Cutting old habits is like dead weights. You feel better once you throw off what you aren't meant to carry

“Easton!” A female voice filled with glee rang throughout the air, its owner colliding into Easton’s back as he felt arms around him. “You promised you would take me on Devil today, and yet you are off sneaking out. Why?” Devil was the name of his car, and yet it irritated her that Raina was the only female that had gotten to drive it under Easton’s supervision. It was an insult, considering she was his actual girlfriend while Raina was a mission. Supposedly. She may of underestimated the appeal of Raina as he didn’t say anything. Her bracelets jangled on her wrist as Easton adjusted to the weight she was putting on him.

“I'm not in the mood for this Ai.” Easton rubbed his temples. As much as he could say there was a comfortability in being with Ai, the problem was that she was tolerated. This was the difference over time spent with Raina and Ai. In fact, he was looking at Ai and didn’t realize that he immediately comparing them.

Someone whom he was supposed to be in love with, someone whom he was supposed to be marrying soon….and yet Ai made him feel like she was lacking in things he wanted. Things he guessed that he found in Raina, which he reasoned why he held back in trying to eliminate her. It was surprising yet expected since he did spend a great deal of his time with her.

Raina and Ai were both distinct in appearance. Raina veered more on warmth while Ai was steady in her coolness. Ai wore mainly attire that suited a cross between Lolita and alternative punk fashion, her tats proudly on display, such as the one on her hips that read Bite me. She was slender and not much femininity in her body where Raina was amply blessed in womanly charms. Raina reminded him of a princess, at least when he met her in the beginning. Pearls and skirts that balanced with her heels until she traded her style for one that suited to his own pop punk look.

“You have no time for your mate?” Her tone turned annoyed. “I’m sick of you not hanging out with me, but instead with a human. One that you reek of.” Her brown eyes were full of jealousy. “You are supposed to kill her. Not play with your food, this isn’t a mercy kill.” Ai placed her hands on her hips, bracelets jingling impatiently as she did so. “Why have you postponed this kill? Her heart is supposed to be on a silver platter as we speak, getting ready for your crowning of the next alpha.” Ai continued to mock him, not noticeably the already growing fury of her mate. “You must of gotten soft, having been so sloppy-“ The words were barely out of her mouth before she was slammed against the wall, his fist around her throat. Considering that she was light, it was almost no effort to do this.

“Don't you ever question me again.” He growled, baring his fangs. “What I do, you follow without question. Who said I was taking it easy on her? Considering her death will be painful, you can easily follow her fate if you are that concerned about my tactics.” His grip tightened on her, not caring that she was struggling to breathe.

“Easton! Put her down this instant.” The voice of Weston bought him back to reality as he loosened his grip on Ai, causing her to fall to the ground in a crumpled heap. Weston, looked like a smaller version of his older brother Easton: the same shady blonde hair, muscular build, and deep green eyes. “What the hell is the matter with you? She is your mate, not Raina.” Weston splat her name out with disgust. It was clear to see that Weston did not harbor any positive feelings about the human he should have killed two nights ago.

“I was just reminding Ai of her place and to not question me.” Easton responded coolly, indicating he was done with this conversation as he walked away. Weston inspected the slight bruise on Ai’s neck, glaring at his older brother as he helped her up.

`

Raina trudged her way into class, lurking behind a dark grey hoodie and inky black yoga pants. She wasn’t more in the mood of dealing with anyone, besides her family, Charlie, and his wife. In fact, coming to class consisted of her convincing herself for almost an hour this morning. After lying in bed to the very last possible minute, Raina dragged herself to get dressed and grab her bag for class. It wasn’t hard to convince her parents that she wasn’t feeling well since they knew all well of her habits of trying to be on top. They had left her alone this morning, prompting her brother to make sure in locking up the house.

She was sure that she looked dead ass tired from thinking about what had happened to her, her hand touching her chest to feel the warmth from the star that made a home there. Raina did her best to look somewhat normal as she splashed cold water onto her face. Considering the mirror in front of her, Raina reminded herself that she was okay. That she could get through this.

As she walked up the stairs and into the room of her college class, Raina prepared herself a little more to just get through today. She didn’t have training until tomorrow anyway. Maybe she could of make herself work through her tension and deal with the damage from the other night. Raina was still processing the fact she was fae now, and yet here she was, attending college like nothing was wrong.

Normalcy seemed to be overrated right now. Even she felt like nothing had changed much about her, her chest was glowing faintly, but with her thick hoodie, it covered it up.

