Part 6


I think life really has it out for me. This shit show had only gotten worse.
Let me explain.
So after all that...
I had agreed to his terms, but the timeline he had set. I felt that a year was too long for this kind of deal. He said we can talk about it later, when we go on our first date. He wanted it to be at least a few months, where I wanted it to be as short as possible. I thought I could convince him on maybe a month. Even that seemed a bit long for me, but it would've been better than a year. 
I had buttoned my shirt up to cover the hickey he had given me, he looked very smug all the while he watched me. I growled lowly at him, but he just chuckled. He’s eyes lit up with amusement and something else that I didn't want to think about. I’ve seen it before, I knew what it was. I saw it when my father looked at Darling, or when Darren looked at Riley... What I saw when Brandon looked at me. Having Emmett look at me made my stomach turn over and over.
Brandon... I really wanted to talk to him right then. How I wanted him to hold me and listen to me vent about how frustrating the situation was and to help me come up with a plan. And help me fight my wolf’s urges for Emmett. Where the mate bond and my wolf wanted only Emmett, I still wanted Brandon. He was my best friend after all. Even if we never ended up together, we would still be friends. 
I wondered what he was gonna say about Emmett and how he forced me to take this deal? I hoped that he wouldn’t do anything foolish, like challenge an Alpha. Looking between the two of them, I doubt even if they both had been both unranked wolves, Brandon could have taken Emmett. It was obvious that Emmett was the stronger wolf. 
“Come on love... Don’t be that way... It was the only way you’d give me a chance, and I really would love for you to give me a chance. We’ll look back on this and laugh one day...” He lost his smile. “I’m really sorry Evelynn... I should've treated you better.” He actually sounded remorseful. I just shook my head, and turned away from him. I didn't want to see his face anymore. I had enough of him for that day. I felt exposed, weak and so very tired. I felt him move to stand behind me. I felt his lips gently kiss the side of my neck, his large hands came to rest my hips. I felt a rush of rage and fire inside me.
I turned and slapped him.
He just smiled, keeping one of his hands on my hip. “Whatever it takes, Evelynn...” he hovered there for a moment, his eyes drifting down to my lips. My breath was caught up in my throat, my heart started to thunder again, I leaned back.
There was a knock at the door, Emmett dropped his arm, turned away from me and strode over to the door and opened it. Someone pushed past him and I felt a hand on both my shoulders. I looked up at their face. My father. 
I smiled weakly at him. His eyes looked all over me. He must have seen something. Maybe the rumpled clothes, the fact my shirt was buttoned up to the collar, my tired eyes, my swollen lips, my flushed face, the defeat in me perhaps... His eyes narrowed, before turning snarling at Emmett.
“Where do you get the gall? After everything you’ve done to her?!” He took a step towards Emmett, who leaned against the wall beside the door frame, arms crossed over his chest, very casually. Roland stood just outside the door, watched, though he looked ready to take on Emmett. Emmett continued to be casual, as if there weren't two wolves there ready to tear his throat out. I grabbed my father's arm and stopped him before he launched himself at Emmett. He turned and looked at me, his anger turned to concern and confusion.
“Alpha Bennett. We have come to an agreement. We decided to give it a chance and trust the Moon. There is much that she needs to know about me and the pack she left behind. I wish to tell her about it, and give her all the information before she makes a choice of simply rejecting me... Yes, it doesn't excuse my actions, and things I’ve done to her, and I will be willing to let her go if she still wants to in the end. But for now at least, we decided to trust the mating bond, and give it a chance. I know I can make her happy, and well capable of protecting her now. And don't worry, I didn't mark her.” Emmett sounded so casual, as if he was just talking about the weather or some shit. I hated him.
My father had let out a snort, and turned to me, taking both my hands, he held them, his thumbs stroking the backs of my hands. He looked into my eyes, and without talking, or mindlinking me, asked me if this was true.
