Emma
The next day, I was awakened by a delicious scent. The door of the study was slightly open so the smell of food entered the study. I was so sure that I clicked the door shut before I slept for the night. Now, I wondered who could have possibly checked on me while I was sleeping here.
The Omegas? Impossible. They knew too well not to enter the study unless it was open. The standard rule in this house was that no one was allowed to disturb whoever was inside this place. Especially Andrew. That’s why this has been my favorite place to hang out whenever I was looking for solace because of the privacy it provides.
The aroma became stronger as I walked out of the study. It pulled my nose closer to the kitchen. The scene my eyes landed on was something I never thought I would see one day.
Andrew was wearing an apron…cooking something for breakfast.
I didn’t know what to say. I just observed him in silence. And my husband seemed like he didn’t notice me because of how busy he was preparing the food.
After a while, Andrew turned and noticed me.
“Good morning,” he greeted. I smiled faintly and hid my doubt inside my head. I never saw him hold a spatula during our marriage. Only today. And the greeting? I would not be exaggerating if I tell that Andrew never greeted me nor expressed kind words like “Thank you,” or “I’m sorry.” Those things were strangers in this house.
So, what was this change about?
Did he finally realize things and change into a better person?
Was this about the accident and our argument last night?
Maybe, he did realize the error in the way he treated me and decided to make it up to me.
Damn, it's about time!
I was delighted. Of course, I would. All of my worries flew out of my chest. The burden that was always holding me back left instantly. The thoughts sent crazy signals to my brain. Maybe, this was the start of things getting much better for us.
That it was my time to be happy again.
I sat down, almost giggling in my seat. I grabbed a fork and pulled the plate full of fresh banana pancakes he made.
“This looks delicious,” I uttered excitedly. But before I could even dig my fork in, Andrew dashed towards me and grabbed my arms.
“No, stop!” He snatched the fork from my hands. “Those are for the pack house. I cooked them for my men.”
My gaze dropped to the plate of warm banana pancakes. Instantly, my heart sank. I wasn’t even allowed to eat the food he made with his own hands. Not even a single bite. I had hoped that Andrew was finally thinking of me. That he finally cared for me. But that small hope I held onto shattered in an instant.
“So, what can I eat?” I asked bitterly. Andrew went to one of the cabinets and pulled a plastic bag out of it. Then, he threw it on the table.
“You can have this. I had Beta pick up some bread, especially for you,” Andrew said. I took a deep breath before letting out my thoughts.
“Really?…” I answered very softly as I held on to the bread. “After three years together, you still don’t know I’m gluten intolerant?”
“Oh,” he answered shortly. I was expecting him to say sorry or at least offer me different food. However, he with nothing. Like he didn’t hear me at all. He just continued cooking the rest of the pancakes while totally ignoring me.The banana pancakes didn’t look appealing to me anymore. I looked at Andrew who was putting the last batch of pancakes in the plate. Heaving a sigh, I went to the counter and grabbed some oats and milk.
“Let me guess, those pancakes are actually for Ruby, am I right?” I said after a while.
Andrew stopped mixing something inside the bowl and frowned.
“Are you just looking for a fight?”
He was clearly pissed at what I said. Instead of responding hysterically like a loser, I chose to shrug it off.
As always.He was always like this whenever Ruby was involved.
“Whatever. Think whatever you want,” I answered. Then, I walked towards one of the cabinets and took something out.
“Oh, and don’t forget to give her this too,” I said as I tossed the black lace bra I found at Andrew’s face. When his eyes landed on that lace, Andrew’s face changed. The thing startled him, freezing him on the spot while staring at the black lace bra.
He then threw it back, cleared his throat, and responded quickly to explain.
“That was from a month ago. Ruby had too much to drink at a work event and couldn’t get home, so she stayed over for one night. Are you seriously going to make a big deal out of this?”I sat down at the table, looking at my oatmeal floating in fresh milk.
“You don’t need to explain. Just tell your secretary to stop being so careless next time.”Andrew clenched his fists and heaved a sharp sigh.
