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EMILY’S POV.
I sat opposite John on the sofa in his house, with my heart beating wild. He stared at me with those intense, deep sea-blue eyes of his, and none of us talked.
Then a lady came down from the stairs, wearing a bikini top and pants. How could she come down with just that when the fiancée of the man she was having an affair with was sitting right there in front of her?
“What is all this, John? What have I ever done to you?” I finally asked as the lady made her way to him, sitting on his lap.
“I should also ask you that.” He returned, and I furrowed my brows until someone sat next to me. I turned sharply and saw a man whose physique looked oddly like the man I slept with. “Didn’t you sleep with him?” John accused me, and I got to my feet.
“I… wait. You have to listen.” I turned to the man, who had come out of nowhere. He was smiling, and I felt disgusted and scared.
Then John came to stand next to me.
“So, how about we bury this and not make any noise?” He asked.
“No! Yesterday, I was... I was…!” I tried to spit out the words that I had been drugged, but my lips couldn’t form the words. John looked at me and smirked.
The lady smirked, the stranger also smirked, and it seemed like the room was closing in on me—like the faces were too close and the walls were coming in, ready to swallow me.
“Wait!” I screamed, but it came out as a gasp as my eyes flew open.
A white ceiling...
I was still in bed.
I closed my eyes once more, and I turned my head. What kind of dream was that? Why would John accuse me of cheating? Thinking about it, it did seem like I had another dream about sleeping with a stranger, but it was a blurry dream.
Dreams... how they found a way to weave reality into them and scare people.
Wait, was I home? I had gone someplace strange after running from John’s house. I had drunk alcohol, and... who took me home? Did I sleep there?
I opened my eyes tiredly, wondering if I had done anything silly. I had drank a lot and couldn’t even remember things well. My memory of the past night was like broken glass. They just didn’t fit.
I looked around and saw the neat interior of the room. Great, I was in a hotel. I turned, ready to go back to sleep, and almost screamed. The fear seemed to push me off the bed, and I landed on the cold floor.
My mouth flew to my mouth as I discovered I was naked.
A man… A man on my bed!
Gosh, jeez… wait, wait… Emily, you did not sleep with this man; you did not...
My eyes began to widen, and my jaw fell as everything began to piece together. The kind bartender, being harassed, my spiked drink, someone interfering, being taken to my room...
“Ah…” I whispered and shook my head. I didn’t want to know what happened next. I didn’t want to...
Even though I didn’t want to, the memories came flooding my mind as clear as day.
Tangling, soft sounds, turning, heart beating, gasping...
I began to pick my things up, dashing into the restroom. There, I took a deep breath and began to wiggle into my clothes.
I had sex with a stranger. Emily, have sex with a complete stranger!
My fingers shook as my buttons proved difficult. They didn’t cooperate. When I tried to pull on my baggy jeans, I actually fell to the floor and gasped in pain.
Then, there was my phone on the bed and his arm slightly on it.
I tiptoed to him and stuck out my hand, trying to take it without him knowing. Why hadn’t the phone flown to the ground? How had it managed to stay on the bed?
I wrapped three fingers around it and looked at him.
Then the curtains shifted, and the morning rays played on his face. His eyeballs moved, and I froze.
Not because I was scared he’d open his eyes, but because I hadn’t noticed how handsome he actually was. His eyebrows were light and brown. His lashes are long and dark. A tussle of messy brown hair on his head, scattered over his forehead, full heart-shaped lips, fair skin, a pointed nose, and a well-chiseled jaw.
His beauty struck me in the heart like a lightning bolt. Why would anyone be as handsome as that? If his eyes opened, what color would they be? I was curious, but I dared not wait.
After a few minutes of being mesmerized, I closed my eyes and sucked in a breath. Too bad I never met him again. I took my phone gently and left the room.
The bar was filled with waiters, waitresses, and people around.
“The bartender was here last night. Where is he?” I asked the woman at the counter. He was the cause of everything.
“Trevor? For some reason, he quit this morning.” She replied.
