Chapter 4 Fallen Princess

• Raya's POV
• The wind and silent night brought my knees to submission as I knelt down at the mansion gate, hoping that my father's anger would subside and he would finally open the door for me.
• My stomach grumbled in pain as I had not had anything to eat in over a day. I could see Sara peeping from the rooftop down at me. I'm sure Father must have forbidden her to see me.
• It was dark and windy, with some of the Pack members passing by.
• I could hear their murmurs, but I couldn't care less.
• I stood up and dragged my feet to one of the Pack's elder houses. My best friend Karen lived there, as she was one of the Pack's elder daughters. I could pass the night at her house.
• “Raya, what are you doing here?” Karen ran out of the house and launched at me. She must have sighted me from afar.
• “It's a long story, Karen. Right now, I just need to take a warm bath, eat, and then sleep.” I informed her as I made my way inside their house.
• “Wait a minute! You can't go in there,” Karen said and immediately guarded the door using her body. Her brows creased in disgust, and she was holding her nose, making sure she was far away from me.
• “Why not?” I asked her, my weak and tired voice about to shut down any moment from now.
• “Well, for starters, you stink so bad. Where in the world did you go?” Karen asked, and I scoffed. Since Karen is such a dramatic one, I didn't take her words to heart.
• “I'm sure you heard what happened. I mean, who hasn't? And I'm going to explain everything, but please let me in.” I pouted my mouth playfully and took a few more steps further.
• “You don't seem to get it, do you?” Karen pushed me off.
• “With everything that happens at the Pack assembly during your mating ceremony. No one wants to associate with you anymore,” Karen said, and I looked up at her in shock.
• “But that was not my fault, Karen. The moon goddess chose me as his mate. He rejected me for whatever reasons known best to him. Why should I suffer? Because of that, I'm the victim here.” I cried out, hoping that someone finally saw my side.
• “Oh please, Raya, we all know what you did and why he rejected you. Don't act dumb. Remember, we are best friends.” Karen said with her hands over her chest, and I could not help but wonder what she meant.
• “He said that I was too weak and emotional. I wish you were there to defend me, Karen. I'm sure that if you have put in some good words for me. He would have seen me for who I am and changed his mind for sure.” I explained with conviction.
• Karen laughed and shook her head, and she clicked her tongue against her teeth.
• “Alpha Daruis is such an incredible man. Despite what you did that made him reject you, he still tried to keep your dignity intact.” Karen said, and I furrowed my brows together, confused.
• “You truly do not deserve him, I should have been friends with Lilain instead. What a waste of friendship.” Karen concluded, staring at me with fake pity.
• “What are you even talking about?” I demanded answers.
• “You don't know what I'm talking about?” She asked me, and I shook my head.
• “Fine! Wait here,” Karen said and walked away. A few minutes later, she came back with a stash of paper in her hands. She walked closer to me and threw them at me.
• The flying paper all over my face made it difficult for me to see anything as I struggled to even catch my breath.
• “There! I hope you can stop denying it now. If you would excuse me. I have more important things to do than to trade words with a fallen princess.” Karen said and walked away.
• I grabbed one of the papers floating in the air and read.
• “What?” I shook my head as tears blurred my vision.
• “No!” I murmured and ran off.
• I arrived at Gareths's house and banged at the door loudly.
• “Who the hell is that?” I heard my cousin's Beta voice and stood there breathing heavily.
• “Oh, Raya!” He exclaimed in surprise the minute he opened his door to see me.
• “I thought you were…” his voice trailed off as I slammed the paper on his chest.
• “You thought what? I would like to know what you were thinking when you were spreading these false rumours about me.” I dished out in a single breath, my head throbbing.
• “You were supposed to be my friend and my Beta. You are my cousin for goodness sake, and you dared to say this?”
• “That I was trying to seduce Daruis, and that was why he rejected me. That I was trying to fling with him? When did this ever happen?” I asked him, and he could not say a word.
• “What's more? You had this printed and pasted everywhere in the Pack. You have ruined the little dignity I had left, all for what exactly?” Tears streamed down my cheek as the reality of my pathetic life stared me in the face.
• “Raya, let me explain. I didn't mean that way. And I didn't print this. It was Karen, and I told her not to.” Gareth began explaining, and I laughed out sarcastically.
• “Is that supposed to make me feel better?” I asked him.
• “Besides, it's the truth. You told me you had a crush on the Alpha and would love to be with him. I only told Karen what you said to me, I have no fault in this.” Gareth said, trying to downplay the role he played in my misery.
• “I really shouldn't be seen with you. You have to leave now, I'm sure we can talk some other time.” Gareth said and made his way inside.
• “Gareth, you have to fix this. At least explain to my father that it was a misunderstanding.” I was starting to plead with him, but he slammed the door shut in my face.