Emma's POV

                         I closed my eyes, pushing the memory from my mind. No one was harmed. I was blessed to have Silver and Elizabeth in my life. I had recalled everything that happened to me in Witch Academy. Justice's mother helped me and was staying with her son in the Academy. She took the job of teaching happily. Justice convinced her to help me and stay with him. I wished them luck and happiness. I was also thankful to Lonan. He was Samantha's mate. 

       I was going to visit my father. I wouldn't have thought of doing it. But Samantha needed help. I had noticed she was a quiet person after she lost her wolf. 

        "We have a deadline. Are you aware, pumpkin?" Drake asked me. He was driving me to his home. I was nervous about facing Katherine. I should think about it before calling Drake and asking him to drive me to his home. 

       "Yes, seven days to find the light angel who's going to help us." Drake has talked to a shadow Hunter who told us how to access half-demon, " These things would protect me against the curse but can't reverse it." I paused, "Wind of light!" 

       "We'll find another way to reverse the curse." He glanced at me. His gaze was questioning. He didn't ask me. Why did I want to visit? He just agreed. The question was over the tip of his tongue. 

       "I know," I said. Impossible would be nothing when you have loving and caring people in your life. 

       "You haven't spoken to mom. It has been two days." He said, turning the wheel to his land. 

       "I don't wanna talk about it now. I have a lot of things to take care of and bother about." I didn't want to talk about them. 

       "They must have been worried sick," he said.

       I shrugged my shoulders, clearly telling him I didn't want to talk. 

       "Is Lance home? You informed him, right?" Panic flared in my chest. I was doing something out of my comfort zone. I hadn't forgotten the bad days of our life. My mother was always frightened.

      "Yes. You can tell me anything." He said. 

      "I'd be glad if you won't freak out. " I said. 

       His eyebrows shot up, his hair over the forehead almost hiding them. Would it be better to tell him, in front of both Alpha or should I tell him now? 

       "I won't freak out. You know." He said. 

       I nodded, "Lonan is Samantha's mate," I kept my gaze on him. He didn't react, "So you knew." I pursed my lips. 

       "Yes, she smelled like him." He said. 

       "Shouldn't we help her?" I asked him. 

       "You're going to tell dad about them." He asked. 

       "Yes, she should be happy in her life," I told him. 

       "She tried to kill you. She'd do it again once she gained the power." He said in exasperation. 

       "She would have done it if she wanted to." I told him. 

       "What do you mean?" His lips tightened. 

       "I was alone with her. She could have hurt me again. She didn't."

       "She's not powerful." He shook his head. 

       " She knows the way of killing better than me." 

        He let out a heavy breath. He did not reply and continued driving. He swiped the back of his hand on his forehead to wipe the sweat. 

       "You can turn off the heat," I said. 

       He shook his head, "We're home." He pulled over the car. 

      "Are you coming?" I asked, opening the door. 

       "Yes," He said. 

       "You don't need to babysit me," I told him. 

       "I'm not babysitting you. I need to collect some books." He said, unbuckling the seatbelt. 

        It was just an excuse. He didn't trust Katherine and Samantha. He locked his car. I breathed deeply, forcing down the rising emotions. It was hard to forget when someone hurts you and weren't certain I could do this. After sorting Samantha's problem, I needed to focus on my life, the curse. There must be a hidden motive, I hadn't tried to know why I was cursed. I should ask my parents. For as long as I remember, I didn't remember anyone cursing me. When did it happen? 

       "Good afternoon, Drake." The maid greeted him and smiled at my side, "Welcome to Dawson mansion, Emma. " 

      "Hello, how are you, ma'am?" I asked with a smile. 

      She giggled and nodded her head, "I'm fine, Miss Dawson. Mr. Dawson is in the library. He has asked not to disturb him." She said. 

       "Thanks for letting me know, Rhiannon," Drake replied. 

        "Do you want something to eat?" She asked as we walked past the staircase. 