I nodded. I dare not tell him how it really happened. He’d rip Emmett apart right then. Then our pack would be doomed. I had images of my family members, of my father, his mate Darling, my brothers, Darren, Walsh, Kelvin and finally my little sister Dara. Then I thought of the pack, Roland, Eric, their family and my friends. Of Riley, Brandon, my teachers, my sparring partners, the whole pack. My pack. I couldn't let that happen to them, even if it meant my freedom was taken away from me again. Even if the mate bond proved too strong for me to resist, I did end up with Emmett. I had to do whatever was in my power to protect them. 
My father took in a long breath, held it and slowly released it.
“Very well Eve... You’d tell me differently, right?” My heart hurt lying to him, so I had simply nodded my head. He nodded again and squeezed my hands before releasing them. He turned back to Emmett, eye narrowing. “Let's get this meeting underway...”
                *****************************************
We had our meeting. I don't remember much, my head had spun the whole time, my head throbbed, and I was so very tired. Emmett had taken a seat next to me, much to Walsh's disapproval. Well everyone from my family’s disapproval, even Darling had a scowl on her face, which was very rare. 
Emmett didn't seem to care or even notice them. His eyes never left me, I was able to see him from the corner of my eye as I tried my best not to look at him and focus on my father and the other Alpha. I kept rubbing my forehead, trying to ease the throbbing and pain.
I remember the Alpha of the Silver moon pack had kept looking between me and Emmett and then at my father. He lost his smile and joval self from earlier that day. I got the feeling that his Luna might have said something to him, hell maybe Darling had told them a little. I wasn’t sure at the time.
He was an older man, at least 10 years older than my father, he had a long gray beard with streaks of blond from his youth, it hung long, well past his chest. There were two braids that run on either side of his chin, that ended tied to blue circular stones that were smooth. He was bald on top, it showed deeply tan skin, as if he had spent most of his life in the sun. He had a strong man’s body, strong with a belly, thick legs and arms. Alpha Sorren had many tales of his adventures as a young wolf and how he hunted down a large band of rouge that were looking to kill any and all Alphas at the time. He wasn’t what I had pictured when listening to these stories. I had imagined a very stoic and stern man. He was quite the opposite, he smiled easily, and jokes were almost second nature to him. I would've liked him, if it weren’t for everything else.
His Luna, Erin, was a rare female as she had been part of an all female pack that traveled, and trained with other packs. She was a warrior wolf marked by the Sun and Moon. Still don't know what that meant. She was tall and thin, I was surprised at how thin she was, and very petite. Erin carried around a bone axe that was handed down to her by her teacher, she told us when asked about it. She had long red thick hair braided and lopped up, it still hung to her waist. She had silvery eyes, which I found usual and had thought she was blind, but only she wasn’t. She seemed to be the sensible one between her and her mate. 
The pair was an odd one, considering that the Moon Phase pack rarely ever left their pack. But there was a story there for another time. They wore colors of blue and silver and grey, their pack colors I suppose. The reason why we wore red, gold and black. Our colors were similar. I watched them talk to my father about what to do. What they know of the new Alpha wolf that was out to take our lands. 
I hadn't heard a word that anyone had said, and I was having a hard time, it felt like my head was stuffed and blocked. I just wanted out of the room already. I leaned back into my chair and looked at Emmett. 
 Emmett leaned on the table, his cheek resting in the palm of his hand and just watched me. I felt his concern for me, he even reached out and rubbed the back of my neck. A caring and loving gesture. It felt good and I almost melted, again but the sparks from his touch woke me. I tossed him a glare and he dropped his hand. He looked a little hurt at that, but quickly recovered his casual demeanor. I was glad he didn’t try again. I couldn't take his touch again, as it was my body that felt super sensitive, and I might have just given in at that point. 
My brother softly growled at him, only for Emmett to return the growls with a lower one the emitted power. My wolf fluttered inside me.
The hurt look... it sent a pang of hurt into my own heart. My wolf whimpered, she had passed out, after we had come earlier, and had only recently woken up when he touched me. Damn mate bond. Damn my own wolf. Damn the Goddess. Why would she do this to me?
My father kept it all business, once in a while, he’ll look at me with concern but continued doing his part. Darling, and both my brothers however, all bombarded me via mindlink about what happened. Adding to my headache that had started to form. How I wished for numbness. 
