The Alpha’s Sister

01.

EMMA.

The sound of the plates clattering to the floor echoes loudly across the room as my tray of food is knocked off my hold and the chatter of the students comes to a stop; all eyes landing on me.

My hands fold into fists by my sides as I stare at the food smeared across the floor in front of me, some of it getting to my shoes and staining my white socks.

The entire cafeteria is silent for the next few minutes and I can feel their eyes digging through my skull, each one of them waiting for the next scene to play out and no doubt entertained by this, like always.

I hear a few snickers and that’s when I finally raise my head, rage surging through my body as I meet the gaze of none other than bright blue eyes with an evil twinkle shining through the orbs.

It’s her. Of course, it’s her. It can be none other than her.

With a tilt of her head, she crosses her left arm over her chest and brings the right to cover her mouth mockingly as she says, “Oops. Sorry, love. I hope you weren’t going to eat that?”

The sound of my labored breathing drums through my ears as I stare at the smirk that’s slowly covering her face and I dig my nails into my palms in an attempt to calm myself down, trying to ignore the way the only voice in my head tells me to grab her stupid red hair and smash her perfectly sculpted face into the food on the floor.

I do not listen. I can’t listen. That’s a line I don’t dare to cross, no matter how badly I want to. There’d be consequences even if I’m doing nothing other than defending myself. That thought alone is why I swallow a deep breath before exhaling loudly.

She takes a step closer and lifts a perfectly trimmed brow. “What? Got something to say, Troll?”

I ignore the sound of laughter that comes from the crowd that’s watching us after that ridiculous nickname and shake my head once. “I don’t.” Before she can attempt to pull another trick from her sleeves, I turn away from her cruel gaze and head out of the cafeteria, hundreds of eyes following me.

My movement is sharp as I run down the hallway and I don’t stop until I get to the restroom, hidden away from their taunts and punishing. I let out a shaky breath as I slam my back into the closed door and lift my head to catch my breath.

After several minutes of standing by the door, I make my way to the sink and hold on to the edges as I stare at my reflection in the mirror.

I let out a chuckle and jerk my head. “You should be used to this, Emma.”

“Used to what? Being a pest?” Her haunting voice penetrates through my mind, and I move away from the sink before turning my body to her.

I didn’t hear her come in and she’s standing by the door with her minions behind her, each gaze just as evil as hers.

“What do you want?”

She expresses fake shock and turns to Ella, who’s by her right, “Did you hear that, darling? She just asked me what I want.”

They both laugh for a minute before she turns to me again. The smile falls from her face and her expression toughens as she takes a step forward. “What I want is what I’ve always wanted. For you to leave and never return.”

“I can’t do that.”

She comes to a stop only a few steps away from me and clicks her tongue. “Right. Because your family despises you, right?”

Her words tick off something in my brain, an emotion she’s never had access to before. A part of me she’s never been able to crack no matter how hard she tried and my voice shakes when I open my mouth, “What did you… what did you just say to me?”

The satisfied look in her eyes tells me I’ve given her exactly what she was looking for, and she continues. “Didn’t they ditch you here or something?”

I shake my head and fall back. “No. Stop.”

She doesn’t. Of course, she doesn’t. It’s Zoey after all and she’s always been after one thing since we met—to shatter my every being and make me crumble.

“It’s sad when you think about it, isn’t it, girls? A young girl rejected by her family. Hated to the extent she was traded off at quite a young age.”

“Stop speaking. Please.”

“But when you look at it again; she kind of deserved it, don’t you think?” Her gaze burns through mine and her smile is utterly evil. “You earned it, didn't you? For causing harm to them. For being the worst kind of kid anyone could ever ask for.” She’s ruthless with her words and with each term that leaves her mouth, she takes yet another step closer, slowly erasing the distance between us and peeling layer after layer of the thick skin I’ve managed to build around her off.

She comes to a stop in front of me, our chests almost brushing and her breath caresses my skin as she lets out the final blow. “I heard you killed your mother and your twin.”

My vision blurs and I stagger back as my breathing gets heavier. The sound of my heartbeats echoes loudly across the room and I crumble, those words more than enough to bring me to my knees even before someone like her.

I’ve known Zoey to be cruel. She hated me from the very moment she arrived at this pack and laid eyes on me. She hated me even more when she found out I was friends with Ethan; the Alpha’s son and her betrothed. From the very beginning, her only purpose has been to break me, to make me leave Ethan’s side and stop being the threat she sees me as. She’s done everything from physical to emotional abuse and while she’s said very harsh words that break my heart each time I remember them, never once has she used this against me. Never once had she included my family.

She got to me. Hard. The defeat I feel is only for a few seconds before the rage settles in and I do something I’ve never done before.

I stand up to her.

My jaw clenches as I drop a hand on her shoulder. “What did you just say to me?”

