Elaine POV
“Thank you,” I said, pulling the strap of my pyjama shirt over my shoulder.
“There’s nothing to thank,” Azaire said.
I still had scars and some of my wounds were still healing. I used up all of my strength on Blazer but I was already weak from using my magic. I thought about using healing magic to heal myself when my curse was acting up but how would I heal myself when I immediately pass out like what happened today?
I desperately needed a cure. I needed a way out.
Azaire wrapped his arms around my middle and kissed my shoulders.
“We’re going to figure this out,” he said.
I wanted to believe him but I wasn’t quite there yet.
“Get some rest. I’ve got some things to take care of.”
I wanted to ask what things but I was still tired from the day’s events. Azaire tucked me under the covers and kissed my forehead before he walked out.
***
The next day Opal decided to take me out to lunch to get my mind off what happened. She was more freaked out about it than I was. After lunch, she had stuff to pick out from her house. I didn’t want to set foot in the Black Claw Pack and Opal lived right next door to my Dad.
Opal was adamant she just needed to grab a few things and then we’d be out of there. Everyone was always at the Pack House anyway so I doubted I would run into anyone.
“I haven’t been here in forever,” I said, looking around the kitchen I used to spend hours in when I was in high school.
“Me too,” Opal said. “I hope I don’t run into Mom.”
“Opal!” I hissed.
“I’ve been spending all my time with Richie and she would freak out if she knew about him.”
I knew coming here would be a bad idea.
“Okay, then hurry up so we can leave.”
She nodded. “I need a few clothes. Grab anything from the fridge I won’t be long.”
“Fine.”
I find it hard to believe Opal and Azaire’s brother are dating. He wasn’t fond of her at first but he won’t let a fly sit on her now. It’s so romantic. While Opal was upstairs I went to the fridge to grab some apple juice. I spent so much time here after Luna Bianca passed away that I knew where everything was.
Speaking of Luna Bianca, I needed to check on her sister Andrea and warn her. My Dad didn’t have a soul and he would allow anything to happen to her despite Andrea being the mother of his son.
“Elaine,” a familiar voice said.
I closed the fridge door and swallowed. “Mrs Valentine, hi.”
She smiled at me. “It’s been so long since I saw you.”
Opal’s Mom was the epitome of grace and elegance. She always smelled like a meadow in bloom and looked like royalty. She was never found with a hair out of place. She was Bianca’s best friend but she was also very close to my Dad because of her husband.
“I’ve been… busy. We didn’t see your car when we pulled in,” I said, hoping to change the story.
“So my daughter has decided to come home.” The smile on her face never wavered but venom lay underneath.
I mentally yelled at Opal to hurry up.
“Yeah, we’re…uh… going shopping.”
“Elaine, I’m very surprised at your behaviour. Hating your Father is one thing but you have a duty to your Pack. What’s worse is you dragged my daughter into your whore show.”
I blinked a few times.
Gracelyn Valentine placed a hand on her hip. “I won’t let my daughter disgrace our family name because she was following your example.”
“Excuse me?”
I almost couldn’t believe those words came out of her red lips.
“You heard me!” she snapped. “Opal’s been running around with that disgusting Blood Moon boy. What will people say?”
“Richie is a good man and he loves Opal.”
She threw her arm in the air dismissively. “Nonsense. You messed up a perfectly good arranged marriage my daughter won’t do the same.”
“I hope you don’t have your heart set on Nik. Dad doesn’t consider an arranged marriage with his High Beta family good enough for the future Alpha.”
Her jaw dropped and she raised her hair. I flinched. “You little-”
“Mom!” Opal yelled. She dropped her suitcase. “What are you doing?”
She marched into the kitchen and stood between us.
“It doesn’t matter. I don’t ever want this girl in my house again.”
“This is Elaine, Mom,” Opal said, but her Mother knew what she was doing. I wasn’t surprised either. She was just another one of Laiken’s puppets.
“And you! You’re not setting foot in the Blood Moon Pack. I’ve spoken to your Father.”
“You can’t treat me like a child anymore.”
“You’re my blood and I make the rules.”
What? That’s ridiculous. Opal dug into her pants pockets and pulled out her car keys.
“Take my car. I’ll see you later,” she said.
“No, you won’t. Tell that disgusting boy that he’ll never see my daughter again.”
“We’ll see about that,” Opal challenged. “Go Elaine. I’ll be fine.”
Her warm brown eyes urged me to leave. I gripped her car keys and left. The yelling got louder once I exited the front door.
“Elaine’s a good person and she deserves to be happy! Azaire loves her,” Opal shouted.
Her mother yelled even louder though. “She’s nothing but a whore just like her Mother.”
An invisible hand squeezed my hand.
“Who are you? You’re not my Mother. Or maybe I never knew you.”
Silence.
I hurried to her car, battling the emotions and the tears. I drove out of the property at lightning speed. Coming here was a bad idea. A person suddenly appeared in the middle of the road. I gasped and slammed on the brakes. I was going so fast I feared the car wouldn’t stop in time. My heart threatened to jump out of my chest. Tyres screeched and could be heard for miles but the car stopped inches away from the woman in black leather clothes.
“Oh my…”
My hands trembled and I felt faint. I popped the driver’s door open.
I climbed out slowly. I should have asked if they were okay, if they were hurt my first words should have been I’m so sorry.
“What the hell is wrong with you? Why would you stand in the middle of the road!”
The woman had Raven eyes and thick black eyeliner in the shape of a cat eye around her eyes. Her honey-blonde hair was a contrast to her eyes and her attire. She didn’t even flinch when the car came zooming at her. Was she even real?
“Well?” I yelled.
“I wasn’t worried.”
“How?” I panted.
I needed to sit down. I was sure I would run her over.
“I figured if your magic was so good then, your driving had to be decent.”
“Magic? You’re a witch aren’t you?”
The corner of her mouth curved. “Yes, and you countered my magic twice.”
I bit my bottom lip. She’s Rae’s sister, Lynn.