Emily's POV
The trip down to the pack house was quicker than I had hoped, and before I knew it, Jax stopped the car in front of the pack house.
Jax got out of the car and went around, opening the car door for Mila. He held his hand out and carefully helped his mate from the car.
"Mila, my love," Jax said, kissing the top of her hand. "I will be right back. Wait for me!"
My heart pinched at the tenderness of his voice. He spoke to her with so much love and care.
Mila nodded her head, and Jax got back in the car and drove off.
Two minutes later, the dark-headed wolf appeared next to Mila.
"Ready?" He asked, taking her hands in his.
Mila giggled like a typical schoolgirl and blushed.
I turned my gaze away, giving them some privacy.
Some days I wish I had what Mila and Jax had. Their love for one another was so tender and unconditional.
A small smile followed at the corners of my lips, remembering the night Mila found out Jax was her mate.
We were all in the clearing, waiting for her to shift, when the single word 'mate' slipped from her lips.
Jax came forward, answering her call. He knew all along that Mila was his mate. He found out the year before and kept it a secret while keeping a watchful eye on her.
My gaze moved to where the two lovebirds stood. The tall, dark-headed wolf had his arms around his blond and beautiful mate and his lips devouring hers.
Mila was the first to pull away, turning her gaze toward me and blushing.
"I'm sorry," she apologized. "We can't help it!"
I nodded, smiled, and got closer.
"I am used to it by now," I said, gesturing between the two of them. "No worries."
Jax's gaze moved toward the huge double doors and back to us.
"They are about to start," he announced.
Mila took my hand, and the three of us headed together toward the entrance.
The same unholy feeling crept up inside me, and my heart rate increased, warning me I shouldn't be there—I shouldn't have come.
We came to a stop a couple of feet from the door, and Jax let go of Mila's hand, opening the door.
I took a deep breath, trying to get my racing heart under control and force my anxiety aside.
As soon as Jax pushed the double door open, a scent so intoxicating hit my nostrils—apple crumble.
It was the most delicious scent I have ever smelled.
My mouth watered to have a taste of it.
The scent suddenly started to smother me, and I felt dizzy. I took an unwilling step back, turning my face away from the smell and seeking fresh air.
"What the hell?" I muttered to myself.
Mila turned to look at me, and concern crossed her eyes.
"Are you alright?" Jax asked worryingly.
"I-I-I don't know," I stuttered nervously.
"What's wrong?" Mila asked.
"There is this sweet smell of apple crumble coming from inside. It's overwhelming," I explained.
Mila knitted her eyebrows together, confused, and lifted her nose to the air, taking a whiff.
"I don't smell anything," she said a moment later. "Do you?" She asked, turning her gaze to Jax.
Jax, in return, shook his head.
"I don't smell anything out of the ordinary," he said.
"Maybe the kitchen is making some pies and desserts," Mila offered as an explanation. "Alpha Cole did mention that he was going out of his way to welcome Alexander back."
I nodded, and the scent suddenly cleared, giving me room to breathe.
I followed Mila and Jax into the pack house and down to the community room.
The community room was a huge room where we mostly had functions and packed meetings; tonight it looked more like a ballroom fit for a king.
"Wow!" Mila gasped, "It's Wow!"
"It's something, alright," I said, moving my gaze up the walls to the roof. Alpha Cole surely decorated the place beautifully.
We were just in time to see Alpha Cole leave the stage, and seconds later, the music started again.
I moved my gaze over the sea of people, hoping to get a glimpse of Alex, but he was nowhere to be found.
Did he leave already?
"Let's go dance," Mila said, interrupting my thoughts and grabbing my hand.
We were on the dance floor for about an hour when Mila said she wanted to go to the ladies' room.
"Jax, baby, we will be right back!" Mila shouted above the music.
He nodded, and we headed toward the exit.
"It seems like you are enjoying yourself after all," Mila said when we were in the hallway.
"You know I love dancing," I said. I felt more myself, and my anxiety was long gone.
"Yeah, I know," Mila chirped, seriously. "You do know that every unmated wolf was checking you!"
I was taken aback by her words. I didn't even notice that people were looking at me.
"Well, if they are," I said sourly. "They are chicken sh*t for not asking me to dance."
"Maybe it's for the best," Mila said, pushing the ladies' room door open. "We both know you are way better than them."
I couldn't help but smile. Mila always knew how to cheer me up.
