Chapter 2 Rave

Staring at the place I called home not too many years ago, I feel nostalgic. I have come to hate this place after so many years of memories both good and bad. I loved this place to death before everything changed, before there was nothing much to live for out here.

"Always last to the party." I sigh pulling out a pack of cigarettes staring at the tree which has been in this compound even before I was born.

"It is not a party and you know that." El quickly snatches the cigarette from my hand confiscating the whole pack and the lighter.

"For fuck sake I know you shouldn't have left." he scowls.

"And does both of you controlling me turn you on?" I roll my eyes looking back at the house hearing the faint laughter inside.

"Seriously Raveena? Are we going there?" El glares.

"What? Am excited to be back home, yay." I fake an excited tone.

"They are all happy to have you back." he murmurs.

"Even Aaron?" I raise a brow.

"Especially him. He adores you Rave." El looks at me soflty.

"How about you? How do you feel?" I ask innocently.

El looks surprised by the question sending me a look. Last night when I saw him enter the bar, I knew I was done. Once again, I was no longer a free bird. His presence only meant I was back to being a jail bird, always at the beck and call of Aaron.

I loved Aaron. It is just these past few years, he has turned into something I have come to hate. Controlling, manipulative and aggressive. That is even not all of it. That is only half the reasons I left this place. I get his the leader, the Alpha. However it doesn't give him the right to treat other members like shit.

El on the other hand, he is Aaron's Beta. Being his second in command comes with a lot of responsibilities. However I think El is working a little too much than his real baggage. It hurts me that he can't speak up to Aaron when he is being an ass to him.

He is my best friend. I love and care about him. Now that I am back, I am not going to tolerate Aaron treating any of us like shit or his slaves.

"Raveena."

Riley interrupts. I lift my gaze forcing a smile up my lips to a Megan Fox look alike. I love Riley. Used to would be the right word until I realised she is just a bitch like her brother is. Riley and Aaron are siblings.

"I go by Rave now." I correct.

"Doesn't matter. Look at you. You look amazing." Riley compliments.

"That is what happens when you break away from so many toxic people." I grin approaching the porch Riley stands, her exaggerated smile never wavering.

El sends me a warning look I ignore.

"The Washington weather must have been treating you right." Riley says ignoring my comment.

"You could say." I shrug.

"Come on, everyone is excited to see you." Riley leads me inside the house. In the sitting room, I am not shocked to see Aaron and one other person.

"Elis, geez. What happened?" I rush towards the middle aged man in the centre of the room. Quickly, I inspect the cut on his forehead and a few scratches on his neck.

"Good to see you too Rave." Elis mutters sarcastically.

"What happened?" I stare hard.

"He was attacked in Jersey. He is a lucky guy to have escaped with a few bruises."

My body stiffens at the sound of Aaron's voice.

"Did you see who attacked you?" I ask Elis.

"Cielle. She's a rogue bounty hunter and a damn good one." Aaron replies.

At this moment, I am sure everyone can sense the lingering tension in the room.

"I am okay Rave. It is only a few scratches." Elis coaxes. I send him a tight lipped smile.

"We are all here. We might as well get started on whatever brought us here." I address to no one.

"Right. We find Cielle, we find out why she wanted to kill Elis." Aaron grumbles.

"What makes you think she won't find us before we do?" I challenge.

"She will, of course. However she won't attack just immediately. Thst is not how Cielle hunts. She is like a predator, studies her prey before she goes for the kill. We have no time. She might be around somewhere in town." Aaron explains.

"Alright. When do we start?"

"Tomorrow. Let's rest today, we commence tomorrow." Aaron says.

"Okay. I guess same room as always." I don't wait for anyone's approval as I walk upstairs to get away from all the tension not before hearing El whisper hushly that it is the jetlag. We all know better.

The table is eerily quiet at dinner. Seems like no one is in the mood to start conversation with anyone.

"El says you have been bartending in Tacoma." Riley breaks the silence. Said too early I guess.

"I wouldn't trust everything that comes from El's mouth." I bite down on my steak.

"Are you calling me a liar Rave?" El cocks a brow at me.

"I said no such thing, now did I?" I defend with a shrug.

"Sounds interesting." Riley adds.

"If you mean pouring drinks all night and withstanding sexist comments from drunkards, I say it was." I mutter.

"It cannot have been.."

"Why don't you tell us about Tacoma? I can't wait to hear about that small town." Elis intervenes wisely. He knows me too well, not more than El but way better.

For the rest of the dinner, Elis and I talk about our experiences in our different states Riley joining in to talk about his Paris vacation. By the end of the dinner, I am having a mild headache.

"Wine?" El offers as I stare into the vacancy of the compound.

"Thanks." I take the glass from him.

"Penny for your thoughts?" he asks.

"Nothing actually. I am only counting the next hours till we find Ciella and get this over with." I sip on the wine.

"You don't think it would be that easy?"

"Why not? The best tracker, death dealer, back up, nothing can go wrong." I answer.

"Don't be so sure. Whoever sent Ciella must have an ulterior motive." El frowns.

"The sooner we find whoever this person and hawk out his eyes, the better." I shrug. El watches me his gaze never wavering.

"This is about Aaron, isn't it? Are you still mad about what happened?" El studies my face intently. It has been two years but it still feels like it just happened yesterday.

"I think about him every day you know and it hurts." I murmur sadly. Saying it out loud feels relieving. I rarely talk about that incident that happened two years and none of the pack members dares. The sad thing about it is that it shouldn't be a myth. He wouldn't like that but it doesn't hurt any less.

"Rave."

El coos rubbing my bare arms. "It is not about Aaron, no. This place reminds me of so many things, so much pain that I can't handle." I admit.

"I understand but please be a little civil to Aaron. He is trying his level best." he coaxes. I pull away slightly from his touch.

"Aaron didn't put you to this, did he?" I watch him scrupulously.

"Jeez Raveena." El grunts.

"Well, okay. I'll try." I mutter.

"And Riley." I glare.

"Do I ha..."

"Please." El begs.

"Okay. I am only doing this for you and also because I want to leave here without giving anyone broken bones or a purple eye." I put on a sinister smile. El sighs nodding his head.

If he only knew.