They know

Emma's pov

I quickly make my way through the packhouse, I don't want to run and bring attention to myself and I don't want to talk to anyone right now because if I do I don't think I'll be able to keep it inside anymore and I don't want anyone to know how stupid I've been, it hurts to even think about it. How the fuck could I get this so wrong? I was convinced Alex liked me, really liked me but I guess it was all in my head, fuck I'm stupid.

Thankfully I manage to make it through the house without bumping into anyone which is a goddam miracle in its self as this place is never empty. Maybe the moon goddess is finally giving me a little break. I quickly head for the back of the packhouse and into the forest, soon arriving at my favourite place in the parklands. I just need some time alone right now and this is the best place for me to be.

Alex's pov

"Whoah Alex, where's the fire?" as I'm running out of the packhouse still trying to find Emma I bump straight into Noah who's heading inside with Jake and Sophia, shit!

"Yeah, everything's fine!" I hate lying to them but I'm not really sure of what I should say to them but unfortunately for me, they already know me very well and know I'm hiding something.

"Alex," Sophia gives me the look only a mother can and I can already feel myself cracking, this woman is good.

"Have any of you seen Emma?"

"Not since training!" Noah answers followed by Jake.

"I've not seen her since breakfast, Alex what's going on?" as much as I don't want to talk about it right now I can see the worried look gracing Sophia's face and that's the last thing I want.

"She saw something but it wasn't what she thought even though I don't know if that was-"

thankfully Sophia stops my rambling before I can spill more crap.

"Ok let's head inside and talk and I'll link her to check on her ok?" her Luna tone is slowly calming me down and I'm grateful, now I just need to figure out what the fuck I'm going to tell them and how the fuck I'm going to do it. We soon reach the lounge and after we've all sat down I look up to see all eyes are on me, great.

"So Alex what's going on? And I want the truth please son." there's not a hint of Alpha coming from Jake right now there's only a concerned friend and father tone and it helps calm me a little more. I quickly tell them what happened from the moment we left the training grounds to Emma running off and their reaction surprises me, I had expected anger maybe a little confusion but instead, they give me a strange knowing face leaving me to be the one confused.

"You like Emma don't you Alex?" Sophia has a loving look on her face as she asks me and again I feel myself crack even more.

"Of course I do Sophia, she's a lovely girl!" there's that knowing smile again.

"that's not what I mean Alex" ahh bollocks, I guess it has been more obvious to them than I realised, what do I say? These are her parents after all.

"It's ok Alex you can tell us the truth!" Sophia pulls out her loving mother smile and I can feel the last of my wall breaking. Here goes nothing.

"I do, I like her so much more and if I'm being honest I've liked her since the moment I met her but of course I understand if you don't like the idea, just say the word and I'll never mention it to anyone again."

"Alex we are all waiting for you to hurry up and ask her out!" Noah grunts out while rolling his eyes causing both Sophia and Jake to chuckle out.

"huh?" it's not often I'm speechless but clearly, there's more going on than I know of.

"everyone can see you and Emma are perfect for each other and we're all waiting for it to happen, Emma deserves a good man for once and we all know that's you!" well fuck me sideways I was not expecting those words out of Noah's mouth.

"Alex, our daughter has been hurt so much in her lifetime, I'm not going to go into detail because it's not my place to say, that's a conversation for you and Emma to have but what I can say is we've all watched you both since the moment Emma came home and we can all see how perfect you two would be together!" the love Sophia holds for Emma honestly warms my heart and if I didn't know any different I wouldn't even believe that she's not her biological mother.

"Alex Emma is hurting right now and yes she will get through this because she is one of the strongest wolves I have ever met but how long that will take no one can say and while she's working on that she needs someone who will be there through the good and bad, someone who will let things run at her pace, someone who will just love her for who she is and not what they can get from her or only want her until they get bored and we all know that person is you. You are already being that person for her I just don't think you realise it but Emma does, she sees it and that's why she always comes to you!" Jake's words are said with love and care and I'm just grateful that he's seeing the good in me. 

"wow, honestly I didn't see any of that, I've just been going with my instincts and how I feel I should act, I wish I could do more to help her, every time she has a panic attack I just want to bring Jay back and make him suffer even more!" 

"The fact that you don't even realise what you are doing just shows how much you care for her!" I'm seriously grateful for the support Noah is giving me, Jake and Sophia too.

"I don't understand how anyone could hurt her, why would anyone want to do anything that would make her sad or cause her pain? she's such a kind person, she'd do anything for anyone and yet there are wolves out there that think it's fine to hurt her. That bastard Jay called her fat and worthless so much that she thinks it's true, how the fuck could he do that to her? she's so beautiful she takes my breath away every time I see her-" 

I shut my mouth when I realise what I'd said out loud to her parents and brother and mentally high five my face.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't be talking like this in front of you guys!"

"why not?" 

"she's your daughter Jake and I should be more respectful to you!" 

"Alex all we can hear is how much you care for our daughter, all we hear is that you look past everything that she's been through and just see her for who she is, it is a blessing to our ears and nothing else!" I swallow hard at their honest words and look up to them both and I can see that they mean every word and it makes me feel happy and hopeful.

"I don't even know if she likes me as any more than a friend, after everything she's been through I wouldn't be surprised if she's off men for good!"

"she does!" Noah quickly chimes out with a smirk laced across his face.

"without a doubt!" Sophia joins in "but her confidence isn't the same anymore and it will take a lot for her to make the first move, I don't know if she has it in her right now but she wants to. She wants you, Alex, that's why she ran earlier, I don't know what Stacey said to her but I'd bet my last dollar on it involving you being Staceys!" Sophia is right, I know she is and I want to end Stacey for it.

"Stacy is seriously starting to fuck me off! I've never given her a reason to think there's more to me and her other than friendship and to be honest within a few weeks of being here I lost interest in calling her a friend as well because of how she was acting, she needs to stop but I've tried everything I can think of!" 

"maybe we should speak with sean, I know he's aware of the situation and that he's spoken to her but I don't think he realises how extreme things are!" if Jake's idea can help in any way then I'm in.

"It's worth a shot Jake. Sophia, Emma's not answering my links, would you mind trying to link her to see if she's ok?"

Within seconds she's smiling my way, "she's fine, she's at her sunflower garden." I don't know the story behind her sunflower garden but I know it's her favourite place in the parklands and I'm glad she has it.

I tell them that I need to go and talk to Emma as I stand up but before I can move a step the door to the lounge flies open and the packs top warrior Richards runs into the room panting and dripping in sweat.

"what's wrong Richards?" Jake jumps up from his chair instantly in Alpha mode while Noah and I are straight by his side.

"I've had a link of Brown he's out patrolling the forest with Rhys and...and." his tone has me instantly on edge.

"what is it, Richards?" It's clear to see that Jake is slowly losing his patience.

"they have reported seeing Jay hiding in the forest Alpha!"

WHAT THE FUCK!