I watched Mila disappear into the bathroom while I waited for her outside. The pack members came and went, ignoring my existence—they didn't even glance at me.
Some days I wish people would just notice me. I didn't disappear. I was still there and part of the pack.
A group of ten young adults passed me next, heading toward the exit of the building. They were my friends before my birthday. I used to be part of that group, and my Beta rank made me popular too.
I sighed.
"Don't beat yourself up." Mila's soft voice sounded behind me, and I froze. "They are not worth your tears."
Did she see the longing and sadness in my eyes?
Don't get me wrong; it wasn't that I didn't appreciate Mila's friendship—I did. I treasured our friendship. It stung to be shunned and turned away from my friends because I did not have a wolf.
Why was I part of a pack that didn't accept me the way I was?
My heart pinched, and my hands flew to my chest. The painful feeling made me feel numb inside.
"Em, are you coming?" Mila asked, taking my hand.
I lifted my gaze, and Mila smiled kindly at me, wiping the warm tears from my face that I didn't know had spilled over.
"Do you want to go home?" she asked, concerned.
I shook my head. If I went home now, my parents would think that something had happened, and I wasn't in the mood to answer their questions.
"No," I whispered. "I'll be fine. Just give me a minute."
Mila softly patted my shoulder, giving me time to gather myself.
"Feeling better?" she asked, and I gave her a weak smile, reading the pity in her eyes.
"Good," she said, and I slowly followed her back to the community room, but just as we passed the double doors going out to the gardens, I froze in my tracks.
It was as if everything inside me screamed to be outside.
"What's wrong, Em?" Mila asked, looking back at the door. "What are you looking at?"
I slowly turned my gaze to meet hers, and her hands flew to her lips as she gasped, taking a step back.
"Nothing," I said, my voice sounding higher than usual in my ears. "I just need to go check something. I'll meet up with you in just a few minutes!"
Mila blinks a couple of times before she reacts. She then turned on her heels and dashed off toward the community center, as if someone were chasing her.
As soon as she was out of sight, I turned toward the door.
What happened next left my world spinning out of control.
****
Emily's POV The cool autumn breeze shook me out of my trance, and I yelped out in fright as the door shut closer behind me. I shook my head, confused, looking over the gardens. Why did I have the urge to come here? There was nothing out of the ordinary out there. Everything was quiet, except for my racing heart. The immense pull was unavoidable, and I took a step forward. I ended up making my way down to the huge fountain centered in the gardens and sitting down on the cold white marble bench, overlooking the water and fountain. I sighed. Was I losing my mind? I lifted my gaze toward Mother Moon's sculpture standing in the center of the huge bowl. She stood protectively among powerful wolves who were howling at the moon. "Why have you kept my wolf from me?" I whispered. An unnerving silence answered me back, and my temper flared out of control. I jumped to my feet as anger and pain rippled through my chest. "Why did you punish me like that?" I cried out and dropped to my k
Emily's POV I woke up with a bang, with my alarm clock screaming his red numbers next to me. 8:30 a.m. My eyes widened. I was late for training! I jumped out of bed and landed on my feet with a groan. "F*ck!" I swore under my breath. My body felt like a bulldozer had run over it. It was sore all over, and my breasts were tender and swollen. I knitted my eyebrows together, confused, trying to remember what had happened last night. I slowly moved toward the bathroom, feeling the tenderness between my legs. Did I have..? I shook the thoughts off just as fast as they came. I couldn't have—did I? "Sh*t!" I gasped under my breath, startled, when I saw my painted reflection in the mirror. My nape was covered in all colors and sizes of bruises, running down my breasts and stomach. Hickeys! What the f*ck! Who did this to me, and why? I sighed, frustrated. There was no way I could go out to training looking like that. I wiped my hand over my face, shaking my head in disbelief. "
Emily's POV The pack house was fairly quiet when Mila and I arrived. My parents, the Beta pair of the pack, asked me to come and help clean the community center. It wasn't a normal occurrence for the Beta family to be involved in helping clean after a pack function. I guess Alpha Cole must have asked them to help after he gave everyone a day off. "Where is everyone?" Mila asked, surprised when no guards were stationed at the front door of the pack house. "I think everyone went down to the clearing to enjoy their snow day," I said, gesturing to the cold, wet, fluffy stuff lying all over the place. Mila sighed. "Why did you talk me into helping?" She asked, shivering. "I could have been lying under the blankets with a cup of hot chocolate in my hands, watching a movie." "Because I needed help," I said, shrugging. "And you are my only friend." Mila rolled her eyes as she entered the pack house. The main reason Mila was sulking was that she was a bit disappointed that Jax went s
