Chapter 8
EMMA.
It’s been a week since that incident and I’ve completely healed that I don’t even remember breaking my back. It’s been quiet other than a few infrequent moments when it feels as though someone is watching me, yet every time I turn, there’s nothing other than the breeze of wind and void. I’m thinking it’s all just in my head, especially as nothing unusual has happened since the attack in the woods.
I’ve been living alright in the pack. My father still hasn’t reappeared and my stepsister seems to hate my guts for a reason I do not know about. Other than those, this place hasn’t exactly been hell. I haven’t blended in with the rest of the pack and I stay in my room mostly to avoid curious gazes that are sent my way each time I’m before another’s presence but I’m starting school today and I’ve been feeling quite excited about meeting Violet.
I still don’t understand how the news of my arrival hasn’t reached her, but it doesn’t matter. All that matters is I’m seeing her today.
1 stand before my mirror and slide my hands down my chest to smoothen the fabric of my shirt before I grab my bag from the bed and walk out of the room.
It’s calm as I trot down the hallway to the stairs. I lift a brow when I walk down the stairs, and the space is just as empty. I gaze around as I get to the end of the stairs and let out a sigh when I catch sight of a blond hair. Ryan is leaning against the dining table with his back turned to me as I walk to him and I hear him mumble a few words under his breath before he turns, taking notice of my presence.
He flashes me a smile as he throws his phone into his pocket. “Hey, pretty. Didn’t know you were still in.”
“Hi,” I respond shyly. “Where’s everyone?”
He presses his palms to the edge of the table and leans forward, since I’m standing on the other end. “Nina left for school. Haven’t seen your stepmom around and the Alpha is out on some business.”
“Oh,” I mutter, noting how Will has been mostly out recently. He’s the Alpha, so he’s expected to be busy, but I’ve barely seen him since his last visit to my nursing room and it’s not like I’m waiting for him or anything; just not seeing a familiar face feels
weird.
“On your way to school?” Ryan asks, bringing me out of my thoughts, and I nod.
“Should I take you? I need to run an errand and it’s along the way
“I’d be glad.” I smile at the offer and he winks. I watch as he grabs art apple out of the bowl sitting in the middle of the table and takes a bite. He catches me off guard when he throws the apple at me, but I manage to snag it and the sound of Ryan’s chuckle resonates in the air. “Nice catch.”
He turns to walk out and I stare at the bitten apple before I follow behind him.
It’s mostly empty when we step outside, other than a few warriors practicing defenses in the field across us. They halt their movements and instantly bow to show respect when they see Ryan. I earn a few gazes that make me hasten my steps and hurry to Ryan’s side.
We both get into the car and silence falls in as he drives off. I roll down the window to my side, letting the wind blow in.
“You okay?” I look back at Ryan’s question and cock my head. “Hmm?
“Are you okay? With the pack, I mean. Adjusting well?”
“I’m back home; I’ll be okay, I answer and he nods before he stares ahead.
“Are you gonna eat that?” He asks again and when I look at him, his eyes are on the apple I have in hand. I let out a chuckle before throwing it at him. He catches it in the air and sinks his teeth into it, taking a sizeable chunk. “Yummy.”
I smile and relax in my seat, basking in the feeling of convenience and mischievousness that comes with being around Ryan.
“Can I ask you a question?” He peeks at me before averting his gaze and when I make a sound at the back of my throat, he continues, “What was it like? Being away from home and living in another pack.”
It’s the first time in the entire week my thoughts drifts to the BlueStone pack and how life was there. I grimace, discomfort
Chapter 8
crawling up my skin. “Hell”
Ryan turns his head and our eyes meet. The softness accompanied with concern I see in his browns makes me smile and I say, “It’s all in the past now, thankfully.”
“Thankfully.” He repeats. “I apologize for bringing it up
“It’s okay,” I whisper, and a soothing silence spreads across the small space of the car throughout the rest of the drive.
The car comes to a halt at the front of the school and I let out an unsteady breath as I grip the bag on my lap.