She chuckles and attempts to slap my hold off her, but I don’t budge and instead let my fingers sink through the soft fabric of her shirt—not enough to hurt her, but just enough to make her stay in place. The smile on Zoey’s face drops when she realizes she can’t push me off and she seethes, “Get those dirty fucking hands off me.”

“Take back your words first.”

“Troll. I’m warning you. I’ll make you regret this.”

I don’t listen. My entire body shakes as I drop my other hand on her other shoulder and say, “Take back your words.” I keep my gaze on her, nothing else mattering to me at the moment than for those words to be swallowed back.

For a second I thought I saw fear, but I was wrong because Zoey tips her chin and laughs. “Why should I? That’s the truth, isn’t it? You killed your mother and you disgust your father—“

“Stop!” I yell, interrupting her before she can finish. “You don’t know—“

“Zoey. Now!” Ella’s voice rings across the room from where she stands, and it’s only then I realize her minions are still in the room, watching without bothering to interrupt.

Before I can gather my thoughts again, Zoey suddenly drops to the floor with a cry and my eyes widen as I watch her clutch onto her stomach.

“What the hell are you—“

“Zoey? Zoey!” My brows furrow at the sound of Ethan’s voice, and he’s entered the room when I lift my head. His concerned eyes are on Zoey and he runs to her, wrapping an arm around her shoulder as he brings her into his arms.

“Zoey. Are you okay? My God. You’re bleeding!”

My heart skips a beat at Ethan’s words and truly there’s blood running down her legs.

What the hell? Where did that come from? How…

I stand there baffled and frozen by the turn of events and it isn’t until Ethan lifts his head, the look he gives me completely unrecognizable, that I realize I played right into Zoey’s cards.

I’ve given her exactly what she wants.

02.

EMMA.

Dread engulfs my entire being as I watch Ethan embrace Zoey in a pool of her blood as mumblings of the pain she’s in echo in the quiet space. My fingers twitch by my sides and I stand still, unsure of what to do and uncertain how the hell it came to this.

“Come on. We need to get you to the nurse.” Ethan finally speaks as he drags Zoey to her feet. She continues to clasp her stomach with one hand and holds onto Ethan with the other, the blood now dripping from the ends of her skirt.

Ethan spares me no glance as he leads her to the door and it isn’t until he’s about to step out I’m finally able to move. With hurried steps, I get to his side and drop a hand on his free arm before he can walk out.

He halts and I watch his gaze slide over the hold on him before he meets my eyes and I swallow through the bile in my throat. “Please. Hear me.”

Ethan stays silent and before I can add more words, Zoey’s pained grumble breaks off, stealing my hold on Ethan’s attention. He turns his head and just as my heart is about to sink, thinking he’d go right through the door; he guides Zoey to Ella before he says, “Take her there. I’ll be with you in a few minutes.”

“Ethan. She’s your girlfriend. You need to be with—“

“I know, Ella. Just take her there.” Ella exchanges glances with Penn who’s not uttered a word throughout this whole happening and with a sigh, she grabs onto Zoey before finally walking out of the room.

Their disappearance leaves the room in an even worse frightening quietness and my hands fidget at my sides as I stare at Ethan’s back.

“Ethan.” A heartbeat passes after the call of his name before he finally turns to me and nothing prepares me for the look in his eyes. Disappointment shines in his orbs and I feel the judgment from them even before I hear it from his words when he asks, “Why, Emma?”

I shake my head twice. “I didn’t. I swear to you, Ethan; I did nothing.”

He turns to me fully and lifts a brow. “You did nothing? She was bleeding on the floor and you were standing above her with an alarming look in your eyes. How am I—“

“What do you mean?” He doesn’t answer, and I scoff as I take a small step forward. “You can’t be serious. You know how Zoey is. You know she’s been onto me for years and you honestly think I did something to her? After all this while? You think I’m capable of that?”

He doesn’t hold my gaze when he mutters, “Everyone has their breaking point.”

“Ethan.” His name leaves my mouth in a whisper and my voice is shaky as my next words follow. “I didn’t. It was three against one. I couldn’t have—“

He puts up a hand to halt my sentence before I can finish. “Just don’t.” The tone of his voice makes my heart break. The tiny distance that exists between our bodies which is almost as though he’s mentally placing a distance in our friendship makes my breath heavier and I try to blink back the tears that fill the brim of my eyes when he says, “I have to get to Zoey.”

And he turns his back to me to walk out of the room without sparing me another second.

I let out a shaky gasp as I fall against the wall and my hand slides down my thigh as my head drops forward. Everything that ensued until the moment Ethan walked through that door seems to have fled my memory and all I can think of is how I might have just lost the trust of the one person who’s always cared for me since I’ve been here.

But more than that, how I must now answer to what I have not done because it shall be Zoey’s words against mine.

~

It doesn’t take a genius to know what’s waiting for me behind the door.

The Luna has summoned me and I know it’s for nothing other than the issue that occurred at school.

My chest falls with a heavy sigh as my fingers curl around the knob. I shut my eyes and wait two seconds before going in.

