1-The harsh truth

Emerson POV,

Have you ever felt like an option in your life? I don't mean to say when you love someone and he treats you any less. What I'm saying is when the whole world is against you, you feel cornered right? I feel worse, there is no space in mind to retreat to.

As a wolf it means alot to me, I feel at the corner with all but myself. I raised my head from the palm of my hand where it had been buried like concrete for hours.

My leg hurts from running errands for Nicholas, as my eyes meet his sweat beaded my whole face and my heart bumped like it had hit a gallop into a loud thud.

"Pack weirdo! Get me a glass of water!" He yelled at me, he scrounged his brow with a mean glare.

And I hurried on my aching heels to serve him, our Alpha. I stepped closer with fear he might break my bones.

"What has gotten into you? Stop being sluggish and step closer." He tugged hard at my wrist as his words burned down my throat. "Who is going to save you now that I'm the Alpha?" He jerked the glass, the water in the glass spluttered and I stumbled falling on my back.

Laughter roared through the big enormous lounge, I looked to the side to escape another episode of mocking from my pack member but it never helped.

"She could barely see!" Nicholas mocked me with no emotion in his tone. "Stop glaring at me, your father made all of these for you right." He said dryly, reminding me of my dead parents.

"He is your father too." I try to remind him to watch his mouth, perhaps to annoy him the most.

It was true and it hurts me that I'm different too. When I was seven, I would play with other kids but they wouldn't buy me time when one of them stepped up and hit their palm to my chest cursing me or when I saw fangs at the corner ready to devour me. I think it was an illusion but even the adults at the training center hated my eyes. I never knew what it means to be different until my father passed away. I never knew what it means to have reptilian eyes among wolves. Parents are shields to every arrow- tears gushed out of my eyes.

I grazed my hand on the floor with the tears rolling down my eyes uncontrolled. Sometimes I miss my father and the other I have an anger inside of me as to why he brought this self-conceited BASTARD into the world.

"Back off!" I shout at his friend, a beta of our pack that offers me a helping hand.

When I got up. I felt a pull, it was not like anything I have ever felt. It burned like bruises and had my head standing against my follicles. As I bend backwards, I strived to move forward and break free but it will only give Nicholas the pleasure of seeing me in pain as he tightened his grip on my long butterscotch hair.

"At least this will scratch some sense into you. I hate to be reminded I have a sister, but I was patient enough. Imagine your little world has crumbled."

"Let go of my hair! Nicholas!" I blinked my eyes out, it was effortless, everyone in the lounge looked distracted by the drama that my feeling was nothing but an ant to them. Except for the show.

"Alpha! Not until you call me your Alpha."

I spit on the ground. "Never!" He yanked harder into my hair, I roared out, and the pain ran through me like I was shifting on a full moon.

"Help me… please." I mind-linked, it was useless, it reminded me of my father but he's no more, I have to stop this, no one is coming to my rescue.

"Bitch!" He drags me pulling out my hair.

"Let her go," a cold voice breaks into my shout.

Could someone have heard me?

"Don't you hear the lady, you're hurting her scalp." I eased at the hard tone.

Even if it's the strongest Alpha of the Orlean pack Nicholas will not let his grip off my scalp unless he sees the roots coming out and blood staining my hair.

Nicholas snickered at the word. "Who dares? Fuck! You do not tell me what to do with her?"

Fear built in me like a wave, the feeling was not as decent, it was fetish. I could feel it. If Nicholas lets me go he will be hurting his self-esteem and that will be a huge thing, an Alpha as built as him torturing me will be the most dismay of my life and the man that dares challenge him- a nobody.

I was dying to see his face, his seductive voice will be a landmark to how appealing of a sight he is. He wrapped his hand around Nicholas' wrist. "I don't mean to repeat myself. Let her go."

They glared I think, and a challenge from someone I don't know? Have they lost their mind over a cat eye? His scent was very musky and dark to be from our pack. A rogue?

A rogue can't afford the most luxurious lounge in Lafayette. Curiously I stumbled to one side wincing.

He gazed into my eyes, I got scared by people looking me straight in my eyes. The fact that they will end up spluttering atrocious words like Hey! Reptilian eyes, cursed bitch or cat-eyed bitch hurt my stomach but I see none of those intended in his- cold gazes, no pity either, It was engraved in a completely raw musky stare.

"You are too hard on her Nicholas, she's your sister is she not?" He tilts his head straight.

Nicholas scoffed at the audacity of this man.

"Nicholas?" He was steaming hot, his temper I think was the only thing that makes me not doubt his heritage. "Take him out, we're larger in number, a rogue should know the power of a pack, I would give you the grace to leave without creating chaos."

"I can not do that." My pupil dilated and I was made to look again this time without fighting the urge. I saw how dark and curly his hair was, the creamy ebony accentuated his sharp jawline, his face was slim and his eyes- I could see myself through them. . .

They gave a mixture of gold and green filling in the middle. I was scared and lost in them. They are the most appealing eyes hue I have ever seen making them attractive and healthy. He is not a rogue, at least that made me gulp down my throat without a hiccup.

The stranger turned to me, facing me with his cold gaze. "Give her to me. Looks like her pack doesn't want her, she can help me in my pack. I'm taking her whether you agree or not." He steps closer and throws his coat at me. It was until I felt the warmth of it I realized the chills that were diffusing from the floor onto my chest. My floral shirt had no soul in it, I wanted to whisper but his hazel eyes scared me away- it was sharp and piercing. At least it was attractive and he looks too good not to be appreciated in his pack.

"Who are you to think you can claim Emerson? This is Lafayette. And I own this city, you can't get out alive even if you want to." Nicholas threatens with meandering steps.

"If that's how things work here." He craned his head around and then back to Nicholas, without talking. Throwing him a polo helmet. "Then beat me to duel, that's fair enough, I win I get to own her." His eyes are on me as he speaks. "With my loss, believe me, I will be more than just on my knees for meddling."

Nicholas chuckles, dropping the glass of wine in his left hand and striking closer. He whispers something into the stranger's ear, then pats his shoulder. But his cold eyes made it hard for me to discern. I'm scared and curled into the corner. Whoever this stranger is, his stares are so cold and burning, I'm scared of what his motives are. As to his extent.