Emily's POV The day dragged on, after the eventful Mrs O'Connor. I rejected Damon's lunch offer, so he went ahead without me. As I sat alone, in his office, staring at where he used to be, I wondered what was really going on with the both of us. “Let's go home.” He said as he entered. It was still midday, well, some minutes after. The main man, the client who was coming in from the UK hadn't arrived yet, and he was planning to close. “Why?” I asked, surprised “I'm not in the mood for any more work.” He replied. “Well, I've still got a lot to do,” I countered, “Sir.” I added for the much needed effect. “You stop working when I say you should.” He growled at me. Damon was vexed. If I hadn't initially noticed the veins that'd begun to pop a little too much, I noticed the slit appearing in his eye,how his grip on the table had begun to dent it, the smell of his feral breath. “I'll start packing.” I said weakly. Damon made me wish I had my own wolf. I know I always
Damon's POV “I freaking hate her!” I yelled on the phone. I was on call with Adrian. So much was going through my mind, seeing Dathan and Emily too. I thought that chapter was closed. I stormed out in anger and irritation. The day turned out to be more than I ever thought it would be. “Who?” He asked. “Who else?” I bellowed. “Daisy!” “Why would she do something like that though?” Adrian asked, chewing whatever. “You annoy me sometimes, Man. We are discussing something so important and you still have an appetite for whatever it is you are eating?” I asked him in disgust. “I didn't realise it was that serious.” He said, swallowing, almost choking. “Daisy is threatening to cut off our supply to the United Kingdom, Adrian, they buy over thirty percent of our oil. We have estates there! And you do think that's not serious?” I asked, fuming. “What exact reason did she give? This still feels too silly to me.” Adrian replied. “She said she didn't like my assistant.”
Emily's POV Things were beginning to get messier than I ever thought. In my wildest of imaginations, even my reality wouldn't have featured. Damon and Dathan tearing the shreds out of each other's wolves. Damon's room was in a mess, a huge bloodied one. Nala and I rushed them both to the hospital immediately. The palace had an ambulance, so we didn't bother with calling one from the hospital. Side by side, the two brothers lay, unconscious. I prayed hard, fast and fervently. I didn't want to imagine what would become of me if I lost any or both of them. There was a lot of blood, and I couldn't quite guess whose it was. “Your knuckles are white.” Nala croaked. We both sat at the back together, bent over them pensively. “Oh.” I snapped out of my thoughts and stretched my fingers. They still looked quite bony, but not as bony as a few months ago. Plus they now looked more expensive, with the huge diamond rock sitting on it. But that's not the point.. “Do you think the
Ten Years LaterEmily's POV “I never knew your office space would be this…” Mrs O’Connor said as she walked it, looking around with her mouth half open. It'd been a shock, to both of us, when a few weeks ago, she called in to book an appointment. I managed her companies before, but through a third party. “Yeah, well, goodwill.” I smiled and answered non-committal. “It's been what? Over ten years, and you look as young as ever. I'd appreciate beauty tips.” She smirked, and put a foot on my desk. She still wore trendy heels, even though her hair had begun to turn gray. I guess it's just too hard for her to admit. “This is not the place for small talk, Mrs Daisy. You booked an appointment, and you have an hour of my time before my secretary walks in through that door to see me to a nearby event.” I said, putting her in her place. “There are no places for anything. Besides, I'm not one to follow rules.” She smiled. Like her smile couldn't be more annoying, her red lipsti
Emily's POV “The ball starts in two hours, ma'am.” Freda said through a creak in the door. She's the new assistant I just got. “A ball?” I asked, surprised. “Yes.” Freda replied, opening the door slightly to reveal her face. “It's a ball, a masked one. “She added. “I email-ed you the details last night.” “Guilty.” I said in an undertone. I sucked at checking my mails. Not even four years in college, nor three years working for marketing agencies and growth firms changed me. “I hear there will be a lot of dignitaries. Key players across many industries.” She said, “And who's throwing the ball again?” I must've missed that part. “It's anonymous.” Freda smiled. She was beginning to feel at ease around me, and I loved it. “Is that a good sign?” I asked her. “It's a masked ball, so I think so.” She smiled. “Would you like to come with me?” At twenty-seven, I still had cold feet when I had to be in a room filled with people I didn't know. I knew it was just g
Emily's POV “I don't think that makes sense to me.” Tammy quipped. “That's why it's MASKED! You can wear whatever and be comfortable in it. I literally made so much research, so much detail that went into this dress. I wanted you to stand out!” Her voice was already breaking, so Freda put a hand on her shoulder and patted her back. “I'll take it from here.” Freda said softly to her. I hated to be a killjoy, the dress was magnificent. I'd given it just one glance, and I had to tear my gaze away and stare at the floor in front of me. I didn't want to consider it. I didn't want to feel like a princess, or a Luna, or a dignitary. I wanted to be me, Emily, ordinary me. “Can we talk?” Freda asked me. “No.” I replied. I didn't want to talk. I haven't talked about it, I don't talk about it, I wouldn't talk about it. “Sometimes, I hear you sniff in your office. I act like I don't see that your eyes are swollen and red sometimes. Last Tuesday, I ignored the paper cut on your t
