**Nicholas's POV**A piercing scream shattered the tranquil morning, sending chills racing through my veins. As Emma crumpled to the floor, her face twisted in agony, horror gripped me. Pushing myself from the wheelchair, determination overrode my physical limitations. I needed to reach her."Emma! Emma, can you hear me?" I shouted desperately, crawling the last few feet to her side. Her skin was clammy, and her breath came in ragged gasps. What the hell was happening? My mind went into overdrive, trying to recall my rudimentary knowledge of first aid. "Emma, stay with me. Help is coming," I murmured, even as my own voice trembled.Lena burst into the room, her eyes widening as she took in the scene. "What happened?" she screamed, rushing to my side. "I don't know," I muttered through clenched teeth, focusing on keeping Emma conscious. "Call 911, Lena. Now!"Lena fumbled for her phone, her hands shaking. I stroked Emma's hair, willing her to open her eyes, to show any sign that she
**Emma's POV**A blinding light seared through my eyelids, wrenching me from the abyss of unconsciousness. My eyes fluttered open, squinting against the harsh illumination that seemed to burn from every direction. I blinked rapidly as my vision adjusted, finding myself no longer in Nicholas's home but in a forest drenched in an ethereal glow. The trees around me emanated a soft, pulsating light, their leaves shimmering like fragments of fallen stars.My heart raced with confusion and awe as I pushed myself up to a sitting position. The forest was unlike anything I'd ever seen, brimming with an otherworldly magic that felt both enchanting and unnerving. "Where am I?" I whispered, my voice barely audible above the symphony of rustling leaves and distant nocturnal chirps."You're awake, my child," a soothing, melodic voice said from behind me.I turned, my breath catching as I beheld a woman of astonishing beauty. Her long hair flowed like liquid silver, catching the light with each subt
**Nicholas's POV**There are moments in life when reality becomes so overwhelming that it feels like the world is peeling away at the edges. As I wheeled myself into the hospital room, the stark white walls seemed to close in, amplifying the sterile silence. Emma's eyes fluttered open, and seeing her awake filled me with a torrent of emotions—relief, concern, anger, and something I didn't dare to name.Emma lay in the bed, her face pale and fragile against the white pillow. The sight of her, so vulnerable, stirred something deep within me. I approached her slowly, my heart pounding with unspoken words.“Emma…” Her name was a whisper on my lips, and the moment my gaze met hers, I could see the flicker of recognition and then the sorrow.“Nicholas,” she whispered back, her voice hoarse and weak.I reached out, my hand trembling as it found hers. “I'm so glad you're awake,” I said, my throat tightening. "You scared the hell out of me."She squeezed my hand weakly, her eyes glistening wit
Emma's POVThe dull hum of hospital equipment filled the room, a constant reminder of my current reality. The memories of the forest with the Moon Goddess lingered at the edges of my consciousness, blending with the sterile surroundings of the hospital room. I felt raw and exposed as if my very soul had been laid bare.The door creaked open, and I looked up to see Grace standing there, a look of concern etched on her face. She stepped inside, closing the door softly behind her."Emma," she whispered, her eyes scanning my face as if trying to gauge my mental state."Grace," I replied, unable to keep the relief from my voice. Her presence was a balm to my frayed nerves.She took a seat beside my bed, her fingers fidgeting with the strap of her bag. "How are you feeling?"I hesitated, unsure of how to articulate the whirlwind inside me. "I've been better," I said finally, my voice betraying my exhaustion.Grace nodded, her expression sympathetic. "I'm not surprised, given everything that
**Emma's POV**The fresh air hit me like a tonic the moment I walked out of the hospital. Gone was the sterile, antiseptic smell that had clung to me for days. As I inhaled deeply, I felt the weight of the past few days loosening its grip on my shoulders. Yet, the Moon Goddess’s warning still echoed in my mind, an uncomfortable companion to my newfound freedom.Grace hovered beside me, her eyes scanning our surroundings with the cautiousness of a hawk. "Are you sure you want to do this?" she asked for the umpteenth time."Yes, Grace. I need to know what's going on, and this might be my only chance," I replied, my resolve firm.We reached my modest apartment, and Grace insisted on coming inside. "Just to make sure you're really okay," she said. I didn't mind her company; in fact, it was reassuring to have someone close, someone I could trust—a rare luxury these days.Inside, I sank into the well-worn couch, the cushions embracing me like an old friend. Grace busied herself in the kitch
**Nicholas’s POV**The atmosphere inside Emma's apartment felt dense, like the first breath of air after emerging from deep water. My heart pounded in my chest, each beat in sync with the growing tension between us. This was the moment I had dreaded yet anticipated for so long.I couldn't utter the real reason I was here. "Emma," I began, my voice breaking, "I... I just wanted to see how you were doing. You've been through so much."She blinked, her eyes wide with a mixture of surprise and curiosity. "I'm doing okay, considering.”She stood there looking confused, and I knew I needed to steer this conversation before my resolve faltered. "I don't expect you back