They asked, why did I allow Emmett to try and win my heart? Darren warned me about how the mate bond can not be fought against. Walsh told me of how after a few weeks, the pull will be too strong for me to ignore it. I’ll be forced to submit to Emmett. That I needed to reject him now, the alliance be damned, Darling told me.
I assured them that I had it under control and to trust me. I told them I would tell them my plan later. Yep.. after I find a good believable plan to tell them. If I told them the truth of what happened, what Emmett threatened me with, and the lack of a plan, they would rip the bastard apart. Seems that was the only reaction I figured that they would have.
No matter how I looked at it. I couldn't tell them what really happened. Oh what a shit show it had become. How I wanted to slip out the meeting and go for my long needed run. As it was, I hadn't heard anything going on as previously stated. I’ll have to ask my father what was agreed on, later. I thought to myself as my father dismissed the meeting and we all began to get up.
I stretched and walked with my brothers, they covered me. Emmett simply followed us out. We headed down stairs, and my father and Darling ushered the others to the dinning hall, for dinner. I mindlinked my dad.
“Is it okay if I skip out?”
“I figured you wanted to, did you want us to save something for you?” he asked in my mind, as he stood by the dinning hall’s door, looking over at me. 
“Some soup and bread, I don't think I can handle anything more than that..”
“Would you like me to send Eric or Roland with you?”
“Naw, you, need them more here. Besides , I can easily outrun them.”
“True.... be safe...” he nodded before entering the dining hall with Darling, who had been watching the exchange between us.
“I'll make you a simple sandwich, and put it in the fridge for you” she gave a small smile at me. I nodded at her, and tried to smile back but I couldn't even fake it.
I stood there, Walsh nudged my shoulder with his. “Going on a run?”
“You know it...” I tried to say cherry, but failed, I sounded how I felt, exhausted.
“... I can-” I waved my hand at him, stopping his words. He sighed and nodded. Darren stood nearby watching us. He probably wanted to come with me too, but we both knew that he and Walash needed to attend dinner, seeing that both are the future of this pack. 
But, I had wanted to be alone. To try and clear my head and think of a way out of this. Emmett may have changed, but he wasn’t gonna just let me go. He claimed he loved me. If he wanted me before the mate bond, and drove him crazy when I disappeared, I can only imagine what the mate bond is doing to him just then. I’m just glad he wasn’t simply picking me up and taking me with him. 
I heard many tales of male wolves, especially Alphas simply taking their mates against their will. In a way, it was very wolfy of them, but again it wasn't what I wanted to happen with Emmett. If he went back to his pack and simply took me, there wasn’t anything my pack could do, and there would be no way to stop him unless, of course killed him. However, now giving permission to court me, I may have to leave with him.
The thought sent a chill down my spine. Return to the Mountain pack. Back to the wolves I hated, to the ones that tormented me and used my mother. Even worse, seeing the former, Alpha Judo. He's an elder wolf, with his beta, delta. What would they say when they saw me? What would they try to do when I came back?
I headed to the door, only to be stopped in the foyer by someone taking my hand into their very large and callous hand. It was very warm, and they sent electric tingles up my arm and made my heart beat faster. I looked back to see Emmett standing there, his hand holding mine.
“..Aren't you gonna eat?” he sounded concerned again, I shook my head no. “Why not love? You should really eat, I think you really need it. Or at least go to your room and rest for a while...” I shook my head and tried to pull my hand away. He wouldn't let go, “Where are you going?”
“She is going for a run... It's what she does when she needs to think and get away from headaches.” Walsh walked over to us and pushed his way in between us, severing Emmett’s hand from mine. Emmett growled down at my brother, but Walsh didn't back down or cast his glare away. Emmett was a full head taller than my brother, I stood behind my brother looking at Emmett, praying they wouldn't get into a fight.
“I was talking to Eve... Not you pup... You will do well not to get in between us. We are mates...” Emmett growled down at him, Walsh simply glared back. 
“And you will do well to remember you are in another Alpha’s terrority. Not your own. You need to remember your own manners. And you two may be fated mates, but she hasn’t given herself fully to you...” Walsh crossed his arms over his chest. 