Goosebumps rise on my skin as three pairs of eyes fall on me. Luna Gabrielle, her son Ethan, and her son’s girlfriend, Zoey, are all staring at me and it’s almost as if I’ve willingly walked into the Lion’s den.

My gaze drifts to Ethan to search for favor in the eyes of my close friend—one whom I believe knows me better than anyone and knows the kind of person Zoey Graham is—but I find none because he looks away as soon as Zoey’s hand touches his arm and I try not to let the sound of the cry that almost rips from my throat break out.

“You called for me. Luna.” I look back at the Luna, daring to look into the eyes that’s never once held affection for me and they’re just as punishing as ever.

“And I believe you know why you’re here.” Her voice is cold and devoid of any emotions, just the way I’m used to.

My eyes glide over to Zoey, who now rests her head on Ethan’s shoulder with one hand hovering over her stomach.

“Answer me!” The loud echo of Luna’s voice makes me jump slightly and my eyes widen as I hold her cruel gaze once again. “I didn’t. I didn’t—“

“You didn’t what? Kill a baby?” She utters and my mouth parts. I look back at Zoey in shock and shake my head. “She wasn’t—I don’t understand.”

Luna Gabrielle finally rises from the sofa and steps towards me. I instinctively take a step backward, and I lower my head when she gets too close.

“I knew you’d be trouble the moment you arrived. I told Troy not to take you in. If you managed to kill your mother and your twin while you were just a fetus, how could he be so sure you wouldn’t grow up to be exactly that? A killer.”

My lips tremble as I slowly lift my gaze and let out a whisper. “Luna…”

“I told him, but he wouldn’t listen. He let you in. He brought you into this pack. Let you get close to his son and look at the consequence of that—you killed his grandkid. My son’s baby. MY GRANDKID!”

I instantly sink to my knees, and the tears that flow down my face blur my vision. My fingers dig into the skin of my thighs and a sob accompanies each word that leaves my mouth. “Please. I beg you. I didn’t do it. Ask Zoey. I didn’t touch her. Her friends were there. She was…”

“It was going to be a surprise.” A much quieter voice interrupts my words and we both turn our heads to where Zoey and Ethan are still seated. A sorrowful look fills Zoey’s eyes, and she bites the corner of her bottom lip as she continues. “I wanted it to be a surprise. I was so happy when I learned I was carrying Ethan’s baby and you have no idea the amount of joy I felt when I was planning the surprise dinner. Though we’re young, I know the two of us are destined to be, and the baby was proof of that. I’m not lying, Luna. Ethan was there. I was bleeding. He saw it. You’ve seen the test results. I had a baby but she… she—“ the rest of her words drown out as tears roll down her cheeks and I watch the Luna walk to her. She settles next to her and cradles her in her arms. “Oh darling, I know. I know you tell the truth and I know how you must feel. I’m so sorry this happened. I’m so sorry we couldn’t protect you.”

I stay on my knees, quiet moans breaking out as I dread what will happen next.

“I didn’t touch her. Please. Hear me. I’d never dream of harming her, talk more of taking her—“ It happens in a flash. One second, she’s sitting next to Zoey consoling her and the next second, she’s before me and my head whips to the side as her palm lands on my cheek. The sound of the slap bounces off the walls and a small gasp leaves my mouth.

“Mom!”

“Not a word from you, Ethan!”

“You can’t just slap her! That’s abuse!”

“Abuse?” she snorts. “Do you call this abuse? No. No, this isn’t abuse, Ethan. Abuse is this bastard, this imbecile. This—this evil killing your baby, so don’t you stand there and try to defend her like you’ve always done. There’s no defending this. You were there, weren’t you? You saw.”

“I saw Zoey bleed. Yes, the nurse might have said she had a miscarriage, but that doesn’t mean—“

“You’ll shut up and you’ll sit right beside that girl without another word. Is that clear?”

“Mom, I—“

“I repeat; you’ll shut that mouth and you’ll not utter a word. I say that not as your mother, but as your Luna.”

The sound of my heavy breathing fills my ears and my fingers dig deeper into the skin of my thighs, the pain nothing compared to the one that comes from the imprint that’s left on my cheek.

“I want you out of my pack.” My gaze shoots up at those words and I jerk my head furiously, my heartbeat accelerating. “No. No. Please no. Please—you can’t… I—please. I have nowhere to go. You can’t chase me out. I’ll… I’d do anything else. Throw me into the dungeon. Cut me from school. Cut me from the outside world. Do anything. Just don’t ask me to leave. Please. I have nowhere else to go. Please, Luna. Please.” I move on my fours to crawl forward and I attempt to grab onto her ankles, but she steps back before I can.

I see the absolute repugnance for me in her eyes when I lift my head. Even through my tear-filled eyes, her hatred and irritation for me shine so brightly. It’s what tells me her resolve can’t be broken and her words won’t be taken back.

