Luna Queen Pariah

Chapter 9: Raphael the Smitten

Stella

“I’m so happy you came to check on me even though my birthday is still six days away,” I said sweetly as I gazed into Rodney’s chocolate-brown eyes.

He grinned.

“I wanted to make sure you were healing well,” he said.

“Sariah is still at large so I’m a bit worried,” I said, frowning.

Rodney’s expression was impassive. He was sitting across from me in an upscale cafe my brother and I frequented. My brother was not with me today though. He was attending to other matters. Ruby was third-wheeling. She sat there, scrolling through her phone while Rodney and I talked.

“She’s here,” said Ruby.

I perked up.

“She just parked,” said Ruby, her smile widening.

“Who’s here?” Asked Rodney as he brought his venti cappuccino to his lips.

“You’ll see,” I said innocently.

I spotted her hesitantly entering the cafe. Her red hair was styled in waves and she was all dressed up. Good. She was still trying to impress me. That meant this would be easy. Rodney frowned when he saw her walking towards our booth.

“What are you doing here?” He demanded, his eyes narrowed.

“I could ask you the same question,” said Layla defensively though she was fidgeting a bit under the intensity of Rodney’s glare.

“Why are you mad?” I asked bluntly.

“I don’t get it. You two aren’t friends, are you?” Asked Rodney, looking at me.

“Layla and I have a lot to talk about,” I said serenely.

“Like what?” Asked Rodney.

“I’ve been feeling…sad about Sariah being out there in the cold just days before her birthday,” I said, making sure my confession sounded heartfelt. “Layla was her best friend. I thought we could commiserate together.”

“Was? She’s not dead,” chuckled Rodney.

“We don’t know that for sure,” I said. “What if she killed herself or something?!”

Layla’s face paled.

“I don’t think so. She probably escaped,” said Layla. “She’s probably long gone by now.”

“Maybe, would you three excuse me?” I said, getting up.

“I’ll come with you,” said Ruby.

“Where are you two going?” Asked Rodney.

“I have to use the little girls’ room,” I said. 

I grabbed Ruby and steered her away from Rodney and Layla before they could ask anything else. I went to the bathroom and fluffed my hair in the mirror.

“She’s an amateur,” said Ruby, staring at me in the mirror.

“She knows what to do,” I said dismissively. “She has ten minutes. Not a second more. Set a timer,” I instructed.

Sariah/Stacey

I slowly opened my eyes. I groaned. My neck hurt. 

“She’s awake,” said a deep voice.

“Thank goodness,” said a familiar voice. Wisteria.

I sat up and found that I had been lying on the cushy seat of a long booth. I rubbed the back of my neck as I took in my surroundings. The booth was shaped like a boxy U. I was lying in the middle while Wisteria and Raphael were seated across from each other at the ends. They were both smiling serenely. 

“What’s going on?!” I demanded, looking at Wisteria with wide eyes.

“Relax, Stacey,” said Wisteria gently. “Have a bite of your complementary mini cream cheese bagel!”

I looked at the bagel on the table. The napkin read, ‘We apologise for your dissatisfying experience. Please enjoy this mini cream cheese bagel. It’s on us!’

“You fainted so they decided that your experience was dissatisfying enough to be worthy of a bagel,” explained Wisteria.

“Come on! Eat up! Before your blood sugar drops again!” Said Raphael.

He had an authoritative tone to his voice that suggested he was not accustomed to anything other than obedience. That little voice inside my head snarled and told me to not eat the bagel on purpose. I ate the bagel. But slowly.

“What…” I said, my mouth full of bagel.

I stopped because I realised I didn't even know what to ask.

“Beta Raphael here gallantly carried you inside,” said Wisteria, smiling at Raphael.

“It’s just Raphael,” he said, his eyes fixated on her.

Oh no.

“He also used a dropper to drip the most sugary drink on the menu into your mouth,” said Wisteria.

“Seems like it worked,” said Raphael, grinning.

He was barely looking at me so that was a relief.

“I have never seen either one of you before,” said Raphael. “I thought I knew everyone in this pack.”

“You don’t,” said Wisteria quickly with a shrug.

Raphael chuckled.