Emmett's eyes darken, his Alpha wolf about ready to explode. He scrowled down at Walsh, I heard the distinct sound of popping bones. He was ready to shift. I gently squeeze Walsh’s arm. He turns and looks at me. I gave him a look, and Walsh nodded. I turned to Emmett to address him.
“Emmett, my brother was simply reminding you that you are needed at the dining table... along with them, seeing how you are Alpha and they are the future of this pack. I however need to take a stroll alone... a lot has happened, and I feel like my head is tearing in half... Running helps me in ways you don't understand... at least not yet...'' I gave that last part in hopes of winning him over, if he thought that I was willing to tell him about it someday. “Please” I added a little bit too lamey.
Emmett looked at me, his eyes bored into mine, looking and searching. He must have found something, his body slowly relaxed and nodded, before turning away and headed to the dining hall. I sigh and hug Walsh from behind. “Thank you brother.. But that was very stupid... he an Alpha... not the type to simply bow their heads to anyone...”
“Don't care who he is... he needs to understand that I'll do anything to protect you... big sister or not..” he smiled at me.
“Here I thought you were the smart one of all my brothers... Now go on.. I’ll be home later...” I turn towards the door, letting Walsh go.
“Mindlink me in an hour telling you're okay... you don't look so hot sis..” I heard the concern, and briefly thought of just heading up stairs. Only the thought of Emmett being under the same roof as me, made me want to leave that much sooner. Just to be away, even if it was just a little while.
“Not supposed to look hot to my own brother,” I teased him, but I knew what he meant. I felt weak, and not my usual self. He smiled before turning and heading to the dining room. Darren watched me, but followed Walsh. I jester for him to go on into the dinning room. He pressed his mouth into a thin line and walked on behind Walsh.
I loved my brothers, but they often acted as if they were the older ones looking out for his little sister. Dara is gonna have a hard time when it comes to her mate one day. By then both our brothers will be ranked.
I walked outside, then straight towards the woods. I was so lost in my own mind, and uncaring, I didn't think to listen for anyone near me. I just walked to my normal spot. It felt like rain. 
I walked to the edge of the wood and started unbuttoning my shirt when I felt a warm breath against the back of my neck. Then his scent and heat wrapped themselves around me, making me sweat, my heart started to hammer inside me again. I didn't even know he had followed me, or even that he was so close. I figured my brothers would have stopped him if he came after me. He must have tricked them somehow. Probably had slipped out the back door from the kitchen when my brothers were still with me. Sly bastard.
I turned around and was almost nose to nose with Emmett. At that moment he looked different. His face was soft, eyes glowing in adoration and with love.. The something I had tried to deny earlier that day as he watched during the meeting, but he also looked at me with sadness. My tongue felt too big for my mouth, my leg wouldn't move, it was harder to breathe. There, we stood, my shirt mostly unbutton, my plain bra there for him to see. Why wasn’t i one of those girls that always wore cute bras and panties? Not that I wanted to please him, but i didnt have to look my best if others were seeing, right? 
His hickey was out, where he could see it. He reached out and gently stroked it, his touch sent tingles and lighting coursing through my veins. I shivered, pressing my legs together to stop the ache from between m y legs... As if that could do anything. There was one thing that could ease it, and he was standing right there in front of me. 
Then my wolf sang a soft song within me. A song that I never heard her sing before then. She called to him, sang to him and only to him. I thought I heard a distant song being returned to us. Was that his wolf? It affected me in a way I couldn't explain, for a split moment I relaxed, my head cleared, and the pain was gone. I felt at peace, as I looked up into his eyes, and leaned forward. All too soon but not soon enough, I felt his lips on mine, soft, gentle, tasting me before he deepened it, taking his fill. 
I couldn't resist him just then, damn it. I returned the kiss just as roughly as before, our tongues gently lapping at each other, our canines clashed against each other. I felt his arms warp around me, pulling me closer to him, I laid my hands on his chest and gripped his shirt again, the claws of my thumbs, gently scratching him, leaving behind red lines. And we just kissed, standing there under the full moon I didn't realize was out.