“Ha.” I scoffed in anger, bit my lip, and took out my credit card.
“I booked a room and had a few drinks. There’s a man in the room, too.” I said, feeling ashamed to say it.
She looked at me with that kind of look that suggested she imagined what happened, and she politely took my card.
I blinked in humiliation.
“How many bottles did you have?”
“Just put five bottles on my tab.”
“Five?” She asked, with large eyes, “I’m sorry.” She apologized immediately, and the very moment she returned my card, I walked out hastily.
I had wandered far from home, so there was definitely no way I and the stranger were meeting anymore. Problems? Forget about it. That was if I ever recalled his pretty face, or if he recalled mine.
I hailed a cab and got in, calling out my lane and address.
I relaxed in the car, closing my eyes, but neither the memory of the steamy night nor the memory of the sharp beauty the stranger possessed left my mind.
Some people were just born to wreck people’s minds with beauty.
As for John, I was wrecking our wedding ceremony.
5LUCAS’ POV.My eyelids fluttered open slowly, and my eyes hit the white, unfamiliar ceiling. Everywhere was cold, and I looked to my side for evidence that a steamy night had really happened between me and a total stranger.The bed was empty. I was the only one in it, but I couldn’t fool myself into thinking that nothing had happened the previous night. Her scent still lingered on the sheets, and the lotion she had used on her hair seemed to be stuck directly in my nose. I sat up in my bed and thought hard, running my hands through my hair.Why had I suddenly done such a horrible thing? The night had been fast, and everything was so rushed that I had been caught up in it. At first, I had tried to resist, but she was so alluring, and I couldn’t take my eyes off her.She had just triggered me in ways I had never been triggered before.Maybe I needed to admit it, but the moment she walked into the bar, I was taken by her beauty. Her beauty was simple yet enchanting. Till she took her s
6EMILY’S POV.I got home close to noon, and trudged in, feeling shitty. All through the drive home, I had hated myself. It felt like I was on the same level as John, and that I was also a cheat.If he knew about it, he’d be mad. He’d want to continue with the engagement on the ground that we were even.He could mock me for being all dramatic when I had been the same. Maybe he’d even suggest I’d been doing it behind his back for a long time.“Wel…” Dahlia was saying, but noticed the depressed look on my face. “Emily, is anything wrong?” She asked, coming towards me, and as she held my arms, my eyes brimmed with tears.I didn’t even know what I was crying for anymore. Was it for sleeping with a stranger, or realizing I was heartbroken?“Emily.” She called, worriedly, then led me to the sofa gently, where we sat, and I sniffed.“John’s cheating on me.” I said, and her eyes widened, as her jaw dropped.“John’s what? I mean…”“After everything I did for him, he… he was making love to anot
7LUCAS’ POV.I had not been on the road for long when Tray, my beta called me. I snapped out of my thoughts of the mysterious woman, and cleared my throat.“Lucas. Where are you right now?” He asked, immediately I picked the call.“What? You’re not going to let Lucas rest, even a few hours after he flew into Los Angeles?” I asked, and he gave a little chuckle.“You know, things like this always happen whenever you’re around. When you were in Paris, this didn’t happen. It’s happening only a few hours after you made your way back home. I’m sorry about that, but it’s important.” He said, although his voice didn’t sound apologetic. If anything, he seemed happy to be burdening me with work.Tray and I had been best friends since middle school, and we were known to be troublemakers. Although, ever since he had been assigned my beta, he held a bit of respect for me, but that did nothing to dim the light of our friendship.“Important I see. What’s it about?”“Mrs. Mayer decided to see if the
