Emerald"What?"I questioned. "Did you-""No," he interrupts. "I didn't tell him. I love my father but I don't tell him everything. That was more my mom's job..." I was silent, unsure on if he wanted to talk about his mom or the fact that his father wanted to meet me. Either one made me uncomfortable but I was willing to do it for the sake of the relationship. One was just going to be profoundly harder than the other. "Anyways, he was able to sense that I was withdrawn and that it was taking a toll on me...""And he wants to meet me?" he nods. I was silent. I knew that once I met his father the question would rise about my whereabouts and what pack I originated from and why my natural scent wasn't evident. It was all questions that I had yet to answer for Garret. He was being very patient about it and I appreciated that very much, but I knew time was winding up for me to reveal that part of my life that I had buried for so long. "Are you free tonight?" I questioned. He looked at me co
Emerald's POVHe was shaking.I was shaking.He was angry.Mine was resurfacing pain and agony.He was pacing, it being clear that his wolf wanted to come out. I wanted to console him, I wanted to tell him that it was fine, that it was in the past but I couldn't work up the courage to say so yet. Tears threatened to spill out, but I tried to contain them as much as I could.I leaned back on the Victorian couch and stared ahead."How could they do that to you?!" Thadus asked angrily. "Your own brothers."Even with my state, I still got chills with hearing his voice, it was undeniable. The way his voice was deep and held so much base. If it wasn't for him being my mate, I would probably quiver in fear.With the given situation, Lilly had disappeared again, to whatever place she cowered in for those three years.He growled and at that point, I couldn't hold it in anymore. I whimpered as the tears finally fell. I never truly gave myself time to grieve all the mess I had gone through in th
Emerald's POVWe settled in silence. I was in between his legs, his right one being propped on the arm of the couch while the other one was at a right angle, his foot on the floor. I knew he was uncomfortable but since I made no movement to get out of this position, neither did him. My head was against his chest, my hair a mess, and his fingers ran through it, calming me. "So... Do you believe me?" I question, never completely asking. "It's hard to believe," he stated. "But that's just it. It is hard to believe but so is our existence, so is yours. I've learned more about the world outside of just humans and shapeshifters that are unexplainable but I'm willing to learn because you're a part of that outside world. And confusion isn't going to make me go anywhere.""Good," I say softly. "Cause I don't know what the hell is going on but I know I can't survive without you."He chuckles slowly. "Me either."I looked at the clock and it read midnight. It had been five hours since he had
Emerald's POVGarret had gone home to change into something more presentable for when I met his dad and wanted to make sure everything with the pack was under control. I had finally figured out what I was going to wear to this meeting and was satisfied enough to finally leave for the address that Garret had given me. Playing around with my striped black and white sleeveless dress, I double checked my hair and makeup in the mirror by the front door. I didn't feel like I was trying too hard but yet it was also acceptable for "meeting the parent" type look. Grabbing my purse, I head for the door, opening it as I search inside of my bag, making sure I wasn't forgetting anything. But once the door was fully opened, I felt it, and I stopped. Looking up, I expected to be struck with fear and nervousness, but his soft yet somewhat intimidating eyes didn't strike me. I remained calm."Mr. Johnson," I say softly. "Forgive me," he says. "I decided to come to you instead of you coming to me, I
Emerald's POVI let out a shaky sigh. Not because I was scared to tell him but because of all the information he had just laid on me. My mom lived here. My mom had worked here. My mom had found her mate here. And yet I didn't know any of this. Getting up from my seat, I sat next to him on the couch, still in a faraway place like I got when I thought of my parents. I slowly brought out my hands, palms facing upwards, beckoning for his. He waited a minute before his hands went over me and our hands were clasped against each other. I closed my eyes, letting the memory reel itself and went to Mr. Johnson. The views I had as a child.The ones of my mother singing in the kitchen while preparing whatever meal she felt like preparing. While she sang and softly danced, the ingredients magically flew around the workspace. Flour was magically poured into the mixing bowl, she'd turn around in song and dance and add more herself.My father would watch from the kitchen doorway, smiling at her li
Emerald's POV"What do you mean Garret?" Mr. Johnson asked. He looked over at me, meeting my gaze. Nodding my head in agreement of letting his father know, Garret responds. "Her brothers locked her away after her parent's death. They blamed her for it and abused her for nine years..."Garret continued with everything. With my wolf not being very present, with me dying and coming back to life. Even with the visit of Luna and Venus. Mr. Johnson remained neutral throughout the explanation. I didn't know whether he believed it or not but he made no move to call me crazy and his son stupid for believing me.When it was all said and done, Mr. Johnson settled in the love seat, deep in thought. While he was silent, Garret turned to me again. "Are you alright?" he questioned softly. "I'm fine," I say softly. "I'm your mate," he states. "You're not fine.""I've had to relive the worst days of my life two days in a row," I state. "I'm doing a lot better than what's expected."He sighs as he