 The sounds of the woods surrounded us, the faint noises of the grasshopper, rustling in the leaves of some unknown creature moving about, a lonely owl hooting somewhere within the woods. I slowly closed my eyes, and allowed myself just to feel, just this once (hah). It felt so good. For a moment everything was gone. He wasn’t Emmett, I wasn't Evelyn. We didn't have a past. There was no future. Just now.
We were two wolves that found each other at last. We wanted each other, there wasn't anything more than that. We were allowed to simply stand there and make out. War wasn’t in the near future, I didn't hate him, and he never treated me poorly.
Our wolves continued their song, happily singing to each other. It made the moment become the future, and I forgot why I hated this man. In my head I saw us together, always holding onto each other, and us going back to the Mountain pack, me being their Luna. My belly grew with our newest love, as Emmett held a small bundle in his arms already, as we walked to visit my mother’s grave. It was a large apple tree, the hut in front was made into a shrine, there were candles there, her name was on a small granite stone. Along with words that I wasn’t able to see clearly. It felt right. 
However, it wasn’t true. It wasn’t possible.
After what seemed like forever, I felt his muscles tighten for a second before dropping his arms, and pulled away. We opened our eyes at the same time. We were both panting, and we looked into each other's eyes. I saw in his eyes the love glowing, it was hard not to see it, the need to do more shone too, and the remorse so deep I knew it was real. I couldn't deny his feelings for me or his words for that matter. He really did want to protect me. He really was sorry. At that moment I was dumbfounded. I even thought of forgiving him.
He licked his lips, slowly, lingering, savoring me. I felt a shiver run down my spine. What was he thinking? What was I thinking?
I turned away from him. I wanted to run away, but at the same time, I didn't. I stood there unsure what to do, what to say. I suddenly felt embarrassed, and shy. Should I have said something to him? I peeked over my shoulder to Emmett, but he was already gone.
 I hadn't heard him leave. I was surprised that was all he did to me. I thought for sure he was gonna try to take me right then. The idea of him and me together in that way filled my stomach with butterflies, and heated me all over. It made me dizzy. Then it turned sour, and I felt sick, and the headache came back. I had to lean against a tree, or else I would have fallen to my knees.
Again, that one kiss just then, proved to me, how hard this was gonna be. I’m starting to think that it is gonna be impossible to fight against the mate bond. Had he tried anything more, I would be reminded of what he was, and fought him off. Even being able to shove him away, I told myself. 
This simple kiss undid that. That he left, made me think he had really changed. Maybe I should listen to his reasons, to really give him a chance. This bond was deeping, and I didn’t know how to fight it.  Did I even want to?
The thought scared me.
I shook my head, no.. if he had changed, then he should be willing to let me go. I pulled the rest of my clothes off, feeling the cool night against my overheated and sensitive skin, that just felt too tight around me. The moment I shifted, it felt incredible, but did not lessen the ache in my head, or down below or the one i was starting to feel in my heart. 
That night I ran, I didn't know where I was going, I wasn't on the path I normally would take. I just started running without thinking. Overhead I heard the thunderstorm brewing. But the rain didn't fall down. How I wish it did. Let it wash away his scent that clang to me like a second skin. He smelled of crisp mountain tops and river moss. I liked it, and had me aching for him. Wishing he was there with me. 
What would it be like to run with him besides me? There were very few that could outrun me, or even keep up with me. Would he? 
I crashed into the brush, and trees. I wasn't looking where I was going. The moon had left me to stumble in the dark. It was hard to see, my eyes couldn't focus on anything ahead of me, too busy focusing on the past and what was waiting for me back there. All I saw was him. And the visions of the future I had when he kissed me. Did he see them too? Was that what I wanted? Was I willing to forgive him? No, I had to be stronger than my feelings. Stronger than the mate bond. I had to be, I pushed myself faster. I dug my paws in.
