Chapter 17 – The end of friendship
Rue’s POV
Like a switch, Lauren’s attitude had suddenly changed.
She glanced at my outfit, and a little laugh slipped out. “Come to think of it, only you can afford these clothes. Aiden would have dressed you better”
In the midst of the virus outbreak, I hadn’t even paid attention to what I wore. And it astonished me that she did. Cole’s hand remained on my back, a quiet anchor.
Lauren stood akimbo. “You left a good marriage.” She proceeded” alphas never marry omegas. You will never find someone like Aiden in your lifetime. With your shabby healing attempts, only rogues can be your portion now.”
Though her voice was low and soft, it dripped with disgust. In an instant, the room felt cold and filled with the same kind of condescension I felt around Aiden’s family.
“Have you considered the fact that maybe you are wrong?” Cole asked flatly. “Rue has a one in a million gift in healing. And she has studied under Blood Claw’s shaman. You are mocking whom you don’t understand.”
“Blood Claw’s shaman?” Lauren laughed “Please. You expect me to believe she was under the tutelage of Blood Claw’s shaman? Maybe as his maid. There’s no way she’d accomplish that.
Cole smirked ” are you suggesting Rue’s a fraud?”
Fraud, stupid, all that.” She shrugged, all her humility as a friend thrown overboard ” And why would you even think I would help you? This is Half Moon Pack, and when you divorced Aiden, you threw away everything, you made yourself trash.”
Trash, the burning insult I had escaped for years now. I had almost forgotten how it felt to be insulted after I left Half Moon Pack. If only she knew I wasn’t who she thought I was, she would be groveling in self-pity.
“Have you forgotten how much I helped you?” I asked, my voice thinner than I wanted. “I introduced you to Aiden, made you who you are right now because of my recommendations. And your father, my recommendations pushed him to his current position.”
Lauren rolled her eyes, her smile fading. ” Darling, please. My family name was always enough to get us where we are right now. It was only a matter of time before we would be known to the higher ups.”
“Such ingratitude.” Cole scoffed
“Who are you to her again?” she sized Cole up” you know what, nevermind. I’m not being ungrateful, I’m being factual. Because she was proud, she threw away her position as Luna. Rue can never amount to anything without him, let alone warrant my friendship.”
Anger rose like a hot tide. My fingers made knuckles on my sides. ” At the very least you owe me decency. If you are going to repay me by looking down on me then – “I stopped contemplating the words that played in my brain.
“Then what?” she snapped
“There should be nothing left between us” I said, tasting fury and grief mixed altogether.
Lauren’s face relaxed.” Surprise, surprise. Our friendship ended when you agreed to a divorce.”
I shook my head in disbelief. I had considered her as one of my closest friends but now she blatantly threw it away
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because she felt I was no longer of worth to her.
“You two are actually pathetic. Beggars with delusional minds. Perhaps you came here because you thought I’d take you in after Aiden chased out the both of you.” Lauren added with casual cruelty
Something broke inside me. Her words only proved what kind of person she was.
“Fine” I said “If that’s how you see it – we are done.”
I began walking away but I stopped then turned
“Actually,” I started as I fished out my phone. “Can you say that again?”
That froze her smile. “Say what?”
“what you said” I said simply. “A statement. That we are no longer friends. We will have no contact. No favors. No calls. No visits. If you or anyone from Half Moon tries to reach out, it will be on your side to prove good intent. I want this recording.”
She laughed, a short, incredulous sound. For a moment I worried she would refuse, making me imagine trying to leave without any formal closing. This time I wanted evidence, a clean break.
Lauren’s face grew grave but she said it out loud anyway, right in front of the phone.
“Good riddance” Lauren grinned ” You can take your…begging somewhere else.”
Cole offered me his arm. “Come on. Let’s go.”
As we walked to the door, Lauren called out with every ounce of smugness she could muster, “Trying to be a healer after divorcing Aiden is depressing. Your actions were stupid”
Cole turned and retorted. “When the time comes, when you realize she is smarter and way more talented than you are, you’ll regret your words.”
Lauren scoffed and slammed the door in our faces with a force that sent a slap of wind to our faces.
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