend the stairs.
“Now that everyone is here, shall we go?” I asked when Evangline nodded her head while Cyntha stormed out of the house.
“Where are we going?” Evangeline asked me as we got into my car.
“Well, there is this new Italian restaurant that just opened,” I told her. It was a ten-minute drive, and when we reached it, I got out of the car along with Evangeline and Cynthia. We made our way inside, and after ordering our food, we took a seat.
“So, which pack are you from, Evangeline?” I casually asked her.
“I am a rogue,” she answered.
“I know, but you must have belonged to a pack before becoming a rogue, right?” I asked her.
“No, I have been born a rogue," she told me, but there was a sense of fear in her tone.
“How did you meet Maximus?”
“I was working at a restaurant as a waitress in a human town when he walked in, and we instantly knew that we were mates," she replied. Her answer was flawless and believable.
“So your parents must have been overjoyed when you found your mate, especially an alpha?”
“My parents died a few years ago.”
“I am sorry.” I told her when she waved her hand.
"That's all right. I heard that you are one of the best female warriors in this pack," she asked me when a proud smile appeared on my face.
“Yes, do you…” I trailed off when I saw a commotion right outside the restaurant. And a few seconds later the glass behind us shattered and wolves began pouring in.