EMMETT.Mister Hoffman nods before he disappears from my screen, leaving the option for me to either call again or send a message and I shut the laptop close as Jas walks in.“Boss, have you checked the news?” She says, her eyes shifting between the screen of the tablet in her hand and my face as she shifts her stances repeatedly.“No.” I respond as I pick the remote from my side drawer to turn on the television in the office as I also take the tablet she is passing to me.“It is happening again. The shapeshifters are back in town. People are expected to go home early, be alert and protect themselves in case of an attack. Offices—” The rest of the newscaster’s words goes unheard as I click on the pictures on the tablet.“No solid evidence, just a picture of a wolf and a vector werewolf.” Jasmine tells me as I can also see for myself.I know when Dawson is at the base of something.“Tonight is a full moon and so is tomorrow as predicted by the—” I turn off the television and return the
SADIE.I drop my phone, again! Stepping back enough to check out my fit for the night. All I have ever done is take missions and succeed... remove Emmett from the list but all I have done is succeed. Never have I ever been on a hunting mission. Hell! I had no idea we are hunters—I want to warn Emmett but I know he already knows. If he is as strong as he poses to be… he should win? Or not. Everything happening tonight is all because I agreed to Emmett’s dumb plan to bring out the truth.“Have you packed your bronchodilator? There will be lots of smoke. We have to fog their visions and come for them unexpectedly even though we are expected.” Aunt Kitra says as she limps towards me.“You are limping.” I remark as I nod to her question.“It’s nothing. I have been far more injured in the past and I still fought. I know you are reluctant to kill a lot of people whose heads are not ordered but remember that those people are not humans and if they had the chance to come at us first, we would
EMMETT.“Remember the rules. No killings, just graze them no matter how hard you are attacked. They are all trying to prove a point to the people and we are not going to let them have that edge over us. Cullen, you are fully in charge of the newbies. I thought I left a clear order for you all not to bring in new members but some of you all seem to be falling excessively in love.” I remark as I strap on my jacket.“How many newbies do I have to control from ripping people and turning multiple humans tonight?” Cullen asks as Liam walks in with Shell who barks a couple of times as I refuse to grant him his back rub.“Just four. Three ladies and a man.” Liam responds before I do.“Just? We need to start expelling pack members who do not seek permissions before turning people into one of us. It is not like you are not going to allow them anyway, it is just that we will have more control that way. It is always love and light, I know.” Cullen complains as I stoop to rub Shell’s back.“Shell,
SADIE.I do not need to check the phone to know who it is. Every other person that may be calling this phone is going on this hunt mission. Leaves me to no one else but him. In case he thinks talking to me will change my father’s mind, he got it all wrong. In fact, hearing from him or about him will only fuel his anger and irritation.As much as I want to keep mute and not even speak to anyone, wherever we are going does not seem like the neighborhood I silently invaded to kill Emmett twice. “Where are we heading?” I ask as my skin tingles and somehow my ears pick on every sound, every single sound. Even the farthest sound.My nose as well, I smell the wet road so much, the trees, the air, the snake going on its own somewhere along the forestation.“I am sure he has been the one calling you.” He responds instead, and I groan from the amount of pain going on in my body as I compress the convulsion I am beginning to feel coming.I need every strength to control whatever is changing with
EMMETT. “You cannot be there. Please, Qet.” I beg her as she finally answers her phone.“It is too late. I am already there. I cannot leave now.” She argues.“You can get intrigued in this conversation and begin to retreat. I will come and get you soon. How are you feeling? Did you see anything?” I ask knowing fully well that she might lie to me.“I do not need you to care about me.” She groans out.“I do not need you to tell me when to care about you and when I should not. You are mine, and I will protect you at every point in time.” I retort calmly as I drive towards the borders.I need to go through the normal route. I need to be tracked in case there would be a need for reference. Dawson’s dirty game can be played by us as well.“I belong to myself.” She is still too stubborn.“Forgive me for telling you to shut up. But please shut up and listen to me. Of everyone you think you should trust; I am the right person. If anything happens to you, I get affected too. Your father cannot
SADIE.I have never denied the fact that he is so hot. Too handsome. He aged so much like a fine wine. Old and beautiful. Just that he is way much older than anyone can ever imagine. How did the rest of the world not notice that this man has lived four hundred years? Has he been hiding, waiting for me? But he is also a popular business man.His hand holding mine on his thigh as he drives is hot and while I get relief from the pains, it only makes me want him more. Whatever this night is, I hate it and love it at the same time.“Stop breathing like that, please.” He says the only word he has said in the last few minutes to me in a while.Am I even making sense with my speech? I mean thoughts? Whatever it is. I feel so drunk without taking any liquor whatsoever. I am in a haze of pain and want. More of the want now thanks to him. I practically want to be held closer than I am now. I want to hug him shirtless.Shirtless brings back the memories of him and that—what’s her name again? What