at work for a little while," I said, trying to sound as professional as possible, "but I hope once you are feeling better, you'll return."Emma nodded, her usual resolve flickering back into place. "Of course, Nicholas. I'll be back."There was so much more I wanted to say—needed to say—but the thought of Lena, unfaithful Lena
**Emma's POV**The moment Nicholas left, the room felt empty, like a void had opened up in his absence. A strange mixture of guilt and longing churned within me, but I pushed it aside. I couldn't afford to dwell on what might have been or what secrets he was hiding. There were too many moving pieces in my life right now, and I needed clarity more than anything else.I had made the choice not to tell him just yet about lenas baby not being his i needed to confront my family first and try to get them to be the ones to do it. Grace stepped back inside, her eyes scanning my face for any signs of distress. "What was that all about?" she asked, her voice cautious.I shook my head, still processing Nicholas’s visit. "I’m not really sure. It was... strange."Grace arched an eyebrow and leaned against the kitchen counter. "Imagine if he was coming to confess his love for you."I laughed, a bitter sound that filled the room. “Grace, I'm really tired. I think I'm just going to go to bed now," I
Emma's POVIf someone found me out here, they would ask questions I couldn't answer right now. My footfalls were almost silent as I made my way through the underbrush, my breath visible in the early morning chill. Wrapping my arms tighter around me as I scanned my surroundings for any signs of life. The pre-dawn sky began to shift from inky black to a soft gradient of blue and orange. Relief washed over me as I finally saw the outline of my apartment building in the distance. The pace of my steps quickened, fueled by the need for the sanctuary of four familiar walls.As I approached the front door, my heart sank when I saw Grace standing there, arms crossed and feet tapping impatiently. She had been waiting for me. Her expression morphed from worry to relief to irritation in a matter of seconds.“What are you doing here, Grace?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady even though I felt far from it.She gave me a strange look, her eyes narrowing slightly. “I wanted to check up on you b
Emma's PovThe dim light surrounded me as I went down the basement stairs. Shadows moved on the walls as if they were alive with secrets. Every creak of the steps under my feet echoed like my racing heartbeat, loud and ominous.It was very quiet, except for the occasional sound of water dripping somewhere I couldn't see. When I reached the bottom, I was met by a sharp cold that gave me goosebumps. Chilly drafts of air moved mysteriously through the worn floors and piled-up boxes.I walked down the narrow hallway, its twists feeling like a bad dream I couldn't escape. The hair on my neck stood up, sensing I was being watched. The silence around me felt heavy, filled with secrets I was determined to uncover.Then I saw it—the door. It looked simple but felt important, just like in my dreams. Memories of strange dreams filled my mind, feeling both familiar and ominous. My hand hesitated over the doorknob, and as my fingers touched it, the door creaked open on its own, slowly as if inviti
**Emma's POV**It was time to confront what haunted my dreams: I needed answers. Hope View was my destination someone how it was tied into all this.The closer I got, the more my apprehension grew. Would I find what I sought, or was I diving headfirst into another mess I couldn’t untangle?As the hospital came into view, my grip tightened around the steering wheel.I parked and sat still for a moment, taking a deep breath to steady myself before stepping out. The air was crisp invigorating, as if urging me to push forward. With one final exhale, I made my way inside.The echoes of hurried footsteps and distant voices bounced off the walls as I entered the common room. My eyes darted around, searching for the one person who knew this place better than anyone—Grace.I found her talking with a patient, her smile warm and genuine. “Grace!” I called softly, nervousness tainting my voice. Her head lifted immediately, and her eyes met mine with a hint of surprise.“Emma,” she said, the surpr
**Nicholas's POV**Anger coursed through me, fierce and unrestrained, setting my senses ablaze. Betrayal was a familiar sting, yet it cut deeper this time.Finding out the baby wasn’t mine felt like the punch I never saw coming. Not that I wanted a child with Lena, but the deception—I let them fool me again. The fact that Emma was part of it cut like a savage wound through my heart. I had trusted her, and that trust felt broken.The sound of the front door opening tore me from my thoughts. James stepped into the room, bringing with him a different kind of energy. As he approached, he seemed to hold a quiet storm of his own.“She wouldn’t come back with me, Nicholas,” James said.A fresh wave of anger surged through me. "What do you mean she wouldn’t come back? Did you tell her that it was a direct order from me?"James met my gaze with steady eyes. “I tried, Nicholas. I told her. But she needs space, and I think you need to respect that.”I clenched my fists, raw emotion bubbling to t
**Emma's POV**Hours drifted by in a blur as I drove, the road stretching endlessly before me. My heart felt like it was in a perpetual state of near-explosion. I had always felt alone like no one understood me, but now, the loneliness was more profound than ever. Yet, I wouldn’t let it break me. I couldn’t succumb to it.The fluorescent glow of my car's dashboard lights was the only constant in the silent, dark night. The lines on the road seemed to blur together, and my eyelids grew heavy. The exhaustion was catching up with me, more emotional than physical, but it was pulling me under just the same.