Chapter 5

Emma

I was in a quandary from the moment I returned home. Claire canceled my night shifts for today as the employees had thrown a small welcome party for the CEO.  I couldn’t be more grateful to her as I was in desperate need to sort out my mind. My remedy was my books so I engrossed myself in them and started working on my assignments but my mind kept shifting back to Him.

‘The girl who always avoided men couldn't help but think about her CEO again and again.’ Such an irony.

"How can he read my mind?"

I was still trying to figure it out ‘cause that was something shocking yet terrifying. No one knows my secret and I had no intention of revealing it shortly. For the first time in my life, I was intimidated that too by a human.

Resting my back on the chair, I leaned my head back and stared at the ceiling, still drowned in thoughts.

"To think of it, maybe he was just flirting with me. It’s a natural thing among rich buffoons," I tried to convince myself but then again, how come he was so accurate? This fact was still bugging me.

"Urgh!! Dammit!!", screaming, I tore the sheets and threw them across the room. I stood up abruptly making the chair kiss the floor and started pacing the room.

"Why am I getting so affected by him? What the hell is wrong with me?"

Growling in rage, I glared at the grey wall with burning eyes. Curling my fingers, I pounced on it like a raging bull and was about to punch it when a deep voice seized my movement.

"Emmaline, you need to calm down"

Every cell of my body stilled in shock hearing the one whose voice I had been longing to hear for months.

Reina.

“You are just overthinking Emma. There’s no need for you to fly off the handle. Don’t get agitated by such small things. It could become your downfall”, Reina explained to me softly. She was right. I closed my eyes and took deep breaths.

Reina was furious with my abnegation of responsibility but she was the only one who could handle my muddled mind. Though I had tremendous self-control, I sometimes let my rage overpower my senses. And that’s when my dormant wolf wakes up and takes control over me and helps me simmer down.

Opening my eyes, I exhaled a deep breath and looked at the pieces of paper that were strewn across the room. Sighing, I collected them and discarded them in the dustbin. I then picked up my chair and slipped into it. Steepling my fingers, I sat in silence for some time when a memory flashed in my mind.

“Focus Emma, you’re not doing right.”

Ralph, Beta of the Vengeful Hunters, and the pack’s trainer shouted at me as I kept missing the targets.

I couldn’t find Jasper since morning. I was dependent on him and couldn’t start my day without seeing his face. Restless and dejected, I couldn’t focus on any of my lectures or during the practice. I was Ralph’s best student but because of my today’s poor performance, he couldn’t help but lash at me again and again.

Ralph finally lost his temper. Storming towards me with heavy steps, he gave a hard punch to my lower abdomen making me fly backward. Ralph was surprised as the Emma who would have instantly jumped on her feet and counterattacked him today crawled into a ball and started groaning in pain.

It hurt so bad. I couldn’t gather myself up and fight. I just wanted to go and cry in the arms of my Jasper. Turning to the side I coughed blood when I saw a boy of the same age as me running towards me. I couldn’t see his face clearly as my eyes were blurry with tears. The boy was about to touch me but stopped after earning a glare from Ralph. Frightened, he moved back and disappeared into the woods.

Ralph then shifted his eyes on me and approached me. Placing his right knee on the floor, he crouched to my level and grabbed my shoulder. He helped me sit and then looked at my bloodied face and battered body. Every inch of my skin was covered with bruises and my muscles were completely sore because of his brutal kicks. Ralph sighed and made me look at him. But his gaze turned into a glare when he noticed my moist eyes.

“Warriors never cry. Have you forgotten your lesson, Emmaline?”, he growled. I instantly lowered my gaze.  A tear trickled down my left eye but I instantly wiped it off with my injured hand, smearing some blood on my cheek.

A sigh escaped his lips. Though his ways were strict, I know he did have a soft corner for me. Lifting his hand, he caressed my crown gently. I stifled a cry and pushed back my tears.

“Child, can you see this bud?”

I lifted my eyes and focused them on his palm which had a bud of red rose at the center.

“You know once it will grow, it would gather a lot of eyes that would be enthralled by its beauty. They will pluck it and admire it but even after being the most beautiful flower in the world, no one will try to protect it once their life comes in danger. You know why because it can’t be their savior. It is exquisite but weak. It can’t protect itself. Now look at that magnanimous banyan tree”, he said while pointing his direction to his left where the great tree stood proudly.

“It isn’t that appealing like the exotic flowers of the garden but it is capable to provide shelter to everyone, be it a weakling or a stalwart. The hideous, huge, and magical trees of this valley would sacrifice themselves but won’t let any danger touch us. Despite being our bulwark, we don’t admire them ‘cause they aren’t beautiful as those roses in the garden but we will come running to them in times of danger. Not even the great forces of nature can touch them but these small and beautiful flowers would be uprooted, wilted, and can be crushed even by a mere human. Now tell me what looks more appealing to you?”

I frowned and looked at Ralph. His inscrutable expression and ambiguous words threw me into a maze. I kept staring at him with confusion but my eyes widened after hearing his next words.

“The one who baths in gold will never understand those who struggle even for a single penny. The one who gets to eat delectable comestibles every day would never understand the pain of the one who sleeps on empty stomachs every night. The one who basks in power, jewels, and dominance would never understand the agony of those who go through humiliation, sleepless nights, and loneliness. Moon Goddess had planned something big for you that’s why you survived the day when your entire family was butchered. Your fate brought you here, Emma, not Jasper. Don’t let any distractions come in your way. Cause time waits for the one who understands its worth not for the ones who let it slip even after knowing the consequences.”

He spoke gruffly. I froze on my spot. That means Ralph knew about my one-sided love.

Meekly nodding, I whispered, “You’re right. It won’t happen again.”

I was too ashamed to even look in his eyes. But to my surprise, Ralph grunted at my response.

“Don’t convince me, child. It would only benefit you in the long run. I can only make you aware, it’s in your hand to follow it or not.”

My lips curved in a soft smile after remembering Master’s words.

My gaze then landed on the glass of water kept at the corner of my study table. Removing the lid, I gulped down the water in one go. The cold water tranquilized my senses and new energy flooded my veins.

Ralph was right. Jasper was the son of an Alpha. He would never come running to someone like me. If I see things from a broader perspective, I’ve been living under his mercy for years. Even after being born in a royal household, I had seen the worst side of life.

To earn respect and make a name for yourself, you need to become someone whom people will admire. Lamenting your fate would do no good. For sure, you’ll earn a few shoulders to cry on but afterward, they will leave you. The ones who would pity your miserable state would one day make fun of your condition.

That’s what life had taught me. I shouldn’t get riled up on such puny issues. Do hell with that CEO, I don’t care about him.

Brushing those unnecessary thoughts, I then picked up a new stack of papers and started working on my assignments.