Song: Trauma by NF
Words: 2377
Published: August 24th, 2020
Third Person POV

Rayna woke up a day later in the hospital with Harley right next to her, sleeping. She giggled at him, making him wake up. He quickly smothered her with kisses, happy that she was awake. He explained that she passed out from exhaustion, and since has been treated for any injuries serious enough to still have when she came in.

"I was so worried," Harley told her.

She pet his hair. "I know. I'm sorry."

Apparently, that gas she had inhaled was a mixture between laughing gas and wolfsbane, which explains why she didn't feel any pain in the moment but did afterwards.

All of the rogues who surrendered themselves to the warriors were taken to the dungeons, asked a few questions about how they were taken under Circe and the witches control, and then given the choice to join the Royal Pack, the River Shine Pack, or return to being a rogue. Most of them quickly accepted the offer to join a pack, but some did return back to the wild.

All of the witches have been handed over to the main coven that works with the Royal Pack, and it has been decided that each of them will be burned at the stake.

All members of the River Shine Pack are in the dungeons, awaiting whatever Rayna decides to do with them.

Soon after Rayna woke up, she asked for Jamie, Hazel, Jayce, and Danny to be released from the cells. She asked for the mates to share a room, though Jayce and Danny should be kept under surveillance.

Now, it's the next day. She was allowed to leave the hospital earlier that morning, though she has to take it easy both mentally and physically for the next week or so. She relaxes in bed.

Harley then enters the room holding a tray with a glass of water and a grilled cheese sandwich on it, as per Rayna's request.  Rayna sits up, and he sets the tray on her nightstand, then sitting on the bed next to her.

"Rayna . . ." he starts. "I wanted to ask you this earlier, but . . . can you walk me through everything that happened from your perspective?"

Setting down her sandwich, she nods.

"Of course. I- I bet this has been really confusing for you . . ." she mutters.

"Yeah," he says, nodding.

"Well, it started Tuesday night."

She talks him through waking up and being pulled towards the border, where she talked with Johnathan and Circe. She then tells him about how when Circe made her pass out, she was able to see that moment in the cabin.

"That was probably your second sight," he tells her.

"Oh, you're right!" she exclaims, not having realized that.

She continues, until she reaches the end.

"I- I didn't tell you because I know that you wouldn't let me even leave the wing to protect me, but then the pack would be attacked. S- So, I went to Keane, Emmett and Calum."

*~* Flashback *~*

It was Wednesday morning earlier that week. She had knocked on Keane's office door.

"Come in."

She opened the door and stepped inside, closing the door behind her.

"Oh," Keane said, surprised, having looked up at her. "Hey, Rayna. What's up?"

"Can you call Emmett and Calum here?" she asked.

His eyebrows furrowed, and his mouth opened. Her facial expression hardened, making him close his mouth.

"Y- Yeah," he stuttered. "Just give me a second."

A few minutes later, she was sitting in Keane's office with the three men and had just explained everything to them.

"Well . . . we're gonna need a plan then," Keane commented, standing up. "I honestly think that it'd be best if Harley knows what's going on. I mean, you're in danger-"

Rayna growled, her Queen Aura rising.

"Harley can't know about this. Not until I tell him myself," she said, forcing the guys to submit to her.

"Why not?" Emmett asked. "He's your mate."

Rayna sighed. "You know Harley. He wouldn't let me leave the fucking Alpha Wing if he knew, and then the pack would be attacked and warriors could be hurt and killed because of me. I'm not just going to sit here and let that happen, but I'm also not going to hand myself over. That'd be hell for both me and Harley, and then the kingdom wouldn't have a Queen. I think there's a better way to do this--where the pack doesn't get hurt, and I'm still here as Queen."

Calum smiled. "You're already a great Queen," he compliments.

Everyone stared at him.

"What? Selfless but smart, determined, and looking for an alternative that's in favor of everyone."

Rayna blushed slightly and looked down at her lap.

