Rhea’s POV

I ran. Bolted across the yard into the nearest bathroom. And the moment the door slammed behind me, I dropped to my knees and threw up.

I kept throwing up for a few mites and it felt so exhausting. Ten minutes later, I wiped my mouth, fixed my makeup the best I could, and stumbled out of the house without saying goodbye.

I didn’t look for him. I didn’t want to. I didn’t need another mistake. I was too embarrassed to even look for him.

The air was cooler now. The moon was higher. I wrapped my arms around myself as I walked home, still buzzing and spinning and so unbelievably tired.

Jay was over. Cassie could have him.

And that guy? Whoever he was… I doubted I’d ever see him again. But the scent of him wouldn’t leave my skin. And the weirdest part?

My wolf stirred for the first time.

When I got home, I turned the key slowly, cringing at the soft creak of the front door as it opened. The house was quiet, wrapped in the kind of stillness that only shows up after midnight.

Perfect. Maybe—just maybe—Mom had gone to bed and wouldn’t realize I was back so late.

I slid my heels off and tiptoed across the living room, holding my breath as if silence would shield me from a lecture.

And then, the dining room light snapped on. I froze.

And there she was. Sitting at the dining table, arms crossed, lips pressed tight. Her expression was all worry, disappointment, and just a little bit of heartbreak.

“Where have you been?” she asked.

“I—I went to Jay’s party,” I answered quickly, swallowing hard. “It wasn’t a big deal.”

“I told you not to miss dinner.”

“You also said we were moving across the country like it’s just switching grocery stores.” I fired back.

She stood up. “That’s not the same thing, Rhea.”

“No?” I walked past her, heading toward the kitchen just to put some space between us. “Because it sure feels like you’re allowed to drop bombs on me but I’m not even allowed to go blow off some steam without getting interrogated.”

“You disappeared all night. I called you, messaged you—”

“I saw,” I muttered, yanking the fridge open. “And I ignored it. On purpose.”

“That’s not funny,” she said, stepping closer. “You know better.”

I spun around, slamming the fridge door shut. “No, Mom. You don’t get to do this. You don’t get to sit there acting like a concerned mother when you make decisions without telling me that we’re uprooting our lives and moving into some strange man’s pack!”

“He’s not a stranger,” she said quietly. “He’s my mate.”

“Well, he’s a stranger to me!” My voice cracked. “And you just expect me to wake up in some Alpha’s house and play happy family with people I don’t even know?”

Vivian exhaled slowly, like she was trying not to snap. “You think I had a choice?”

“You could’ve said no.”

“The council wouldn’t let me!”

I scoffed. “Of course they wouldn’t. The precious council that controls everything” I paused, “—including you.”

“That’s not fair.”

“Neither is replacing Dad like he didn’t matter.” I finally let out what was really aching my heart. “Its my life too you know,”

Her jaw tightened, eyes narrowing. “Don’t you dare.”

“Why not? It’s true. The second he died, they kicked us out of the pack house like we were garbage. And instead of fighting it, you just bowed your head and accepted a new Alpha like you couldn’t wait to forget Dad existed!”

“That is not what happened.” Her voice shook now. “I never wanted this, Rhea. But this is the world we live in. A widow doesn’t get to stay in a pack without rank. They stripped my title. They took everything. And when Darius offered me protection, I took it—for you.”

I didn’t respond. I couldn’t. My throat closed up, and I blinked really hard, but the tears came anyway. I hated crying. Especially in front of her.

My mother’s eyes softened. She walked towards me, but I turned away, brushing at my cheeks.

“I’m not ready,” I whispered.

She placed a hand gently on my shoulder. “I know.”

I stood there for a moment, eyes fixed on the floor. Then I pulled away and walked toward the stairs.

She didn’t stop me. I'm relieved she did.

As soon as I got to my room, I slammed my door really hard. I curled up in bed, and began crying so hard. I cried so long because I missed my dad so much.

Minutes later, the tears long dried and my pillow became damp. My room was dark except for the faint glow of my lamp.

The door creaked open but I didn’t look. I knew who it was.

“Rhea,” My mum called out softly, stepping in. She sat at the edge of my bed. “I didn’t come to fight.”

I stayed quiet, staring at the ceiling. She placed a warm hand on my blanket-covered leg. “I’m sorry about how this feels. I know it’s not easy. But the truth is, I don’t have the power to say no anymore. The council made this arrangement… and Darius accepted it under very strict conditions. This move? This marriage? It’s not just about me anymore. They’ve made it political.”

I sat up slowly. “So I’m just… a piece in their game?”

She shook her head. “No. But we’re caught in it whether we want to be or not.”

I wiped my face with the sleeve of my hoodie. “I hate this.”

“I know.” She leaned in and kissed my forehead. “But I promise, we’ll find a way to make it better. Somehow.”

I didn’t believe her. Not fully. But for the first time all night, I let her hold me. Even if everything else was falling apart.

Mom gently pecked my forehead and whispered, “Goodnight, baby.”

I didn’t answer. I just nodded a little and sank deeper under my blanket.

She stood up, gave one last look like she wanted to say more, but then she quietly left the room, closing the door behind her.

I stared at the ceiling for a while, eyes burning, thoughts racing like a storm with no end. Everything felt upside down. Jay cheating, the party, that random guy’s lips on mine… and now this move. New pack. New people. New everything. My head was all jumbled up

I rolled to my side and pulled the blanket over my head, hoping sleep would hit fast and hard.

But it didn’t. Because behind my closed eyes, all I saw was him. The guy from the party.

The way his fingers had traced my waist. The way my wolf stirred in a way it never had for Jay.

Sadly, I didn’t even know his name.