It was clumsy, awkward, but still very sweet. Her grip on his face was gentle and he could pull away any time he wanted. But he didn’t want to. His heart felt warm and his stomach flipped. Butterflies fluttered inside of him and he pulled away with a soft sigh. Why would he ever want to ask Joshua to the dance when Raine made him feel this way? Micha only wished he had seen how good she was sooner. But he had been so focused on fitting in…

“Raine I’m sorry I didn’t try to get to know you sooner.” He apologized, Raine smiled at him, rather than saying it’s okay like he expected she looked at him smugly. “You’ll have to make it up to me.” She was surprisingly playful. Micha felt a love-sick smile spread across his face. “Okay.” He said laughing before kissing her again. 

Raine agreed to go to the dance with Micha which he was thrilled about. The heavy rains lasted for four days, but despite that short amount of time. Micha and his family were actually sad to see Raine have to go home. Millie was actually the most devastated despite Micha being Raine’s boyfriend now.

“No!” The little girl screamed, clinging to Raine. “You can just move in! Don’t go!” She sobbed. Raine was patient despite the loud screaming and comforted the young girl. When she exhausted herself Molly stepped in and pulled Millie off of Raine. 

“I’m going to come back and visit.” Raine said with a sigh, “You could just move in.” Mike grumbled. “Michael!” Molly scolded, “You’re just as bad as Millie.” “What! I like having another alpha in the house! I’m outnumbered!” Mike whined. Raine laughed, surprising the family.

Molly stared at the young woman and huffed, “You should just move in!” She exclaimed, “Molly!” Mike exclaimed laughing, “Mom.” Micha sighed, “Raine has parents. What if they show up and she’s not home?” Micha reasoned, Molly huffed. “I like having her around too, you know!” She pouted, turning away. Raine seemed flattered, “Thank you for the offer, I’ll consider it.” She said politely, “We’re serious!” Both Mike and Molly shouted. Raine shook her head, grabbing her umbrella. 

“I’ll walk you home,” Micha said leaving with Raine. “Come back soon!” Molly shouted worriedly as they left. Micha and Raine walked together down the street. Softly bumping shoulders with each other along the way. Smiles were both on their faces.

Until Raine and Micha arrived at Raine’s house. Within an instant, Raine’s smile disappeared. There were two cars in the driveway. One was much nicer than the other. Raine took a deep breath and sighed. “Whose cars are those?” Micha asked, “One’s my parents and the other… Is my grandfather’s.” “Would you like me to go in with you?” Micha asked, seeing how obviously uncomfortable Raine was. “Please,” Raine said in a small voice.

Micha and Raine walked into the house hand in hand. Raine seemed nervous and even scared. As they got closer Micha heard shouting. First an old man's voice, "You're telling me, you went on a trip without your daughter and now you don't even know where she is!" A male voice shouted. "Raine can take care of herself, I don't see what the problem is!" Another male voice shouted back. "The problem is that's neglect!" The older male voice shouted, "How dare you accuse us of abusing our daughter!" A woman's voice chimed in.

Micha frowned and looked over at Raine worriedly. "I'm sorry," Raine mumbled looking embarrassed, this must happen often Micha concluded. "Don't be," Micha said leaning over and kissing her on the cheek. Raine smiled and leaned against Micha for a moment. She then took a deep breath and opened the door. As Micha and Raine had their moment the arguing continued until Raine opened her door.

There in the living room stood a man, a woman, and an older man. The older man was dressed nicely and looked like the typical rich guy. He smelt a similar scent to Raine's come off of him. Except it was deeper and muskier somehow. Raine stood there next to Micha before saying. "I'm home." She greeted, "Raine!" Both the man and the woman exclaimed, "Where have you been?! The basement flooded!" The man shouted, Raine stared looking not surprised at this response at all.

"Your daughter has been missing and that's your response?" The old man said sounding disgusted. "Raine can take care of herself!" The woman said snarkily, "She's always been independent." She added. "But obviously she can't take care of the basement." The man remarked, "I already emptied it out. I called some people but they're booked until January." Raine said quietly. Micha watched the scene feeling like this explained so much. "Then where's our wedding photos?" The woman asked, "In the attic. I had it recently repaired and even put important things like that in the safe. The code is your wedding anniversary." Raine explained.