“You’ll be fine. Just keep your head up.” Ryan assures next to me and I throw him an appreciative smile before moving out of the car. I bend towards the window to wave at him, and he makes a salute with two fingers before he drives away.
I watch the car fade into the distance before I turn to the building in front of me. I throw my bag over my right shoulder and pull on the strap, the sound of my heart pounding against my ribcages loud in my ears.
After gathering up every last bit of boldness, I stride into the building. The second I close the door behind me–as if they’ve all been awaiting me–all heads turn in my direction, the busy hallway immediately becoming quiet.
I haven’t stepped foot in this school in years, so it’s okay. It’s expected to earn these gazes. They’re just curious eyes staring at the new student, nothing more.
I keep repeating the words in my head, but the further I walk in, the harder it gets to recite and the less I believe them as the whispers start to grow–loud enough for me to hear.
“Isn’t that her?”
The Alpha’s daughter?”
‘Ex Alpha. Heard she killed her mother and even swallowed her twin?”
‘Ah. The one that got cast out? How’s the back here?‘
Theard she wasn’t better where she went. She committed a huge crime that got her thrown out
I try to dismiss the voices and the careless words that leave each mouth, but it gets impossibly hard as they get louder, both painful truths and outrageous lies mixed in their remarks.
They do not care that I’m walking past them or I can hear them they don’t stop speaking. Each has more words to add, and it starts to get difficult to walk straight and breathe normally.
There were r
rumors before I was taken to the BlueStone pack too, but they were said behind my back. Maybe because I was the Alpha’s daughter, but none of them dared to utter the words to my face.
It’s different now, and it almost feels as though I’m back in that place–in that hell of a school with everyone who wishes me nothing but downfall and only sees me as an object of mockery surrounding me.
I’m near losing it when I see a familiar figure amidst the crowd and everything drowns–the voices, the gazes, the giggles
A big smile covers my face, and I walk faster towards her.
“Violet!” I quickly engulf her in a hug, my chest heaving in a sigh as I shut my eyes and let her embrace wash away everything else. “It’s me. It’s Emma. You recognize me, don’t you? Goddess, it’s been so long and I’ve missed you so much. I’ve been excited to-
I’m yanked back harshly before I can complete my words and 1 blink in confusion when I realize it’s Violet who’s ripped me off herself. Then I also realize she isn’t smiling at me. Instead, a scowl rests on her face as she stares me down with a revolted look in her eyes.
“How dare you touch me, you dirty hag?!” Are the words my best friend from the age of nine to thirteen welcomes me with?
“V–violet?” I stammer. I shake my head and try to take a step forward again, but she lifts a hand in the air, stopping me. “Don’t you dare take another step. I don’t know who you think you are, but I do not know you.”
“What? How can you say that? It’s me. It’s Emma. We were-”
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Chapter 8
“I DO NOT KNOW YOU!” Her voice rises over mine and I flinch at the loudness and the cruelty of those words. “Now, out of my way.” Without sparing me another second, she walks past me, her shoulder bumping into mine, and I gasp as a tear rolls. down my check.
“Is she crying? Oh, my God. She’s crying, guys!” A voice yells and everywhere fills with laughter. I bite down on my tongue and wipe the tear before running from the hallway without lifting my
I run into the nearest room I find and let the tears fall.
head
“Why? Why, Violet? WHY?!” I throw my bag across the room and watch it land with a thud before sloping to my knees, with my hands snatching my hair.
Why are they so cruel? Why’s she so cruel? Why did she do that to me?
Broken sobs fall from my mouth and I gasp through my tears when the room suddenly turns dark. A shudder of fear rolls down my spine as I hear the door open and shut, and I feel another presence in the room.
I get to my feet and attempt to back away when a hand wraps around my neck and I’m dragged across the room till my back hits a wall
Who-“I whack at the hand grasping my neck, but it doesn’t budge. Instead, the grip tightens and I struggle to speak. “Who are you what.. what do you want? Please. Please let me go.”
“You need to leave this pack.” The unrecognizable voice rumbles loudly in the darkness while I try hard to breathe. “Leave and never return! Fail to heed my warning and I shall take your life.”
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