Chapter 3

Raven's POV

I opened my eyes and stretched out my hand. Rune was not on the bed beside me.

Where was he?

His side of the bed was rumpled. Oh so he had left.

Why should I care where he went? I sat up with a sigh. Glancing down, I saw that I was still very naked.

 My clothes lay in a pile on the ground.

My thoughts drifted to Lila again. 

Maybe he took her with him to my parents' pack.

Where else could they be?

I jumped to my feet and wore some clothes. I was headed to the door when my eyes caught a picture on the dresser. 

A picture of myself and Lila with our parents. 

We were thirteen years old.

I stared at the picture, at the smiles that brightened our faces then. 

Where had it all gone wrong?

How did things get this bad?

Was it wrong to take in an orphan as my sister? Tears fell from my eyes as I wondered.

Why was I thinking about this?

Lila used to be an orphan, pitied and given much attention. I cared for her a lot, and sometimes overlooked the things she did. 

Maybe that was why I was suffering its consequences now.

And now, even my parents preferred Lila to me.

They had, from the moment she stepped foot into our house. 

She had been treated with all the love and care that I needed. 

Everyone around us treated her like family, a sister to me when she wasn't. And she had turned around to shove a knife in my back.

What could I do but let it happen? I believed they meant no harm and wanted her to feel at home.

How was I supposed to know the man I love didn't see her as just a sister? 

How was I supposed to know she would end up taking Rune from me?

My wolf grew more annoyed at this thought. I stopped the flow of these thoughts, sighed, and sat back on the bed.

The front door suddenly opened. I didn't want to look at Rune's face, but his mother's voice made me lift my head.

"You are worried again, aren't you?" She asked.

"No, Mother." I gave her a smile. "I only woke up from a nap. I couldn't find Rune next to me or in the room. 

Has he gone to my parents' pack with my sister?"

"No, my child." She walked in and touched my shoulder lightly. "Your husband went for a rogue attack.

 He left a few hours ago."

I could feel the older woman's eyes on me. I could tell she was worried too.

 Her explanation made me feel guilty for thinking he was with my sister.

Was I to be blamed?

"Well, I only came to see how you're faring," she continued.

"I am well, Mother. Thank you." I said and smiled again.

"Oh, and make sure you send someone to clean the garden!" She noted, turning to leave.

As soon as Luna left the room, I picked up my phone from the bedside table.

"Stay safe." I typed the message to Rune and sent it, hoping for a reply. 

There was none. I mind linked him and there was no use of it. So maybe he went to help another pack... He's a good alpha indeed, after all. 

Maybe I bothered him too much,

I told myself, shaking my head.

He must be at the war front, I thought, after an hour with no response.

I tried to distract myself with something, until it was time for dinner. 

So I took a walk down to the pool to relax, I sat by the pool with my legs in for some time.

After my meal, worry set in again.

I stared at my phone, expecting a message from the man I love, the father of my babies.

 I roamed the room, looking for any sign of Rune. I asked the guards in agitation, if they'd heard any news about the war.

 They all told me the same thing— rogues were hard to get rid of, and Rune might be there for a long time.

Worry filled my heart as I considered the possibility of him dying at the front. I couldn't bear the loss, if news of his death came.

Who would help raise our kids? What would their fate be? I asked myself, about standing when a new maid approached.

Did she lose her way again?

This made me smile as the young woman stopped in front of me and bowed.

"My lady, I need your help with a task from Luna. I don't know how to do it and would love your assistance."

Stunned, I sat back down.

"What is it, maid?"

"I was asked to clean Lila's room," she explained, seeing my grimace. 

"But I've never done it before, and I'm worried. Luna said, 'Do it the way she likes.

 Ask the Luna-to-be if you get confused.'"

I smiled, Luna always asked for my input before doing anything.

"I'll help you after my bath," I said, heading to my room.

 "Wait for me here," I added, then took a bath before returning.

Together, we walked to Lila's room.

I didn't want to do this, but what could I do? The new maid clearly needed help, and Luna might take offense if I refused.

Lila used to live with us before leaving for the human hospital, and I had never entered her room. She valued her privacy a lot.

Maybe the maid didn't know Lila's standard of only maids in the room, I thought as the key turned and the door opened. 

We stepped inside.

The color looked familiar, I thought.

Coincidence that Lila's room color was the same as mine before I married Rune?

Confused, I walked to the nearby wardrobe.

I opened it and was shocked.

What was this? Has she been doing this the whole time?