From Ex-Mates to Becoming Friends

*Rayne*

Rayne felt overjoyed when she saw the survivors of the Jade Moon massacre. Knowing that some from her pack had lived made her happy. Not everyone back then hurt her. Some showed her kindness when Wilson was nowhere around to punish them. She was grateful. Rayne ever wished harm on anyone in Jade Moon except her true tormentors.

Having reconnected with Bridgette, seen Wilson’s death, Rayne’s past nightmare is over. Her father would be happy to know that there were survivors of Jade Moon in other packs. Perhaps their trip back can turn into a longer vacation. A chance for her father to see those he grew up with again. Rayne wanted him to find happiness again.

It was interesting being in Redwood Pack with Parker, taking to her ex-mate, and sharing adventures of her past with him and Arianna. Rayne could see that Sebastion was struggling to become a better man. She had to admit that perhaps one day they could be good friends. He was a very intelligent man.

Sebastion had outlined some of his security changes for the pack borders. All very well thought out. Rayne felt for him at what he had gone through with his son. Jace was a very inquisitive child. He was enamored with Parker. When Sebastion told them what Gia had done to Jace, Rayne wanted to punch the woman for doing something like that to a child. Her own child. What a monster. Knowing she was dead, that there was one less monster in this world, made Rayne happy.

“What do you think of my pack?” Sebastion asked as he walked up behind her.

Rayne was standing on a hill behind the mansion, it overlooked much of the valley below. House, a school, and a medical building sprawled nicely over the valley floor. She could see that construction taking place on the new buildings Sebastion had told her about last night. He was making homes for those who came from Jade Moon, and the wolves who joined him for the new hospital and schools. Redwood Pack was thriving.

She longed for her beach more and more each day she was away from home. “It is an amazing sight from up here. I admire what you are doing. How many wolves from other packs have you taken in?”

“Recently or over the years?”

“Over the years?”

“My father started when the last pack wars finally ended. We were still relatively a small pack back then. With some many packs destroyed during that time, so many wolves displaced, my father made a choice. We had room to grow. They needed home and safety. So he sent out messages for those who wanted to join us. He is on the Werewolf council, so that helped a lot.”

“You know what I do for supernaturals, would you accept other species?” Rayne turned to look at him as he watched the valley below.

“I am not sure. That would be something I would have to talk to Arianna about,” Sebastion turned to look at Rayne.

“I ask because I help more than just werewolves, and you have an excellent thing going here that could help some of those that come to Shadows Retreat.”

“I will talk to Ari, get her opinion, but I think we would both need to meet others of the supernatural world before we commit to anything.”

“You both are free to come down to the bar anytime.”

“If you don’t mind me asking, what got you into what you do?”

“Let’s walk back to the house and I will tell you on the way,” Rayne nudged her head towards the mansion.

“Lead the way,” Sebastion said as he motioned for her to go first.

As they walked, Rayne told Sebastion the story of Becca. Becca was a werewolf that Rayne and Parker gave a ride to as they were traveling toward their unknown destination. They smelled her blood the minute she got in Parker’s car. Her fear was so pungent that it overwhelmed the interior of the jeep. It took them the rest of the day, and most of the night, to make her feel safe with them.

They fed her, gave her new clothes to wear, and cleaned her wounds. Rayne’s heart lurched when the wounds were revealed. They were so similar to her own. It made Ruby howl in rage at what they had done to this girl. Why would anyone hurt Becca? They learned that Becca was a virgin and the new Alpha wanted her. He wanted to use her, then toss her aside. He did this will all the virgin wolves in the pack when they came of age. He said it was his right as their Alpha to take their virginity for keeping them safe until they found their mates and left his pack.

Becca put up a fight, but the monster got what he wanted. She fled home that night. No one helped her when she needed protection. So with the torn clothes on her back, a loaf of bread in her bag, she ran for her life. Parker wanted to hunt down the bastard that hurt Becca, but Rayne had a better idea. They would take her with them, find a better home for her, one that would keep her safe.

Becca stayed with them for the first six months after they got to Bodega Bay, then Lynn helped them find her a new place. There was a pack about an hour away that took her in. Every few months Becca calls to check-in. Telling Rayne how her life is, how fulfilled she is in her new home. Becca found her mate last year.

“Is that what Wilson did to you?” Sebastion asked is they stopped in the courtyard.

Rayne sucked in a deep breath, debated on telling him the truth or not. Show owed him nothing, but she knew she could trust him. “When I was thirteen. He was drunk, angry, and I had had another nightmare. I had been having them since I was nine. Each time I had one he got angry, yelling at me to stop having them.”

“He was afraid you would remember what you saw him do,” Sebastion said.

Rayne had told Arianna what she remembered of that night, then told Sebastion about it last night as they all sat on the patio. “Yes, he was. Knowing now why makes it all worse somehow.”

“Well, he is dead now. Hopefully, you can find peace in that.”

“I found peace a long time ago, but it helps to know he can no longer hurt anyone again.”

Rayne nodded at his words. Then they decided that lunch was a good idea.

Sebastion went off to find Jace, only to come back laughing and pointing behind him. “I will be in the kitchen finding out what is for lunch,” He laughed as he walked back into the house.

Rayne walked inside to see Parker in the foyer with Jace and Callista on his back. He was in the form of a small wolf, running in small circles around the room. Childish laughter filled the room. It was a sight that made Rayne’s heart flutter. Parker was terrific with children. It made the thoughts of their future even brighter.

Parker is her future. Sebastion is her past. Rayne has hope that Sebastion will find someone better for him. Someone who will challenge him at every step to be a better man. Someone who would chose him for the man he is trying to be. Tomorrow they would leave Redwood Pack to go get her father. Their trip to Jade Moon was waiting.

Rayne's mother was waiting for Edmund to come to her. It was time for them both to say goodbye. One to a wife, mate, and lover. The other to a mother she lost all too soon. It was time to go home to Jade Moon to finally put the past to rest.