My wolf howled, it was deafening. She wanted her mate. She wanted to kiss him again. To have him hold us. I was starting to understand why I wasn't able to refute her desire, for it started to over shadow my reasons for not wanting him. He was handsome, he was strong, and he was what I was wanting in Brandon. That rough hardness, the savage need for each other. The willingness to simply put me down anywhere and have me. Didn't matter where, only that we wanted each other. He was all alpha, and he wore it well. The way he looked at me, the way a simple touch can have me craving him. He was what all werewolves wanted in their mates. 
My other side made itself known, making my head throb once more, it hurt so much it felt like it was ripping itself from my own head. I hadn’t known she existed, but as conflicted as I was. Maybe she was borned from that. I felt my head tearing in two. Starting from the top of my head, down my neck as if I was growing another head. Will she continue to split me? What happens when I finally split into two? Or even three? The wolf, this new one and me?
My other half snarled and yelled all the sins, all the abuse I had endured, and how Emmett and his family were the cause for it. To look at the scars on my body, to remember the pain when I received them. They took my freedom away, my childhood, and most  importantly, my mother. My mother that never did anything wrong, my gentle sweet mother that did everything in her power to protect me. They killed her. He killed her. They killed her mind, body and soul. And we watched it happen, and there was nothing we could do.
My wolf howled back saying there were reasons, he was scared of his father, it was his father’s fault not his. He did not kill my mother, it was Alpha Judo! And the damn ranked wolves of that evil Alpha!
They yelled and screamed at each other. I felt like a child curled up into a ball inside a boat, within my mind, surrounded by a darkness of waves, being pushed and tossed from one side to the other. My wolf was one wave that pushed, the other side shouted and pushed me back. All the while, there was nothing I could do about it but be tossed and pushed. To listen to both sides and their reasons.
 I was torn, I wanted to hate Emmett, did hate him. And yet I wanted to see if I could forgive him. I started to want him for myself. My wolf screamed for me to give him a chance. My other side yelled back not to give him an inch. I was ready to explode, did explode and shifted in my human self. I continued to run, as if that would get me away from my own mind. I reached up and covered my ears, when that didn't work, I clawed at my head wanting to dig them out. Overhead, the storm thundered, and groaned, but yet wouldn’t let the rain go. I needed the rain.
I felt as if they were the only thing that would save me at this point.
Shut up, shut up! I wailed inside. I needed space and time to think. I ran until I was at the Iron river side. I was exhausted, hungry now, weakening further. I shifted from human to wolf tearing myself to shreds only to shift a couple more times, my body pulling me one way or another as the fighting inside me continued until I finally shifted into my human self before I collapsed down on the muddy river bank. The mud hissed as my bare skin touched it, my body so hot, it was uncomfortable. I watched as steam rose off of my skin, the mud hardened and cracked, then flaked off. That wasn’t possible. I must have imagined that. 
I wanted to move but couldn't. The two inside me continued to fight, unaware what was happening to me. I couldn't move, my body wasn’t responding. I shifted my head and looked at the river. It would be cool, I told myself and reached for it. I wanted to drown myself just then. I felt the water would wash everything away, maybe it would have swept me away somewhere else, somewhere I could start a new life.
My mind finally put a void over both my wolf and my other side once I touched the cold water. I shouldn't sleep here. I needed to drag the rest of me into the water. I needed to trust the river to take me away. Yet I couldn't will myself up. Darkness ate up the rest of my vision, and I felt myself start to burn more. Where my hand laid in the water steamed up. Felt tears run down my face. Then I was swept away by the numbness and darkness. And I knew nothing more. 
When I woke up I was being carried away, I felt being swayed, I heard shouts, concerned voices. 
She has a fever. She needs to be taken to a hospital. Let me take her. No, let me, she belongs to me. She isn’t yours! Give her to me! Like hell! I got her! She is our’s! Not for much longer! Enough! Get her to the healer now! 
They sounded like faint echoes from someplace far away. I couldn't tell who was who. I couldn't see anything, my eyes were very heavy, I wasn't able to open them. I didn’t know who held me, or what was going on. I felt like I was in the boat inside my mind and the voice came from the far away corners. I continued to just lay there, my skin felt too hot. Then the little cool drops started to fall onto me.
