Four

Ravenna

The birds' loud chirp and scorching sun rays passed through the window, rousing me up from my inconvenient slumber.

I yawned, momentarily dazed as I looked around me, confused. Where am I?

I blinked and instantly memories of last night hit me. Kalan. He didn't come back home last night. It's very obvious that he resents me and detests my presence here. He confused me with his actions yesterday. There was passion in his eyes, but hate shone more.

I can’t believe he made it obvious by taking his jacket when he knew that I wanted to change into it. Speaking of jackets, my gaze fell on my clothes in disgust. It reeked of sweat and I felt really sticky wearing them. My parents were supposed to have my things sent down to me, but it's being delayed and now I have to deal with my grimy clothes. Ugh.

I could feel a headache blooming by the side of my temple already. Picking up my phone that was strewn across the couch, I decided to call my mum. At least someone to complain to.

“Hello, Ravenna,” her earthly voice uttered through the phone.

“Hello, mama,” I couldn't help but give lukewarm responses after being awfully betrayed by both her and my father. Ever since the news broke out to me that I would be getting married in place of my sister, my relationship with my parents felt strained.

“How are you doing? Is everything alright on your end?”

“Everything's fine. Is Karina back yet?” I asked with a clipped tone in my voice.

She sighed. “No, Ravenna. Karina isn't back yet. No one's sure when she'll be back,”

“Fine then. I ordered my stuff to be delivered here and I still haven't gotten it. Do you have any information on when they're coming down?” I bit my nail, angered at the fact that Karina had not yet been found.

“It's arriving very soon, sweetie. Be patient,”

“Okay then. Goodby—” I already wanted to hang up, but she cut me off.

“Before you go, have you gotten the news?”

A frown etched onto my features. “What news?”

“About Haven Gates,” she replied. “I heard they've been giving out admissions already. You should check—” I ended the call instantly. What?

Checking my emails hurriedly, I discovered that I had indeed gotten a letter of admission from my first choice. I finally got in after countless sleepless nights to study. Staring at the letter, I sniffed hard.

I was admitted into Haven Gates, but I can't go anymore.

Why?

Because I'm seemingly getting married to an asshole who doesn't care for me.

I'm dashing my dreams into powder and destroying my future because of a hardhead, selfish bitch. A sudden laugh escaped my lips in disbelief. Have I really sunk to rock bottom? Has my life really gone to shit, that I had no sense of direction of where I'm heading to?

I seethed and got off the couch, pacing around his apartment room in anger. Karina always HAD to have her way, she always HAD to be selfish and think about herself. She HAD to bring me down because she never supported me. I'm literally here, living her life for her while she’s out there living the life she had always wanted and I'm stuck here, living the life I'm forced to live.

It had been my dream to be a medical practitioner ever since I was five. I feel awestruck every time they strive to make a person better. It felt surreal and amazing and that was when my passion to be one grew. But my older sister always hated it. She saw it as ‘weird’ and ‘childish’ to even be considered a dream. She'd constantly tease me and make me feel insignificant because I refused to hunt and eat animals in the ‘werewolf way’. She would call me weak and that pisses me off to higher levels.

I could remember a time I was studying, reading a book on Physiotherapy and how it helps people who go through physical trauma when Karina came in, to taunting me as usual.

“You're still reading those lame books? You're a werewolf, Rav,” I remember her saying. “Act like one,” she then ripped my book to shreds. I cried profusely that day.

Our mum comforted me and our dad, the Alpha kept quiet on it.

Obviously, he was also against my medical pursuit, but he didn’t go out of his way to stop me from doing what I wanted.

My mom was awfully supportive though and that kept me afloat most of the time. That was just a part of the horrible things I've encountered and endured, thanks to Karina.

Her brash ways and actions really led her into a lot of trouble and slowly, I found myself disassociating from the only sibling I have. She often tried to play the big sister role by saying all she did was for my benefit but all her words fell on deaf ears.

