Chapter 6 - Rayla
Xander’s confidence disgusted Rayla. He was headstrong. He thought he could beat her at this. But she was furious and ready to shred him. She could go all day.
He had no right to come to her house unannounced. Of course, he was her son's biological father. Yet, he was the one who walked away. He forgot what they had. Automatically, he forfeited his right to what they created.
He was delusional. Did he think he could just stroll in here, and she'd let him off the hook? That she'd let him back in her life? And then what? Approved his presence in her son’s life?
She didn’t think so.
Rayla found it a bit funny that she was tremendously riled up for someone who had been scared shitless. Xander did this. Saved her and then irked her.
She had thought that man would hurt her. Or Abel would hear the commotion and come out. She had pictured Abel’s reaction. It would have made things worse.
But Xander saved the day. He came in with his full wrath. Her puny neighbor didn’t stand a chance around big, tall, intimidating Xander.
Rayla was awestruck. Xander has always been handsome. But the years had done more for his looks. His eyes were still amazing. She could fall into them. He wore his sleek black hair short. She imagined running her hands through them.
Sadly, she was still attracted to him. She hated it.
Rayla was glad he came to her aid. Yet, she was peeved to admit it or thank him. It was too late for him to be her knight in shining armor. She had done so well without him.
She prided herself in her ability to evade people’s opinions. She was skilled at not being triggered, but somehow, Xander triggered her. He made her lash out.
His words bit into her skin.
He had pointed out that Abel needed his dad to grow… It checked out when he appeared to him while transforming.
She knew it was logical. The boy would need his father. Yet she didn’t care about that. She was blinded by jealousy.
Why does he need Xander? Why not just her?
Even more, she despised that Abel needed Xander specifically. If it was another man, she wouldn’t have had a problem. But it was Xander. The only man she had loved. The man who hurt her the most.
He used to passionately love her, and yet he hurt her. Who’s to say that he wouldn’t hurt her baby as well?
She couldn’t put it past him not to walk away at some point. After all, he was skilled at cutting off people.
Rayla was terrified for Abel. She didn’t want him to get attached to Xander, only for him to leave. She would hurt to watch him go through the emotional pain she went through.
She pushed those thoughts aside. She needed a clear head to battle Xander.
Rayla charged to spit venom at Xander. But before she got to that, Abel came downstairs.
He wore his black pajamas and his face was a bit puffed up from a good night’s rest. Their voices must have woken him.
“Mom?” he yawned.
Abel had been hostile to her since she came clean about his heritage. He failed to mask his anger. It was difficult for Rayla. She had never been on the receiving end of Abel’s anger. She was the one who calmed him down when he got angry.
She knew if she found help for him, he would be pacified.
Rayla had thought of the best wolf town for him to get help. She was now ready to relocate there.
She had casually mentioned this to him. He had perked up when he heard. Although, he never probed about it. He changed his attitude toward her. He was still mad at her, but they had called a truce. He was civil and greeting her as he did before their altercation. Still, he kept to himself.
Rayla was edgy. Xander and Abel were in the same space. This was their first time meeting. She was eager to gauge their rapport.
Rayla looked from Xander to Abel. The resemblance was uncanny. Abel was the younger version of Xander. For a thirteen year old, Abel stood tall at 5’2. In a couple of years, Abel might look exactly like Xander.
They stared at themselves with wide eyes. Both speechless. Rayla guessed that they must have never dreamt they’d meet in this kind of situation and setting.
Xander broke the silence first. “What’s your name?” He sounded like a teenage boy trying to make friends.
“Abel Johnson, Sir,” Abel replied like an awestruck fan.
He raised his dark brows. “Do you play any sports?” He seemed interested to know.
Rayla watched Abel. He scratched his neck. He was nervous.
“Yes, Sir,” he croaked.
“Which?” Xander asked.
“Football, Sir,” he replied without missing a beat.
Xander laughed delightfully at this. It made Abel smile faintly.
Rayla was frozen. Her heart throbbed. His laughter was still the same but richer. She missed it
Rayla got drawn into her mind. She remembered how she’d tickle him to get him to laugh. Then they’d end up in a playful tussle. He’d overpowered her every time. It often got intense. They’d make out or have sex. She had cracked silly sexual jokes and he’d laugh at them. Those were good times.
She felt warmth blossoming between her legs. She blushed in embarrassment when she remembered where she was.
Xander and Abel. They were bonding. The sight of them together was so beautiful.
It made her sad for them. Xander missed out on this because he left her. He would have watched his son grow. Built memories with him. He would have been a constant in the boy’s life.
If this had been the case, Abel would have had a father. Someone else to love and guide him. Someone he could look up to. But he didn’t, and. he was bullied for it.
Rayla sighed.
Xander also seemed nervous. His hands were in his pocket as Abel excitedly shared tidbits of his life. Rayla loved the way he’d lit up as he spoke to his father. It reminded Rayla of a younger Xander when he spoke on his favorite topics.
