137
Rain's Pov.
"My luna. Thank goddess you're finally awake."
Irene's voice pierces my ears when I stir on the bed. Waking fully, I look over at the woman, surprised to see her towering over me. A full smile covers her lips.
"The alpha must be very happy to know you've woken up." The older woman chirps and before I can get any words out, she flees from the room.
The moment she's gone, I begin to crack my head. I don't know how I ended up here. My mind is fogged and upon wracking it more, I begin to remember a few things.
The Island. The mayors and...the fight.
I remember Logan and his father fighting. I remember the witches taking on Sinai. The chopper. All of it, except my return to this room.
The door snaps open a moment later and when I look up, I see Logan's burly frame hovering over the door.
His eyes light up when they settle on me and I blink, swallowing rapidly to lubricate my parched throat.
Logan smilingly walks closer to where I am, humming under his breath. "My luna?"
Goddess, I've missed him so much. I outstretch my hands when he closes in and Logan readily slumps into them, hugging me tightly.
"Rain. Baby," He growls.
I can't remember the last time I felt his warmth and feeling it surrounding me now is like a goldmine. I splay my hands at his back, caressing him as he does to me. Before I know it, the tears rush down my eyes. The dark memories saturate my mind.
The assault. The beatings. All of it.
I cry so hard, my sobs ringing into the air. I feel nothing but agonizing pain at this moment.
"I'm so sorry, baby. I'm sorry for not being there to protect you." He grunts out, trying to mend the wounds caused by those vile men but it's barely working.
I'm broken. Shattered. I don't think there's anything left. I am now a shadow of my former self.
"It's...not your fault," I whisper amid the deluge of tears, my heart hollowing. "They are the ones that hurt me and not you, Logan..."
"I shouldn't have left your sight. I should have killed Ivy before things turned out worse..."
"But you couldn't kill her. Ivy is smart and conniving. She has a league of vampires at her command that could've attacked our pack. No, it wasn't your fault. I can't let you take the blame."
While I say that, I cry and Logan cries too. Bawling like a pup, his eyes and cheeks turning red.
"It's okay, stop crying, Rain. I don't want to see you shed a single tear..." He tells me, his fingers wiping away the tears on my cheeks.
Even though he tells me to stop crying, Logan still continues to cry, his shoulders quaking.
We curl up on the bed, weeping and consoling each other, trying to forget the cruelty meted out to us by the Slayers.
And even amid that, I remember her...
Kylie.
My best friend in the world that died in the fire.
Pure agony assails the core of my being at the remembered thought.
The past few weeks have been nothing but pure agony. I never knew such evil existed until I witnessed it all and lost my best friend in it.
*
*
*
**One Week Later**
My cold, distant eyes gaze upon the mirror as I place the stub earrings in place. I'm donning a black lace gown that barely hugs my body.
My heart is thudding, knowing what's about to go down.
Kylie's funeral. For the past week, I've tried to keep myself from crying too much but it's hard.
I can never see Kylie again. She's gone for good but what hurts the most is that she died trying to save me.
I don't need anyone to agree with my opinion but Kylie's a hero. She fought fiercely, like the sassy queen she is. My memories with her will forever be engraved in my heart.
Darting a hand over my face, I wipe the tears away as a knock lands on the door before it clicks open.
Logan's head shoves inside and he blinks up at me.
"Hey, are you ready?" He asks and I manage a nod.
This is the first time I'm going outside since I woke up and it feels weird having to see many faces again after being restricted to just the faces of the Slayers, their guards, and Sinai for a long while.
I know that people will only look at me with pity today but I brace myself.
"Yes, I am." I rasp out, giving Logan a quick once-over. He's wearing a three-piece black suit and shoes. When he outstretches his hand for me, I place mine in his and he walks me outside.
Logan told me he reoccupied the manor and renovated it. Now, looking at the changes as we walk down the spiral staircase, I relish the beauty and pristine air. It no longer reeks of the sin of the mayors.