I finally told her to leave me alone when she introduced me to her boyfriend who was a rogue, secretly. She knew rogues were forbidden in our pack, yet she brought him in and chose to be selfish and stupid.

There was also that time we had a screaming match. I had angrily told her I wanted nothing to do with her and wanted her to leave me alone. She yelled back at me, saying that I was chasing pointless dreams and telling me to embrace my true nature.

Unperturbed, I still chased after my dreams and studied hard to ace the entrance exams of one of the most prestigious medical schools for all werewolves, Haven Gates. That was until news broke out that Karina had run away with Konnor, her rogue boyfriend, breaking out from her engagement to Kalan when it was almost time for their wedding.

My older sister has always had a rebellious spirit, everyone knew her for that, but no one expected her to pull a stunt like that. They thought since the engagement had been enacted from birth, she would respect it, and abandon her various boyfriends before the wedding. Our dad was extremely furious and our mom was downcast.

We looked everywhere for her to bring her back but she was nowhere to be found. Now her engagement is secretly passed down to me and I hate it. I hate it with every soul of my being. I hate that I have to get married to her cranky old Lycan fiancé, who does nothing but throw his weight around.

My stomach grumbled in protest, jerking me out of my thoughts. Sudden pangs of hunger hit me and it was then I realized that I hadn't eaten at all yesterday. I was so caught up in everything that I forgot to eat. As a werewolf that doesn’t feed on raw animals like others, I've grown a really big appetite for delicious food.

I held my grumbling stomach and a yawn of hunger escaped my throat before I headed for the bathroom to relieve myself of my bodily fluids. His bathroom was kinda large. It was painted white, and furnished with an LED mirror, an expensive-looking water closet, cabinets, and a bathtub.

I rummaged through the cabinets, looking for a spare toothbrush to rid myself of the horrible taste and bile in my mouth, luckily, I found one. Squirting some toothpaste on the brush, I placed it in my mouth and brushed my teeth.

My reflection stared back at me through the mirror, revealing the bags under my eyes and the bird's nest of hair on my head. I sighed at my awful reflection before I found a small hairbrush in the cabinet after I finished brushing my teeth. With a few strokes of the hairbrush, I untangled a few knots in my hair to look a bit presentable. Satisfied with my appearance, I headed straight for the kitchen.

Kalan's kitchen was quite small but properly furnished. The walls were tiled, decorated black and red, contrasting against the pristine white floor. Personality-wise I thought it suited him. It had sets of knives, spoons, and all sorts of kitchen equipment needed.

I opened the fridge in search of what to eat, and it turned out empty. I rummaged through the cupboards and cabinets and it all was EMPTY!

“Please, please, please, even a jar of Nutella would do…” I muttered hopefully to myself, yet I came out with nothing. “Not even some Pop Tarts? Or a Protein bar?!” I screeched at the kitchen cabinet.

From Karina, to this!

I understand that he hates me, but abandoning me here in this sky-scraper apartment, with no single scrap of food or water is the last straw! I'm so sick and tired of everything right now.

I paced around the room, trying to figure things out. If I can get some ingredients, then I'd be able to whip something up in the kitchen. But where would I even go? I'm new to this place. Can I ask around?

Are there grocery stores around here? I doubt that. This place was too high-end for people like Kalan to go grocery shopping.

Plus, I don't even have money with me. Even if I did, I doubt that I'd be able to get some items cheap around here. Even if I go downtown, it'd still cost me to go to and fro by Uber or Taxi. Should I call someone? Who would I even call? The only person here whom I have her contact information was...

At that moment, I heard a click and turn of the doorknob, indicating that someone was entering the apartment. I felt happy that Kalan was finally back but a frown took over my facial features. I would definitely give him a piece of my mind. No one in their right mind would abandon their new bride in their apartment without food or drinks. What a bad fiance.

I stormed over, ready to let off my mind, when I stopped short, staring at the woman in front of me, who was giving me a deadly glare.

Who was she and why was she looking at me like I took her rightful position? My frown got deeper when she suddenly walked closer to me.