Chapter 46
EMMA
The omega with Will’s bag follows him when we get to the corner that separates my wing from the Alpha’s and I wait while the girl carrying mine walks forward. My heart is pounding in my chest as I count the seconds in my head while I watch him walk away, and the further the seconds count, the more his frame becomes smaller, the distance between us growing larger. Still, I wait. I wait and count. I wait and hold my breath, waiting for the sign that’d give me a bit of hope–a bit of reassurance, I wait for that head turn for our eyes to meet even for a brief second–but it doesn’t come and as he disappears completely from my sight, my heart drops and I lower my gaze. I stand there, staring at my shoes before I twist my body and force my feet forward
“Thank you.” I say to the girl when we reach the front of my door and she smiles shyly at me before passing me my bag. My chest falls with a sigh as 1 in the knob and enter my room. The familiar scent of the space spreads around me and I shut the door to the warm feeling of being home.
I walk inside and set my bag on the foot of the bed before falling against the mattress. I place a hand on my stomach to even my breathing as I stare into the air, my thoughts a cluttered mess in my mind.
It means nothing Just because he didn’t turn to spare me a last glance doesn’t mean he’s forgotten what’s happened these past days–it certainly doesn’t mean what happened between us meant nothing to him. There was no shift in the mood between us right until the moment the car entered the pack house.
I’m just overthinking things again. As I always do. I mumble to the air as I ler out an exhale.
“Speaking to yourself like the weirdo you are?” The sudden boom across my room makes me lift from the bed and my brow raises when I see stepsister resting against my door with her arms crossed to her chest and a smug smile on her face.
I really need to learn to keep my door closed always,
“Nina,” I call as I get out of bed. “What do you want?”
my
She doesn’t say a word as she lets herself in. Her eyes scan the room as she waltzes in before stopping only a foot before me. Her gaze runs down my body before her eyes finally rest on mine and she tilts her head. “1 see you’re back safely, slepsister.”
“Shouldn’t you be at school
She scoffs. “I’m the one who does the questioning here. Not you.” I stay silent at her words and she closes the remaining space between us. “Where did you go with my brother?”
“What?”
“You heard me.” She frowns, tone aggravated. “He wouldn’t reveal it. Not even to moin. And I want to know. What was so urgent that he had to take you out of the pack house! At first, I thought he was finally going to listen to the advice and get rid of you.” She pauses and shakes her head. With a click of her tongue, she continues, “But that’s not the case, so where did you go!”
“I don’t think I start, but she cut in, her face squeezing “You’ll answer.”
I swallow the scoff that threatens to break out before I part my lips. “I don’t think I have
Nina surprised by my answer, and it takes a few seconds before she finds her words. “Excuse inc?”
“If the Alpha didn’t tell you, then you’ll find no answers from me. I just got back, and I’d love to rest, so can you please-
Hey My shoulder is shoved before I can finish my words and my gaze falls to the contact before I lift my head Nina’s eyes are angry and her voice raises as she spits out her words. “Who the fuck do you think you are to speak to me like that? Another shove. “You’re a nobody whom my brother took pity on and saved. Do you hear me? A fucking nobody! With an even stronger push, I fall on the bed and my teeth grind together as I look up to her, “Careful”
She smirks, her lips curving with such an evil intent that I n
might have been intimidated if I weren’t familiar with the kinds of her, “Was that a
“I’m older than you, I peak softly and Nina Lauglis. It’s not a genuine one–it’s one meant to mock me and my words.
“And lesser. Have you forgotten your place, dear stepsister? You’re the outcast here. You’re the one who isn’t wanted by the family. The one who’s Idathed by the father” My jaw clench at the mention of the man and flashes of the last time I saw his presence come to mind. The emotions I felt that day as I watched the sceurs follow the memories and i rise from the bed. Nina takes a step back when I approach, and I almost sense the fear from her when I grab her shoulder. “Do not speak to me like dut,”
The panic I see vanishes within a second, and she glares at me. “Do not fucking touch-
1/4
2:48 PM c
Chapter 46
“Emma.” The call of my name halts her and my hand drops from her shoulder at the presence of Ryan. He’s standing by the door and his gaze switches between me and Nina before he steps forward. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing Beta Ryan” Nina is quick to say, her expression turning gentle as she faces Ryan. “I was just having a brief conversation with my sister.” The last word comes out forced as she chews on it and she spares me a glance before she turns to Ryan. “I will take my leave now.”
I watch her walk out of the room, and once the door shut, I fall to my bed.
“What’s this? I thought you’d be all smiles being back from your honeymoon, considering how excited you were before you left I lift my head at Ryan’s tease and jerk it. “Stop”
He chuckles as he takes the space next to me, “How are you? The Alpha told me about the attack.”
“I’m okay. I healed”
“I heard that too.” He says with a amile. “A special being you are, aren’t you?”
“How was it taking care of the pack?” I ask, and his shoulder lifts in a shrug. Not bad. It was only for three nights, so it was nothing. I thought you’d stay longer.
“We got the Kanima, and he was killed. There was nothing else to stay for My head drops as I pick at my nails and silence takes root for only a while before Ryan breaks it. “Something happened?”
My head raises. “What? Why are you asking?”
“I don’t know.” His eyes narrow as he cocks his head. I just sense it and you seem disappointed to be back. Something happened between you and your crash!”
knees to my
“Nothing did, and stop calling him that.” I shuffle back from his scrutinizing gaze and the sound of Ryan’s laugh follows me. I lift my chest and wrap my arms around them as we sit in silence. I can feel Ryan’s eyes on me and it isn’t after a minute I hold his gaze. He doesn’t speak, those brown eyes holding an emotion I can’t decipher, and I clear my throat. “What?”
