Life really loved showing how much more of a shit show my life could be, didn't it? That time it had really decided to fucked me up. Damn the Moon Goddess... Damn...
Let me explain.
It was the day that the other packs were arriving. I've been a nervous wreck all day, I had tossed and turned all through the night. I had actually sweated through my clothes and blankets to the point it felt like I had just come out of the rain and just decided to just lay down on my bed. I finally gave up on sleeping, and stood by the window looking out. My wolf wouldn’t sit still either. I felt her pacing in the back of my head that whole night, we didn't even speak to each other. She had been dangerously close to taking over and running. I don't think I would've really stopped her. I wanted to do the same, but I knew better. We had to face it sooner or later. I tried to calm her down but I was in no place to calm anyone down.
 I wish I had gone to see Brandon before he left for the border towards the East that morning. I know we fought a lot, and I go back and forth on keeping him, but I did miss him. I won't be seeing him for two weeks at least. And that if he had enough time to come see me afterward, before going to the Mountain pack’s lands to train. He might be back in time for Riley's birthday party, which he was looking forward to as I was.
 Maybe I can convince my father to let him stay a few days before being hauled off. I thought to myself, gonna have to find the time to speak to da, alone. Hopefully we’ll still be able to celebrate it. If I didn't burst into a million pieces. Something that felt very possible right about then.
I haven't been able to eat much that morning, my stomach is too upset. My family watched me with concern in their eyes. I assured them I was okay. Not that I was but I didn't want them worrying about me. What I really wanted to do was take a long run again. The call of the woods tugged at me hard, how I wish I could've gone. I just didn't have enough time, the packs would be arriving soon. We were to go to the council room, and talk about the upcoming war and how to handle it.
I headed up stairs and had been dressed in tight black pants, a red button up dress shirt with golden buttons, and a little black vest over that, with black buttons. The only jewelry I put on was my mother’s pendant. I took a deep breath before I headed to the council room. 
My brothers, Darren and Walsh, were already there, wearing red dress shirts with golden buttons, and black dress pants. Kelvin and Dara were still too young to join us in the meetings. Kelvin had made a big old stink about it, stating he was 17 years old. Father told him no, not until he was 18. He probably was in his room sulking until we called him for dinner. I wished I could trade places with him.
I took a seat between my brothers, and waited. They didn't say anything but Walsh placed a hand on my shoulder, offered me quiet support, which I had needed. I looked around the room and saw my father’s Delta, Eric, sitting in his seat, talking to Darling who had taken her seat. I was surprised she wasn't outside waiting for our guests. Then again if anything were to happen, she was in a safe room. It was one of the reasons why my father had us wait there too.
She wore a thin red dress that hung off her shoulders and fell onto the floor, she also had a black slash around her tiny waist, and she wore some gold earrings and a gold necklace. I had been willing to bet my father wore something similar to my brothers, gold, red and black. Darling had told us what to wear, to make us look like a pack family, though the pack’s official colors were silver, blue and black. It had struck me as strange not to be wearing our colors. I was to find out why later on that day.
It looked like Eric had confirmed something she might have asked, while I had watched them, and pondered about the dress code. Anything to try and take my mind off of what was about to happen.
Eric wore similar colors, but the gold. I guessed gold was for the Alpha’s family only. I looked at Eric, he was a handsome fellow, for being old that is. He was tall, with white blond hair, pale blue eyes, and tan skin littered with scars. He was slender but lean, making him quick on his feet. He had a mate but they were never able to make a pup of their own. I felt for him some days, not that it seemed to affect him or his mate. They help out at the school, he coached for the pee wee soccer team. He was my father’s best friend, and was the one that had my father’s back growing up. Made me wonder why he wasn’t Beta, not that I had anything against the Beta. 
My father’s Beta, was actually his cousin, Roland. He was a large, thick man with a beard that hung down to his chest with braid woven in it, his long brown steak with blond hair was made into braid down his back and often pulled into a ponytail. Very viking looking with a demeanor to match. He was level headed most of the time, unless you somehow made him mad. Then he was ready to chop your head off right then and there. He rarely smiled, but it was often because of his mate and seven daughters. He had been trying so hard for a son, but he said he was blessed with daughters that were tougher than any male their age. 
Right then he was outside with my father waiting on the packs to arrive. He made a good Beta, only I felt like that maybe he’d prefer to live on his own, somewhere. And getting into trouble rather than keeping out of trouble. I had been trying to picture him in dress pants and a dressy shirt when we heard the cars come down the gravel path. 
 Soon we heard the cars pull up and park. Opening of doors, and shutting of doors, then greeting, it had been hard to listen and see if I could hear Him there. After a minute the front doors open and voices and footsteps climb up the staircase. There had been too many voices talking over each other, I hadn't been able to tell them apart.