Emerald's POVWe finally began to drive up the driveway to the Alpha house. Having reached the pack's housing territory, I noticed just how different their living situations were from mine back home. Their houses were more secluded, no one would think of coming this far to see if someone lived here. It was practically in the middle of nowhere. At first, arriving, I was met by iron gates that read Knights. At the moment of Garret's truck pulling up, they opened. He continued to drive through this secluded forest until, after what felt like a mile, it began to clear into houses. Plenty of them. They weren't overly gigantic but they weren't small either. Between each house was at least a quarter mile. They were spread out tastefully but the fact that there were so many and continued to be so many left me awestruck. He continued to drive, driving past more and more of these houses. From what I could gather with people outside of their homes was that they belonged to families who had h
Emerald's POV.With the news of his brother still weighing heavily on my mind, Garret soon took my hand and led me inside his home. The inside was just as breathtaking as the outside. It was warm and cozy and inviting and let's not forget, immensely huge. He led me past plenty of sitting areas into a cozy family room that was more tucked into the house. Having already passed a grand staircase when entering the house, I was confused about the staircase in the family room. "Where do the staircases lead to?" I question while looking around the room like I was in a museum. "The one near the front door is to the bedrooms," he responds. "This one is for the study, game room, the indoor pool, and library."I shouldn't be surprised by the rooms he listed. In a house like these, you could afford to have all those things. But goodness, even an indoor pool? He pulled me off to the right where we walked down a well-lit hallway and passed by the dining room. "This is the family dining room,"
Emerald's POVAfter talking to one another for what felt like hours and finishing our ice creams, I had Adam show me the way to Garret's office. I had yet to be in the room, never remembering where it was and just out of some fear of getting lost. Bidding me goodnight after he took me to the door, he went to, what I assumed, was his room down the hall. Raising my fist to knock on the door, Garret beats me to the punch-"Don't you dare knock," he says instantly. Opening the door, I pop my head in to see him at his desk, facing me. He was writing down something and didn't have his sole focus on me but I knew he heard me enter. "How'd you know?" I questioned playfully. "I heard you walk up with Adam," he explained. "You don't ever need to knock, this home is yours just as it is mine."Walking further inside, closing the door behind me, I made my way to the seat in front of his desk. "I didn't want to invade your privacy, figured you were doing something important.""You could never i
Emerald's POV"What smells so damn good?"I chuckle to myself hearing this from the living room. I knew it was Garret and I just shook my head at his random outburst. As soon as the question was posed, I heard three pairs of footsteps making their way into the kitchen. Having looked up for the first time since I began cooking, I realized that Madam Pat was sitting on an island chair, watching me the whole time. Her face read of amazement and joy. Not knowing what to say at this realization, I just smile. I was then met by my mate's scent and instantly looked over at him as he came into the kitchen. He easily makes his way over to me while his dad and brother join Madam Pat at the island. Wrapping his arms around my waist while resting his chin on my shoulder, I suddenly felt completely at ease. "Not that I mind you cooking," he begins, "But what made you want to cook?"I shrug my shoulders softly to mind his chin. "I wanted you guys to be able to catch up and, I don't know, I felt
Emerald's POV"Can you... excuse me for a minute?" I say softly after Adam released my hand. It was clear he didn't feel anything that I had, that he was unaware of what had just currently happened. "You alright?" Darrel asked, having sensed my offputting feeling. "Yeah," I responded, maybe a little too quickly. "You guys catch up, I'll be back."I could sense that Garret knew something was wrong with me but I didn't look at him. I didn't want him to follow me. I wanted him to be able to catch up with his brother. Absently walking out of the living room, I roamed anywhere from there. I wasn't sure where I was going or my heeled feet were taking me, but anywhere to make sense of what I had just seen was far better than trying to make sense of it while in company with him. I knew he had nothing to do with the bondage and abuse I had faced for nine years. I doubt he even knew of my existence like the rest of my pack seemed to be oblivious of. But for him to be their friend as it seeme
Emerald's POV"How could you-""I didn't use any witchcraft," I interrupt. "It was just common knowledge by how you talked about her."He sighed, closing his eyes. "So I basically was a puppet for you.""I didn't bring her up, you did. And for good reason, I'm guessing. Why would you tell me?""You remind me a lot of her," he says, his eyes opening and showing golden brown, much unlike deep brown ones. "Not just because of the fact that you two are the only ones of your kind but you look a lot like her.""But I'm not her," I say slowly. He nodded his head slowly, coming to reality as his eyes went back to normal. "How'd she die?" He sighs again, the look of anger and loss crossing his face. "You don't have to tell me," I say quickly. "It's none of my business."I could see the look of relief cross his face. "Thank you," he said softly. Nodding my head, a sudden feeling came over me. "Oh shit," I say mostly to myself. "What is it?" he says confused. "Garret's brother is here."