“You learn something new everyday,” she added.

“Well, I know you both now,” said Raphael.

A blonde waitress came over to our table. Her name tag said Rhonda.

“What’ll it be?” She said, her eyes on Raphael.

 “Three Alpha Appetite Breakfast Platters,” said Raphael, ordering for us without hesitation. 

I raised my eyebrows and exchanged a glance with Wisteria who looked a bit affronted. She did not seem like the “order for me” type.

“An excellent choice,” purred Rhonda, bending down slowly to pick up Raphael's menu so that she could give him a good show of her ample and seemingly augmented cleavage.

Wisteria grimaced. Rhonda strutted away on her stilettos. I realised she had a micro-mini skirt and a puff-sleeved low-cut top while all the other waitresses wore maxi skirts with ill-fitting long-sleeved blouses. Wisteria frowned at Raphael.

“Er, ignore all that,” he said apologetically. “That’s Rhonda.”

Wisteria gave him a blank stare as she waited for him to elaborate.

“She’s not actually a waitress here. She’s a party planner from Northern Wolf Country. Her old Alphas and Luna found her so annoying they submitted her name to this new pack exchange programme. Pack members who remain unmated are exchanged temporarily,” explained Raphael.

“Like exchange students?” I asked, intrigued.

He glanced at me. Ugh. I could kick myself for speaking up. My heart rate sped up.

“Yeah,” he said. “In the hopes they’ll find their mates since they obviously haven’t met their mates in their own packs. We sent a really disgruntled lady named Irvine to Winter Moon. Maybe she’ll find her mate there and c***k a smile or two. It’s just six weeks though. They can take over each others’ jobs too once they’re able and the job isn’t something life or death like a doctor or a pilot. I’d pay good many to see the kind of parties Irvine is planning in Winter Moon.”

Raphael laughed to himself and Wisteria smiled at him. I could see his hand inching closer to hers on the table.

“I can order my own meals and so can Stacey,” said Wisteria pointedly.

“Okay,” said Raphael, looking slightly annoyed. “I suppose you won’t let me pay then.”

“That you can do,” said Wisteria with a wave of the hand he had been trying to grab.

Raphael grinned.

“I wasn’t expecting to meet my mate today,” said Raphael, his eyes wide.

He looked awestruck in a way that brought out the boyishness of his face. I wasn’t fooled. He was the Beta to a bloodthirsty Alpha. They were both killing machines. I had to get the hell out of here. At least he was distracted by Wisteria, his mate. I wanted to be happy for her. She deserved an impressive mate like him but this made everything much more complicated. I felt so disheartened now that my suspicions were confirmed.

“I wasn’t expecting to meet my mate today either,” said Wisteria, her eyes as wide as his.

Aww. Maybe this was a good thing. Maybe this could be my saving grace. Maybe Raphael could submit me to the pack exchange programme pronto! He had resumed inching his hand across the table towards Wisteria’s unsuspecting hand.

“Here you go,” said Rhonda slamming a huge platter down in front of us and causing Wisteria and Raphael to both withdraw their hands to avoid being smashed by the tray.

“Okay, awesome,” said Raphael in a tone that implied otherwise.

“Three Alpha Appetite Breakfast Platters,” said Rhonda. “I uh forgot to take your drink orders. My new colleagues say that was supposed to come first but what do they know? This way you’ll be nice and thirsty when you get your drinks!” Said Rhonda with a wink.

Um, what?

“I’ll have a mocha latte and a bottled water,” said Wisteria before Raphael could order for her.

“I’ll have the same,” said Raphael, eliciting a look of surprise from his newly found mate.

“Okay,” said Rhonda, scribbling the orders down and walking away.

“Wait!” Said Wisteria indignantly.

“The young lady hasn’t ordered,” said Raphael with a smile in my direction.

“The young lady’s name is Stacey,” said Wisteria, reminding him.

I was pretty sure he had forgotten I was named Stacey. I had forgotten I was named Stacey.

“Stacey, my new best friend,” said Raphael.

Wisteria grinned. Rhonda stared at me.

“Sterling will be jealous,” joked Raphael.

I felt faint again.