Emily's POV Mila and I headed back to the kitchen, taking a shorter route through the square. "No cheating this time," I called behind Mila. "Oh, come on, Em!" she yelled over her shoulder. "We both know that you will beat me by far if I don't use my wolf's abilities." I chuckled, knowing she was right. Mila's parents were only high-ranking warriors, but everyone knew that her father came from Delta rank. He forfeited his title when he decided to switch packs to be with Mila's mom. I watched as Mila grabbed the door handle, swung the door open, and ran inside. She only had a two-second lead. I swung the door open, seeing Mila sprinting down the hall, and she disappeared around the corner. There was no way I could catch her now. I started running at a slower pace, passing my father's office. I knew that Alpha Col's office was situated next to his, and I didn't want to disturb an unknown meeting. I quickly, but as quietly as possible, tried to pass them. I froze in my tracks,
Emily's POV I shifted the truck's gears back into third as I took the steep, rocky turn-off towards the White Moon Pack, my home for the last five years. I have been on an assignment, and it felt good to be able to come home again. It was Mila's idea to come to live here, and even though it was hard in the beginning to leave my family behind, I was proud of what I had accomplished by myself. My thoughts wandered off to that night. My mom had mind-linked Mila, telling her that I wasn't feeling well and that I needed a friend. Mila didn't even wait for my mother's scent to fade from my room when she sneaked in through my window. "Em," she whispered. "Are you awake?" I nodded my head, unable to utter a word. "Are you okay?" She asked, climbing through the window and into my bed with me. Mila pulled me to her, and I rested my head on her chest. She gave me a moment before she started asking questions. "Can you tell me what happened?" She whispered. I shook my head as tears welle
Emily's POV A huge white building greeted me as I drove up the driveway. I lived in the building—the pack house—for almost a year and knew the place like the back of my hand. A youngish blond guard rushed closer as I set foot out of the truck. He looked about nineteen. "Morning Parker," he bowed. "King Xavier is waiting for you." I nodded and handed him the truck keys. "Parker?" He asked, looking at me confused. "I'll be running back in wolf form," I said, smiling. "Willow wants to stretch her legs." The guard nodded and opened the driver's door. He looked quite happy to be driving my black truck. "Don't scratch her," I warned, and I ran up the stairs. As suspected, Xavier waited for me in the gardens, and a tender smile followed on his lips as I made my way down the steps to meet him. "Welcome back, dear!" He said, throwing his arms wide open for me. I didn't shy away from the embrace and ran into his arms, hugging him back. Xavier is Mila's uncle, and he has become a fat
Emily's POV Mila took an urgent step back, her hands moving to her lips as she gasped wide-eyed. She looked terrified, yet she refused to leave my side. The doctor rushed in and froze in his tracks when he saw me partly shifted. "What the f*ck!" he yelled out. I assume he never saw a she-wolf give birth and shift at the same time. "How the f*ck did this happen?" He rushed to my side, unsure what to do. "The pup!" I yelled, grabbing his shirt and pulling him toward me. "Get him out!" I suddenly had the urge to push... Mila stepped closer, sensing the time had come to deliver the pup to the world, taking my shifted hand in hers. She had no idea how much that meant to me. "Em!" Mila called my name over my moans. "It's time for you to push!" Seconds felt like minutes, minutes like hours—I whimpered and yelled, and everything around me became one big blur. The second the doctor freed the pup from me, I let go and handed all control over to my wolf; she took control and completed
Emily's POV "We're here." Willow's voice pulled me back out of my thoughts. I lifted my gaze to the exit of the forest overlooking my home. My four-wheel baby is already parked in his spot in the driveway. Willow handed me control, and I shifted back to human. Just four feet further, I found the clothes hidden in a hollow stump. Mila must have placed them there; they were still crisp and smelled like laundry detergent. I got dressed while making my way down the forest path toward my home. I lived in something similar to a duo home, sharing the house with Mila and Jax. We shared the same garden and driveway, but our entrance was allocated to the opposite side of our home. When I first decided it was time to move out of the pack house, Mila wanted me to live with her and Jax. I refused. I knew Mila didn't want me to be alone, but I didn't want to invade their privacy. Yet Mila pushed; she was determined to have me live close to her. After numerous arguments, Jax came up with