Before we reach the last step, I see the people that have gathered around. Our pack members. They're all dressed in black, ready to honor my best friend.
"All hail our Luna," The beta chirps, and the rest cheer and bow at me.
I acknowledge their greeting with a nod of my head and then we proceed to the cemetery.
Logan holds my hand as we drive to the cemetery. The ride there is long but is filled with companionable silence.
When we reach the cemetery, Logan helps me out of the car, and from afar, my eyes land on Kylie's coffin and a wave of dizziness washes over me.
It's happening. It's really happening. I'm about to say my final goodbye to Kylie. With a bleeding heart, I approach the coffin.
There are two men standing in front of it, their heads hunkered between their shoulders. When they move to give me some space, I realize who they are- Kylie's two lovers, Andrew and Lucien.
Both their eyes and noses are red, a telltale sign of their tears and sorrow.
"Thank you," I blurt out, putting a stop to their movement. They look at me, lips drawn tight. "For loving Kylie the way you both did."
"She deserved to be loved. But it's so unfortunate I didn't get to shower her with more before death took her away." Lucien says, tightening his fists.
"I hope you make the men behind it pay severely," Andrew adds, and they walk away to join the others.
I look at the coffin, scared to open it, and see the ash Kylie turned into. I lean over the coffin and weep until my eyes dry then I pull away.
The pallbearers shove forward and begin to lower Kylie six feet below.
The ambiance turns gloomy at that moment until they seal the grave. Logan spreads his arms around me, shielding me until we exit the cemetery.
We return back to the manor where the rest of the activities take place and while I'm standing in front of the fountain, getting lost in the serene sound of the water, I feel a presence behind me before the person calls my name.
"Rain."
Slowly, I turn, surprised to see my sister, Nadia.
"Nadia?" I splutter, my breath coming out in hard pants. She chuckles between tears and rushes after me.
"Rain. It's so good to see you again."
She mutters as we hug tightly, crying in each other's arms.
"I thought you never made it out alive." I rasp, fingering her tangled hair.
"No. Logan saved me, Rain." She replies, weeping while wiping my own tears. "I'm happy you're alive." Nadia pauses. It takes a while before she speaks again. "I'm sorry about Kylie, I only wanted to save you when I came up with the idea because I've been tracking the Slayers. I was the one that chipped the idea to Kylie. I never knew she'd die in the process."
Hearing that, I cry more. My heart caving. My shoulders quaking. Not knowing what to say, I hug Nadia more, needing comfort.
____
Everywhere is dark now. The manor is silent as all the pack members retreat to their abode. I pace the room in circles, wringing my hands together in nervousness.
I need to break the news to Logan, I mutter inwardly. I don't know how he's going to take it but...he has to know.
As if on cue, Logan walks into the room. He pauses when he notices the restlessness I feel and then gapes at me as he rushes over.
"Are you okay, baby?" He asks, guiding me to the bed. I sink into it, nodding.
"Yes. But there's something you've to know, Logan,"
"What is it?"
I bite my lip, too ashamed to let the words out. Logan might hate me if he finds out. How do I tell him I'm carrying another man's child?
"Logan, I...am....uh...I'm...,"
"Pregnant," He blurts to my shock. I look at him with owl-wide eyes, not believing my own ears.
He knows?
"When did you find out?" I ask, shaking all over.
"When we returned. The healer confirmed it,"
Shame burns through me and I turn my face away, not wanting him to see the filth drawn across my face.
Mindlessly, I rise up from the bed and dart into the bathroom, closing the stall. I rush to the shower and turn the hot water on, placing myself under the hot spray.
I can't stand this guilt. I can't stand this shame. I have to wash it off.
Wash off their touch. Wash off their filth.
Wash it all off.
"What are you doing, Rain?" Logan roars in complete shock as he darts into the bathroom...
TBC.