“Name dropper,” teased Rhonda, shimmying so that her boobs jiggled.

Yeah, those were definitely augmented and probably brand new. They were well done. If I had not been a fugitive, I might have tried to be a surgeon. I liked science. I liked literature a bit more. None of that mattered now.

“Stacey, how about a water and a mocha latte?” Said Rhonda pointedly.

My dreams were crashing and burning before my very eyes.

“No,” I blurted out loudly.

Wisteria gave me a “please don’t blow this we’re almost home-free” look. Raphael gave me a “great my new mate has a nut job for a friend” look.

“Okay, chill, a coke then,” said Rhonda, rolling her eyes and writing ‘small coke’ down before I agreed.

Huh?

“Yes, a coke,” I said meekly. “Thank you!”

“Rhonda!” I said, adding her name too late and making it seem like I was calling her back to the table instead of just thanking her.

She sighed and turned back to me. I did not want to explain that I had not been calling her back to the table.

“And a bottled water,” I added, feeling like an emotional wreck.

“Okay,” said Rhonda, “Caffeine and water for everybody.”

She strutted away very quickly and brought my coke and three water bottles right away.

“They’re still making the vanilla lattes,” said Rhonda, clearly trying to get away from her strangest customer (me) quickly.

“You mean our mocha lattes, right?” Said Wisteria.

“Sure,” said Rhonda and she walked away.

A different waitress brought the mocha lattes. I trailed my eyes over the Alpha Appetite Breakfast Platters. Each meal comprised of a stack of three pancakes with a pat of salted butter on top, a stack of three waffles dusted with icing sugar and a lot of fried things like hash browns, scrambled eggs and ambiguous-looking patties. Raphael ate quickly but neatly. Wisteria ate daintily. I munched on a waffle that I held in my bare hand. I was trying so hard to not get caught I just could not relax. Raphael and Wisteria laughed and talked. I was lost in thought and yet painfully aware of my surroundings at the same time, a contradictory state I hadn’t known existed.

“Stacey, do you have a mate?” Said Raphael.

All the questions had been directed at Wisteria for the past half hour or so. I was completely caught off-guard. At first, I didn’t even think he was talking to me.

“Stacey is single,” said Wisteria. “Like me,” she added cheekily, drawing the attention back onto herself for which I was grateful.

“Excuse me?” Said Raphael incredulously.

“You’re a stranger. Stranger Danger,” said Wisteria.

“I’m your mate,” he said pointedly.

“You have to get to know me,” she countered.

“I know enough,” he retorted.

“Hmph,” she said.

“You and Stacey seem like great girls. Honest. Sweet. Angelic almost,” he said.

“Angelic?” Said Wisteria, almost choking on her latte.

“I said almost,” he reminded her.

“Well, we’re not in heaven so that’s a bad sign,” I joked.

Oh my goodness. Shut up, I said to myself.

Wisteria and Raphael looked at me.

“What do you mean?” Asked Raphael, his tone so serious.

“I…I mean…angels who aren’t in heaven are fallen,” I said, terrified under the Beta’s gaze. 

I literally gulped.

“That makes them demons,” I said, lowering my voice.

Why the f**k had I said that?

Raphael stared at me like he was seeing me for the first time. Wisteria stared at Raphael, clearly worried he was recognising me. I saw her grab her purse out of the corner of my eye in case we had to run for it. Raphael burst into raucous laughter. Rhonda looked over from where she had been flirting with the diner’s married manager. I could see his wedding band and name tag from here. Under the name ‘Steve’, his name tag said ‘Manager’. I was observant when I was ready. Ugh. I hated married people who were flirty with single people. It was their job to protect their marriage. Rhonda was no saint too though. I could tell. People who chased after married people were to blame as well but I always felt that those people probably had self-esteem issues. My mental analysis of Rhonda almost made me forget I was possibly moments away from being handed over to the Alpha King. Raphael was still laughing. He calmed down.

“That was a good one,” he said, sniffling.

He was almost to tears over my stupid joke. I was almost to tears too but my reasons were different.

“Wow, this has been really…intense,” said Wisteria, trying to wrap things up.