My mouth is left hanging open and just as I look behind to Zoey, I catch a glimpse of her smirk. It’s gone before I clearly see it, but it was there. She holds up her chin when she meets my eyes and the wicked sparkle in her eyes tells me what’s going through her mind before her mouth curls.

“I won.” She mouths and grins as she hooks her hand into Ethan’s arm.

It takes everything in me to not surge forward and grab her because what else do I have to lose?

“What’s going on here?” The sound and sense of another presence diverts my thoughts. I turn on my knees to the door and the Alpha is standing by it with a puzzled expression on his face as his eyes go from me to his wife.

It’s however, not him that makes my jaw drop. It’s not him that makes my eyes almost bulge out of their sockets, and it’s not him that makes my heart pound fast in a way they haven’t before. It’s not him that leaves me speechless, forgetting about the disaster that surrounds me and it’s not him that dims out every other presence in the room.

It’s the one who steps out from behind him and immediately holds my gaze.

It’s him. He’s here.

03.

EMMA.

I remain on my knees, frozen and entirely dazed by the sight before me.

If one were to tell me I’d be seeing him again, especially here; I wouldn’t believe it. But here he is, standing before me and holding my gaze without attempting to break our contact.

I suck in a breath as I remember the last time I saw him. It was that night—the night I was taken four years ago, and he was standing by a corner as he gripped his sister. The boy I saw that night has morphed into the man before me. It’s only been four years but Will barely looks anything like the stepbrother I knew and lived with for years.

“I believe I asked a question.” Will’s gaze drifts away from mine as the words break through the electrifying stillness between us and it isn’t until his eyes are completely off me I’m reminded of the situation I’m in.

I look towards Alpha Troy and his face is hardened, an indistinct expression on it as he peers at his Luna, waiting for an answer to the question he’s asked.

“You’re here.” The Luna speaks now, and she walks past me to stand before the Alpha. “This girl…” she turns to me with a finger pointed in my direction and the hatred lightening ablaze in her eyes, “She’s committed an unforgivable sin and she needs to be punished for it.”

“What sin has she committed?” The Alpha asks calmly, and before the Luna can respond, another voice interrupts their conversation.

I stare back to see Zoey on her feet with a hand on her stomach and a false, sad look that only I seem to see through in her eyes. “She killed my child.”

An edgy moment rises in the air and I can feel all eyes on me. I let out a shaky breath, and it isn’t intentional, but the only eyes mine meet are Will’s. The unfazed expression that rested on his face the second he stepped out from behind Alpha Troy remains—Yet something seems to have changed in those green orbs. With a tilt of his head and a slightly raised eyebrow, he breaks our eye contact once again and looks behind me.

“She did… what?”

“Killed your grandkid, Troy.” The Luna says as she rests a hand on her husband’s arm. “I warned you about her, didn’t I? I told you we shouldn’t take her in, but you wouldn’t listen and look at what it’s cost you. Amongst many of her wrongdoings. This wouldn’t be the first time.” I lower my head and fist my skirt, crushing the soft fabric in an attempt to remain mute as the Luna continues to mention the number of times I’ve been a problem like whispers of poison in the Alpha’s ears.

“… I want her out of the pack and that’s—“

“Gabrielle, please.” I lift my head at the slight raise in the Alpha’s voice, a bit surprised at the sound and so is the Luna because she pushes her head back a bit, her brows furrowed at him.

“I don’t believe either of you has shown your respect to the man standing beside me…” Alpha Troy says with a hand in Will’s direction. “This is Wilson Rhysand; the newly appointed Alpha of the BlackMoon Pack.”

“Alpha?” The shocked whisper leaves my parted lips before I can control it and my eyes meet Will’s once again. His gaze remains unyielding as hundreds of questions run through my mind at once.

Wilson? Alpha? How? Did something happen to my father?

“Rhysand? Did you say Rhysand… Rhysand as in…”

“Yes. Rhysand as in Emma, who’s currently accused of murder.”

“Alpha Troy. Your office please.” Will speaks for the first time since he’s entered the room and the power and domination his voice emits is nothing like I’ve heard before.

“Alright.” With a nod, Alpha Troy leads Will out of the room and I can only gape at his back as I watch him walk through the door till his frame is completely out of sight.

Their disappearance leaves the room in a monumental quietude before the Luna turns to me with a glare. “You’re not getting out of this. That, I promise you.” She follows them after her words and I let out the breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding as I hear the door click shut.

“Your stepbrother, uh?” I flinch at the sudden loudness and Zoey is standing next to me with her mouth curled in a smirk. “Heard your father remarried shortly after his beloved Luna passed away, so that must be your stepbrother?”

I don’t answer. Instead, I look away from her because the longer I stare, the stronger the urge to whack that face.

“Don’t think he’ll save you so easily, Emma. You killed a baby. There’s no saving you when you’ve taken a life. A murderer doesn’t deserve to be—“

“I did nothing and you fucking know it!” My control finally snaps as I spit the words right in her face, my chest heaving heavily as our eyes lock in a scowling match.