“Fine, I’ll tell her.” Then he cleared his throat again. “By the way, aren’t you supposed to go to your parents’ house today?”He suddenly sounded awkward and hesitant. I was at a loss for words for a minute. It caught me off guard. Andrew hasn’t visited my parents in ages. It feels like an eternity since he’s been there, to be honest.
Ever since Ruby became his assistant six months ago, Andrew had been practically glued to her almost all the time.
“Yeah, I am. Do you have time to come with me today?” I asked, hoping he would say yes. Surprisingly, Andrew nodded. “Sure. And I…” he cleared his throat before continuing. “I heard Jessica’s back.I paused for a moment before answering. “Yes. But how did you know that?”
“Well, I ran into her this morning,” Andrew said.
All of a sudden, my brain took me back to the time of the car incident. I remembered a woman standing beside Andrew before I passed out.
“Could it have been Jessica?” I whispered in my head.
Soon, a bitter smile formed on my lips. Of course, he only wants to visit my family because of his first love. It was always about her.
“So that’s why he’s coming, huh…” I muttered to myself. Well, obviously! How could it not be that reason? Even without me telling him that Jessica was coming back, Andrew found out already. It just says a lot about their close relationship.
How could I ever compete with that?
“Right. Let’s go together, then. I will get ready now. ”
I put down my spoon and lost my appetite. I walked away from the dining table without uttering another word.
I was numb to his indifference. I was sick and tired of not being his priority.
When would Andrew realize that his lack of affection was slowly becoming the death of me?
EmmaI hurried to get dressed When I was done, Andrew was almost ready. We went to his car without uttering a single word.As expected, the entire trip was silent. I remembered a few instances when I had tried to make conversation during the rare times Andrew was with me inside his car. But every time I did, he would always tell me to keep quiet so he could concentrate on the road.So now, I won’t even try. After all, I don’t want to be accused of causing an accident, just in case we have one. But the deafening silence was disrupted by the ring on Andrew’s phone. Andrew’s eyes widened. "What?!” he exclaimed. “You fell and got hurt on your way out? I’ll be right there."He hung up and turned to me. "Hmm, something came up at work. I’ll go ahead. I’ll catch up with you later."Andrew pulled over, and I was forced to get out of the car. Then he turned the car around, driving away from where I stood. I rolled my eyes as I stared at his disappearing vehicle. I already knew who it might be.
EmmaLuke and the others stared at the cell phone resting on the table. Then Luke looked at me. A smug smile was present on his lips.“How dare you,” he said. “You’re the one keeping the Alpha from seeing Jessica, and yet—”“Am I?” I challenged. “I’m literally giving you the chance to call him right now and ask him yourself. But instead, you keep insisting I’m the villain here. So tell me, are you really defending Jessica, or just looking for another excuse to throw blame at me?”The room went still. Luke's smirk disappeared, and he glanced away. Jessica said nothing. She didn’t even glance in my direction. The truth was, Jessica never needed to defend herself. It was always the rest of my family who did it for herEven at times, they didn’t have to. Just like now.“Alright, that’s enough,” Mom finally declared. She stepped in between Luke and me and fixed her eyes on me, as if I were the one who needed to be pacified. “Luke was just joking. Don’t take everything so seriously. Maybe a
EmmaAfter that visit, I realized my fate was decided. Andrew was already driving me home, and, of course, Jessica was with us. Since Andrew agreed for her to stay with us under the pretense of “recovering,” my family wasted no time but to let her come with us. Funny that her things were already packed. It was as if that talk was nothing but a mere formality and everything was already decided with or without my consent. Oh, well. That was pretty expected. Jessica was in the backseat, grinning and full of energy. On the other hand, I felt so uncomfortable knowing that she was sent to our home to seduce my husband. And hell, Andrew was so naive! How could he not suspect that Jessice was faking her illness? Was he blind? Suddenly, Jessica opened up a conversation."Andrew, thank you for letting me stay with you guys," she said sweetly. She was obviously rubbing it to my face knowing that I knew what her real intentions were. But as expected, Andrew was blind by it. All he could see w
