Chapter 10

Emma is set on the long journey back to her parent’s house and her pack. The weight of her decision was pressing on her chest. The thought of finally returning home brought a rush of emotion through her body, a conflict that she could not quite place. 

She had been away for so long, and her mind was a storm of uncertainty. Would they welcome her back, or would they see her as a stranger? A lot of thoughts were roaming around her mind, but she kept her shoulders high, determined to go home. 

Even though she had told Damien not to worry about following her, he insisted saying he had made a promise and he must fulfill it. She has no choice but to accept. 

As they approached the outskirts of Emma's former home, the familiar scent of the woods and the remnants of old memories clung to her. It was comforting, but something about it felt so different. As though she no longer truly belonged here, she took a steady breath, pushed the unease that lingered and continued to move forward.

Immediately, she was at the front of her house, about to open the door, when she heard her father’s voice very angry, filled with frustration. The sharpness of his tone carried weight, and Emma felt her heart skip a beat. 

She exchanged a glance with Damien before turning her attention back to the door. 

What was going on? she questioned, drawn to the emotion. When she finally opened the door, she was shocked by what she saw.

Her father stood in the middle of the sitting room with a red face, shouting at her beloved sister Ever. It was unlike her father, unlike anything Emma had ever seen. She had always known her father to be stern, but, this was something else entirely. Ever was usually composed and graceful. She stood with her arms crossed, her face unreadable. She did not flinch under her father’s scorn, but one could see the hurt behind her sister’s eyes. Emma couldn’t understand what had happened. Why was he yelling at her sister?

“Get out of here,” he yelled at Ever and she walked toward her room. 

Emma’s father’s eyes suddenly snapped to her and his anger instantly shifted to something else maybe a sigh of relief. He rushed toward her, his arms opening wide.

“Emma! Where have you been all this time?” he exclaimed, his voice softening. 

Emma froze on the spot, her heart racing faster. She was taken aback by the sudden warmth in his voice and embrace, but she couldn’t shake the shock of the earlier scene. What had happened to her family? Why was her father so concerned about her return?

She glanced at Damien, who was standing beside her. She was surprised by why her father was behaving so kindly to her.

“Father,” Emma called slowly, pulling away from him. Her voice was shaky. “I don’t know what to say. What is going on here?”

Her father’s face darkened for a moment before he waved off her question.

“Come inside, come inside,” he hushed her, gesturing for her to follow. “We’ll talk about it all. The house has been waiting for you. We’ve missed you so much, Emma.” Her father muttered as he walked toward the house. 

Emma motioned for Damien to follow her. The moment they stepped inside, the familiar warmth of the home wrapped around her, and the smell of fresh food filled her nostrils. But it all felt foreign now as if she had never experienced it before—or maybe the home no longer belonged to her. 

She watched as the maids bustled around, setting the table with food. Emma’s stomach growled despite the storm of confusion that was swelling inside of her. Was this some kind of prank? Was she being tricked? She couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off.

Her father urged them to come sit down and eat. This reaction only raised multiple questions for Emma. She glanced at Damien, who seemed just as unsettled as she was, his usual stoic expression betraying a flicker of concern.

“Why is Ever not joining us? What is going on?” Emma finally huffed, unable to hold it in any longer. She needed to know.

Her father’s face instantly hardened.

“Don’t you ever speak that name in this house again,” he snapped, his voice low and filled with venom. 

Emma’s heart sank. She had expected some tension, but this was something she had never anticipated. The way her father spoke about Ever, the anger in his voice. 

“You’re all we need now,” he continued. His tone softened slightly. “We’ve been looking for you, Emma.”

Emma’s mind reeled with multiple questions. She tried hard to process his words, but they did not seem to make any sense. What is going on?

“I just needed a break,” Emma smiled lightly, her voice steady despite the whirlpool of emotions inside her. “I decided to take some time for myself,” she added with a nod.

Her father nodded as well, seemingly satisfied with her explanation.

“We understand, Emma. We left your room exactly as it was. It’s waiting for you,” he smiled, and for a moment, Emma saw a glimpse of the father she used to know—the one who always cared for her, the one who had always been there for her.

She felt a wave of guilt wash over her. Had she been harsh in her thoughts? Was she imagining things?

She introduced Damien to her parents under a false name, telling her father that he was an old friend who had been traveling with her for so long. Her father didn’t hesitate to welcome him without question, but Emma noticed the way her father's eyes lingered on him, a hint of suspicion lurking in his gaze as if scrutinizing him.

Just then, the door to the sitting room opened, 

Ever stepped out, her expression was disgruntled, her posture stiff. 

“Ever,” she murmured her name strangely staring at her.