The corner of Zoey’s mouth twitches, a sneer slowly rising before it twists into a smile, and she laughs. “Oh, talking back already, aren’t we? Already bold now that you’ve seen your stepbrother? You shouldn’t be so—“

“Stop it, Zoey.” Ethan’s interference reminds me that he remains in the room and if looks could kill, I’d probably be ten feet under right away with the way Zoey pins me down with a ferocious look in her eyes.

Just to spite her further, I smile and cock my head, daring her to continue. The veins on her arms become visible as she clasps her fists tightly by her sides and the smile on my lips falters when her eyes start to change.

“Zoey!” She’s only seconds away from pouncing on me when Ethan jumps in and pushes her back. “I told you to fucking stop! Control yourself. Now!” She calms down only after several exhales, and Ethan rests a hand on her back as he turns her away. “Come on. Out now.” She peeks over his shoulder at me and throws a smirk before they’re out of the room, leaving nothing but the chaos in my head with me.

~

With a deep breath, I open the door to the Alpha’s office and walk in. I stride to the middle of the room and clamp my hands on my back. “You called for me, Alpha.”

He nods once, his expression neutral as he says, “Go pack whatever stuff you have here. You’re leaving. With him.” I follow the direction of his hand and my eyes land on Will. He’s sitting on the chair and his back remains turned to me. When he does not attempt to look back, I look back at Alpha Troy. “Immediately.”

Immediately? What did Will do and why am I leaving with him? The deal my father made was not to be returned and I don’t think Will would go against his words. Did something truly happen to my father?

Dread fills me as the thought of him being dead crosses my mind and I shake my head.

“Emma? Did you hear me?” Alpha Troy’s voice interrupts my thoughts and I meet his eyes. “Yes, Alpha. I’ll get my stuff.” As I begin to turn, I hold the Luna’s gaze for a few seconds and she’s seething where she stands next to the Alpha. I can tell she’s got words to say, but she utters nothing. This must not be what she longed for when she said she wanted me out of the pack.

Despite knowing she’s barely grasping onto her resistance, I bow to her and hold her gaze for a second longer before my eyes land on Will. He’s still turned away from me and with another bow to the Alpha, I walk out of the room.

I walk down the hallway to the room at the farthest end and I slam my back to the door, letting it shut as my eyes wander the corners of the small space that was given to me the day I got here. Without meaning to, tears roll down my cheeks as memories of the horrendous time I’ve spent here run through my mind.

I didn’t think I was ever going to get out of here. I didn’t think I was ever going to see someone from my previous life. I didn’t think there was an end to here.

A knock at the door makes me jump and I quickly wipe my tears before moving off it. My breath catches in my throat when I open it and Will is standing before me with his hands slipped in his pocket and an aura I didn’t realize earlier radiating off him.

“Packed?” He breaks the silence with only a word and I look back at the room and then at him. “No. There’s nothing to pack.”

“Then let’s go.” I nod and walk out of the room. Will steps to the side when I step out and as I open my mouth to speak, he turns and starts to walk ahead.

I guess the questions are for later.

I follow him down the hallway, barely keeping up with his hurried and long strides. We walk down the stairs and then out the front door, where the entire family is waiting for us. The Alpha stands with his Luna and his son beside him. Zoey stands irritated next to Ethan as I walk down the five stairs to stand before them.

“Do not forget your promise.” Alpha Troy is the first to speak and Will nods. “I won’t.”

Silence follows after and I stare at the faces I’m used to seeing for the past four years. I stare at the faces of the inflicters of the pain I’ve had to endure. I stare at the hell I’ve been through and my heart hops with joy even if I’m unsure what I’d be returning to.

“Emma…”

“Don’t.” Zoey grabs Ethan’s shoulder when he tries to take a step towards me and he sighs before returning his step.

“Let’s go.” I hum at Will and throw Ethan a small smile before walking away.

Will leads me to a car and gets inside before I do. I buckle my belt as the engine roars to life and their frames display on the wing mirror as Will starts to drive. Their face distorts the further Will drives and after just a few seconds, the only view I see is that of the house. That also soon deforms till there’s nothing in the mirror other than the trees accompanying the sides of the roads as we drive past.

I really left.

A chuckle leaves my mouth when the thought sinks in and I push back against my seat. I throw my head in the air and shut my eyes, letting the breeze of the wind calm the heaviness in my chest and the tightness in my throat.

The sound of music playing forces me to open my eyes, and I stare at the side of Will’s face as I watch him drive. He has one tatted arm resting against the opened window and the other steering the wheel. His jaw is clenched tightly in concentration as he stares ahead and my eyes wander from his face downwards to where his shirt is pressing tight to his chest and the muscles…

I shift in my seat and look away with a slow breath. There’s a stretched silence between us and it suddenly feels hot in the small space of the car. Will doesn’t seem like he’d attempt a conversation and I clear my throat as I stare at the backseat. “You came alone?”