EmmaI smiled bitterly. I was the wife, yet my husband seemed more interested in caring for another woman than me.I watched in silence as Andrew and Jessica disappeared from my sight. I waited a few more seconds, hoping Andrew would remember I was still in the vehicle. But once again, he disappointed me.My hands went to my belly. I guess I needed to get used to this setup. From now on, it was going to be just me and my baby against the world.I stepped out of the vehicle and followed them. I even caught Andrew walking upstairs, carrying Jessica into one of our guest rooms. Three years ago, my naïve self had believed we’d live a happy, fairy-tale life together, just like we had promised. I thought we’d build a future side by side, and make the Dark Desert Pack one of the most powerful in the northern U.S.Instead, here I was, sitting on the couch, eyes stinging with yet another wave of tears.Pathetic.How long was I going to let myself live like this?“You know what, I can’t do this
EmmaA much-needed distraction came when an omega called us both for dinner. Jessica quickly put her innocent face back on before heading downstairs.“Coming!” she said enthusiastically.After hearing that from Jessica, my mood worsened. I had expected it from her, but it still annoyed me that I could do nothing. After a while, everyone soon gathered at the dining table. I avoided their gazes throughout the meal and hoped to finish my food quickly. The food tasted like nothing with them around. The two talked as usual until Jessica suddenly frowned. A few more seconds and she was crying. She pulled out a pitiful tone and asked,“Alpha, am I causing trouble between you and Emma?”Andrew chuckled. “Of course not, you silly girl. Emma is your sister, remember? So, make yourself at home.”After hearing this, Jessica wore another wide smile. Then she glanced at me. I quickly turned my eyes away from her. I had no idea how long she would stay here, but I didn’t want to deal with her. It wo
EmmaI didn’t even get to answer him. Because in the next second, an extreme pain tore through my belly. The pain was so intense that I felt my body was being split in two. “Ahh! It hurts—Ken!” I cried out. My hands flew to my stomach. The gut-wrenching pain rendered me speechless. I didn’t have to be a doctor to know that the fall hurt my baby more than it hurt me. At this time, I panicked. “Please… please. Not my b—”But my words stopped the instant I looked down. If I thought that nothing could ever make me feel more terrified than I already was, I was wrong. I saw something that I wished I never had.Blood.I could still feel its warmth. It was seeping out from between my legs and terrified me every second. My heart dropped. My mind couldn’t comprehend what was going on. All I knew was that at that moment, if help didn’t arrive, I would lose that one thing I held on to the most.My child. My everything.“No… no, no, no…” My hands trembled as I reached between my legs. As if I
EmmaI found myself standing in a field I didn’t recognize for some reason.I didn’t remember how and when I had gotten here. And yet, I wasn’t worried. In fact, I felt the exact opposite., I felt calm…and in peace. Surprisingly, even happy. It was like the field was a magical place where negative emotions didn’t exist. My eyes scanned around. I saw some trees I wasn’t familiar with. The ground was covered with colorful flowers I hadn’t seen before. The field was filled with colorful butterflies. Even the colors of their wings were something I didn’t recognize. It was an unfamiliar place filled with unfamiliar things and yet, it felt like my home in a distant memory. And then, I caught a glimpse of a little boy standing a few feet from me. I felt that my heart was filled with immense love for him the moment I saw him smile at me. It definitely made my day. Surprisingly, the boy looked just like Andrew. They had the same dark hair and the same bright blue eyes. But his smile was dif
EmmaThere was a pause. I didn’t expect the question. Why would I? Ken and I had been practically strangers for years since it had been a while since we last saw each other. Yes, we were close. In the past. And now? I wasn’t sure anymore. So, I did what was expected of me. Lie. To protect not only myself but my husband’s pride. At least until our divorce was finalized. “Of course, I am well. Why would you think I am not?” I asked. I added a slight humor to my answer to help my response come off as more convincingI was expecting him to drop the subject but he didn’t. Instead, he looked me straight in the eyes and said, “Since when did you learn to lie so well? The Emma I remember wouldn't do that.”My mouth went agape. I was caught off guard by the intensity of his words. I didn’t expect Ken to remember me that way. And yet, I knew he wasn’t lying. Because the Emma Watson who existed before she married Andrew Campbell was nothing but a bearer of truth. “You are not like this, Emma