        "Yes, burgers for us and hot chocolate, please." He said and we walked toward the library. 

        I could see Lance sitting behind his large desk, many books and files were piled over it, "Hi," I said cheerfully. I couldn't decide about his demand. 

        "Emersyn, what a pleasant surprise?" He got on his feet with a giant smile on his face as he rounded the desk. He took me in an embrace. 

        It was less awkward than the first time, when I met him. They tried to understand me. I needed time. I had spent my childhood thinking about only one question. Why wasn't he with us? "Drake didn't tell me." He said.   

       I took a large step back, pushing the awkwardness away. I forced my smile not to drain. 

       "She suddenly asked me to come with her." Drake pulled the chair and settled in. He pulled out a red file from the heap and began to study it. 

       "I'm here to talk about Samantha," I said. 

       His brows pulled together in exasperation, "Did she do something?" His tone turned cold. 

       "No, um..." I glanced at Drake for help but he kept his gaze on the file, "We should invite Lonan for dinner." I smiled my best, hoping it would push away his frown. 

       "Do you know anything about it, son? " He asked him as his head turned to him. 

       "Hm, they're mates," Drake said without lifting his head. 

       "She needs to be happy in her life. I have seen her with him. They look great together." I said. 

        "Shouldn't she tell herself to us?" I could see anger replacing his calm features.

        "Can't you forget What she did to me? "I asked.

        " Can you forget?" He asked, lowering his chin, looking in my eyes. 

        "I wouldn't be here then, " I said. I was trying to look at them as parents every child wished. Their misunderstanding should be limited to them. I was trying. 

        "I'll invite him this weekend to dinner." He said.

        I smiled fully, "Thank you." 

        "Try to call me dad," He said. 

        It felt impossible but I wasn't making any promise. But I nodded my head. His smile returned. 

        I grabbed a book randomly and hit on his shoulder, "You're worse brother." 

        He curled his arm around my neck and tugged me down and rubbed his elbow on my head. The library filled with our laughs, "I'll get bald. Leave my hair." I said between laughs. 

        He kissed my head, "I'll figure out something, kiddo." 

        I hit him again, "It's you. Because of you, everyone is saying to me - kiddo." 

        "It's a nice word." He got on his feet, towering over me. 

         Lance was laughing behind us. It was a beautiful moment. 

        "I brought you burgers, kids," Rhiannon said, pacing in the library. She placed the tray on the coffee table, "I brought you coffee, Mr. Dawson." She said with a bow and turned to the door. 

         "Thank you, Mrs. Anderson," Lance said. 

         "Thanks, Rhiannon," I giggled. 

         "Enjoy your meal, kids," She said again and walked out. 

         I erupted into a loud laugh glancing at Drake's face. His expression said he didn't like her calling him kid. 

         "Now you know. How does it feel?" I giggled. 

         "No matter how old you are," Lance said, gleefully. He grabbed the cup. 

        "We know that. Come, pumpkin," He drew me curling his arm around my neck, "Let's eat." He said. 

         I could hope. Samantha wouldn't freak out and wouldn't accuse me of interfering in her life. I settled down on the chair and stared at the delicious food.

        "You're going to love her cooked food." He said and held out the tray for me. Randomly, I picked the burger. It smelled delicious. I wasn't letting my guards down when Lance was around. I respected him, as an incredible Alpha. 

◐

◐ 

             My eyelids started to droop. I closed them tight and opened them again. I let out a slow breath. I should go and take a nap. 

       My eyes drifted away, I froze in my path to my house. His house was now my house. I loved to stay there. I didn't know. Would I live or die? But I wanted to spend my last breath around him. Well, Alessandro hadn't returned yet. 

        I stared at them in shock, completely blown away. I spun to run away. 

        "Emma," My mother called out my name loudly. 

        I couldn't run away. I couldn't move after witnessing her explicable smile. I don't get to choose what would happen in my life next? I turned slowly when I guessed she was near me.  