He hums and I look back at him. “Why? Is it usual for an Alpha to move alone? Isn’t that dangerous?”

“An Alpha should be able to take care of himself.”

He speaks and his deep voice rumbles in the small space surrounding us, the echo resounding in my ears. “You don’t think so?” He finally turns his head and I’m almost knocked out of breath at his face so close. Closer than it had been earlier when I was on my knees. Close enough to trace every line and drink in each feature on his face.

He truly looks different.

His eyes do not glisten as dazzlingly as they used to. Instead, the brightness of the greens seems to be replaced by an intensity that’s enough to drown one’s soul. And there are traces of hair dusting his chin. The barely grown beard adds a harsh look to his features and makes him look manlier. Attra—

“Fuck!” My eyes widen as the tires screeches and a scream rips from my throat when Will fails to control the brakes as a black wolf comes crashing into us.

04.

EMMA.

My heart pounds hard in my chest as Will gets the car out of the road, veering to the side just before the wolf hits the windshield. As I attempt to let out a breath of relief, we go crashing into a tree; the collision causing my body to fall forward and I quickly grab into the edge of the window before my head slams into the airbag.

The engine roars as the tires screech and I finally settle back in my seat. I tuck my hair behind my ears and meet Will’s gaze. He removes his hold from the key and sighs, “Hey, are you—“ my eyes widen when Will is snatched out of his seat before he can finish his sentence.

“Will!” I scream and lean into his seat. I peek out of the window, but there’s nothing. No sign of him or the wolf.

Trepidation grips my being and I don’t stop to think before I’m running out of the car. I’ve only taken a few steps when I see Will standing several feet away with the black wolf only a minimal distance from him and growling with its fangs out.

“Will—“

“No! Don’t come. Stay back, Emma.” Will shouts and I gasp, the sound of my heavy breathing mixed with my racing heart reaching my ears as I watch in anxiousness.

Will moves back and squats halfway through as the wolf prepares to attack, its paws gliding against the ground. The next scene happens faster than I can blink. One second, the wolf is right there and the next; it jumps towards Will—so high in the air that my jaw drops.

I start to run towards Will and I’ve hardly taken more than two steps when he suddenly catches the wolf in the air by its sides and flings it back. Goosebumps rise on my skin as the wolf lands on the ground with a thud and I hear the sound of a whine.

I stare at it slowly turning into a human in bewilderment before I look back to Will where he stands tall and unshifted, a red aura radiating off him.

He just did that… without turning.

“Hey. You okay?” I can only blink in response as Will appears before me with a brow scrunched in my direction.

“I—uh…I don’t…” I stammer like a fool, still in amazement at what has just happened.

“I told you to stay back,” Will utters and I shake my head. “I thought you would. I didn’t know… how did you do that?”

He gives me a dazed look as he cocks his head to the side. “Do what?”

“That…” I point at nowhere. “You threw that wolf without turning.”

The corner of his lips turns slightly and the illusion of what might have been a smile or a smirk causes my heart to race and I swallow nothing as my throat dries.

“I’ve received training. What? You think I’d be able to lead a pack without being capable of protecting myself first?”

“Still, that was—“

“Motherfucker. You didn’t have to throw me that hard.” I hop, startled by the voice that suddenly breaks through ours, and I turn my head from Will, gasping when I see a guy standing completely naked before me.

What the…

“I told you not to do anything foolish, didn’t I?” My brows furrow in confusion when I hear Will respond and I glance back at him. “You know him?”

“Emma, right?” The man speaks again before Will can respond to my question and I flinch when my hand is abruptly snatched and shaken. “Name is Ryan.” He grins sheepishly, not seeming to care that he’s entirely naked and I can literally see… heat spreads across my cheeks as I struggle to keep my eyes on his face.

“I… I um, you’re naked.” I say in a quiet voice, and Ryan tips his head before his gaze drops lower. He chuckles and meets my eyes again. “Right. Oh, you don’t have to be shy. I don’t mind if you steal a peek. I’m not ashamed, trust me.” He winks, and I’m taken aback by his words.

“She can tell.” Will slams pieces of wears into his chest, saving me the embarrassment of having his attention on me for a while longer and failing miserably to keep my eyes up. “Go change and stop fucking around.”

He lets go of my hand and clicks his tongue. “Really? I don’t think Emma minds, though. Do you?”

“Ryan!” A growl from Will answers him before I can, and he rolls his eyes. “Geez, fine. I’ll go wear these. A man can’t even be proud of his own body these days.”

“You’re a creep.”

“Not necessarily if the other is willing to look. And appreciates it, mind you.” I look away as Ryan begins to turn and several heartbeats of silence pass before his voice comes again. “There. Satisfied? You can look now, beautiful.”

I remain still, blinking into space, when Ryan voices out again. “Emma. You can turn. I’m clothed.” At the confirmation, I look back at him and my chest drops in relief at the sight of him in black sweatpants and a black shirt.