8EMILY’S POV.I froze on the spot I was. My eyes were stuck in his, and his in mine.Even if a hundred years had passed, and I had seen a billion men, there was no way I would ever forget the face of the man I was staring at.Soft brown hair, which was now styled sweetly, showing the low cut on the sides of his head… dark eyelashes, smooth eyebrows…It turned out those eyes were as enchanting as the rest of his features. They were a deep green. Green like the forests pronouncing freedom.He was the man I slept with. Even in my horror, I couldn’t stop myself from getting enchanted by his beauty.My heart beat in two different ways. One was for fear, and the other was something unexplainable. My chest was cold, and chills spread around my body, down to my fingers making them shake.Why was he there? Why had he called John? How had he gotten in? Did he know the passcode? How did he know the passcode? Why did he know the passcode?“Lucas.” John called, after some seconds, and the strange
9JOHN’S POV“Three years of my life?” Emily asked, looking taken aback.“Yes… you’d have to serve me, and make it up to me, while I’ll go around trying to sculpt it back into what it was, and fortify it once more with the mystical powers it possessed. You think it’s that easy? You know all our forefathers went through just to fix this whenever it broke? I’d have to be gone for some time when this is sculpted!” I shouted.“But John, it was an accident.” She tried to say, but I pushed the book into her arms. She accepted it hastily, and stared at the words written in ancient ink. She shook her head slowly, as if she still didn’t believe it.“As it is written there, you will be cursed. The Alpha who has watched our pack for generations, and generations will come after you. Believe it’s a stupid myth, and watch it happen.” I said, and could read the fear on her face as clear as day.“But…. Wait a sec, John. I…” She began to say, but I snatched the book, and began to flip again.“There’s
LUCAS’ POV.I got to the room I always used whenever I stayed with John, and watched the stranger I had given my body willingly, walking down the road lifelessly.She ought to be followed because I didn’t think she was thinking straight. She looked way too shocked.Emily…Her name was Emily. Finally, the stranger in my head had a name. John had hurt her badly, and she had called him all sorts of names. It was proof that she was indeed strange.Women, as I knew never wanted to get on the bad side of someone like John. He was handsome, and the perfect man to brag about to friends. He was rich, and was the heir— An Alpha.Even if he had hurt them, they’d cry, play weak, and have him comfort them. She had spoken with such defiance. Who was she? I didn’t think she was rich, else she’d have paid John his money, and could have walked out on him.Other women would have begged him, and told him they were sorry, but she hadn’t done any of that. In her eyes, had been pure hurt, and betrayal. Wha
11EMILY’S POV.I trudged on the road like a lifeless being. It had been too much shock for me to handle all at once.The gentle night breeze blew strands of my hair softly across my face, but I didn’t even bother brushing them away. I couldn’t feel my heart beating. It felt like it had stopped beating.What did I want to do? Did I wish to cry? Run? Curse, and scream?Everything about the night had been traumatizing…John’s Uncle, smashing the heirloom John was so protective of, becoming entrapped by him, and being treated like trash…At first, he had been so hurtful by telling me cheating was what every man did. He didn’t even sound genuine with his apology. He had sounded like I was overreacting.Then the stranger I had slept with had walked in, and he had turned out to be John’s Uncle. How could such a young man be his Uncle? How could I have slept with him?How could I have slept with a relative of John’s!?I dug my hands through my hair, as I walked on the road. Doomed. That was
12LUCAS’ POV.I went out for an early morning jog to clear my head, which was filled with thoughts, and jogged all the way to Tray’s house.I stopped there, and began to take deep breaths.“Lucas?” Tray called, and I turned to see him walking towards me.“Where are you coming from?” I asked, breathlessly.“I went to throw out the trash. You were jogging?” He asked, climbing up his front porch.I followed him, still breathing heavily.“Yeah, I can’t seem to think properly.” I replied, walking into his house, and closed the door behind me.“Breakfast?” He asked, going to his kitchen.“Don’t think I have an appetite for that either.” I said, laying down on his sofa.“ A snack?”“Nope.”“Then what do you want?” He asked.“Just take your seat.” I replied, and he sat in front of me.“Is this about the nasty thing you wanted to tell me yesterday?” He asked, and I stared straight up at the ceiling.“Yeah.” I replied, and gave a sigh.“The night I flew into L. A, I could only find an inn, and