“You’re leaving?” He said, sounding heartbroken as she reached for her purse.

He dropped two hundred-dollar bills down on the table. No way did those platters and drinks cost that. Rhonda abandoned the married manager instantly at the sight of money. She picked up the two hundred dollars.

“I’ll get your change…” she said, clearly hoping he would not want it.

“Keep the change,” said Raphael dismissively, still spellbound by the elusive Wisteria.

“We gotta go,” said Wisteria bluntly, grabbing my arm and steering me out of the booth.

She marched me outside.

“Wait!” Said Raphael, scrambling out after us. “How will we ever find each other again?”

“I know where to find you,” called Wisteria.

“How?” Said Raphael.

“The Ghost Moon Betas always live in the same castle as the Alpha Kings. I know my pack history,” she yelled, getting in her car.

I got in the passenger seat and finally exhaled a breath I had been holding. I felt a very brief sense of relief. I literally screamed when Rodney’s palm slammed onto my window. Wisteria rolled my window down a c***k.

“So sorry! Uh, I really didn’t mean for that to startle you!” Said Raphael. “Sorry Stacey!”

“I’m okay,” I mumbled, tense beyond belief.

“She has social anxiety,” said Wisteria.

“Wow. Social Anxiety. Type One Diabetes. Stacey, I really admire you. You’re tough,” said Raphael.

“She’s a warrior,” said Wisteria. “We’re so sorry to run off like this but we’re late for an appointment.”

“This is my contact info,” said Raphael, handing Wisteria a napkin with his number scribbled on it and a business card.

Wisteria took both and put them in the glove compartment.

“Thanks,” she said with a smile. “You’ll see me soon…just not today…or tomorrow! I’ll call you!”

“Wait, one sec. The number on the card is for pack business but you’ll get my secretary, Charmaine, and girls call all the time claiming they’re my mate. It happens to Sterling too. So, Charmaine might not take you seriously. That number on the napkin is my personal number. You can call me for anything. Literally anything! Just to talk. Need a favour. Killed someone and want me to bury the body. Anything,” Said Raphael, laughing slightly.

Wisteria nodded, her eyes widening at the last hypothetical scenario. She glanced at me. I knew she was wondering if she should trust him with my situation. I shook my head slightly, hoping she would get it. She got it.

“I’ll keep all of that in mind,” said Wisteria.

“One more thing,” he said, his eyes really wide.

Despite being this big manly Beta, he had these cute puppy-dog eyes. Even I felt sorry for him although my life was in danger here.

“Sunday, there’s this party. It’s a stupid teen birthday party but I have to go. I’m one of the chaperones. It’s for Sterling’s sister, Stella. And she got attacked at school recently and she’s always had a bit of a crush on me to be honest. I feel bad for her and all…” Raphael rambled.

“Raphael! Please! What do you want? A date to the party?!” Asked Wisteria, trying to cut his rambling short.

“Yes!” Exclaimed Raphael, relieved she had asked herself basically.

“Ok, sure,” she said dismissively.

“Great, I need your number!” He said quickly.

She called it out for him and he kept repeating it to himself so he would not forget it. 

“You know I’m usually way smoother than this,” he said defensively as he stepped back from the car.

“You’re adorable. Stay just like this. K. Bye,” said Wisteria, speeding off.

Wisteria burst into laughter once we lost sight of him in the rearview mirror.

“Whoo. That was close! Sariah!” She squealed. “This could be it! Your way out!”

Now, it felt strange to be called Sariah.

“Um, the pack exchange programme,” I said.

“No!” She said.

“Oh,” I said.

“Your disguise fooled the Beta! And now the Beta thinks he knows…well not you…Stacey, your alias,” she explained. “First, we get that good ID. I know a guy. He’s shady but he makes good fake IDs so I texted him back when I took your pic this morning. That’s the appointment I was talking about! Second, I call my man and sweet-talk him. I say I need to go to Viper Moon to…”

“Family reunion,” I said, recalling Rodney's initial story.

“Okay, family reunion. I ask Raphael to call the border ahead of time so we can skip the inspection line. We’ll tell him his angels are going to Viper Moon. ‘Please vouch for us.’ It’s a done deal!” Said Wisteria. “Then we just drive on by!”

