Capítulo 23: Twenty three
Rhea.
The weekend had finally come, but instead of feeling relief, I felt a burden pressing down on me. The past week had been a whirlwind of pressure and unanswered questions, especially the one that haunted me: Who was Emmie?
Remus's refusal to talk about it had left me more unsettled than ever. When Rachel invited me for some "girl talk" in the garden, I jumped at the chance. I needed a break from the stifling atmosphere of the pack house, and the garden, with its peaceful serenity, seemed like the perfect escape.
We spread out a blanket near the rose bushes. The air was warm, and the scent of flowers surrounded us, a stark contrast to the chaos inside my mind. I wanted to relax, to let go of the worries that had been gnawing at me all week. Rachel sat down beside me with a warm smile, her eyes sparkling with the intention of lifting my spirits.
"So," Rachel began, settling into the blanket, "have you heard the latest gossip around the pack?" She grinned, her tone light and playful. "Apparently, someone spotted Mr. Thornton sneaking off with an entire pie from the kitchen. Can you believe it?"
I forced a laugh, trying to match her energy. "Mr. Thornton? The old caretaker? No way!"
"Oh, yes way," Rachel said, chuckling. "And you should have seen the face of Mrs. Burnham when she realized her prized apple pie was missing. I've never seen an old lady move so fast!"
She continued with her stories, painting a picture of pack life filled with small dramas and harmless scandals.
I nodded and smiled, making the appropriate responses, but my mind was elsewhere. As Rachel talked, the name "Emmie" kept echoing in my thoughts, growing louder and more insistent.
I tried to push it away, to focus on Rachel's words, but it was useless. I couldn't help it. My mind kept drifting back to that night with Remus—the way his expression had hardened when I mentioned the name. Why had he been so adamant about not talking about her?
Rachel was still talking, something about an upcoming celebration, but I wasn't really listening. I glanced at her, my eyes trying to mask the storm inside me.
She was animated, gesturing with her hands as she spoke, completely unaware of the battle going on in my head. I felt guilty for not paying attention, but I couldn't help it. My curiosity was eating me alive. I had to know.
Without meaning to, I must have let my true feelings show on my face because Rachel suddenly stopped mid-sentence. "Hey, are you even listening to me?" she asked, raising an eyebrow in mock offense.
"I'm sorry," I mumbled, looking down at the blanket. "I just... I've had a lot on my mind lately."
Rachel's eyes softened. "I know. It's been a tough week, hasn't it?" She reached out and squeezed my hand.
For a moment, I hesitated. Should I ask her? Was I ready to open that door again, especially after how it went with Remus? But the need for answers was stronger than my fear. I took a deep breath and looked Rachel in the eye.
"Rachel," I began, my voice barely above a whisper, "who is Emmie?"
Rachel's smile faded instantly. Her face went pale, and her eyes widened in shock. She glanced around the garden quickly, as if making sure no one else was around to hear. "Rhea," she whispered, her voice trembling slightly, "where did you hear that name?"
I swallowed hard. "Tessa was comparing me with her and then... I overheard some things. And... I asked Remus about her, but he wouldn't tell me anything."
Rachel's hand flew to her mouth, her eyes filled with disbelief. "You asked Remus?" she hissed, her voice barely a whisper. "Oh, Rhea, you shouldn't have done that."
"Why?" I demanded, my annoyance bubbling to the surface. "Why is this such a big secret? Why won't anyone tell me who she is?"
Rachel looked at me with pity in her eyes, her mouth opening and closing as if she wanted to say something but couldn't find the right words.
Finally, she leaned closer, her expression deadly serious. "Listen to me," she said, her voice low and urgent. "Never bring up that name again, especially not with Remus. If he's not willing to tell you, it means he's not ready. And you pushing him won't make it any better."
Her words sent a chill down my spine. What could be so terrible that even mentioning it would cause such a reaction?