        Her eyes were widened with anticipation, but her smile was highlighting her innocent look. I shouldn't fall into a trap. 

        "You were with your father. I'm glad you're..." I cut her middle sentence. Charles was standing behind her. 

        "Are you here to hit me again?" I asked.  

        "Sweetie, that was by mistake. I didn't want to hit you." She said, lifting her hand to touch my cheek. 

        I stepped back, "Yeah, I got that." I made my way toward the house.   

        "Emma, your mother is talking to you. It's not..."

        "Yeah, good manners. Got it, Charles," I shook my head. Clearly telling them, I didn't wanna talk. Her face screwed up in disbelief. She should give me more time. She couldn't do this every time. 

        I pushed open the door and swept inside. I kept the door ajar open. So they could come in if they wanted to. 

        Elizabeth and Silver were out to get information about the last quest. They refused to take me with them. I was feeling drained. But I was feeling better. 

        "Are you staying here? You should come home." mom said. 

        "It's my home," I said and waited for her taunt as I whirled to face them. 

        There were tears in my mother's eyes. S***! I hated to do this to her, "I didn't mean to hurt you, mom. But it's true." I cast my head down. 

       I felt her hand on my shoulder, "We have just one weak. We don't know what will happen next. You're my daughter. I don't know what will happen after a week. You're destined to be with him. We would hardly see you. Stay with us, sweetie. I shouldn't say all that." She began to sob softly. Her hand slid away, making me feel worse, Charles hugged her. He stroked the back of her head and muttered the language I couldn't understand. 

       Is she worried that I will die or I'll never return from the Dark realm? She's my mother. It was obvious. 

       "If you promise me to not hit me again. I can come but only for five days." I told her. 

       She lifted her head from his shoulder, "I promise," She drew her steps back, halting in front of me. Her face was tomato red, she glanced at the ground. 

        Great! There's more to come. 

       "Say it, mom," I said, wandering into the hall. 

       "Yes!" She gazed at Charles from the corners of her eyes. He nodded his head flashing a soft smile, "I'm pregnant," She said with a flushed face, smiling eyes. 

        "Oh, God!" I sucked in a deep breath. I drifted my gaze around to catch something to sit on. My gaze stopped on the couch. It didn't take me a minute to walk over and plop down. I was feeling my legs were shaking and they couldn't take my weight. 

       "Sweetie," My mother hovered over me, her hands patting my hair, "It's a good thing to feel again," 

       "Sorry, I don't have experience, mom. I can't be sure how you feel. But definitely, you'll be the happiest one." 

       She sat next to me, "Yes, I am." She pulled her shoulders closer to her neck, her smile was the broadest one, matching the smile she flashed when I met her in Charles's house. 

       "You can get a sister or brother," She said. Her gaze was returning to Charles every time. 

       "I don't know, mom. You shouldn't bother about me. You have a baby to take care of," I told her, stealing my gaze, not to meet her eyes. It felt weird. Super weird! 

        "You're our first child, the eldest one," Charles said. I could feel the couldn't-be-Alpha was a little nervous. I wasn't his daughter, "I know, I'm not your father." 

        "You don't need to say that." It would hurt Mom, so I was preferring to speak less. 

        "Stay with us, sweetie." Mom squeezed my hand. Her eyes turned glassy again. 

        "Don't blackmail me with your tears, mom." I pointed my finger at her face, motioning at her teary eyes. 

         "Is it working? My tears are genuine. I love you, Emersyn. You're my daughter." She said, blinking. Her tears trailed down, making me feel guilty. Accusing me of a bad girl who teased their parents. 

        "Oh! You are just bringing another child to bully me like your two other kids." My lips thinned, I looked away. I heaved a deep sigh, "Fine, I'll come." I also didn't know what would happen if I walked on the path to find the last book. Angel, demon, I did not know anything about them. 

        I heard mother squealing happily and she embraced me so tightly that it became

hard to breathe. But! It was one of the rarest moments, I was truly happy. Though, my heart mourned for him.