Why did I feel as though it would not happen like that?

“Are you sure you’re okay with risking falling out with your mate for me?” I wondered.

“Yes,” she said simply. “It’s the same thing Rodney is doing! But I do have more to lose. Obviously, I got a better mate than poor Rodney!”

She was driving in the opposite direction of the Snooze and Fuel because it was so close to the Huff and Puff Diner that Raphael would have seen where we were staying.

“I just hope Raphael doesn’t have pack warriors tailing us or some crazy overprotective s**t. It’s safer to go get the fake ID then double back to the motel. Hopefully, Raphael is not still standing in the parking lot,” she said, giggling.

I chuckled.

“He did stand there a while,” I admitted.

She grinned.

“I’m happy for you,” I said, smiling.

“I’m sad for you,” she said, frowning all of a sudden.

I shrugged.

“I’ll be okay,” I said.

“I know you just met me yesterday. Wait no, technically today. It was after midnight when we met. You’ll think I’m crazy but I feel like you’re my sister somehow. Like we’re linked. Is that weird?” She asked.

“No. Not all important relationships are mate bonds. Look at…Alphas and Betas,” I said, picking the first example that popped into my head.

“Ugh,” she said suddenly. “My mate’s best friend is the Alpha King. What if he doesn’t like me?! What is he’s the type of bro-mantic best friend to get all jealous of his friend’s girl? What if he takes Raphael out to strip clubs?”

“The jealousy might be the other way around,” I said.

“Huh?” She said.

“I doubt he’ll be jealous you’re taking his friend. He’ll probably be jealous his friend found his mate and he didn’t yet. That’s the opposite kinda jealous,” I hypothesised.

“Why do you say that?” She asked.

“Cause Alphas and Betas and Gammas are obsessed with finding their mates. Way more than regular wolves. There’s a lot in it for them! They get increased strength and stamina, faster healing, more approval from the pack and…” I trailed off.

“And what?” She asked, pulling into the parking lot of a dodgy-looking apartment building.

“What?” She yelped, nudging me impatiently.

“You know,” I said.

“I don’t know,” she said.

“You do know,” I said.

“Sariah Stacey,” she said.

“s*x,” I whispered.

She burst into laughter.

“You didn’t wanna say the S word?” She asked me.

I wasn’t going to admit to that.

“I’m pretty sure Alphas and Betas and Gammas get plenty S long before they find their mates,” she said.

I waved my hand dismissively.

“It’s not the same,” I said. “They have to be careful not to get those girls pregnant whereas they have get their mates pregnant.”

“Since when are you a pack leader expert, Sariah?” Asked Wisteria.

I stared at her.

“I…it’s just common sense,” I reasoned.

“Common sense isn’t that common anymore,” she said. “Don’t sell yourself short. You know a lot. You’d make a good pack leader!”

It was my turn to burst into laughter. My mirth was cut short. A pale hand slammed against the glass of my window. I shrieked.

“Today is not your day,” said Wisteria, putting a hand on my shoulder.

She rolled down my window. A tall thin hairy guy glared at me from under his hooded green jacket.

“You scared me!” He snapped at me.

I glared right back at him. I scared him?

“Here!” He mumbled, tossing a black plastic bag into the car.

Wisteria checked its contents. She showed it to me. It was my new fake ID with the photo she had taken! 

“I have money,” I said, grabbing my wallet where I had put the money from Frankie.

“The price just went up!” Said the fake ID maker.

“Oh hell no,” said Wisteria. “Haven’t you heard? I’m Beta Raphael’s mate!”

“Name dropping already?” I mumbled, nudging her.

I did not think we should tell this weird guy that. What if he told on her for fraternising with the likes of me? I knew she had not told him my real identity but he had to be somewhat suspicious about the person the fake ID was for.

“You’re lying,” snarled the guy.

“Fine, I’ll just call him, then,” said Wisteria, taking out the napkin and her cellphone.

She dialled his private number. The ID guy rolled his eyes.

“Hello?! Wisteria?!” Said Raphael eagerly.

He had a very distinct deep voice that the guy seemed to recognise. The ID guy got even paler.