Keane shook his head. "You both have a point, but she's also keeping secrets from the King." He sighed through his nose. "Anyway, before we make a plan, we should get more information. Who the hell is Circe?"

"A witch, and Johnathan's mate," Emmett said with a deadpan expression.

Keane facepalmed.

"No shit, Sherlock. I'm calling in Elizabeth."

Keane picks up the phone on his desk and dials a number.

"Elizabeth?" Rayna questioned.

"Elizabeth is our head witch," Calum told her.

"Head witch?" Rayna questioned again.

Calum sucked in a breath. "Werewolves and witches are on good terms, so there are countless witches apart of and/or working with werewolf packs--either mates with a pack member or simply doing business and helping with their magic in exchange for whatever the pack and witch agree on. They're very helpful. Our pack, in fact, has an entire field of witches. Our head witch, Elizabeth, has the special gift of immortality, so she knows a lot about everything. Hopefully she can help us."

Rayna nodded, understanding.

Keane hung up the phone. "She said she'll be here right away."

Suddenly, a pale woman with short black hair, bangs, and piercing amber eyes appeared inside the office. She wore a black turtleneck tank-top and a pair of black slacks.

"What seems to be the issue, Beta Keane?" the woman asked. She looked around the room. "I expected King Harley to be here. Who's this?" She pointed at Rayna.

"This is Rayna," Keane introduced. "Rayna, this is Elizabeth, our head witch. Rayna here is Harley's mate, the Queen. We just need to ask you a few questions."

Elizabeth nodded and pulled up a chair. "Ask away."

"We need to know everything we can about a witch named Circe," Keane told her. "What can you tell us about her?"

"There are multiple witches with that name. You need to be more specific," Elizabeth responded.

Rayna chimed in. "She has long blonde hair and violet eyes."

"Ahh, Circe White. Yes, I've heard plenty about her. She should be . . . thirty, I believe."

Rayna held back a gag. She's fifteen years younger than Johnathan.

"She was banned from any all covens ten years ago for abusing her power."

Their eyes widened.

"What's her power?" Keane asked.

"She has the ability to make werewolves believe that she is their mate, and she used this power to steal from and destroy packs. As far as I know, she hasn't been seen since."

The four wolves shared a look of realization. She's tricking Johnathan . . .

"We also heard about a ritual that could transfer the powers of The Flower Wolf to someone else," Keane announced.

Elizabeth paused for a moment before giggling.

The four shared a confused look.

"Every witch in existence has heard of that ritual, but they all know that it isn't real. It claims that by mixing blood with The Flower Wolf under a blood moon, the witch will inherit their powers, rendering The Flower Wolf as a regular wolf and under full control of the inheritor, but that is simply preposterous. A greedy witch once attempted, and they died instantly. It's impossible to transfer The Flower Wolves powers to anyone under any circumstances."

They were all silent for a few moments.

"That's all we need. Thank you, Elizabeth," Keane said calmly. He then sat back down at his desk. "You're dismissed."

Elizabeth bowed and then disappeared.

The four of them then discussed what they just learned. This was all apart of Circe's plan to destroy The River Shine Pack. After they got all of their facts down, they started coming up with a plan.

The Blood Moon took place Saturday night, only twenty-four hours after Johnathan told Rayna to make her choice. Rayna insisted that action will have to be taken at the ritual, as if she didn't go with Johnathan Friday night, he would've attacked. Emmett suggested capturing Johnathan Friday night, but Rayna argued, saying that the ritual was a better plan as everyone would be there. Keane argued her argument, saying that she could be severely hurt by then, but she had insisted, and the guys caved.

They searched for where this ritual could take place, and it didn't take long to find the fairly obvious spot. A clearing only miles from Royal borders on neutral land. Keane sent some trackers to the spot, who only half an hour later came back saying that they found rogues and even some pack wolves already there.

That was the spot.

Keane quickly came up with a plan. Rayna would give herself up to Johnathan, and when the next night rolled around, they would have pack warriors surround the clearing. When Johnathan was about to start the ritual, they would take out the witches, freeing the rogues. Hopefully, Rayna would be strong enough to free the pack wolves as well.