“Not as charming as earlier, don’t you agree, Emma?” His lips curl in a smile and the sight of him without the distraction of his nakedness finally let it sink in that this guy knows my name.

“Do you know me?” I ask, and his smile grows bigger. “Who wouldn’t know you? You’re the Alpha’s daughter. Sorry. I mean ex alpha’s daughter.” He chuckles and glances at Will, then back at me. “Though that might change now, since Alpha here decided to bite more than he could chew.”

“Ryan.” Will’s voice is edged with a warning and, recognizing it instantly, Ryan’s playful smile drops and there’s a tensed stillness as I stare between the two of them.

“Fine.” Ryan sighs and looks back at me, the big smile emerging once again. “You don’t recognize me, do you?”

“I don’t think we’ve met,” I respond, and he nods. “Of course, you wouldn’t remember. We weren’t exactly friends. It’s Brown.”

“Brown?”

“Full name is Ryan Brown.”

I stare at him in puzzlement before it finally clicks, and I point a finger. “Oh! Brown! Brown as in—“

“Son to your father’s beta.” He grins, then jerks his head. “Ex Beta. Sorry.”

“Now I remember.” I return his smile with a small one of mine and Ryan seizes a step back, his eyes wandering from my eyes downwards. When he looks back into my eyes, he sucks in a breath. “You’ve changed.”

“Uh?”

“You look way prettier than I remember.” Heat creeps up my neck at the compliment and I shift on my feet, unsure of how to respond.

“That’s enough talk,” Will speaks now. “Let’s go.” Without waiting for a reply, he walks ahead, his steps hurried and strides long. Ryan seems to find that amusing because he laughs before he casually throws a hand over my shoulder, bringing our bodies together. “Come on. We should follow before he gets annoyed. He gets irritated real quick, don’t you think?”

“I wouldn’t know. I’m just seeing him again for the first time in four years.” I mumble as I stare at the back of Will’s head.

We walk back to the car and successfully get it out of the tree before we fall back onto the road.

I learn that Ryan is Will’s friend and also his Beta. He seems to take quite a pleasure in aggravating him and his presence fills the atmosphere with a warmth that I can only smile at.

The smile that’s been on my face throughout the ride drops when the car suddenly comes to a halt and I look out the window, my breath catching in my throat when I realize we’ve arrived. At my pack. At my home.

Will and Ryan move out of the car first; after a few minutes of fidgeting and trying to calm my nerves, I unlock the door and jump out.

As soon as my feet touch the ground, I feel eyes on me and it doesn’t take long before the whispers and the murmurs follow—some louder than the others.

It’s been four years. Could they possibly recognize me that easily?

“Relax.” A gentle touch at the small of my back drowns out the voices, and I lift my head to see Ryan beaming at me. “Don’t be scared. This is your home, Emma; you should remember that.”

I give a nod and a small smile before Ryan’s hand drops. I thought I felt another watch on me close by, but when I turn to look at Will, he’s already walking ahead. I quickly catch up with him, using his frame as a shield from the prying, curious eyes of the others, while Ryan walks behind us.

We make it into the pack house and once the whispers drown, I’m able to let my gaze wander around, astounded by the change to the inside of the building.

“It’s different,” I mumble under my breath as I gape at the gold that now paints the walls rather than the white I was used to.

“Just a slight modification.” My gaze falls back to Will following his words and our eyes meet briefly before he looks away.

I continue to look around as I walk and just as we take the first stair, a voice roars, bringing us all to a stop.

“WHAT THE HELL IS SHE DOING HERE?”

05.

EMMA.

There’s an edgy silence surrounding me as my eyes zero in on the man standing at the top of the stairs, his presence all-consuming and large.

I hold my breath and find my hands clutching my skirt by the sides as I stare into the familiar cold eyes.

I haven’t seen my father in four years, yet his gaze is still as punishing as ever. He looks down at me with the same look he had in his eyes on that night four years ago—like the sight of me disgusts him and he wants nothing more than to be rid of me.

“D—Dad.” The phrase leaves my mouth in a breathless stammer and I’m hesitant as I try to take a step toward him, my heart pounding in my chest.

“I brought her.” Will appears in front of me, his frame hiding me from my father’s ever-torturing gaze.

No other sound can be heard other than the noise of heartbeats that belong to me alone as I watch my father take a stair down, then another and another.

“You… brought her?” He speaks slowly, the anger lying beneath his words reaching me even without being able to gaze at him.

“I did.” Will answers, sounding confident and unwavering.

“Under whose command?”

“Sir, I—“

“UNDER WHOSE COMMAND?” I jump from the loudness of his voice and panting breath escapes me as I try not to shake in my stand.

“WHOSE?”