66EMILY’S POV.My face grew hot, and I was thankful for the cover of the night, unless he’d have seen my face color up.A friendly date? The word ‘friendly’ seemed invisible in my head. Was there such? I thought dates were only meant for lovers.“John spoke endlessly about you being pretty whenever you blushed. I can’t help but notice the truth in that tonight.” He said, and I colored up even more.“You can see my face clearly?” I asked, raising a hand to my cheek.“Don’t forget to add the word ‘friendly’ in your head when you’re thinking of what I said. Because it looks to me like you discarded the ‘friendly’, and dwelled on the ‘date’ alone.” He said, and I stepped backwards like it would help to shield my face better.Was he a mind reader or something?“Who says I discarded the word ‘friendly’? I didn’t. So when is the time for this friendly date? And what are we going to do?”“Just movies. Stuff like that. I’ve been really bored having to work and work like my life only has one p
65EMILY’S POV.He took my hand, and refused to leave it, staring at me like he was trying to read me.“What’s so weird about agreeing to be friends?” I asked, looking away, with my face flushing.“What made you change your mind?” He asked, still holding onto my hand, which was growing warmer by the moment.“What made me change my mind? I just thought it was rude to…”“No, you definitely didn’t. There must be a reason.” He said, and I pursed my lips, and looked straight into his mesmerizing green eyes.“I thought you wanted to blackmail me about it. I thought you were like John. So I said no. But now I know you’re not that way, so I thought it wouldn’t hurt to have a friend.” I blurted out, snatching my hand out of his, and he laughed.“You’re something else. Does everyone with Granger as their last name seem shady to you?” He asked, pushing his hands into his pockets.“That was then. Maybe you’re the only one who’s not shady. You, the kids, well, except Sadie.” I replied, and he chuc
64EMILY’S POV.Sadie couldn’t have Derella outed to the scary family she had, and despite myself, I was unhappy that Mandy had to stay.“Who said she was gay?” Sadie asked.“I don’t need to debate that with you. If you’re so uncomfortable, we only need to walk over to the next mansion, and call for an urgent family meeting.” Mandy said, sticking a fork into a sliced watermelon. “You know, it’s your choice, darling. You can choose to reveal Derella’s secret, and cause problems, or you can simply choose to back off and lay low.” Mandy said, putting her watermelon into her mouth, and chewing slowly.“Lucky you. You get off this time, but not for long.” Sadie said, with cold venom. Then turned around. “Follow me.” She commanded, storming away, and it hurt my pride.“What? You’re subject to an eight-year-old now?” Mandy asked, with an amused smirk.“Emily!” Sadie called, and I looked at Mandy.“If you think so.” I replied, and walked away, after Sadie who had me boiling quite hard. “It’s
63EMILY’S POV.Did she have a place to go, and her house was too far from it? Why else would she have a big, fat luggage on wheels behind her?“What are you doing here?” Katie asked, dropping her fork, and Mandy smiled.“You look like you don’t want me here, Katie.” Mandy replied, taking a seat next to John, who smiled sweetly at her.“I simply asked a question.”“Well, you’ll get an answer. I asked sweet John here if I could stay for a few months, and he agreed.”“A few months?” Sadie asked, also dropping her cutlery.A few months was simply too much.“Yeah, maybe six or so.” She replied, and I could see a frown settle over Katie’s face.“Why do you want to stay here for six months?” She asked, pushing grilled salmon into her mouth.“That’s between me and John, but I’d like to point out that John’s house has become really fun. I would like to share in the happiness too.” She said, then looked around. “I don’t see Lucas.”“That’s Alpha Lucas to you.” Katie said immediately.“Oh come