My mind raced with possibilities, each more troubling than the last. I wanted to push Rachel for more, but before I could, a shadow fell over us.
"Well, isn't this cozy?" a cold voice sneered.
I looked up to see Elara standing there, her arms crossed over her chest, her eyes boring into me with contempt and disdain. Rachel stiffened beside me, her face turning ashen.
Elara smirked, her gaze never leaving mine. "You've really done it, haven't you, Rhea? Wrapped my son around your little finger." Her voice was icy, dripping with venom. "But don't think for a second that I'll let you take this pack from me."
I blinked, completely taken aback. "Take the pack?" I echoed, genuinely baffled. "What are you talking about?"
Elara's eyes flashed with anger, her lips curling into a cruel smile. "Oh, don't play dumb with me. You think just because you're his Luna now, you can just waltz in here and change everything? You think I don't see what you're trying to do?"
I stood up, my hands trembling at my sides. "I don't know what you're accusing me of, Elara. I'm not trying to take anything away from anyone."
She took a step closer, her eyes narrowing. "You'll find out soon enough," she hissed. "But mark my words, you won't win this."
With that, she turned on her heel and stormed off, leaving a trail of tension in her wake.
I stood there, my heart pounding in my chest, my mind reeling from her words. Take the pack? What did she mean? And how did this all tie into the mystery of Emmie?
I turned to Rachel, hoping for some kind of explanation, but she was looking away, her face pale and tight. It was clear that whatever was going on, it was much bigger than I had realized.
And as I stood there in the garden, surrounded by the scent of roses and the weight of so many unanswered questions, I knew one thing for certain: this was far from over.
The garden felt like a different place now, tainted by Elara's venomous words. The peace it once offered had been replaced by an undercurrent of chaos, winding its way into my thoughts.
Rachel still sat there, frozen, her face pale. She looked like she wanted to say something, but fear held her tongue. I needed answers. More than that, I needed to understand why Elara thought I was some kind of threat all of a sudden.
I took a deep breath, trying to steady my racing heart. The air felt heavy, thick with the weight of secrets and unspoken truths. "Rachel," I said softly, "what does she mean? Why does she think I want to take over the pack now? Why does she keep accusing me of random stuff?"
Rachel swallowed, her eyes flicking to the path Elara had just stormed down. "I… I don't know what she means," she whispered, but her voice lacked conviction.
"Please," I pressed gently. "You know more than you're telling me."
She looked at me, torn between loyalty to me and her fear of the unknown forces at play. "Rhea, there's so much you don't understand," she finally admitted. "But this… it's not for me to say. It's not my story to tell."
Annoyance bubbled inside me, but I bit my tongue. It was clear that whatever was happening involved more than just pack politics or family drama. It was personal.
And it was something Remus wasn't ready to share. Yet, how could I protect myself—or even understand my place in this world—if I was kept in the dark?
Rachel stood up abruptly, brushing off her skirt as if to shake off the tension that had settled between us. "We should go back inside," she suggested, her voice strained. "It's getting late, and..." Her words trailed off as her eyes darted around the garden, as if she expected Elara to jump out from the shadows again.
"Fine," I agreed, though every fiber of my being resisted leaving this conversation unfinished.
There had to be someone else in the pack who knew the truth about Emmie and why Elara was so threatened by me after we have settled things about me being the Luna.
••
The atmosphere inside the pack house was choking.
We entered the main hall, where a few pack members gathered around, talking in hushed tones. When they noticed me, the room went silent, all eyes turning in my direction. I tried to ignore the sinking feeling in my stomach and held my head high, moving toward the stairs.
But then, from the corner of my eye, I spotted Mira, the young pack member who worked in the administrative office.
Her eyes met mine briefly before she quickly looked away, almost as if she didn't want to be caught staring. Something about the way she hurriedly turned back to her work caught my attention. She knew something, I was sure of it.