“Just a little further,” I muttered to myself, gripping the steering wheel tightly as if it could anchor me to reality. But even my determination wasn’t enough to stave off the inevitable.I pulled over to the side of the road, the gravel crunching under the tyres as the car came to a halt. I rested my head on the steering wheel and closed my eyes. Almost immediately, an image of Nichol
**Emma's POV**My knees felt weak as I wobbled to my feet, blinking away the tears clouding my vision. The knock on the door grew louder, more insistent. For a moment, I considered ignoring it, letting whoever it was think I wasn't home. But something inside urged me to move, to confront whatever waited on the other side.Gingerly, I walked to the door and peered through the peephole. My heart leapt to my throat. James stood there, looking impatient. A torrent of emotions surged within me—fear, panic, a sliver of hope.My body shook as I stepped away from the door, trying to steady my breathing. "No, he can't be here. Not now," I whispered desperately to myself.As if reading my mind, James’s voice came through the door, deep and resonant. "I know you're in there, Emma. I can smell you. Please, just open up."I stood frozen, my mind racing. Go with James, back to Nicholas, the man I loved but had hurt so deeply. The idea was unbearable. Or stay here, trapped in this suffocating pit of
**Emma's POV**My entire body felt numb as I walked back to my car. Nicholas's face, contorted with pain and anger, haunted me. I couldn't shake the image from my mind as I reached the car. My father's voice cut through my pain, harsh and unforgiving."Emma!" he shouted, his voice filled with unrestrained rage. "You are no longer part of this family. You've destroyed everything!"I turned around to face him. The sting of his words cut deep, but strangely, I didn't care, not about him, Lena, or even the rest of my so-called family. They were nothing but a shell wrapped in their own lies and deceit."You know what, Father?" I began, my voice steady and cold. "This family was a mess long before I had anything to do with it. I might not have been born with a wolf, but at least I have a heart."His eyes flared with fury as he took a step toward me. "We should have disowned the wolfless freak years ago!" he spat.Those words hit me harder than any physical blow ever could. Wolfless freak.
**Nicholas's POV**The ride home was agonisingly silent, the only sound the rumble of the engine and the occasional bump in the road. Each passing mile did little to quell the storm inside me. Emma's voice still echoed in my ears, her words like splinters stuck deep under my skin. My mind was a chaotic whirlwind of betrayal and longing, of anger and sorrow.I pulled into the driveway of my house, the stone walls standing stoic and cold, symbols of a life I no longer fully understood. James helped me out of the car, though my humiliation growled deep within me, casting a shadow over any gratitude I might have felt."Do you need anything, Nicholas?" James asked, his voice tinged with concern as he watched me wheel myself towards the front door."Just leave me alone," I snapped, not turning to look at him. I heard his resigned sigh before he closed the car door and drove off, leaving me in the encompassing silence of my grand yet empty house.I wheeled myself into my study, the heavy oak
**Emma's POV**The familiar scent of home enveloped me as I stepped into my parents' house. It was a conflicting mixture of comforting memories and the looming sense of dread. My mother was the first to greet me, her warm smile a stark contrast to the icy tension pooling in my stomach."Emma, dear! It's so good to see you." She wrapped me in a tight hug, and I did my best to return it with equal warmth despite my jittery nerves."Hi, Mum," I said, pulling back and forcing a shaky smile. "Where's Dad?""He's in a meeting but should be joining us very soon," she replied, folding her hands neatly. The slight furrow in her brow told me she sensed something was up. "It's quite unexpected for you to want to have dinner with us. You never call.""Yeah, well," I started, feeling Lena's eyes bore into me from her spot in the living room, "I felt like it was time for a family talk.""Something serious?" my mother asked, her curiosity piqued."Yes, but I'd rather wait until everyone's here," I s
**Nicholas's POV**The hum of the bustling hospital was a stark contrast to the chaos echoing in my mind. Sitting in the sterile waiting room, the air tinged with antiseptic and cold efficiency, I couldn't get Emma out of my head. Her scent, the touch of her skin, and the pull I felt towards her—it was all-consuming.I shook myself out of the reverie as the waiting room door swung open. "Nicholas," the new doctor called out, snapping a file shut. If only it were that easy to close the chapters of my messy life.I wheeled myself into the consultation room, every rotation of the wheels reminding me of my incapacitation. Dr. Carter’s office had been a place of frustration and disdain. Now, facing a new possibility—or, more likely, another dead-end—left me with a sinking feeling of hopelessness I couldn’t shake.The new doctor, Dr. Blake, was a middle-aged man with greying hair and a kind demeanor. He extended a hand, and I shook it, forcing a polite smile."Nicholas, I've gone over your