Warriors would take down the rogues and pack wolves, and if Rayna were strong enough, she'd be free to do whatever she pleased with Johnathan. If she weren't, they'd simply take him into custody for Rayna to decide on later.

They all agreed on this and left.

*~* Present Time *~*

Harley is silent.

"You're right . . ." he mumbles. "I would've kept you inside to protect you."

Rayna nods, hugging him. "I know it's because you love me."

He smiles.

"That isn't the end of what happened, though."

She explains the entire 'dream' to him, of her being transported to the Afterworld and seeing Rose, up until she met Jamie at the tunnel.

*~* Flashback *~*

Specific words that Rose had spoken to her echoed through her head.

"I feel bad for those poor pack members and rogues that Johnathan is controlling. They didn't ask for any of this--they're innocent."

When Rayna was able to see the tunnel again to exit, she also saw someone she hadn't seen since she met Harley.

"Jamie?" she asked.

He sat under a tree next to the tunnel at a cute foldable table that wasn't there before. He turned his head towards her, smiling.

"Hey, Rayna," he greeted, standing up. He opened his arms for a hug. "It's nice to see you."

"Hey," she said, walking closer. She hugged him. "What are you doing here?"

"Mom brought me here, though I'll end up passed out for at least twelve hours after this. I have something to add to your plan."

They sat down at the table.

"What is it?" Rayna asked.

Jamie sighed.

"First, I have something important to tell you," he said.

Rayna raised an eyebrow.

"I . . . I knew that you were The Flower Wolf not long after you shifted, but . . . I- I didn't believe it . . ." he confessed.

Rayna was speechless.

"Wh- What?"

"When you shifted, I saw that mark on your leg. I did some research on it, and I found out that you're The Flower Wolf, b- but I . . . I didn't believe it, so I never told you," he explained.

Rayna started off into space for a few moments, taking that information in.

"Why?" she asked. "Why didn't you believe it?"

"I don't know . . . It seemed too big to be true."

Rayna sighed.

"What do you need to add to my plan?"

"I'm so, so sorry, Rayna-" Jamie apologized.

"What do you need to add to my plan?" she repeated.

He sucked in a breath.

"I've already talked with Hazel, Jayce, and Danny about this, but no one else knows," he began. "Most of the pack are against what Johnathan is doing, but Circe gave him some magic that made his command over the pack stronger than even the Alphas, so everyone is powerless right now."

Rayna nodded.

"We want you to change your plan so that only those who fight will be killed. I doubt that even the rogues have agreed to this."

"Okay. When I get back to Earth, I'll add that," she told him. "What about punishment for everyone? You and Hazel will obviously be let off the hook, but what about Jayce and Danny? Or the rest of the pack? Or the rogues?"

"It's your choice what punishment to give Jayce and Danny, as they're ready to accept whatever it is. Their only condition is that they're still together."

Rayna nodded again. "Okay."

"For the pack, for all they've done to you? That's a different story. They deserve hell for what they put you through, especially Johnathan."

"Oh, I already have plans for Johnathan."

Rayna stood up.

"I gotta go now. It was nice seeing you, Jamie."

*~* Present Time *~*

"So then, in the morning, I met up with the guys again and told them about what else had happened and said that the ones who didn't fight should be let go," Rayna finishes.

She goes silent as Harley is quiet, taking in everything she just told him.

"I don't like that you kept all of this a secret from me, Rayna," he tells her sternly.

She whimpers and looks down at her lap.

"I know."

"But . . . I'm really proud of you."

She looks up to see him smiling. She smiles, too, and jumps into his arms.

"Really?" she asks softly into his ear.

He chuckles. "Really."

She squeezes him tightly and starts kissing him all over his neck.

"You did amazing, though there's still a lot left to do. Soon, you have to deal with all of the River Shine Pack members punishments, and once your two weeks of rest are over," he bites her earlobe softly, "we're going on a little trip."