“I’m happy you’re back. Alive”
My lips coils and I rest my chin on my knees. “Why? You thought I’d die?”
“It crossed my mind.” He says with nonchalance, and I lift a hand to slap his arm. Ryan’s eyes widen and his mouth opens “Emma Rhysand. Do you know it’s treason to raise your hand against a beta?”
The sound of my laugh echoes across the room at his words and Ryan smiles. As the sound slowly dies, I can’t help the warmth in my chest. In our conversation. At him. At how easy it always seems around him and how my mood lifts in his presence. I raise my head and whisper, “I missed you, Ryan
He falls silent, as if the words take him by surprise, then the smile is back on his face and he spreads his arms, I move into his embrace, my hands wrapping around his back as he holds his hand to my head. “I missed you too, kid*
“Don’t call me that
“Kid” He repeats louder and I shake my head as I hold him for a second longer before I let go. Ryan flicks my forehead before he moves from bed and his hands slip into his pant pockets as he stares down at me. “I’ll tell you something. Take it as a gift.”
my
1 arch a brow as I wait and he says. “The Alpha.. he’s a complicated person. Keep that in mind, Em He throws me a wink before he walks out of the noon while I dide under the blanket as his words ring in my ears.
NEXT MORNING-
I didn’t see Will for the rest of the day after we arrived yesterday. And it’d be a lie to say it didn’t bother me or to say I didn’t miss how it was when we went away from the park house.
Even if we didn’t speak much at first, it was easy to see him–to be around him. Now I can only stare at his office door as I walk past and wonder what he’s doing behind it.
Is it truly over!
Vin I a fool for giving myself to a man with no certainty of what follows afterward?
was I must have been. Yet I can’t bring myself to regret it. No matter how much I want to hate it, I can’t. Because I loved–love–it too much. Even if this is the end of the two days of paradise I got, I can’t regret it. Because it was good. It was so good that my heart yearns for more even whilst knowing I might never have it again.
2/4
2:48 PM
Chapter 46
I walk into the training grounds and Bianca is the first to see me. She rises from the bench and runs to me. I let out a laugh as she throws herself into me.
lifting my body into the air as she twirls the both of us.
“Goddess. I missed you so much, babe.” She coos when she drops me to my feet again. She takes my face in her hand and presses a kiss that lasts for seconds to my cheek. When she moves back, she smiles at me and I take her hand. “Missed you too.”
Her brows furrow. “You sure? You barely texted when you were away.”
“I did. Believe me. I just wasn’t with my phone much.”
“Am I to be left out of this reunion?” It’s Elijah’s voice and I turn my head as he steps next to us. A small smile graces his face and it reaches his eyes as he meets mine. “You’re back.”
Bianca throws a hand around my neck as I nod and say. Tm back.”
“How was the mission What did you say it was again!”
“The Kanima—the one who attacked the pack.” I tell him and he nods. “Right So what happened?”
“Killed.“”
“How did you manage to find it?” Bianca asks as we walk to the bench and I sigh. “I don’t know. Just appeared. They think I draw IL”
Bianca and Elijah exchange glances before they look back at me and Elijah says. “I’m glad you’re okay.
“I missed you two so much,” I mutter, and Elijah throws a leg over the bench so he’s facing me while Bianca wraps me in a side hug. “We’ve missed you too. I wasn’t lying when I said it’s been hell here without you -a boring hell”
The sound of our laughter is carried across the wind before a familiar voice breaks through it. “Nice to see you’re back, Emma! Remind me why you’ve been missing from practice these past few days. Those two refused to say.”
I lift my head from Bianca’s shoulder to look at Rio. He stands several feet away with his arms crossed to his chest and his words draw attention to me; all heads turn in my direction as they wait for me to speak.
e for her presence?” A brow is raised in
“And how’s that of your concern, warrior Riot” We all stand as Ryan approaches. “What use might you have Rio’s direction and he lowers his gaze. “No use, Beta Ryan. I was just worried because-
“The break was personal, and I was informed of it. You’re not the Beta, are you?”
“No, Beta Ryan” He answers and Ryan nods before he steps back. “With your weapons” Everyone scatters to grab their chosen weapon at his command, and I meet his eyes amidst the chaos. He sends me a smile and I match it before turning to grab my daggers. The smile on my face drops when I sight him from afar. He’s walking into the pack–house with a man I do not recognize next to him and my heart skips a beat at even the view of his back. My gaze follows every step and just before he walks inside, his head turns and I gasp when our gazes hold. The sound of my heart pounding reaches my ears and my breathing quickens as I wait for what I don’t understand myself. Whatever it is, I don’t get it as Will’s gaze leaves mine and he strides in.
I gulp through the tightening of my throat and blink as I grip the daggers. I hold them tighter than necessary as I march to the rest of the team, annoyance sipping into my veins.
I haven’t been able to get it off my mind that closed–off expression that was on his face as he stared at me.
–
It’s all I’ve been thinking about the entire day.
My steps falter as I reach the front of his office. My hands squeeze by my sides and my fingers dig into my palms. My heart is beating loudly in my chest and I chew on my lips as I contemplate finishing what I had in mind. I’m here, so I might as well just go in, right?
I take one step. Second Third. Then I stops
Because I’m afraid. Scared of the pain that I’m bound to feel. I’m not ready for it–whatever awaits me behind that door. So I turn on my heel and
unter down the ballway without looking back.
I move through the corner and take the path that leads me to my room, my nails stabbing into my palms the further I go.
I reach
my door and my hand is lifting to the knob when a hand suddenly covers my mouth and my front is slammed into the door. My wrists are held to my back and my words are muffled by the palm over my mouth. The presence I feel edges closer and the breath is hot against my skin as the words are whispered, “Got you.”
