Cora, A Sidelines Story from Clayton

Rya's Rejection

: I want to thank Whiskeyqueenn for her world which inspired this sidestory.: 

The house phone was ringing, when I ran inside. I had stayed after school, to help set up for the Harvest Dance. My cell was dead.  Today was Rya's birthday and we were going out to dinner. I was driving because I was the only one with a licence. Caller ID said it was Tina.

"Yeah, yeah, I know I'm late. I'm coming, Tina. Keep your bra on or put one on..." I rolled my eyes as I said it. My grandmother always said that and I can't help the smirk on my face, wishing my mother was here to hear me say it.

Sobbing, breathless sobbing answered me.

"Tina, Tina, what's wrong? Where are you?" Oh goddess, please don't be the phone call from Tina I have always feared. Please don't let some male have raped you and abandoned you somewhere.

"R...R...Rya... " she sobbed out.

"What happened to Rya? Where is she?" I demanded. I hadn't seen her all day. I had skipped lunch to work on the gymnasium.

"She... she f... found her m.. mmm.... mate!" Tina cries.

"Oh thank goddess, I thought it was something bad. Why are you crying? I thought you'd be happy," I snap, getting annoyed at her dramatics, "I'll be over as soon as I..."

"Cora, shut up and listen," she screams into her phone at me, "Rya's mate is Alpha Clayton. He rejected her and she attacked Kennedy. She went nuts when Clayton refused to even give her a chance. She was on the ground crying and begging and he... he... started to walk away with Kennedy. Then Rya attacked Kennedy. Do you understand she attacked our future Luna? She's going to be whipped with silver, they are taking her to the post from the clinic. You have to come, now. You have to help her."

Suddenly, I feel Alpha Adams open the pack link, ' All wolves are to report to the whipping post. For punishment of a she-wolf who attacked another she-wolf.'

Oh Goddess! I can't breathe for a moment. Rya really did attack Kennedy.

"Did you hear that?" Tina sobs.

"I'm coming to get you, where are you?" I demand. Don't panic Cora, don't freak out.

"I'm following Rya from the clinic, just come to the post," she hangs up.

My mind is racing as I drive to the pack house too fast to be safe. My brain can not process what is going on. How could Clayton be Rya's mate? He's Kennedy's mate.  

Or they lied about it. My wolf points out.

Suddenly, I feel very sick in the pit of my stomach. Clayton had to know he was Rya's mate on his birthday over two years ago, but he is an Alpha and she is just... well, just Rya. And Kennedy... Kennedy is a beta. He loved her, they grew up together, he would chose her over a lesser wolf any day, any week, any month, and had for over two years.

I have to park further away because of the crowd gathering to see the spectacle. Wolves are walking around me in a calm manner toward to rear of the pack house and out toward where the whipping post is buried into the hard earth. I pushed rudely through the crowd, looking for Tina, shouting for her. My father was standing in his place between the Beta and the Delta. He was just made first Gamma. He glared at me but I ignored him.

My brother grabbed my arm roughly, "Come with me, Cora." He dragged me over to stand with the high ranking wolves gathered around the alpha couple. But I craned my neck, looking for Tina and more importantly Rya. "Stand still," he hissed. I growled back at him.