“I—“

“She was banished! She was never to be brought back. Not here. Not before me. Not to this pack.” Tears fill the brim of my eyes with each word that comes out of his mouth and I pull my bottom lip between my teeth to hold the sobs that threaten to fall. “Why’d you go against that? Why’d you bring her—“

“I’m the Alpha.” Will’s voice remains unshaken and I lift my head to stare at his back. “Not you. I control the pack now and I decide the fate of each of my members; not you. Emma has always been a member of this pack. She has in no way gone against its rules and isn’t deserving of the punishment of banishment. I only right what I felt was wrong.”

“Right what you felt was wrong?”

“You gave me that power.”

“Not for you to go against my words and my order! I gave you that power to lead. Lead those deserving of it; not bring back the one who’s inflicted unimaginable pain upon this pack than anyone else ever has.”

“She was—“

“I gave you that power,” Dad cuts in before Will can speak. “And you should know I can take it from you just as quick.”

“It doesn’t work that way, and Emma has done nothing wrong. You were punishing her for a crime she didn’t commit. You were punishing her for something that was out of her control. You were—“

“Wilson!” My eyes widen at the roar from Dad and I rush to step forward when I see his hand go up in the air, but a hand drops on my shoulder, stopping me. I look back to see Ryan standing next to me and he gives me a shake of his head.

“Killian!” Another scream tears through the thick air, and I look back to see my stepmother standing behind Dad with panicked eyes. “Killian, please. Please, people are watching.”

Dad’s hand hangs in the air, and it shakes a few times before he drops it. “I want her out of this pack before tomorrow.”

“I can’t do that,” Will replies. “I told you; she’s a member of my pack and I’ll not abandon her.” A tear finally falls from my eyes at his words, and I swallow through the tightness of my throat.

“Killian, please. Let go of this for now. Just calm down and come with me.”

“I’m calm!”

“Killian!”

Several heartbeats pass before I hear the sound of their steps receding and though he stood unyielding and powerful before my father, I see Will’s tense shoulders visibly relax as they walk away.

“Come on. The show is over. What are you all staring at?” Ryan shushes at the small crowd that’s gathered around us, and I approach Will.

“Hey,” he turns at my voice, and my heart races as the greens meet mine, his gaze giving nothing away no matter how hard I try to decipher him. “You didn’t have to—“

“You’re a member of the pack, Emma. I meant that.”

I’m unable to control my smile at his words despite the heaviness I feel in my chest from being before my father again after years.

“You know how it is.”

“Settle in. Your room is just as you left it.” He says and when he tries to walk past me, my hand shoots out to grab him without thinking. My heart thumps harder at the contact, and electricity buzzes at the tip of my fingers as they graze his skin. My lips parts but before I can speak, Will draws his hand back and put a distance between us.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to. I was just—“

“You should rest.” He utters and walks away. I sigh and stare at his back as he stops by Ryan before continuing his walk out.

“Thank you,” I mutter into the air as his frame slowly fades till he’s completely out of sight.

I become conscious of the eyes on me once I’m standing alone and with a lowered head; I avoid their gazes and hurry up the stairs. I walk down the hallway and my room is open when I stand before the door.

With an unsteady hand, I grip the knob and turn it. The door opens and I slip in before gently shutting it back.

My face splits into a smile as my eyes glide across the corners of the room and it’s truly as I left it. Everything is exactly as it was and though it looks untouched, it’s surprisingly clean with not a single dust in sight.

I walk further inside and sniff in the fresh fragrance of the space. My heart warms at my presence here once again and I inaudibly scream as I jump into my bed. I grab a pillow and throw my face into it, the sound of my chuckles muffled by it as my body shakes repeatedly.

I didn’t think I was ever going to see this room again. I didn’t think I’d ever even step foot at the entrance of this pack again. Yet here I am, all thanks to Will.

My heart skips a beat just as his name comes to mind and I turn my head to the side, heat spreading through my body as I remember each time I’ve looked into his eyes through the last hours. I’ve looked into Will’s eyes countless times in the past, but something about this time just feels so… each eye contact shakes me in a way I can’t describe. Could it be because it’s been years and I’m just taken aback by how much he’s grown?

He’s grown a lot. His face and his demeanor. The aura he radiates and his—

I sit up when my thoughts start to drift where they shouldn’t. “What the hell are you thinking, Emma?”

Why the hell is my heart pounding so hard?

The occurrences that have taken place must still overwhelm me.

“I should wash.” I move out of bed, beaming as I take a look around my space again. I walk to my mirror and my reflection stares back at me; my eyes look heavy and the blues are so dulled. My face looks puffy too and my skin feels rash.

My chest falls in a defeated sigh as I run my hands through my hair, the black curls thick as they slip through my fingers.

Living in the BlueStone pack, I had no time to care for myself. All that mattered was surviving another day. Each day was lived in anxiety of what would pop up next and what crime I’d be punished for next. How hard would I have to bear it without breaking and how much would I wish for death to just take me?

I wipe the tears from the corner of my eyes and take a step from the mirror before undressing. I walk to my closet to grab a fresh towel and I’m wrapping it around my back when the door unexpectedly opens and my movement freezes, my pupils enlarging as my eyes meet his.