EMMETT.I want to hold her hand forever if it gives her this much peace. Tucking a stray hair behind her ear, I adjust the blanket to cover her properly as I watch her sleep peacefully.Is it too early to use the ‘L’ word? I know it is inevitable but it is what it is.Taking her fingers out of my hold carefully, I lower my lips to her forehead.“You should be here. Please.” Cullen mind-links me.“I will be there before you know it.” I mind-link in return as I cast a glance my mate’s way before exiting the room.Dawson is a crazy man, knowing fully well that we are at our peak on full-moon nights yet coming for us with his team like we cannot tear them all up in a go or at least turn one of them into one of us so they learn to leave us alone. Yet, he never gives up.“Stop trying to be civilized and just appear here. Let us finish this once and for all. If you can still see the prime minister tonight maybe you should.” Cullen is always impatient.“Look behind you.” I say at the same ti
SADIE.Opening my eyes feels as though they are still close. It is dark and the faint smell of his cologne tells me he is not here but my moment of loneliness is short-lived as the door clicks open and the bed lights come on.“I cannot be here for long. My father and everyone will be back, and I do not want it to seem like I ditched them during a mission. It is bad for my straight records.” I start speaking before he does.“When did you start caring about what others have to say about you?” He asks as he inches closer.Right.“If we do not postpone this wedding. It is meant to happen in a few hours and I am not even ready. I am tired and our reason does not seem promising. If he agrees to this wedding instead of letting me know all that I need to know, what is the guarantee that us staying married will reveal a lot? I cannot deny the fact that I am becoming one of what you all are, I mean I saw my eyes change, I felt my bones snap if not for your intervention maybe I would have change
SADIE.I should have known he wouldn't keep such documents at home. What if the records aren’t even in a file? What if he has them backed up on a storage device or cloud?Striding out of his office, I unbutton my shirt. The dog barks repeatedly, hopping so I see him, and when I glance his way, he calms down.“Can you talk?” I ask, making a face at the dog, and it shakes its head.Okay, he understands. I know to be quiet around him now. I’m sure Emmett won’t have a useless pet.“Do you think he’s going to return home tonight?” I ask, and he barks.I don't know if that bark means yes or no.“Let’s do it like this: if you think he's coming back home tonight, hop to the left. If he won’t be returning home tonight, hop forward. Do you understand?” I ask, pressing my palms to my waist as I move closer to the door.It barks.Okay.“Hop left!” He does. “Now, right!” He does.Okay, cool!“Is he coming back home tonight?” I ask, and he makes a whistling sound before hopping to the left.Okie.“
EMMETT.“Hold on,” I say to Cullen, taking my phone off my ear as I open the door.I can almost swear that someone touched this handle. I am not wrong—Qet’s peach scent wafts through my senses. She’s here.The lights come on, and of course, she is nowhere in sight.“I will be with you all shortly. I forgot the flash drive,” I return the phone to my ear.“We are waiting. Liam has a lot of complaints to pass across. Whatever Jasmine did to have him as a puppy rather than the Gamma that he is...” Liam is forever hating on people in relationships.At this point, the pack needs to find him a wife.“I smell jealousy,” I remark, inching closer to my desk.She’s either beneath the desk or hiding behind the swivel chair.“I don’t care enough to be jealous. I am hanging up.” He ends the call as he has said.The drive is in the drawer. If I get to the drawer, I will blow up her little stunt. I want to tell her to breathe, but I can leave so she breathes. Walking out of the office, I saunter towa
SADIECullen leaves, not bothering to bid Emmett goodbye as I return to the living room, cradling her—my hand against my chest. But Emmett’s sharp eyes catch the crimson seeping through my finger before I can put my hand behind me.In an instant, he’s in front of me, his drink abandoned on the table, his hands reaching out for mine.“What happened?” His voice is low, but the unmistakable edge beneath reveals he has an idea of who might have hurt me.Cullen is a heartless fool. He feigned the oversight. He certainly saw my finger bleed, but he can’t acknowledge it. Maybe Emmett will kill him.“It’s not a big deal,” I respond, trying to pull away.“Don’t,” he murmurs, his grip firm yet gentle as he opens my hand. His jaw tightens at the sight. “Cullen?”It’s as deep as it hurts.My decided silence ticks a muscle in his perfect jaw, but he refrains from the anger, inhaling slowly, controlling it. Without another word, I allow him to lead me to the couch.He pulls me down beside him, his
