Chapter 27
“I’m going completely crazy.” I sigh.
“Huh?” Rain asks, lifting her head from where she lays on my bed.
My mom was ecstatic the second she saw Rain. I had to drag her behind me just to get my mom to drop bombarding her with questions.
“My underwear, I swear I had more than this.” I say, looking over to where Rain is now sitting with her legs in front of her trying her best to hide a smile.
“What?” I say moving closer to the bed.
“Are you sure Silas isn’t collecting them as some sick joke?”
“No, he wouldn’t.” I frown, trying my best to not think of Silas anywhere near my underwear.
“Seems like the type of thing he’d do.” Rain shrugs.
My jaw drops open picturing Silas going through my drawers and stuffing my underwear into his pants.
“You think so?”
“Yeah, Silas has that alpha asshole thing going on and he sure as hell is a dominating prick.”
“Great.” I mumble.
“Sorry babe, but if your underwear is magically disappearing it has Silas and the others written all over, it wouldn’t surprise me if they were doing it as some sick joke to mess with you.” Rain says.
Suddenly shifting through my underwear drawer gives me the ick.
Moving back to my draws I close them and then move toward my bed I take a seat picking up the small round pillow I have holding it to me and burying my face into it letting out a scream.
Lifting my head, Rain raises an eyebrow holding back a smile as she watches me.
“Why me?”
“I think only you can answer that, Tenley,” She sighs.
“Argh,” I groan. “Why do you have to be right?”
“I’m happy to help you find answers?” she murmurs.
“You are?”
“Yeah we’d be like spies?” She laughs when I roll my eyes at her.
“So they don't know you exist huh?” I say, remembering the way Knox kissed Rain at the party last night, the alphaness he’d shown toward her just like Silas had me.
Rain blushes, hiding her face between her thighs.
“It’s complicated,” she murmurs.
We both sigh, knowing Monarch Prep is full of complications.
“Tenley there is something you should know before we start to dig deeper.” Rain admits, dropping her gaze to her lap before it meets mine again.
“What?” I ask, waiting.
“There’s rumors about Cranford?”
“What kind of rumors?”
“The bad kind, the kind that if exposed, we could disappear.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Monarch Prep is more than a school, the founders were ruthless and it’s been passed down with each generation. Rumors are Monarch Prep is a front.” Rain whispers.
“A front for what?” I question.
Shrugging. “That's the part no one knows, every time someone questions it, they disappear.” Rain explains.
Jesus what kind of school is this?
“Rain.” I begin to question.
“Tenley I don’t want to see you hurt, I know Silas has taken a liking to you, the others as well. I’m afraid they’ll pull you into their webs and once you're in you’ll never get out.”
“I can take care of myself, I promise.” I say, smiling to set her at ease.
“Do you know what these are?” I ask Rain, handing her the medallion I found.
Rain stares down at it, her face going pale. “Where did you get this?” she stammers.
“I found it, ” I told her.
Rain’s gaze meets mine and she swallows before she speaks.
“They’re pledge coins.” Rain says, handing me back the coin.
“Pledge coins?” I ask. She nods.
“Each member of the Monarch gets one when they pledge their commitment to become inducted.”
What the hell.
“Do you think Silas knows about what’s underneath?” I ask, biting my lip.
Rain sighs, “Maybe. I mean he’s a part of the Monarch.”
“What is the Monarch again?” I question .
“Tenley there is something I should tell you.” Before Rain can continue, there's a knock on my door.
“Come in.” I yell out.
My Mom opens the door smiling over at me before her gaze lands on Rain. “Just seeing how you girls are going?”
“We’re fine Mom.” I grimace hoping she didn’t hear anything Rain told me.
“Cranford only wants what's best for you honey.” She says answering my question.
I do everything I can not to roll my eyes as she opens her mouth.
“Cranford is using you Mom, can’t you see it has something to do with Dad?
“Tenley.” Air whooshes out of her mouth as she stands mouth hanging open.
“It’s the truth, we were happy Mom, since we’ve been here I barely see you.”
“I’m doing my best Tenley, I’m trying to move on. I lost you father and I lost a part of me, Cranford has healed that part.”
I scoff, unable to hold it back, “You're kidding yourself Mom, nothing about this feels right.”
“That’s enough young lady.” She snaps, I stare at her wondering what went wrong.
“I think it’s best that Rain goes home and you think about the life you’ve been given courtesy of Cranford.”
Rain stands giving me a sad smile, lifting her hand in a small wave before she walks past my Mom and out the door, regardless of what my mother says I will never be thankful for Cranford.
My mother gives me a look of anguish before she closes my door behind her. I hate that I made her that way, but when will she see this isn’t right?
I sigh, dropping onto my bed, how can my mother not see it? This place isn’t good for us.
I guess I have to be the one to show her the real Cranford Creed, people keep disappearing around him and somehow I don’t think that’s a coincidence.
My phone beeps with an incoming text.
Unknown: You like being their slut?
What the hell?
Me: Who is this?
Unknown: Answer the question.
Me: Fuck you, I’m not playing your game.
Unknown: Too bad, I enjoy watching you squirm.
Me: Screw you asshole.
Unknown: See you soon Tenley.
Who the hell was that? Is this some sort of joke they’re playing?
Swallowing I stare down at the texts from the unknown number.
My teeth scrape against my bottom lip as I force myself not to dial the number.
It has to be them, right? It’s just part of their game.
My heart is beating so fast, I’m terrified. Can I truly trust anyone at Monarch Prep?
Why couldn’t my mother keep us away?
Why bring me to Monarch Prep, what is so important about this school that she’s willing to sacrifice me to get it?
What secret is she hiding from me?