"Oh. Well, thank you, Raine." The woman said smiling, "See there wasn't an issue at all!" She said looking at the old man. "You're not even going to ask where she's been?" The old man questioned. "She's fine, what does it matter?" The woman said turning away to head out of the room. "She's been with me." Micha spoke up, "And you are?" The old man questioned, "I'm Raine's boyfriend. I live just a couple of blocks down the street. My mom didn't want Raine to be alone while it was flooding so badly so she stayed at my house." Micha explained.

"I see..." The old man glanced at the younger man. "Hubert, you and I will be having a long conversation. But first I would like to speak with Raine." The old man turned to the younger man, "Fine." he said leaving the room as if not caring what the older man had to say.

"First let me introduce myself, I am Samson Sky, I'm Raine's grandfather." Samson introduced himself to Micha, "Thank you so much for looking after Raine." He shook hands with Micha. Micha smiled, "nice to meet you." He greeted before something occurred to him, "Wait, are you Samson Sky from Sky News?" He asked, Sky News was a news station and newspaper. It was the only one his father read and watched. "I am. I own the company." Samson confessed. 

Micha looked over at Raine who seemed to be distant at the moment. "Raine," he said softly, Raine's eyes came back into focus and she looked at him. "Welcome back," he said grinning. Raine smiled back at him but said nothing. Samson looked between the two and smiled, "Raine." he spoke up getting his granddaughter's attention. "You should come live with me." He said, Raine, flinched hearing that. "I'm fine Grandfather." She insisted. "Raine. You're a child. Not an adult. You should have the chance to be one." 

Raine was quiet, Samson sighed, "You want to stay near him don't you?" He asked softly, Raine nodded. "Raine, I'm sorry. But I just can't do that in good conscience." Samson said, Raine frowned and Micha froze. They had just... They had just gotten together! 

He was furious but despite that, didn't say anything. If what he had just seen was a little taste of what Riane had to deal with in her day-to-day life. How could he ask for Raine to stay in an environment like that. Especially knowing that her Grandfather was Samson Sky. Raine could have so much more in her life and not have to deal with parents like that. He couldn't ask her to stay. It just wasn't right to.

He opened his mouth to tell Raine to go but she spoke up first. "One more year." She demanded. "I'm a junior and I want to finish my senior year here. So I want one more year." She looked at her grandfather determined. Samson sighed, "Very well. But you promise to come with me to Emerald City after that?" he questioned, Raine nodded. "Yes." She agreed. "Then I suppose we have a deal." He said shaking her hand. He then pulled out his wallet and handed Raine money.

"You go do something fun with your boyfriend. I'll be speaking with your parents about this. It seems that despite Hubert being grown, he still needs disciplined." Samson, Raine smiled and took the money. Micha and Raine shortly left the house after that.

"So your grandfather's rich?" Micha asked as they sat in a fancy restaurant. Raine nodded, "Yes. He wants me to inherit the company." Raine said. "That's part of the reason why my father doesn't like me." She explained. "My parents had me to get my grandfather's approval. But after I was born, my grandfather named me next in line. So they've been using part of my trust fund to live lavishly. It's sort of a way to repay them according to them." Raine explained before sipping on her drink. "I apologize for you getting dragged into family matters like this. I'm sure you feel uncomfortable." 

Micha stirred his straw causing the ice in his drink to clink together. "The only reason why is because I'm worried about you," Micha said softly. Raine smiled, "Sorry I couldn't get any time longer than a year." She said after a moment, Micha shook his head. "Don't be. A year should be long enough." He said, "For what?" Raine asked. "For us to figure out what's going on between us." Micha said, "I really like you, I was worried you'd get taken away sooner before we could figure this out." He confessed.

"What if we get serious?" Raine asked concerned, "We'll figure something out." Micha said winking at her. Raine's cheeks turned pink. "Micha." She mumbled embarrassed. Micha grinned ear to ear.

A year was not long enough for Micha and Raine. Between the intense legal battle between Raine's grandfather and parents while also dealing with school. Raine and Micha ended up spending an inordinate amount of time together. Briefly, for about a month, Raine moved in due to fears for her safety. Her parents showing their true colors and actually threatened Raine. As it turned out, they had been slowly draining even more of Raine's trust fund than expected so they could live lavishly without having to work. With the threat of that being taken away. They acted out.