My heart was beating a million miles a minute. My sweaty palm held onto my chair’s armrest for dear life. If I had so much as twitched I was sure I would’ve broken them off. I don't know why I was so nervous. Then again, yes I did, I didn't want to see Emmett. 
Anyone else I could deal with, but not him. Anyone but him. I honestly rather had Alpha Judo than Emmett. I hadn't realized how much Emmett being Alpha scared me so much. I think my brain was over thinking what his reaction would be. Or what he could do to me. I had a fleeting vision of him jumping and attacking me the moment our eyes met. There was no way he could do anything to me, I wasn't his pack anymore. And if he wanted to break his alliance with us over it, it would be a very bad look on him to his other allies, especially after offering my father his help. I was just over thinking things. I told myself. It didn't help to make me feel better.
Even my wolf continued to pace, still not wanting to settle down. I’m sure if she could have she would have been running. How badly I wanted to give in to her and run too. I briefly looked at the nearby window and thought to jump out of it. I felt my heart thump hard against my ribs and thought that it may crack. 
Darren reached over and took my hand. I had flinched at his touch, I looked at him and he shook his head slightly. He knew what I had been thinking of jumping out and running. It would have looked poorly on our pack. He smiled at me, and I felt Walsh pat my back. I bit my lower lip and nodded. I was still nervous, with a thundering heart, but I felt like I could face my old pack, because of my current pack. My family.
I heard footsteps reach the doors to the council room, my head snapped towards it. I could hear my father talking and a deep rough voice responded to him. Suddenly my wolf stopped her pacing and hyper focused on the voice. Her back fur rose, I felt an electric current go through us. Why? Does she remember him? What his pack had done to us? How we were beaten so badly that she hardly was ever awake? I remember the owner of that voice. The last words he had said to me. The breath on my ear and exposed neck. His hand tangled in my hair as he held me to him. How he wanted me to please him. The promises that he’d take care of me, if I took care of him. The lies of safety, taunting me with bittersweet words that meant nothing. He would have thrown me to the others the moment he had found his true mate, I was sure. I gripped Darren’s hand tighter. My wolf still hasn't said anything, she was listening to the voice.
The doors opened, first my father stepped through, followed by his Beta Roland, then an older man, I assume was the Silver Moon pack Alpha. Followed by his Luna, Beta and some other wolves. Then Emmet stepped through the doors, followed by his Beta. not that I even looked at the Beta, only at him. Emmett looked rather tense, he looked wildly around the room, then we locked eyes.
I was hit with a bolt of lightning. My throat closed, I couldn't breathe, as my wolf went wild, wanting to get at him, to attack. And not in the way I wanted or expected.
Emmett's whole body relaxed, letting a huge smile spread across his gorgeous face. It made my stomach do flip flops, I couldn't breathe, my chest had tightened hard and had been close to passing out. Then he said the word that dropped kicked me in the stomach and had me gasping for air. 
"Mate..."
The room went silent, shocked faces colored all of my family and  our pack members. It was the last thing that anyone expected. How could the Goddess pair me with him of all wolves on this planet? I would rather be paired with the lycans or even become a vampire’s beloved. My tormentor was my fated mate, my true mate? Are you freaking kidding me?! I screamed inside of myself.
The Silver Moon’s Alpha was the first to respond to the situation.
"Congratulations! What wonderful thing for allied packs? The Alpha’s daughter is mates with the Alpha of an allied pack! And a strong, good looking man at that! Bennett you should be proud! Your grand pups are gonna be a good looking bunch, and from such strong Alpha bloodlines! Look how speechless your girl is" He spoke happily, laughing oblivious to the rest of us. Maybe he was drunk, it seemed like he was rambling on, talking about a mating bond ceremony, the sooner the better, he had said.
 His Luna on the other hand, seemed to be able to read the room better and pulled her mate onto his feet, and began to push him out of the room.
“We’ll let you guys talk first... it seems our meeting can wait... Eric, or Roland.. Either or both I suppose, um ... Do you mind taking us to our room, we might as well take this chance to freshen up.”She spoke quickly and hurried and continued to push her confused mate, with Delta Eric following close behind. Roland decided to stand by, watching Emmett, his thick arms crossed over his wide chest. 
 My father had just looked at me. He looked so stunned, broken, and torn all at once. This was not gonna end well. I was sure he was thinking.
If I reject Emmett out right, it could start a war. It was Emmett's right to take me if he deemed it, there wasn’t much my family could do. If I allowed him to take me, to avoid the war, my family wouldn’t allow him anyways, and it would still result in a war. Our pack couldn't fight two packs, and without allies, we might as well surrender now. Yet, I couldn't let this brute have me. I would be forced to do everything I had run from. 