Entertain him? What does he mean by that?“Sorry, Alpha, but I don’t get what you’re trying to say.”I started to feel nervous. And yet, I tried my best to stay calm. There was something about the way Alpha Rogerr looked at me that made me super uncomfortable. It certainly felt like he would do something bad to me. Meanwhile, Alpha Roger’s men began to laugh quietly. I looked at Andrew and hoped for some clue about what Alpha Roger was trying to say. But he remained quiet. Meanwhile, my Dad seemed unaffected. Like whatever happens to me was none of his concern. “Oh, come on, Luna Emma,” Alpha Roger chuckled. “What’s not to understand? Today is a celebration. We need some fun, don’t we?”He turned to the side and walked towards the fire pit in the corner. The burning embers from the ritual earlier were still glowing. They were still burning hot. Then, Alpha Roger looked at me with an indifferent stare and said,“I want to see you walk into these embers. If you do that, I’ll sign the
EmmaA wave of guilt crossed Andrew’s face. Meanwhile, Jessica’s face turned red. A wave of satisfaction flooded inside my chest seeing her face like that.“I’m sorry,” Andrew said. His voice was much softer now. “I shouldn’t have yelled. I just... There’s so much pressure tonight, and I got carried away.”“I know you just want everything to be perfect. But it’s going to be fine. You can rest assured that I won’t do anything to humiliate our pack. Because your shame is also my shame. Right, sis?”Jessica’s face turned redder. But she immediately hid her humiliation by pretending to be lively. “Of course, sis. We should all work together in ensuring this party will be a success.” Andrew let out a quiet laugh, and just like that, the earlier commotion passed. I excused myself for a moment to check on the final preparations.A few hours later…The guests began to arrive one by one. The hall looked magnificent with the silver and blue decorations glowing under the warm lights. Everythin
EmmaThe day of the Moonlight Ball arrived.The whole Dark Desert Pack was excited. As the Luna of the pack, I was the overall in charge of the event. When I found out about it, I wasn’t too keen. But I figured it was a great distraction while waiting for the day of my departure. So, i accepted the role and did what was necessary. For the last few days, I dedicated myself to the preparation. My eyes darted around the hall as I instructed a group of omegas to double-check the flower arrangements and lighting.“Make sure the lightings on the tables are lit just before the guests arrive,” I reminded them. “And don’t forget to stand on the side in case the guests needed something.”“Yes, Luna,” one of the omegas replied. She bowed respectfully before hurrying off to relay the instructions.I walked away to check on the table placements. Suddenly, we heard a furious roar through the hall. The sound was so loud that everyone stopped what they were dOing. My heart raced inside my chest. I s
Emma I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. My head throbbed from too little sleep, and I was still recovering from the accident. My ribs still ached from my injuries and reminded me of how close I had come to losing my baby. The fear and stress from those long hours in the hospital, not knowing if either of us would make it, was still haunting me. Yet, there he was, unable to get himself a glass of water. How could he be so thoughtless?And yet, I set aside my physical pain and found myself willing to serve Andrew with his petty request. Like I always did.I moved toward the kitchen without a word. I didn’t look at him, but my peripheral vision could see him observing my every move. I prepared a glass of lukewarm water and a glass of jasmine for him just so he could be satisfied with both. “Still giving me the cold shoulder, huh?” His voice echoed over from the living room. When I turned in the direction of the sound, I saw him standing by the door. His shirt was half unbuttone
