Caged Between the beta and alpha
Chapter 20
A Late Night Visit
RAVEN
Night had fallen and I had returned home to the packhouse an hour ago. I had decided to get my stuff unpacked.
I was opening my parcels, admiring my new bedding and curtains, when I paused, remembering part of the conversation that I had with Al and Kia as it replayed in my mind. My stomach twisted and I dropped onto my bed, sighing heavily.
I’m so scared of this talk that I knew we needed to have, but it needed to be done. I picked up one of my parcels before sighing and tossing it on the bed again.
Rejection… Al was so adamant that it would need to happen.
Why did Selena pair us together if all she wanted was to hurt u s and tear us apart? I sighed, standing up and grabbing a plastic tub from the bedside table.
I think I needed to talk to Damon about this, and I won’t lie, I needed to see Aunty M.
I walked downstairs, the warm bustle of the other young adults around the packhouse was pleasant. I snuck out and headed towards Damon’s place.
I wondered if they had found any lead on the killings? I knew for a fact that Kiara didn’t know, but I had seen the guards posted around their house too. Well, I guess with everything they had going on, they didn’t need any more stress and they weren’t here for long anyway.
I looked around. The entire place was like a small town. Lights glittered in the windows of the houses and the few shops that lined the streets. There was the odd person walking around, but one huge difference that I noticed was that there were no children out and about. I guess it made sense.
I stopped outside the Nicholson home and rang the doorbell.
“Is that your dad, Damon?” Monica’s voice came.
I closed my eyes, feeling so broken at the hope in her voice.
“No Momma, I’ll get it.” Damon’s voice came before the door was opened.
His eyes widened slightly, clearly surprised to see me.
“Raven…” He said softly.
“Sorry for intruding. I got brownies that Kia baked?” I offered, holding out the small tub and smiling gently.
My heart was racing under his gaze, but when he smiled, stepping back, I felt relieved.
“Well, I can’t turn down an offering.” He said, shutting the door behind me. “I won’t lie though; I’m surprised to see you here.”
He paused, his dusky blue eyes meeting mine before he looked away.
“I didn’t want to worry you. You left and -”
“I made a mistake; I should never have left.” I said quietly as w e entered the living room, ending the conversation.
Aunty Monica was sitting on the sofa, holding a book limply in her hand. She looked at me and smiled slightly.
“Oh, Raven. Welcome, I’ll put on some tea…”
“I’ll do it, Momma.”
“No, you two sit and talk…”
A better day?’ I asked through the link.
‘One of those where she thinks Dad will be home soon.’ He said quietly as Aunty M left the room.
“The usual? Hot chocolate for both?” She called out.
“Sure, thanks.” Damon replied.
I frowned at him, taking a seat on one of the sofas.
“You know, you should have still told me. Then again, I knew you had just lost your dad, but I still left.” I said quietly.
Sure, I had stayed around for two months, but it clearly wasn’t enough. We had become closer at that time, but then everything went out of control after that Blood Moon.
Damon sat down on the opposite sofa and I looked at him. He was playing with a ring on his finger, his head down. It was almost as if he was keeping that distance between us.
head shot up, his heart
- “Hmm? Sorry I spaced.”
I could see that… It was almost as if he was worried about something “Mind sharing what was on your mind?” “Not much, I guess.” He flashed me a smile,
Like I said, I was a pro at those fake smiles.Aunty Monica returned with the hot drinks and a Victoria sponge cake.
“There you go, I’m going to head to bed, I’m so tired. Have fun you two.” She said, smiling brightly.
“Sure Momma, goodnight.” Damon said standing up, he gave her a tight hug and kissed the top of her head.
I smiled watching them.
“Thank you Aunty M, I love your hot chocolate!”
“You love anything with chocolate.” Damon added with a small smirk.
I smiled sheepishly.
“Well yes, but still…” I pouted.
Aunty Monica laughed, I just wished she would always remain like this: Happy and herself… But it was just thanks to the illusion that her mate was alive…
She left the room, closing the door behind her as Damon sat o n the sofa a few feet away from me. Picking up the TV remote, he put a random movie on, I knew it was so a tense silence didn’t fall between us. A typical Damon move.
“So, want to share exactly what’s going through that mind of yours?” I asked.
He glanced at me, before placing a slice of cake on a plate for m e. He held it out, but I simply smiled, taking the icing coated slice in my hand.
He grinned at that.
“You never change.”