Chapter 54: Chapter 0054

•RUMI•

I kept pacing in my room, wondering why things didn't go the way I had planned.

Raven was supposed to be banished, along with the bastard she was carrying. I knew she would use the child to trap Tristan into staying with her, and I didn't want that.

I had worked so hard to make sure that she left the pack. But now that my plan had failed, I didn't know what else to do.

Tristan now knew about the baby and was determined to be the father. He had always talked about leaving his legacy behind with his kids, but I couldn't fathom the thought of Raven's child being his heir.

"Fuck," I groaned, picking up my cell phone from the pedestal counter. I didn't even know who to call, but I had to reach out to someone.

Katerina hated Raven as much as I did. She never even pretended to like her when our mother brought her home from the human territories.

I didn't want to call Katerina, but she was the closest person to getting what I wanted. She was connected and would devise a plan to eliminate Raven for good if she could.

I called her, and she answered on the third ring.

"Rumi, what do you want?"

"I thought you would be happy to hear from me," I replied. "You're still my sister."

"Yet, you stabbed me in the back. Did you think I wouldn't find out about your affair with Tristan?" She sneered. "I heard everything, and I would be damned if you end up as the Luna."

"Tristan never told me about you," I scoffed, sitting down on the edge of the bed. "He has only made it clear he had eyes for me alone. But you can carry on dreaming."

She was quiet for a moment before answering. "What do you want?"

"I could've called Tamara, but she is living happily in her marital home," I sighed. "But since you've always wanted to be the Luna, I thought I should let you know I am not the one standing in your way.”

"Oh, please," she scoffed. "Do you think I am a fool? You've always wanted everything that I wanted. This is not the first time you've forgotten your place and thought you could have what's mine.”

"You can have Tristan if you can get rid of Raven," I answered, standing up from the bed. "She's pregnant with Tristan's child, and we both know what that means. If she gives birth to this baby, both our chances of being the next Luna would be zero."

"Oh," she chuckled. "Are you telling me you can't handle her on your own? I thought you said Tristan chose you. Oh my dear sister, did you really think you stood a chance of being the next Luna?"

My jaw tightened as I leaned toward the window. I swallowed as I thought of how hard I had fallen from the pedestal.

"You could never be the Luna, little sister," she continued. "Tristan is mine, but I won't jump now for him because the water is boiling for you. You should stay there and watch everything you thought was in the palm of your hand being taken away. And only then can you call me again."

She hung up the call before I could answer back. I felt as if I would lose my mind because there was no one else who could have her reasons to handle Raven for me.

She had friends who could do whatever she wanted, and Tristan would do anything to keep her safe, so I had no plan.

"Ah!" I groaned as I leaned toward my desk and turned it over.

I felt like burning the house down because the thought of submitting to Raven and calling her my Luna after working so hard to get her banished was embarrassing.

What was worse was that she was pregnant with Tristan's child, meaning that her bastard would be the next Alpha, and so on.

I couldn't let that happen.

I walked to the door, opened it, and when I saw Tristan, my breath caught.

"Tristan?"

He didn't answer as he slammed his lips on mine and kissed me. He pushed me back into the room and shoved me onto the bed.

I pulled back after he took off my clothes and looked at him. I wanted to know what we were because I was fed up with being his side woman.

"What do you want, Tristan?"

"What?"

"You can't be here, fucking me when you're still sharing your bed with her. I meant it last time. You and I can't be sleeping together while you're still married to her."

He looked at me for a moment, sighed, and pulled back. He put his shirt on and stood near the bed.

"This was our last time together."

"What?" My chest tightened. "What do you mean this was our last time together? You promised me that—"

"I take back my words." He turned to the door and, before he twisted the doorknob, he tilted his head and looked at me. "You must apologize to your sister tomorrow. We will have a courtyard meeting to announce her pregnancy, so I expect to see you there."

He walked out without another word, and my stomach sank. I remembered Katerina's words and realized she was right.