Rayla felt defeated. What could she do to stop them from being together? They were a part of each other. She had to let their relationship play out.
As she watched them, she decided to listen to Xander.
“Be good, Son,” Xander ordered.
“Yes,” Abel pipped.
Xander seemed well-adjusted to being the father of a teenage boy he just met. But Rayla knew that he wasn’t. She could tell he felt uncertain about this new development.
Who wouldn’t be?
Maybe with time, he would get used to it.
She hoped he did.
He turned to face her. His expression was without mirth or sparks. He was back to his brooding, mean self. Then he smirked.
Rayla glared at him. Prepared for him.
“You know you can’t stop this. I’m the boy’s father,” he growled.
Rayla had already lost the fight. But she stood tall.
“Yes, you are,” she sneered.
He snorted.
“Give me some time. There are several factors to consider. And I need to speak to Abel about it,” she pleaded.
She walked up to Abel. Threw her hands around his shoulder and squeezed.
“Okay, Rayla,” he drawled. “We will continue this conversation soon,” he finished.
He threw a salute at Abel and walked out the door. Rayla wondered if she’d ever get used to the disappearing act.
“Ugh.” Abel was confounded.
She turned him to face her. “Are you happy you got to meet your father?” she asked.
Abel nodded. “Yeah. Now I know what he looks like. Me,” he joked.
Rayla chuckled. “I’m glad you are happy.” Her eyes softened. “I know I promised we’d relocate to Starlight Valley. But, before we do that, we need to talk about it,” she started.
“Okay, Mom,” Abel muttered.
The breeze from outside blew into Rayla’s hair as she continued, “I am sorry I have been a jerk. I don’t want to be your jerk mom anymore. So, listen to me.”
“There are six wolf towns. There’s White Moon, Yellow Cicada, Frost Peaks, Summer Rain, Ghostbound, and finally Moon Shadow—your father’s pack,” she listed.
“Each of them has an alpha. Your father is Moon Shadow’s Alpha.” She couldn’t help but be proud of Xander.
She had caught the big fish. Sadly, he hadn’t stuck around.
“I don’t want to decide for you. Neither do I want your father to decide for you. We can go to any of these towns. But you’d have to decide which.” She patted his back
“You can decide we go to your father’s pack or any of the others,” she buttressed
Abel stayed quietly contemplating. The silence dragged on. Rayla held her breath and waited.
She wouldn’t object if he picked his father’s pack. There was nothing she could do to hold him back. If she did, she’d strain their relationship some more.
Yet, she hoped he didn’t.
If she lived in the same town as Xander, she would lose her mind. She would be reminded daily of what was lost. She was still attracted to him. Her body yearned for his. It has not been anybody’s since they broke up.
Who is to say that she won’t make a fool out of herself living in the same community as him?
She pictured herself in his arms and blushed. Abel cleared his throat. He saw her blush and smiled sheepishly. She flushed again.
“I wonder what you are thinking, Mom,” he voiced.
She laughed. “Nothing that concerns you,” she teased. “Still waiting for your reply.” She playfully punched his arms.
“Ouch,” he whined, “okay, okay.”
Rayla was overjoyed. They were back to teasing and playing with each other.
“Yes, you have been a shitty mom,” Abel declared.
Rayla’s heart jumped.
“But I understand. And I forgive you. Also. I’m happy you are trying to make things better,” he spoke softly.
The racing of Rayla’s heart stopped. She was so lucky to have such an amazing child as her son. She smiled sweetly at him.
He smirked and continued, “I don’t know what town to choose yet. It’s too quick. I need time to make my decision.”
Rayla was so proud and happy. She hugged him and kissed his head. “That’s my son.” She looked into his eyes. “Thank you for forgiving me.”
“Well, you still need to make my best meal to really earn the forgiveness.” he teased.
“Oh yeah!” Rayla exclaimed. They broke from the embrace.
“Come with me to the kitchen, and I will dazzle you with my culinary skills,” she teased back as they walked back into the house.
It was a Saturday. Rayla didn’t have work.
The morning went blissfully. Rayla made Abel’s best meal. They binge-watched movies all morning into late noon.
When Abel went to football practice, Rayla was at a loss for what to do. So, she decided to spend some time answering her emails. Her phone beeped and she picked it up to check the message. It came from a strange number. She didn’t think much about it until she opened the message.
Rayla couldn’t believe her eyes. The message was videos of Abel when transforming. It captured the whole thing—Abel jumping out the window, disappearing, and reappearing.
If it had been just Abel in his wolf form, Rayla would have been less agitated. They could claim it was fake. But it was a full video of Abel transforming into a wolf.
Who would have captured this? How did they know to? The questions churned in her mind.
If it got out, Abel would never be safe. And Abel wouldn’t be the only one—every other werewolf would be exposed to danger.