It was raining at last, so I smiled at that. Leave me in the rain, I wanted to tell them. It felt cool on my overheated skin, even though inside I was mostly cold. How could I be cold and hot at the same time? Anyhow it felt good. I just wanted to bask in it. Leave outside, I'll be fine.
 I felt someone take me into their arms and hold me tightly, they pressed their cheek to mine. Then they were running. There were angry shouts behind us but soon faded. The one carrying me felt warmer, felt little tingles where their bare skin touched mine. The scent was Crisp mountain tops and river moss... Emmett? I heard he was trying to talk to me but I couldn't hear a thing. He sounded so far away. I was pressed into his chest, I took deep breaths, and yea it was him. I felt his heart hammered against his chest and my head. 
Somehow, the rain cooled my heat, while Emmett warmed my cold. How was that possible, even now as I tell this story, it still didn't make sense to me. 
Soon there was a moment of bright light, it was blinding, I shut my eyes and drifted away again. I didn't realize my eyes had been open, I hadn't seen anything. I only felt the world around me. Felt the powerful man that held me, and could feel the speed at which he ran. Faster, I thought, faster. Then nothing. 
The water inside me was still, there was not more tossing and turning. There wasn't a single sound to be heard. My world was dark, as I laid there in that small boat, unsure if I wanted to move. I let my mind drift off to who knows where, only I didn't care to remember it. Simply surrender myself to the void.
When I woke up again, I heard two people fighting, I heard something being pushed and then flipped. Items were scattered all over the floor. I slowly opened my eyes. Blinding light, it hurt so I squeezed my eyes shut and even more slowly opened them again. My glaze was blurred at first. I tried to focus my eye on the two figures in the room. I had to blink a few times before my sight was clear.
Emmett was the one closest to me, his back towards me. He was facing someone slightly smaller than him, lean body.. Brandon. Brandon was yelling at him, his words weren’t making sense to me. My eyes traveled between them, then I noticed Darling at the door of the very bright white room. She was trying to calm them both down, she was holding a vase of flowers, mexican golden poppies. One of my favorite flowers out here. 
Her calming voice had me relaxing again, I closed my eyes and drifted once more. 
My body felt uncomfortably hot, I felt myself sweating through my clothes. I felt someone press a cool damp cloth to my head. I tried to open my eyes to see who but I couldn't. I was sick, I suppose. It was rare for me to get sick. I wonder why now? Maybe all the things that had happened to me in the short hours had weakened me. I didn't know. My wolf was starting to stir, my other half was waking as well, whatever the hell she was. I wasn't sure what to call that half, it wasn’t like she existed before now. Thankfully they didn't say anything to each other. As if my head was a room and they sat furthest from each other and watched each other. I must be going crazy. Maybe Emmett will see that and not want me. A girl could hope but yet pained at the thought.
Finally I woke up, I opened my eyes and at first it was dark. I slowly moved to sit up. My joints ached and popped from the unused, I wondered how long it had been. I stretched, reaching my arms up and flexing my fingers. I stretched out my legs, hearing them pop, and wiggled my toes, it all felt pretty good. I yawned loudly. 
“Thank Goddess, you're awake.” I heard then felt arms warp around me and hold me. The smell of fresh bread and yellow daffodils. I smiled and patted Darling’s back. She pulled back and looked at me in the darkened room.
“Hey... what happened? Where...?” I looked around the dark room, it was a hospital room. I remembered this place when Kelvin had fallen out of his window and broken his crown, he was unconscious for about four days.
“You're in the hospital.. You’ve been fighting a fever for about 8 days. It finally broke this morning and we’ve been waiting for you to wake up... your father is very worried for you, he comes whenever he can to check up on you and mindlinks me almost every hour. Your brothers and I have been sleeping in shifts here to watch over you. Brandon has come everyday since he heard, he...um...” She fell quiet. She looked down at her hands as they twisted the sheet. 
Something else has happened. She didn't want to say anything more. I sighed and took her hand into mine. She pressed her lips together, thinking whether or not to tell me.“I’ll let Brandon tell you... he has been wanting to talk to you.. He is probably outside the room right now asleep on one of the chairs.. Along with Emmett.. If you like.. I could wake Brandon up?” she continued not to look at me.