“Wow, whose funeral are you attending.?” Raina heard the voice of Macy as she was sitting at the table Raina would normally sit at. Macy made her cringe almost time they would hang out, making her wonder why she even bother tolerating someone as petty as her. She did see her best friend, Akaya saving her the seat next to her, serving as a buffer. Akaya with her pixie hair, rose tattoos all over her arm, and wore gothic fashion, she got along much better in a harmonious cycle. While she clashed with Macy in the worst ways, much to her oblivious mind, Akaya and Raina were balanced well. Flashing a grateful smile, Raina responded as she sat down and pushed her hair over her shoulders.

She noted that Macy was dressed almost like her, except wearing her old high school letterman jacker from the academy days in its faded blue and her yoga pants were a bright construction orange. Despite the fact they weren’t in high school, Macy felt the need to illustrate her previous glory days. If you could call being a second-rate tuba player glorious and fulfilling. Macy didn’t even participate much in band, she just did it so she could leave her classes.

“Felt like an off day was needed. Break day from being perfect I guess.”

“You look like shit.” Macy's dryness would have felt like a slap had Raina took her seriously. “It's a wonder Easton stays with you, despite the fact he is totally not in your league. “Raina digs her nails into her palm, willing herself to just breathe. To not feel because no one knew really what happened to her, or that she was covering up bruises that he had inflicted on her.

With all of her will power it took her to muster her next words, it felt like she had the air knocked out her lungs. “We're not together anymore. “Her voice is almost so quiet, that they would have to strain their ears to catch her words. Akaya gives her a soft squeeze, something that Raina appreciated, but despised because then the waterworks were about to start pouring.

‘Finally came to his senses eh? Maybe I can jump on that.” Macy smiled coyly as she went to texting on her phone. Raina seethed, and grabbed her things from her seat. Akaya, seeing that Raina was about to lose face, grabbed her things as well. They left the class, not bothering to see if Macy was behind. Not that Macy was the best studious student or the best kind of friend either. It was becoming more and more apparent that Raina needed to drop someone that toxic.

“Raina slow down!” Akaya huffed as they went down the stairs, pushing open the doors. “ I'm going to break the heel on my converses if you keep walking that damn fast.” Raina was trying to catch her breath as they finally made it to her car.

“I'm sorry Akaya.” Raina exhaled, choking back a sob. “ I just can't deal with people right now. Not you obviously, but Macy. God, she is such an evil bitch at times. I don't understand how someone can be-“

“Insensitive and rude?” Akaya supplied helpfully. “Yeah. I don't get Macy at times. I swear, she does this shit because she feels like she needs to be better than you. Call me crazy, but I think she is jealous of you in some way.”

Raina closed her eyes, trying to breath evenly so she could calm down. Thank god she choose to not wear makeup today, because then it would look obvious that she was really having a shitty day.

“Now….” Akaya lit herself a cigarette and took a long drag. “ Care to tell me what happened with you and pretty boy? Or should we go get you a green tea latte and mint chocolate muffin? My treat, since you are having a bad day.” Raina sniffed a little and nodded as they got into her car, rolling her window down so Akaya could smoke.

As they drove, Raina debated on telling her the truth. If Akaya knowing the truth would put her in danger. She never liked Easton to begin with when they had started to date, but because at the time, it made Raina happy, Akaya kept quiet about it. Now seeing that Easton had attempted to do what he did, was it fair to even protect the truth?

Akaya and Raina had been the best of friends since their days at jr high. Bonding over things like mean girls, sleepovers, and being like sisters, they became close. Akaya knew everything about Raina, from her bra size to the combo lock on the safe in her room. The same with Raina for Akaya, from the perfect shade of black she preferred to the drinks she liked to order. Now…. with her secret of being different with the star that was nestling in between her bosom, was it okay to let someone know this secret?

Fifteen minutes later, she was sitting across with a green tea latte and mint chocolate muffin as Akaya inhaled her favorite hookah. Fingering the sleeves of her jacket, Raina bit her lip as Akaya looked at her in curious amusement.

“Don't tell me pretty boy got you pregnant Princess.” She deadpanned. “I will castrate him myself for leaving you if that is the case. I know ways to get away with it. Police don't scare me.” Akaya was very protective of her friend and was trying to coax a smile out of her.

“No!” Raina's cheeks turned crimson. “It's not that…” She mumbled. “Something happened last night….” She leaned forward to not attract attention, and whispered quietly to Akaya the events that had transpired.

By the end, Akaya was quiet. Not that wasn't normal for her, since Raina knew her to be a quiet individual. Yet it was the way that Akaya was drumming her fingers quietly on the table that made Raina a bit nervous. Did she think that she was crazy? Or that she made it up? Not that they ever had a reason to lie to one another.

“Well Princess, I am glad you told me that. I have something to tell you.” Akaya spoke, smiling at her.