“Okay, okay, chill out,” said the guy.

“Who’s that?!” Demanded Raphael, his voice almost a snarl at the sound of another male in the background.

You could feel the power of his Beta wolf just from his voice.

“The grocer is being mean to me and Stacey. He’s overcharging us cause he glimpsed Stacie’s wallet so I told him I know you. Sorry to ask a favour so soon,” said Wisteria.

“Put him on the phone,” growled Raphael.

“No need! It’s on the house!” Yelped the ID guy, making a run for it.

I felt guilty immediately.

“I feel bad,” I whined.

“Me too,” whispered Wisteria.

“Wait!” I yelled, waving a hundred dollar bill.

The guy ran back to the car, snatched the bill and then dashed off at full werewolf speed this time.

“Whoa, I didn’t feel that bad, Stacey! The price we discussed was half that!” Muttered Wisteria, moving the phone away from her mouth.

“What’s going on?!” Asked Raphael.

“The guy gave us the iceberg lettuce practically free,” said Wisteria sweetly.

“Okay, good,” said Raphael. “What are you doing later?!”

“Um, making a salad. I’m trying to be healthy and then I have…yoga,” lied Wisteria.

“What studio? I’ll come. Do they have couples’ yoga?” Asked Raphael excitedly.

“No studio. I do yoga at my apartment!” Said Wisteria.

That could be true.

“That’s perfect! Nice and private!” Said Raphael. “Um, Stacey is great and all but it’ll be nice to be alone with you.”

“No, no, you can’t come to my apartment! My roommate is a slut! I’m afraid she’ll steal you away from me!” Said Wisteria.

I stifled a laugh.

“Stacey?! But she wasn’t flirtatious at all…” said Raphael. 

“No! Not Stacey! This girl I don’t like!” Said Wisteria.

“You live with a girl you don’t like?!” Asked Raphael incredulously.

“Things are hard out here! Why do you think I called you over the price of lettuce?!” Complained Wisteria.

“Damn, well…I know we just met and all…but I can change your living situation easily,” offered Raphael. “Wanna talk about it at the castle? You said you know how to get to me?”

“I…” began Wisteria, pausing to look at her phone when it started vibrating. “I’m getting another call.”

“Rodney,” I mumbled absentmindedly, looking at screen.

“WHO’S RODNEY?!” Snarled Raphael so loudly we both jumped.

“Hey! Chill out!” Said Wisteria indignantly.

“I’m sorry!” Said Raphael quickly. “You just met me today. I know you might have someone to break things off with. My wolf is just on high alert today and I thought you said you were single?”

“I am single. Rodney’s my cousin,” said Wisteria , being completely honest.

“Frankie’s son Rodney? From Frankie and Sons’ Hardware?” Asked Raphael.

Wisteria looked at me. I sighed then I nodded.

“Yeah,” admitted Wisteria.

“Small world!” Said Raphael. “Well, large pack but small…well, you know what I mean. I kinda know that guy. He might be Stella’s mate. Stella is…”

“I remember. Sterling’s sister,” said Wisteria.

“Yeah, well, you just seem so mysterious. Most girls in this pack know every shred of gossip about the pack leaders. Are you not from this pack originally?” Wondered Raphael.

“I am. I’m just…old school. I don’t read tabloids or anything,” said Wisteria.

“She’s too busy making salads, doing yoga solo and hating on her roommate!” I said, laughing awkwardly. “We really have to go! So sorry!” I said, ruining the romance yet again but I was extremely anxious to know what Rodney had to say for himself after spending hours with Stella in the middle of my escape plan.

“Ok, Stacey,” chuckled Raphael, genuinely not seeming upset.

He actually found me funny. I felt kinda proud.

“Bye Wisteria,” said Raphael softly.

“Bye Raphael,” she said quietly.

“You’re in love,” I said, stressing the word.

“Shut up!” She groaned, ending Raphael’s call and accepting Rodney’s call.

I covered my mouth, realising Raphael probably heard my last comment.

“Rodney, what do you want?!” She answered.

“Don’t kill me,” he whispered.

“That depends,” she said, looking at me. “What have you done?!”