Raine and Micha did go to the dance together and a few others. Micha still feeling his ever-growing feelings for her persisting. It seemed that whatever this was, was a bit more than just puppy love. When graduation came, it was a bit more bittersweet for the two of them. Because time was up.

During that year Raine had become a part of the family. Going on trips even being in holiday photos. But now, she had to leave. Raine and Micha held each other tightly at the airport. He barely held back his tears. "I'll come to visit." He insisted, despite both of them knowing that probably wasn't going to happen. Raine smiled and kissed him softly. She then handed him a piece of paper and Micha opened it. It was a date and a time. It was listed for next year. "If... If you still feel the same... Show up there next year." Raine said softly. "At the bus stop." She added. Micha smiled despite his tears and nodded. "Okay," he said finally breaking when the two of them stopped hugging. 

Raine gave him one last wave before she was escorted off by her grandfather's assistant. Micha clutched the paper tightly and wept. Feeling as though a part of him had been taken from him. His parents comforted him as they left the airport. All of them feeling sad that Raine had left.

As the year passed Micha went to college out of state, needing a change in scenery. As it turned out Joshua Stewarts went to the same college as him. He was nice, but Micha didn't feel the same about him anymore. Not after Raine. He was approached through the year by different alphas for dates or hookups. Once he had tried at the insistence of his roommate. But he ended up leaving when the alpha tried to touch him. 

Finally, the date on the paper arrived and just like that day. It was raining, this time, Micha remembered his umbrella. He rushed to the bus stop both excited and scared. What if Raine wasn't there? What if she had changed her mind? What if she had found someone new? Someone better? Raine had been going to the college her grandfather had picked out. She had been rubbing elbows with some powerful people. While would Raine want an omega from a small town?

But still, despite his fear, Micha pressed forward. Even if there was a small chance. Just a tiny one, he was going to grab it. If only to give himself a chance to move on from this and get some sort of closure. His running feet splashed through the puddles soaking his shoes. It seemed the rain was coming down just as hard as it was that day. As he approached the bus stop he came to a stop. Through the frosted glass, he could tell someone was there inside. Slowly rounding the corner, he winced when he saw a young woman in a blazer reading a book. That wasn't Raine. Micha bit his lip and sighed.

The young woman looked up and her eyes widened. "Micha?" She asked, Micha, jerked and he stared. "Raine?" He asked looking her up and down. It was so unusual seeing Raine dressed up. "I didn't recognize you!" He exclaimed laughter bubbled from his lips from his relief. She was here. "You look nice today." He whimpered tearing up. Raine smiled, "Thanks, I'm glad I dressed up for a reason." She said and Micha laughed realizing their conversation had been all too similar to the one that day. He threw his umbrella to the ground and rushed into the bus stop hugging Raine. 

The two of them kissed. Micha and Raine then held each other in a tight hug with tears in their eyes. They spoke and caught up on what had been going on with each other when they calmed down. Now sitting together under the roof of the bus stop the two of them held one another quietly. 

"Micha." Raine said softly, "Yeah?" Micha asked looking down at her. They had laid across the bench with Micha having Raine between his legs. Over the year Micha had shot up in height becoming much taller than Raine. Something that had thrown him off at first because she had always been taller than him previously. "I don't want to be a part anymore." She said softly. Micha nodded, "neither do I." He replied in much the same way. 

"Move to Emerald city then." Raine insisted, while normally Micha would've thought hard about this. He didn't want to. "Okay." He said, "Am I going to be your trophy husband?" He joked, "You want to get married?!" Raine exclaimed amazed. "I didn't even think of that." She said mostly to herself. Micha laughed. "Alright then, Raine would you like to marry me?" Micha said grinning. Raine eyed him, "Don't you want to ask Joshua Stewarts?" She mocked. "Do you want me to?" Micha teased, Raine huffed and dropped her head on his chest. "No." She said clearly displeased with the idea. "Then it looks like you're stuck with me then," Micha said pulling out a small box. Raine sat up startled. 

"I know alphas are supposed to ask. But, I don't have the patience to wait." He said opening up the box and slipping a simple rose gold band onto Raine's hand. "It's not very fancy. But it's what I could do." He added. "I love it," Raine said holding her hand preciously. "I love you." Micha said softly, Raine smiled "I love you too." She replied. The two of them kissed once more and held each other listening to the raindrops on the roof.