SADIE.“Guess who finally walked in through the door properly this time,” Cullen remarks as I walk into Emmett’s living room with two trolley bags.“I believe that is not how you intend to be with your Alpha’s wife.” As the words roll off my tongue, Emmett chokes on the drink he was about to swallow, and Liam grins.“You gave us a scare. We looked for you all over. Emmett even called your father, who said he knew nothing about your whereabouts. We tried calling too—nothing. It’s good to see you. Congratulations on your engagement to Emmett,” Liam says, packing up his laptop and phone. “Now, I can head home to my wife,” he adds, standing up.“Thank you so much, Liam. I will see your wife tomorrow or the next. I appreciate her kind gesture,” I respond, walking towards Cullen, who stands too. “Can I see you for a moment, please, Cullen?”“Sure,” he responds, his eyes following me as I walk towards Emmett to cup his face.“Hi, soon-to-be husband. Just a few seconds, and we will have the r
SADIE.I glance at the mirror one more time, ensuring my eyes are not giving me away anymore, and draw in a deep breath. I stretch my fingers and nod repeatedly.“Fake it till you make it, Siyah. One thing you have always done is pick yourself up at all times. This is just a minor setback you can overcome!” I murmur and turn away.I am not running. If I run, I will call more attention to myself. Even if the world is coming to an end, and I necessarily have to end up with a man, it cannot be Matthew. I cannot spend the rest of my life with a man who isn’t as— how do I phrase my words? I cannot be with a man that is not Emmett.Emmett is the instigator of Esther’s death, so I am not marrying any man except him.I will break him slowly. Go through every and any extent to stay so close to him, and when the time is right, he will regret ever loving me.My father doesn’t want me at the agency anyway. I have also been on and off at the law firm. All I have left is my ten-year life warranty sa
SADIE.Dear Sadie,Hey, I know it will be a mess writing that I hope this letter finds you well because you think without me, there is nothing absolutely well with you, but I assure you dear sister that it is indeed well without me even though you are not seeing it now. By the time you’re reading this letter, I believe you are more than old enough to comprehend everything here. I am hoping by the end of this letter you are not shaking your head in disagreement to the content of this letter. I hope that as you read this letter you do as I say because like you used to say, ‘anything Esther says is right.’ I hope that hasn’t changed about you and you still believe in my words. After all, I am mom’s guardian angel for you. I made this decision but know that our father and aunt Kitra had the most difficult time accepting it. In fact, it took our dad almost two weeks to finally accept it. He thought he could come up with solutions, but it happened that he could not co
EMMETT.The poisons?Sadie cannot possibly be one. As much as I want to defend the impossibilities, I cannot. I have not known her long enough to defend her, even if I care about her and somehow, she found her way to me from the very first time I noticed her eyes gawking at my stark upper body while I prepared a meal.Could it be that what Dawson has been trying to protect her from is so she doesn’t become prey? I hate to be baffled, but Cullen might be right. The only stronger substance that can kill a wolf faster than wolfsbane, silver, or decapitation is the blood of the killer wolf.A wolf whose blood mutated in the womb. Could it be that Esmeralda died because she was pregnant with a child that fought with her immune system? Could that be the reason Dawson doesn’t fancy her and treats her like business?I wish I could stop overthinking, but I cannot. Why should I be fixed in a position where I have to choose between my pack and my wife if I test Cullen’s allegations about her? Th
SADIE.What do men think of themselves? I hate how he is able to get a reaction out of me. I meant both of them... maybe especially the one I might still end up killing. I will kill him, then kill myself. I still can’t believe my mood changed because he was pissed. Why do I even care if he’s pissed or not? I don’t care. I can trace my anger to Matt. He was slightly offensive as well. What does he mean by "he knows me well"? No one knows me. If anyone knew me, they’d know this isn’t where I want to be. This isn’t what I want to be doing. I am only doing this because I have to keep doing something. I do it, I complain, but it doesn’t stop me from doing what I want. If at any point a man thinks he can entangle my life with a life-long marriage, that man is deceiving himself. Mate bond or not, I own and control my life. I grew up human, I didn’t ask to not be one. Somehow, according to the books, I won’t be dying young—I hate that already.“You announced your engagement to him successf
EMMETT.“They already love you,” Prime minister remarks, standing next to me as he swirls the drink in his glass.“You seem more excited,” I respond, and drown the rest of the alcohol in my glass, in hopes that it somehow gets to me tonight.“You have no idea how much weight you will be lifting off my shoulders by taking this job. The danger that comes with having to be everyone’s friend when a friend to all is not any—if it’s for that alone, I’m happy to leave this position. It felt good while it lasted,” he replies as his eyes scans over the chatty crowd repeatedly.“You still have a few weeks as the prime minister. I’m not in a hurry, and we are still very good friends.” I drop the empty glass and take another from the passing waiter.“It’s a pity Dawson decided to leave our circle to be a man of his own,” he says, and I follow his line of sight.It’s Dawson, not so excited to be speaking to the woman who seems all smiley as she talks to him, making me interested in hearing what sh