62EMILY’S POV.Maybe it was disgust, maybe it was hatred, but I didn’t want to see his face. I preferred the house with Lucas alone in it. How was I to deal with my hatred for him for three years. The few months I’d spent with him felt like years already.Time went so slow. Seeing John, I actually wished he didn’t return, and that Lucas didn’t leave. Was he going to start torturing me again? Either way, I had to find a way to try to protect myself. Maybe having a laser on me would do.There was no telling as to whether or not he wasn’t going to go crazy again, and try to force me to sleep with him like he almost did that day in his office.“No one is happy to hear he’s around.” Kaye said, and I ran a hand through my hair.“Why would anyone be? He’s a nutcase.” I said, and tore my eyes off him, walking away from the balcony.In my room, I dialed Dahlia’s number, and threw open my wardrobe.“Hey, Emily. How are you?” She said, cheerfully, and I could hear the sound of her munching.“Ea
61JOHN’S POV.As the car drove, racing along the busy streets of L. A, my head lolled from side to side.It was embarrassing, but I couldn’t help it. Throughout that month, I couldn’t recall a night when I got adequate sleep. The days were hot and stressful, the nights busy and restless.I had to meet all the boring people in the world, who gave me lectures on being a strong Alpha, and leader of the pack even though I never signed up for it. Nor did I go to them to receive lectures.I was taught about the full history of the sculpture from each elder I met. So many days, I was forced to keep them company under the pretense that I was being schooled for a good reason, and not just because they were bored.The worst part was moving from town to town. They said I had to locate the graves of the previous Alphas. I had to take the sand and stone from a hundred previous Alphas’ graves.That had seemed impossible, but they told me I couldn’t back out, so I went from town and town, carrying
60EMILY’S POV.Finally, I said it.In minutes, I was going to know the dreadful outcome of what I had always been dreading. Were things going to go on just like they did in my dream?Would he hire a fake man to pretend I had been sleeping with him, and give false witness? What was he going to do?When I heard I lost the baby. Honestly, I didn’t know how to feel, or what to feel. I was shocked at first because of course, it wasn’t something I expected to happen just like that.And I tried faking sadness, but lying to myself was impossible. There was no way I could lie to myself. I felt shameless, and disgusted with myself for being a little relieved. For feeling a little twinge of gratefulness.There I go again. I didn’t just feel a little relieved. I was so relieved. The relief came flooding along with my other emotions. I couldn’t control myself.And the gratefulness… What was I grateful for? Grateful to the child for dying? For leaving? For not being able to see the beauty of the w
59LUCAS’ POV.I couldn’t believe it. Pregnant? But she didn’t tell anyone. No one could even think she was pregnant. I didn’t know why I was so shocked, but I was.“You were unaware of the pregnancy itself?” The doctor asked.“Yes, yes, I was.” I replied, and took out my phone.I dialed Tray’s number.“Are you…?” Tray began.“I’ll need you to pay hospital bills. I’ll send the information to you.” I said, and ended the call, then turned to the doctor. “What does she need to do to be completely fine. I mean, the miscarriage surely had its effects.”“Rest. She can go on short walks, and driving. Just things to make her feel relieved.” He replied, and I nodded.“Thank you, doctor.”I got up, and left his office, thinking of everything. Since when? How come it wasn’t in her last medical report?Wait… I hadn’t seen the report itself. Didn’t Doctor Gilbert see it when he ran a test on her? He was competent, so I couldn’t say he was sloppy, and there was no way he could have hidden it.It wa
58LUCAS’ POV.Seeing Emily fall like that seemed to send a bolt of shock to my chest. Staring at her on the floor was worse.As I dashed down the stairs towards her, careful not to tumble myself, I kept dreading the pool of blood that was yet to seep out of her head.I knelt next to her, and placed a hand on her cheek.“Emily.” I called, with wide eyes.She didn’t respond, and I checked her head. Thankfully, there was no sign of wetness and blood.I looked around for the maids, but there was none. Didn’t they hear her scream? Were they even in the house?I lifted Emily into my arms, and noticed something wet. Carefully, I managed to get a sight of my hand, and saw it was covered in blood.She was bleeding!Not from her head, but from…Confused, I ran across the living rooms, and through the door leading to the foyer. No maids were in sight.I opened the door, and ran to my car with Emily’s hair crowding her face.“Emily.” I tried calling again, but there was no response from her. Get