"Rachel," I whispered, stopping her before we reached the stairs. "I need to talk to Mira."
Rachel glanced at Mira and then back at me, her expression a mix of concern and warning. "Rhea, don't—"
"I have to," I cut her off, my voice firm. "Just... give me a moment."
Reluctantly, Rachel nodded and stepped aside as I approached Mira. She was sorting through some papers, her hands moving a bit too quickly, betraying her nervousness. I took a deep breath and leaned on the counter in front of her.
"Mira," I began softly, trying not to scare her. "I know you overhear things in the office. I need you to tell me what you know about... Emmie."
Mira's hands froze, her eyes shooting up to meet mine. Her face went pale, and she glanced around quickly to make sure no one else was listening. "I-I don't know much," she stammered, her voice low and shaky. "Just... bits and pieces."
"Anything," I pressed gently. "Anything you know could help me."
Mira hesitated, biting her lip. She looked torn, much like Rachel had been, but there was fear in her eyes, too—a fear that gripped at my own heart. What could be so terrifying about this woman, Emmie, that made everyone so afraid to speak about her?
"She was important," Mira finally whispered, her eyes darting around the room again. "More important than anyone wants to admit. But... if you really want to know, you need to be careful. There are things in this pack that are better left buried."
Her cryptic words only fueled my curiosity and dread. "Who was she to Remus?" I demanded, my voice coming out more desperate than I intended.
Mira's eyes softened with pity. "Ask him," she replied. "But be prepared for the answer, because it might not be what you want to hear."
I opened my mouth to say more, but a sudden sharp voice cut through the air, making everyone in the room jump.
"What is going on here?"
I turned to see Elara standing in the doorway, her eyes blazing with anger. Her gaze flickered between me and Mira, a storm brewing in her expression. "Mira, back to your duties. Now," she snapped. Mira shot me a frightened look before scurrying away.
Elara's eyes locked onto mine, filled with contempt. "You just can't help yourself, can you, Rhea?" she sneered, stepping closer. "Prying into things that don't concern you."
"It concerns me if it involves my husband," I shot back, my voice steady despite the fear coursing through me. "And if it affects this pack."
Elara's lip curled into a bitter smile. "You think you can just waltz in here and demand answers? That you can replace what was lost so easily?"
Her words hung heavy in the air, sending a chill down my spine. Replace what was lost? My heart pounded in my chest as pieces of the puzzle started to fall into place. Emmie wasn't just anyone. She had been someone of significance, someone whose absence still haunted this pack—and Remus.
"You will never understand," Elara hissed. " This pack was built on traditions and legacies that you know nothing about. You think you've claimed a throne, but all you've done is sit on a borrowed seat."
Her words stung like a slap to the face. My vision blurred with anger and confusion, but I refused to back down. "Whatever happened in the past is not my fault," I snapped. "I'm here now, and I have every right to know what I'm up against."
Elara leaned in, her eyes cold and unforgiving. "You want to know? Fine. But remember, you asked for this." She turned on her heel, her final words echoing in the hall as she walked away. "You will regret uncovering the truth."
I stood there, my hands trembling, Elara's ominous words ringing in my ears. What truth was she talking about? And why did it feel like I was teetering on the edge of something dangerous?
As I stood there, Rachel finally approached me, her face a mixture of fear and sadness. "Rhea," she whispered urgently, grabbing my arm. "We need to get out of here. Now."
"But—"
"No," she cut me off, her eyes pleading. "You've stirred the hornet's nest. If you push any further tonight... I don't know what might happen."
I allowed Rachel to lead me away, my heart pounding. The pack house felt like it was closing in on me, its walls holding more secrets than I could have ever imagined. As we retreated to our room, a new resolve hardened within me. I would find out who Emmie was, and why her shadow still loomed over us. But Elara's final words lingered in my mind like a dark omen.
I didn't know what the future held, but one thing was clear. Whatever I was about to uncover was bound to change everything.
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