How could this happen? I wondered. 
Emmett kept smiling at me, his eyes going soft as butter, as if I was the only thing that was in the room, that was missing in him. Gag. I guess I was... didn't mean I wanted it. Wanted him.... I looked him over, he had only gotten better looking, he had a wild man look at him now that made him seem more thrilling, more dangerous. So sexy. 
And gag, how I wanted to beat my own brain for thinking that way. My wolf was screaming to jump at him. To take what is rightfully mine. And he was mine, he was the mate I had been waiting to enter my life. My hero, my knight in shining armor. He was supposed to be my other half, the one that was to hold me dear to his heart, heal the wounds I have suffered for so long. 
Only, it was the opposite. He was my tormentor, he was the reason I had longed for safety and someone to heal me. I felt like throwing up. My wolf wasn’t much help with that, running and bashing herself against my skull, making my head, and my heart hurt.
I just stood rooted, just staring at him. I hadn't noticed he had started walking towards me. He looked me up and down and he smiled wider.
"My long lost.... girl... “ he paused thinking of the word to call me, for a moment I had thought he was gonna call me, his long lost whore. “Evelyn Williams. Suppose it’ll be Evelyn Black soon... My love, it is so good to see you... We have so much to talk about... " He said, getting closer, toppling over the chairs that stood in his way.
Finally sense found me and I jumped up and moved away from him keeping the table between us. My brothers moved with me, keeping to either side of me. Protecting me. Though I don't think there was much they could do to an Alpha. Until they were ranked there was very little chance of them beating Emmett even with both of them against him. 
 Our eyes were kept locked to each other. Emmett's smile just got bigger, his eyes almost sparkled with amusement. He stopped just as he got within a foot of Darren, he never bothered looking at my brother. His focus was on me. I felt his immense power roll off of him, the mating bond pulling me strongly towards him. I resisted, even though it had hurt me.
“Evelyn... Please listen to me... I’ve looked for you all over... that night that.. well.. I needed you and you disappeared...  I went crazy looking for you. All I had was your scent... i had followed for a day before having to return to the pack. My love you have no idea how I needed you...” his voice turned husky right there at the end. A shiver moved through me, lighting up my core. My wolf howled more. I shook my head violently.
        “Hah! You mean the night you were gonna mark me as the official whore of the pack? After you used me as your own personal toy?” I yelled outraged. My brothers looked shocked, my father cringed at my words, while Darling and Roland looked sick. Only my father knew about the plans that were set for me, about me being the pack’s whore. 
 How dare he! I screamed inside my head, making my wolf flinch before continuing her howling. He made it sound like we were in love! That he was gonna save me! Like he hadn’t let his friends beat me up just two hours before he became the Alpha! 
He pressed his lips together, I swear I could hear him grinding his teeth to powder. I watched the muscle in his jaw move, knowing that was what he had been doing. He looked around the room and then back at me.
        “Can we talk alone?” he asked.
        I growled at him, baring my teeth at him. His eyes darken for a moment, Alphas didn't like being challenged. It usually brought their wolf close to taking over, and most Alphas were more intune with their wolves than most. I was stupid for baring my teeth at him but at the moment I couldnt stop myself. I felt my body shake, heat was building inside me, but I was also very much scared. I need to control my emotions before I start a war. I was trying to stop one from happening.
        “.... Alpha Bennett, please.. I just want to talk to her... I wouldn't do anything to hurt her.. You Have my word...” he pleaded with my father. My father had a scowl on his face, glaring at Emmett. Beta Roland stood behind my father with a hand on his shoulder. My father surely would have attacked had it not been for Roland. Though Roland looked like he was holding back by a strand himself.My father turned and looked at me. 
I took a deep breath. This didn't wanna go away, if we continued on this path this way, it would end badly for us. I might as well attempt to listen to Emmett and what he had to say. I really didn't want to be left alone with him, but I also had to think of the pack, my family. As it was, my father was ready to tear Emmett apart. Actually, everyone in the room was ready to, but I had to put a stop to it. Like it or not, we needed Emmett’s help.
 Maybe if Emmett really did change for the better, I could convince him that it wasn’t gonna work out with our past. Maybe even guilt him into thinking better of it. A girl had hope. It didn't do much good for me then. Or what was to come.
 I nodded at my father, he sighs and ordered the others to leave the room. Then he mindlinked to me to just holler if I needed him. He and Roland weren't going too far.
        So I was left in the room alone with my worst nightmare.
        Emmett Black.... My mate... gag.