Rayne’s POV
The next morning, I woke early to get showered and ready for my birthday trip. Grandma had prepared a birthday breakfast for me and handed me a small gift box. I felt bad that she spent her money on getting me a gift knowing that money was tight. She assured me that it didn’t cost a penny and I quickly opened it to see what could possibly be in the box. As I opened the box a beautiful antique locket with a blue looking stone appeared and when I opened the locket my heart stopped for a brief moment when I saw a picture of my parents inside. My eyes pooled with tears as one fell down my cheek. It was the best gift I had ever received from anyone. Quickly I hugged my grandmother thanking her for the thoughtful gift. She helped me put it on and explained it had been in the family for years and she was planning on passing it down to me. I told her I would cherish it forever as I held it between my fingers as she clasped it around my neck. Honking came from outside and I knew it was Emma. I grabbed my bag and kissed my grandma goodbye as she yelled to be careful out the door to Emma and me. The drive to Ridgewood was beautiful this morning as it had snowed overnight and the trees were covered with snow but the roads had already been cleared. Emma was jamming out to her favorite songs as I looked out the window remembering this drive when my parents were still alive and my mother and I use to come visit grandmother on a weekend every month. Not much had changed in the last six years because the road was very rural and not too much to look at other than trees and mountains. Emma’s GPS went off letting us know we were only five minutes to our destination when a deer jumped out in front of us and Emma swerved trying not to hit it. I grabbed ahold of the dash to steady myself as we heard a pop from outside the jeep and she finally got the jeep under control and pulled off the road. My heart was racing, and I could tell Emma’s was too as she still had a death grip on the steering wheel and her knuckles were turning white. After we took a few minutes to calm ourselves we climb out of the jeep to inspect what made the popping sound. Coming around the back of the jeep I saw Emma kicking her driver back side tire. Neither of us knew how to fix a flat and Emma started to freak that we were going to miss the band. I tried to calm her and just when I thought there was no hope bringing her back from her fit, a big black pickup truck came slowly down the road and pulled over turning his flashers on. A tall well-built man hoped out of the truck and walked our way. “Looks like you ladies could use some help.” The man said as he got close enough to us. He wore a hat, and it was hard to see his face but his voice sounded familiar. Lifting his hat by the beak to adjust his hat I took in his facial features. “Ethan?” I asked with a smile on my face hoping it was him. He stopped and looked at me for a second before he said, “On my, Rayne. I can’t believe that is you. You’re all grown up.” I chuckled before I said, “Me? What about you. It’s like you grew a foot since I saw you last.” He walked over and gave me a hug and it was so nice to see Ethan. I haven’t seen him since I left and we use to be neighbors, so as kids we grew up together. “Who’s your pretty little friend here?” He asks me and I nudge him. Same old Ethan the lady’s man but he truly was a great guy. “This is my best friend, Emma.” I tell him as he extends his hand to her and she places her hand in his and he brings her hand to his lips and places a soft kiss on the back of her hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Emma.” He tells her and I can see her melt into his words. “Pleasure is mine.” She says back to him almost breathless. As Ethan starts to fix the tire he asks, “What are you ladies doing out here?” “I’m taking Rayne to Rider’s tonight for her twenty first birthday and of course to see the cover band playing.” Emma tells him as she stands right behind him taking in the view, smiling at me as she is fanning herself. It took all I had in me not to burst out laughing. “Hopefully I will see you there tonight. Me and the boys were thinking about heading there tonight.” Ethan says as he finishes fixing the tire. “That would be great. Maybe you could save me dance?” Emma looked at Ethan as she batted her eyelashes at him. “I’d definitely will save my first dance for you.” Ethan said as he threw bad tire in the back of his truck. I’ll take this by the tire shop and get it fixed for you.” He tells Emma and then asks, “Where you ladies staying?” “We rented a cabin on Bridge Road.” Emma tells him. “I know the cabin. You’re going to like it. I’ll see you ladies tonight.” Ethan said as he got in his truck and pulled away. After we got back into the jeep Emma says, “You were holding out on me. You never told me what the men looked like in your hometown.” I laughed at her, “Hello I was like fifteen when I left and they didn’t look like that back then.”Rayne’s POV The cabin was a cozy two bedroom and my favorite part was the hot tub that sat on the back deck. Hopefully tomorrow we could get some use of it while we recover from tonight. Emma hooked up her Bluetooth speaker as we jammed and got ready. She also brought a bottle of rum and vodka and some soda to mix with it. Two hours passed in a flash of an eye as we were getting dressed to head out. Emma had curled my long blonde hair with a wand giving it a beach wave look and I did my eye makeup in natural shades because I hadn’t decided what I was going to wear yet. Emma on the other hand knew what she had planned for me to wear when she handed me a wrapped birthday present. Inside was a complete outfit perfect for the occasion. “Emma, you shouldn’t have.” I tell her as I hold the crop top up to my chest. “The birthday girl deserves a new outfit.” She says as I give her a hug thanking her. Half an hour later and we are walking into Rider’s. The bar was hopping due to the c
