Chapter 12
EMMA.
“Will,” his name leaves my mouth in a breathless whisper as we stay in the position, seconds ticking by and the sound of our breathing mingling. My eyes remain glued to his mouth, the sight of the full lips enticing me, and my heart skips a beat as 1 push my chest out.
I don’t know what I’m doing, but I can’t stop myself as attempt to close the distance between us, wanting more of his body against mine. More of that breathy sound and more of that mouth, but Wilson denies me of each and all as he takes a step out, his touch leaving my skin.
He puts a distance between us, and my heart sinks, wanting him back in my space.
“Al-
“Training is over.” He hurries his words, and I can only stand and watch as he turns away from me. My chest is heaving heavily: as I watch his frame retreat into the pack house and the more steps he takes further from me, each time my brain finally catches up with my mind.
Goddess, what the hell just happened?
I can’t control my heavy breaths as I stay rooted against the tree and the last seconds play back in my head.
I was going to kiss him. I wanted it. I wanted to take his mouth so badly–I wanted my stepbrother’s lips.
Oh, Emma. No. No, this can’t be happening. My stepbrother can’t be the one I feel this for when I finally do.
Shit, this explains everything. How I miss his presence each time he’s absent and how he’s on my mind more often than anyone else ever has. It’s only now I realize I’ve been thinking about him more than anyone and anything else these past few
days.
I shake my head as I grip my hair, trying to regain my senses.
Sure, he’s saved me a few times, and it’s natural for me to be moved by his kindness and care towards me, but it ends there. It has 10. He’s family–he’s my stepbrother. No matter how attractive he looks, or how insanely good those tattoos look on his skin each time the inks come into view, that can’t change. I can’t cross that line. He won’t
“Siepbrother. Alpha. He’s your stepbrother, Emma.” I recite to myself as my body slopes against the tree, and I fight against the reaction that tries to emerge each time the image of how close he had been and how I could smell his breath on my mouth. comes to mind.
Will has disappeared from the face of the earth.
That might sound like an exaggeration, but it truly isn’t. I haven’t seen him in the last eight days–since that night of the training and that incident against the tree.
“What’s got you in deep thoughts, darling?” A chip pushed into my slightly parted lips accompanies the distraction of the voice and I jerk my head, staring down at my mouth before lifting my gaze to smile at Bianca as I suck the chip in. “Nothing. Just stuff”
“Stuff sounds like something.” Elijah’s head is lowered as he focuses on tying his shoelaces and I look between the twins before learning on the table. “What were you guys talking about?”
“We’re planning to go out tonight,” Bianca says, and I hum. She suddenly grins and leans closer. “Do you want to come with? You don’t go out much, do you? You should try coming with us. You’ll have an enjoyable time.”
“Um–I don’t.”
“Come on It’ll be fun. As long as you learn to ignore Elijah.” She earns a toss of his middle finger after the last words and I laugh, forever entertained by the dynamics between the two. It’s only been eight days since I’ve known them, but I feel closer to them than that and I have long forgotten the loneliness that once shrouded me.
“Where are we going?”
Chapter 12
Bianca grins. “A party out of town.”
“Out of town?” I repeat in a high–pitched voice, and she nods as she signals for me to lower my voice. “It’s just the outskirts of the pack, extending a bit beyond our territory. We’ve been there a few times, so we know it’s safe, don’t worry.”
“I don’t know.” I frown at the thought of going so far from the pack. “I’ve never gone that far.”
“You’ve never gone anywhere, and that’s exactly why you should come with us. You’re just seventeen and you should get to experience all the fun times that come with bring a teen. The period doesn’t last forever, I promise you”
I don’t respond quickly enough for her and she grabs my hands, dragging me forward. “You’ll have me and Elijah; You’ll be safe. You know I’m strong, right?”
I laugh at her boastful tone and sigh as she tickles my palms with her thumbs.
It’s not like I have anything important to do back here at the pack house. I’ve been training for a while now and I’m sure Ryan wouldn’t mind if I take today off early. Going out with my friends also sounds like much fun, as Bianca promised, compared to sitting in my room replaying that one moment continually in my head while I wait for him to appear before me again. “Alright. I’m in.” I tell her and Bianca shrieks with excitement. We earn a few glances from the rest of the trainees, but she doesn’t seem to mind as she continues squealing,
“I’ll be so much fun. You’ll love it, believe me. She sways my hand in the air, and I nod with a chuckle.
*Emma!” Bianca drops my hands at the call of my name and I stand from my seat. “That’s me. I’ll see you guys tonight?” “Yeah. We’ll come pick you up by eight sharp” I nod and she blows me a kiss, with Elijah throwing me a wave before I leave
them.
