raiden

"So you're not going to go?"

"No," I reply to Maia. "I don't want to build a relationship with Cloud based on secrets and a lack of trust. If he wants to tell me then he will."

Maia sighs and I can hear a scoff in the background. A frown forms on my face and I fight the urge to let out a groan.

Hopper was with her.

Hopper was Maia's "mate" and the head warrior of our pack. When Maia first introduced Hopper as her mate, I was twelve and thought it was the coolest thing ever. Growing up in the pack, I had always idolized him. He appeared to be everything I could only dream of, but as time went on I realized this wasn't the case.

When it came to talking to Hopper, it was almost as if he had no mind of his own. Hopper followed orders without any second thoughts. In a way, I guess that mindset worked in certain situations, but when we were talking it was like speaking to a brick wall.

You'd almost think he wasn't listening at all, but if you did something wrong or set something he had no issue turning you in.

It was because of that exact reason I tried to avoid him if I could. I had gotten into too much trouble growing up because of him. I felt bad for Maia because of that. If you've had a rough day, who can you speak to? Not your mate.

Maia and Hopper barely talked to one another and I could understand why. They quickly became the example of what I didn't want any future relationship I was in to look like.

"Hello to you too Hopper," I greet.

"So you're not going to learn more about your 'mate'?" He questions. "That's stupid."

"Stupid? If there's something I need to know then he'll tell me himself."

"People lie Raiden, and if the reported glares he was giving people say anything it's that he isn't trustworthy," Hopper says causing my jaw to clench.

Who was he to tell me that my mate wasn't trustworthy?

"Believe it or not Hopper, not everyone likes people constantly staring at them like they're some zoo exhibit. That doesn't make him untrustworthy."

"He came out of nowhere, is claiming to be a wolf that can't shift, and we know nothing about hi—"

"Hopper," I interrupt. "You haven't even met him. You know what? You've only heard snippets of what Maia has told you. Neither you, my parents, or anyone else has a right to tell me that my mate isn't trustworthy when he hasn't done anything."

"All I'm saying—"

"Okay," Maia interrupts. "That's enough. I'll let you go for now, but if you aren't going to go with Tatum and Reo then at least try to talk to him about his past."

"I will," I tell her.

It just wouldn't be today, especially after how angry he got last time.

Once I hang up, I take a deep breath before finally making my way towards the inside of the house. Forcing the conversation with Hopper into the back of my mind, I pull a smile onto my face and open the front door.

"Hey, Clou—" I begin to call out but stop. The smile falls and my body tenses when I catch a whiff of two scents. Two very familiar scents.

Closing the door, I quickly move within the house and follow the scents near the back and towards my room. Once I push open the door, sure enough, Mom and Dad are sitting on the bed with Cloud standing in front of them with a glare on his face. There's a smile on Mom's face, but it couldn't be more fake. Dad's mouth is pressed into a thin line as he stares Cloud up and down, silently judging him.

"Raiden!" Mom greets with fake cheerfulness. She stands up and walks around Cloud as if he was some disease causing him to scoff. Her eyes shoot to him briefly but she doesn't say anything. Instead, her arms pull me into a hug and she grips me tightly. "It feels like it's been forever since we've seen you!"

"Why are you here?" I ask instead and pull out of her grasp.

Her smile falters slightly before she recomposes herself. "We've come to meet your mate!"

The same mate you told me to reject?

"You've seen him, now you can go," I tell her.

"Raiden," Dad calls out causing my head to turn to him. His eyes shine with a look of disbelief. Though he didn't outright say it, I could tell what he was thinking.

You really rejected Nara for him?

The look on his face hurt.

He opens his mouth to say something else, but I raise my hand to stop him.

"I don't want to hear it," I tell him through gritted teeth.

"Does he know?" Dad asks. "Does he know what he's taking—"

"Get out," I say with a glare.

Dad's eyebrows raise and Mom stares at me with a disapproving look in her eyes. Cloud's eyes glance between the three of us, but he says nothing.

"Raiden, we only—" Mom begins to say, but I shake my head.

"I don't want to hear it. Get out now."

The smile on her face drops and instead she moves to grip Dad's arm. I watch as the two of them exit the room and follow them as they begin to walk toward the front door. Mom begins to open the door and leave, but not before turning back and looking at me one last time. The look she gives me is cold — it isn't like the warm gaze of love she used to give me as a child or the fake and forced ones she usually wore when others were around.

The only detectable emotion in her stare was one of disappointment.

"I hope you know what you're doing with your life, Raiden," she says in an icy tone, matching her stare.

"I do," I hold my head up high and tell her.

She shakes her head. "Our door will always be open when you finally open your eyes."

With that, she pulls Dad out of the door and closes it. Frowning to myself, I move towards it and make sure that it's locked. A sigh escapes me and I close my eyes to try and calm myself down.

I knew I couldn't avoid them forever, but part of me hoped that if I put it off then they would realize that I was happy and stop their mindless quest to try and "fix" my life. I hoped that maybe they'd come to accept it in the future, but now I wasn't sure. They had ripped the band-aid that I had been trying to hold onto away and it stung.

"Raiden?"

Turning around, I see Cloud standing behind me. The angry look he had earlier is gone. His brows are furrowed and his eyes are glancing at everything except for me.

"Are you okay?" He asks in an almost awkward tone, clearly indicating that he wasn't used to situations like this.

"I'm fine," I tell Cloud unconvincingly.

"...You sure?" He asks again.

Taking a deep breath, I put a smile on my face and give him a nod.

"I'm okay, Cloud. You can watch T.V. or do something else, I'll be right back. I need to use the bathroom."

I don't give Cloud the chance to say anything before I walk past him and make my way toward the bathroom. Once inside, I close and lock the door then leaned against it. My eyes squeeze shut and I try to hold back the tears that threaten to spill.