EmmaThe nurse smiled as she gently removed the IV from my arm.“You’re all set to go home now, Luna,” she said kindly. “But… where’s the Alpha? Isn’t he coming to pick you up?”Her words poked something inside my chest. And yet, I tried my best to hide it by smiling gently. “There was an emergency in the pack he needs to attend to,” I said softly. “That’s why he called to let me know he can’t take me home.”“Oh,” The nurse looked surprised for a second, then nodded. “It must be hard to be the wife of an alpha. I really admire you for your patience and understanding.”I just nodded and smiled again. “Yeah. Thanks.” Deep inside, I wanted to slap myself for making yet another excuse for my husband’s neglect. After all, he didn’t deserve any of it. And yet, I couldn’t just stand by and let his reputation be destroyed. At least until the time I walked away from this marriage for good. I didn’t have to call him to know the truth. Andrew wasn’t here to accompany me because he was with Je
AndrewI looked at her.Jessica’s familiar fingers moved slowly over mine. Then, she slid them beneath the cuff of my shirt with the same gentle grace I used to know so well. Her touch lingered for a brief moment. “Because if you were to ask me,” she whispered, “not a day goes by that I haven’t thought about you every single time.”Once, those words would’ve pulled me under. I would’ve reached for her hand and never let go. Hell, I might’ve dragged her straight to the nearest officiant and married her on the spot. Jessica was my first love. And for a while, I believed she’d be my last.But now… everything felt different.“Do you remember the time we used to sneak out at dusk just to watch the sunrise? You’d always bring that horrible-tasting instant coffee because you said we cannot bring the coffee maker with us?”I let out a breath. “You never finished your cup.”Yeah. Because it was never about the coffee. Heck, I didn’t care whether we drank cold water,” she said gently. “Just th
AndrewI helped Jessica lie quietly on her bed. In return, she gave me a soft smile to show her gratitude.“Let me call the doctor to check on you,” I said. But before I could take another step, she reached out and grabbed my arm.“No need, Andrew. I’m feeling better now,” she said gently. “Besides, the doctor will take his scheduled rounds in about an hour. I’ll just wait for that instead of bothering him.”I looked at her for a second. She seemed calm, but since her injury was on the head, I didn’t want to be complacent.“Are you sure?” I asked.“Yes, I’m sure.” She nodded as she touched my arm. “Just stay here and be with me until my parents come. Can you?”I nodded. “Of course. I’ll stay here until they arrive.”“Thanks, Andrew.”“Don’t mention it.” Jessica turned her head to the side and shut her eyes. Poor girl! She must have been too exhausted to need a quick nap. My eyes turned to the chair in the corner of the room and I sat down. Everything was quiet now. And yet, my mind
EmmaAndrew growled, “Do you think I care? Back off, pal. Who do you think you are?”Ken didn’t flinch. Instead, he walked forward. His head was up and full of confidence, he said,“I’m Kenneth John Cavanaugh. Alpha of the Blood Moon Pack. I don’t belong to your pack, so I don’t have to follow your commands. But Emma is my friend. A very good friend. And even if she wasn’t, I would still call you out for treating her like that.”Andrew’s fists clenched at his sides. “You think you can just barge into our personal life and tell me how to handle my wife? You’ve got some nerve, pal.”Andrew’s eyes changed from blue to golden yellow, indicating that his wolf was taking over. But Ken remained calm. In fact, too calm for Andrew’s liking. “What I saw wasn’t a husband handling things but a disrespectful husband grabbing his wife like she was just property. You’re not acting like an Alpha. Even Omegas treat their mates better. Did you forget Emma is your wife and your Luna? If your pack sees
Emma“Andrew?” The moment my eyes landed on the flowers in his hand, my heart warmed. Maybe Andrew, by some miracle, finally realized that he had been neglecting me for so long. Maybe after hearing I bled and was rushed to the hospital, he finally cared. He had thought about everything that happened in the past and realized he had been a jerk and wanted to make up.That finally, he realized he couldn’t live without me. My heart leaped with joy. I had been waiting for this moment for so long. Would I accept him? That wasn’t even a question. Of course, I would give him a chance. Not just for myself but for a chance for the life growing inside me. I knew I might be called stupid, gullible, or hopelessly bonded with Andrew but what can I do? Andrew was the father of my child and I would be willing to swallow my pride and bet on him again if I had to all for the sake of giving my unborn child the complete family he deserved. I was about to approach him, hug him, and tell him that I was