“You ready?” Kyan asks as I step before him and I nor. My eyes wander across the training grounds and beyond it for a few seconds; as always, I’m disappointed when I find emptiness.
“You okay?” Ryan asks, and I look back at him with a forced smile. “Yeah.” He bends to pass me the gloves and I gnaw on my bottom lip as I take them from him. I stare at the gloves with a thought in mind and without lifting my head, I let the words slip from my mouth. “Hey. Um–I haven’t seen the Alpha around for a while now. Just curious as to where he’s been.
I can feel Ryan’s eyes on me, but he doesn’t respond to my query. I hold up my head and he’s grinning at me–a full grin with all teeth out
“What?” I mutter and he shakes his head with a laugh. “Nothing. Just been wondering how long you’d hold on before you break. Took you a while.”
“What?”
He crosses his arms to his chest. “Been watching you look around each time you enter the training grounds; figured you were searching for him.”
Heat spreads to my neck from being caught, and I stammer through my words. “I wasn’t. I just–it’s a bit unusual. I was just
concerned.”
“Or you miss him?” He teases and I turn redder. “No. What? Why’d you think that? I don’t. Why’d I? You know what? Never mind. Forget 1 ever asked that question.”
“You’re so cute when you’re flustered Ryan’s hand shoots out to pull my cheek and I frown as I gently knock his hand off. “I’m not flustered”
“If you say so. But to calm your nerves, the Alpha is okay. It gets busy around this time. He should be back soon, though.” “Yeah, I mumble as I put on my gloves. “Thank you.”
“I’m disappointed” Ryan says when I go to stand in my usual position and I lift a brow, “Why?”
“You have my company, but it seems I’m not doing great job of keeping your mind off others” Ile jokes like he loves to lo and I can’t hold back my smile even as I roll my eyes and say. “It’s on.”
He doesn’t get another notice before I attack him, going straight to his side. He dodges it just barely, and he smirks as he throws my hand hack “You’re getting quicker. You’re a fast learner.
10:04 PM
Chapter 12
“Have an excellent teacher.” I tip my chin at him and a smile slips on his face. I try y to use the brief moment of distraction to my advantage, but I don’t succeed, and Ryan snorts as he uses both arms to dodge my attack. “You’re going to have to do
better than that, sweetheart.”“”
My lips curl. “Watch me.”
I keep going and I manage to land four hits with several fails–two more hits than yesterday’s training. The sun is almost set by the time I finish training with Ryan and there are only a few left running across the grounds in their wolf’s form.
“Thank you,” I tell Ryan as he passes me a bottle of water. I take a sip, the liquid quenching my thirst.
“You have plans?” Ryan is using the towel to wipe the sweat dripping from my chin and when he moves the towel, our gazes lock. I move the boule to the side, startled by how close our faces are. “Yeah? Why do you ask?”
sure you re
He smiles and steps back, giving back my space. “Saw your display of excitement with your new friends. You sure alright to leave here?”
“Why?”
He shrugs as he throws the towel over his right shoulder. “You’ve been attacked twice since you arrived.”
“It’s stopped since the last time. Whatever Will–the Alpha did, it worked. And this is what I’m training for, isn’t it? To be able to defend myself if the need rises?”
“You’ve only been training for over a week,” he points out as he turns his body in my direction. A serious look rests on his face when he continues, “I do admit you learn fast, Emma, but you’re still no match for a wolf–even an untrained one. You can’t protect yourself if one attacks you.”
“I can and I will. You might not have faith in me, but I have faith in what I’ve been taught. Besides, Bianca and Elijah would be with me; they’re one of the strongest here, aren’t they?”
“Em
My brow scrunches as I narrow my eyes at him. “Why are you being intent on this?”
“No reason. I just want you safe. Is that a bad thing?” I don’t respond and he says, “The Alpha wants you safe.”
I scoff and drop the bottle on the bench. I remove my gloves and slap them on my bag before I turn to him. “Yeah? Too bad he isn’t here himself to make sure of that.” I’ve never spoken to Ryan with this tone before. We might be close, but he remains the Beta and is second in command of this pack. I know he should be respected at all times, but I can’t help the annoyance that’s growing and just explodes at the mention of him.
I’m
‘m sorry.” I say in a small voice, and he nods. “No. You’re right. You have your friends with you, so you should be fine. Just.. stay with them always, yeah?”
give a small jerk of my head and he smiles. He ruffles my hair before he turns and grabs his bag
“Beta Ryan?” I call and when he turns to me, I add, “I’m sorry”
He hangs his bag on his shoulder and chuckles. “It’s Ryan to you. I’ll see you later?”
“Yeah” A small smile tugs at my mouth as I watch him leave and I walk back to the pack house to prepare for night out–one that has me both eager and edgy.
my
official first
But nothing could go wrong.
Righ
Ө