I looked at the time, it was about 4 in the morning, but if I wait until morning Emmett might wake up and not leave me to talk to my boyfriend... or rather ex, I thought tears had welled up, ready to spill over. I gave a single nod, she smiled and got up. 
I sat there for a moment thinking about what Brandon might want to talk to me about. Probably why I have not rejected Emmett. Maybe he had a plan, there was once a time he asked me to travel with him. To leave the pack and live on our own in a human city or town. At the time I denied him, not liking the idea of cities and towns and also not wanting to be a rogue. I wanted the feel of the woods and what they had to offer me.
Yet, it wasn't a bad plan. I had thought. If we left, we would no longer be part of this pack. If we left and then rejected Emmett, there wouldn't be anything he could really do. And it wasn't like he was gonna abandon his pack to come after me, or turn his back on a war. The more I thought about it, the more I thought I had found my answer. My wolf didnt like it, while the other one smiled.
 I took in a deep breath and waited for him. The door opened and I saw him, my Brandon. I smiled, and he did too. Then we were hugging each other tightly. I did deeply cared for him, but I couldn't bare to kiss him. Damn mate bond. Not that he tried to kiss me back either.
We held each other for a bit. Finally he sighed heavily, he pulled away first, he sat on the bed and looked at me. Where to start?
“So.... your mate is... yea... wild... um....” Brandon sounded how I felt. Confused. “The Goddess has to be mistaken.. He can’t be.. Why.. Why did you give him a chance? I thought you’d reject him out right...”
“I was... but... damn it...” I struggled with the words. How do I tell him? Do I tell him? I have to, he was my best friend, I had to tell someone. “You can't say anything to no one.... Not my family, especially my father and Darren.. And Walsh... Just none of them.. Please.” he looked at me long and hard before he nodded. “He wants a chance so badly he.. Threaten to just take me away... and if... he’s killed... his delta is under orders to.. Wipe our pack off the face of the earth...”
He looked shocked, confused, then angry. “That isn't right... that is not fair to you. The mate bond will pull you to him no matter how much you fight it... Eve... reject him. We will deal with what happens afterwards.”
“I can’t.... The pack.. I have to protect the pack... Plus if after a while I still want to break it off he’s gonna let me.”
“How do you know he’ll keep his word? What if he just plans on toying with you during that time, then marks you against your will.. How can you trust him?” he was right, but I thought back on how Emmett kissed me last. The look in his eyes.
“I think he forced me into this.. Because he was desperate, he knew I was ready to reject him and never bother with him ever again. So yea he forced me, and I’m not happy with it but... I'm gonna let him think he has a chance... I refuse to give in, for all that he’s done.” Brave words for a girl that almost gave him to more than a few times already. “I need to talk to him about shortening the time limit... a year is too long to ignore the mate bond... but please... Brandon.. I need you.. I need you to remind me... Please be there at the end for me. Be my choice mate... I'll have a better chance knowing you're gonna be waiting for me...” I had decided right then, I’ll take Brandon as he was, rather than Emmett. Maybe we would just run away together, like I had thought of. I would be leaving my pack behind but Emmett wouldn't be able to declare war on them if I left on my own. So I thought.
“Or maybe we can leave together... like you wanted before. Remember? Just the two of us, in a human city... i have money saved up...” i had been saving to buy a house of my own, the pack house was nice but i needed my own place. It would be enough to start a new life. “We can leave tonight if you help me sneak past the bastard. As soon as we are far enough away, I'll mindlink my father for Emmett’s full name and reject him. Then it’ll just be me and you... be my choice mate... Brandon?” I figured he’d be jumping with joy by now.
He looked away from me, he looked pained, hurt, and so helpless.
“What?” I asked, dreading his next words. What if he doesn't want to wait for me? What if that is why he was here, that he decided I wasn't worth the trouble. That he didn't want to be hunted down the rest of his life? That he didn't want to be compared to an Alpha? What if he didn’t want a girl who belonged to someone else? All these thoughts hurt me then.
How I wished it was one of these reasons.