Rayne’s POV Emma had excused herself to use the bathroom before the band began to play and Ethan was at the bar talking to Reese about something and I forgot that they had become friends the last year I was in school with them. I watch Ethan talking to Reese and had zoned out and didn’t realize someone had approached me. “Rayne.” I looked up to who was calling my name. “I knew that had to be you. Wow, do you look great!” “Derrick. Wow it’s been a while.” I say to him taking in how much he had grown and I started to wonder what they were putting in the water around here. “What bring you back here?” Derrick asks. “I’m here with a friend to watch the cover band.” I tell him and he smiled and said, “Me too.” Emma came back to the table at that moment and she introduced herself to Derrick and as they talked my eyes wandered back to the bar where Ethan and Reese were. Reese whose back was turned from me was now staring in my direction with a stern look on his face and I wondered
Rayne’s POV Turning my body around I noticed Emma and Ethan getting down together and I was wondering if love was in the air tonight. I continued to sway my hips but when I looked over my shoulder Reese was gone from his spot and my heart sank but I kept on dancing until I felt a set of hands on me. I didn’t have to turn around to see whose hands were on me. My body instantly began to shiver to his touch as his one hand rested on my exposed abdomen pulling me in closer to him. As I continued to sway my hips to the song Feel It, I leaned my body back into him just enough that I felt my back just barely touching him. I heard what sounded like a growl come from him and decided to lean my head back against his chest still swaying my hips getting lost in the abyss of ecstasy from his touch and the beat of the music. His other hand came around me and he placed it right above my breast as his hand gently wrapped around my neck. My neck rolled against his chest to the new sensation of his
Reese’s POV When I heard the noise I turned to see Shawn trying to hold back Kera. Of all the nights for her to start her shit it had to be tonight. Kera knew we weren’t a couple and that I would never take her as my Luna, but she continued to pursue me even after I told her we would never be. Rayne had walked away and went to her table where Ethan and her friend sat at giving me a chance to go check on the situation with Kera. When I made my way to the other side of the bar Shawn and Eric sat alone at our table. “Where the hell is she?” I asked them. “She left after I told her to go home.” Eric said as he picked up his beer and took another drink of it. “Are you sure?” I asked him again making sure Kera wasn’t going to cause anymore issues tonight. “Yes, I’m sure. I walked her outside myself. She shifted and took off into the woods. I’m sure she just needs a good run to blow off some steam.” Eric says and then Shawn says, “What’s the deal with you and Rayne? I had to take a
Reese’s POV It didn’t take long before we were pulling up to the packhouse and when the SUV came to a stop I jumped out and gently pulled Rayne’s body into my arms as I raced into the packhouse being greeted by the pack doctor and my father. “What’s going on?” My father asks as I passed him and started to climb the stairs to my bedroom carrying Rayne’s bloody body as the others were on my tail. Once I laid her on the bed, I stepped back to let the doctor look over her injuries. My clothes were covered in blood and so were my hands and arms as my father looked at me checking to make sure I wasn’t hurt. “What happened son?” He asked me once again. “And who is this girl?” “Rayne Summers. Kera attacked her outside of Rider’s bar.” I tell him. “Rayne is human she wouldn’t have been able to protect herself. Why would Kera attack her?” My father asks confused. “I don’t know why she does half the shit she does. All I know is she is obsessed with me and I am guessing me dancing with
Rayne’s POV My eyes fluttered open as I took in a deep breath. Was I alive or did the wolf kill me? I sat up quickly taking in my surroundings and realized I had no clue where I was. The room had a masculine look with the touch of a contemporary style to it. I was now beginning to wonder if I got so drunk last night that I went home with some stranger and dreamt the whole wolf attack when I looked down at my arm and there were no bite marks but it seemed so real. As I pulled the covers off my body, I assessed my apparel. Yep, definitely went home with some random guy, whose tee shirt was I wearing now. Pulling the shirt to my nose I inhaled and something within me stirred as I took in the scent of mint or was it spearmint. Either way what was this weird feeling inside of me? Putting my feet on the floor I stood up and that’s when the pain hit me. It felt like I was being ripped from the inside out. I screamed in pain not caring who heard me. The door busted open and Shawn stood i
Rayne’s POV “Rayne don’t listen to him. Get in the jeep.” Emma says to me as she grabs my hand pulling me towards the jeep. I look at Reese standing there stiff as a board with his jaw clenched and his hands in fists. He knew he couldn’t make me stay but he wanted to and at this moment I wanted to stay but Emma was pulling me to the jeep and I honestly had no clue what was going on and desperately needed to talk to her. So, I got into the jeep and we drove off towards the cabin that she had rented for us for the weekend on the outskirts of town. “Here.” Emma said passing me my friendship ring. “It must have slipped off your finger.” Sliding it back on my finger I looked at her, “What the hell just happened back there?” “I’ll explain everything when we get to the cabin and off their territory.” Emma said and I was confused. Who’s territory? What was Emma talking about? The rest of the drive to the cabin I looked out the window thinking about what just happened and how on God
Rayne’s POV My legs began to tire after I had run for what felt like hours but I knew it wasn’t that long. I was exhausted not only physically but mentally too. Nothing could have prepared me for what I had learned tonight about my parents or what my best friend had done to me. Emma had taken away a part of me without my consent and I couldn’t accept that she had done that to me. I felt betrayed by her and I don’t know if I will ever be able to forgive her for this. Than I realized that I had been lied to my whole life. My parents and my grandmother have kept this secret from me too. There was nobody that I could trust and once again I felt alone in this world and I didn’t know where I even belonged. Emma had made it very clear that if I was a wolf that the town of Canyon Ridge wouldn’t accept me but what about Ridgewood? I was only half wolf. Reese did say I wasn’t leaving but then did he know that I was half witch? Would he still accept me knowing this? I needed time to think a