Emerald's POVIt was just a few hours before Garret's brother arrived and I was in the library. Garret and his father were busy with pack business, in other words, trying to figure out what had happened with me the previous night. I knew they were searching for answers and I was grateful for it, but I knew that they wouldn't find anything. It was beyond their reach. It was something I would have to find. Where to begin though?I wasn't sure. Not in the slightest. I tried to not let it affect my mood and make me even more confused than I already was, but I could already feel the tension rising. I sighed in slight frustration and continued to look at the plethora of spines on the shelves. I could tell these books dated back from the beginning of the pack's lineage. Feeling their aura coming off of the books themselves, I knew, with one touch, that I could see the history play throughout my brain. As I continued to roam the aisles, I suddenly felt an attraction to something. It was a
Emerald's POV."How many days has it been?" I questioned as I stood in underwear and a bra in our closet. We were both in our own sections of the closet, getting dressed after our shower."Just one," he responds easily. "Did your brother come?" I remembered him mentioning to me that his brother would be here sooner or later. I didn't want his arrival to have happened while I was unconscious."He arrives this afternoon." It was currently one in the afternoon, so that gave me about two to three hours to prepare myself for meeting yet another one of his family members. "So... tell me about Berny," I say. He didn't respond right away and I figured it was his way of preparing to tell me the life that I had yet to learn about him. I felt somewhat guilty at the fact that we had gone on for so long without me knowing anything about him. Feeling him behind me as I searched for casual loungewear, I waited patiently. "I took the Alpha position when I turned eighteen, much like ever Alpha be
Anonymous POV.Garret heard something fall to the floor, and the moment he heard it, he was out of bed. Instantly opening the door, without knocking, he sees Emerald's body on the floor. If it had not been for hearing her heartbeat, he would've assumed she was dead by how pale she looked. He instantly got on his knees, screaming her name. Regardless of how many times and how loud he screamed, she didn't wake up. Cradling her body in his arms, he brings his hand to the back of her head, becoming confused as to why it was wet. Had she hit her head when she fell?Moving her hair from her neck, he sees four holes, aligned in a straight row, on the back of her neck. Growing confused as to how she got it, it being fresh, he instantly mind linked his father and the pack doctor to come to his room. He knew that they heard him through their sleep and he began to carry Emerald to the couch that sat in front of their bed. Gently placing her down, he began to run his hand through her hair. HIs
Emerald's POV.It was past one in the morning as I was in the closet putting away my clothes and accessories. Garret said that the maids could do it but I didn't want to be a burden, plus I wanted to get a feel of the closet for myself. There was already so much here already that it almost felt unnecessary to add mine to it. Especially since he made it a point to get everything in my size. Everything that was already here was clothes that I would wear, possibly with a more hefty price tag than I'd prefer, but I could see myself in every garment. It annoyed me how well whoever bought all this stuff knew me. I was rearranging the closet to fit the clothes that I already had and it was taking up a bit of my time but I didn't mind it so much. I knew Garret was still up doing pack business in his office, a place I had yet to find and didn't attempt to either. It was a hassle just to make it back to my room after dinner which was, thankfully, without his brother. He postponed his arrival
Emerald's POV.With the news of his brother still weighing heavily on my mind, Garret soon took my hand and led me inside his home. The inside was just as breathtaking as the outside. It was warm and cozy and inviting and let's not forget, immensely huge. He led me past plenty of sitting areas into a cozy family room that was more tucked into the house. Having already passed a grand staircase when entering the house, I was confused about the staircase in the family room. "Where do the staircases lead to?" I question while looking around the room like I was in a museum. "The one near the front door is to the bedrooms," he responds. "This one is for the study, game room, the indoor pool, and library."I shouldn't be surprised by the rooms he listed. In a house like these, you could afford to have all those things. But goodness, even an indoor pool? He pulled me off to the right where we walked down a well-lit hallway and passed by the dining room. "This is the family dining room,"