Emily's POV “No, you didn't!” I exclaimed as I saw the ‘ride’ my office had planned. It was a firetruck! “Why?!” I choked on my words because I was laughing. Being with Tammy and Freda for about three hours had made me a very different person already. I was laughing too hard, smiling too wide, saying things as they came to my mind. “In Frank's words, they've gotta be warned.” Freda answered, mimicking Frank's deep baritone. I made a mental note to thank him as soon as the ball got done. According to Freda, it was going to last all night. “Here we are.” I murmured as our ride, which was far out of convention, pulled up at the hall. It was a really big hall. I wondered how I'd never seen it, even though I was not so new to the city anymore. “This is a big deal.” I sighed. “Yes! And I need you to be happy.” Freda smirked. Tammy was able to trim down a gown they had made already for show, and it fitted Freda only too well. She was in silver, and I in red. We bo
Adrian's POV When I first heard of the masked ball, I thought it came at the nick of time. I had just broken up with my girlfriend. It's not like I didn't see it coming, but no one is exactly fully ready for that first lonely night, or morning after a break up. It feels so strange, so painful. I took the invitation out of Damon's hands in a heartbeat. I almost asked why he was throwing the ball in some other city, which was miles away from home, but I knew the answer. Asides for Mount Leigh being one city that housed too many of our escapades, it was just the right distance that Damon wanted to be from home. I really couldn't care less about how things were with him and Zyna. Sometimes, she shows up with a black eye, other times, it's with multiple hickeys on her neck. So I thought better than to ask. “This party is a drag, man.” I whispered to Damon. He was masked, in a checkered blue and white suit, but I could still tell him apart in the crowd. “I don't think so. The rea
Emily's POV “Shoot!” Lucas groaned, “We should've picked something up for you.” “Yeah.” I said, lacking more words. “I think my jacket will suffice.” He tugged at his beard, ruminating on his idea. “I'm quite dirty.” I shied off. “So am I.”Lucas replied to me, winking. “Not that kind please.” I shut him down. “Take this.” He took it off, and forced it on me. Beneath his jacket, was a snow-white, tight fitting shirt. I could see the strand of his muscles through it, and his neck tattoo peeking from the collar. Lucas stretched his hand, and took mine as we walked in. We were given VIP passes, for obvious reasons, but I saw how every other person was checked in. “When did you buy the place?” I asked him. “I've owned it for a while now, I'm not exactly good with dates.” He replied, getting the door for us. “I hope you don't mind the ground floor?” He asked me. “I do not actually. It saves me from being stuck in the elevator with people who might recognise
Emily's POV “What was that about?” I asked Lucas. We parted on very awful terms, which is why I had more than a hundred questions for him. “That?” He replied, looking at me. “That is how you treat a fucker!” He said. “Did you kill her?” I croaked, looking around, it was just us both in the car, but Lucas was driving and the backseat was empty. “That's a waste of precious bullets.” He snorted. “Those things cost a lot now.” “Why did you do what you did?” I asked him. Finally I was able to sit up, but I had to support myself with my hands. “You.” He replied, smiling at me. “Please focus on the road.” I said quickly. He kept looking at me like we weren't having the convo on transit, it was like he wasn't the one driving. “What about me?” I asked. “I struggled to hear you both, but you didn't sound like you were enthusiastic about me.” “That's the trick, love. You'll learn it. You don't let people know how much value you place on things and people. They could u
Lucas's POV “You must have knocked your head hard, thinking you can come to me with this kind of nonsense.” Adrian laughed at me. I wished he knew I was not in a good mood. My pack supplies were drying up, our ammunition, at least. And while there was no war at hand, it was a bother. As rogues, when there's no storm, it's pre-storm. We've fought all our lives, it's all we know to do. “Bring her.” I instructed my man, who had Lillian. He dragged her over to me, gently though, waiting patiently as she wobbled with Adrian's bastard. I looked in his face, for emotions, and OOH, there were. I saw angry lines across his forehead. “Get me my gun.” I said to the other guy. I heard a female whimper, Emily I think. It made me more eager to finish the business I was there for. “What are you thinking?!” Adrian challenged me. “Watch and see.” I smiled, waiting for my silver pistol. I had no patience for trash. There was serious business to get back to. “How about you le
Emily's POV “You don't even want to hear me speak?” I asked. I was hurt, bruised, wounded. But nothing would stop my mouth, except if he gags me of course “It's not that I don't want to hear you speak, Emily. The problem is that you've been doing too much talking. In fact, you've been the only one talking since the beginning of his relationship and I think that's the only reason why we are where we are at this point.” Adrian said, like he was fact-checking me. I couldn't believe my ears. “You know what? I don't think you believe what you are saying, because if you did, you'd be able to look me in the eye and throw these accusations at me. But because you don't, it's easy for you to face the other side and say things like you don't know who you're talking about.” I replied. “Don't get feisty with me, woman. My boys are hungry.” He threatened. “And if they are, it'd be for your blood. Not mine.” I shot back at him. Adrian gave the most sinister cackle I ever heard. I wo
Emily's POV The shower was cold, or at least it felt so. The bread tasted stale. I got pissed at everything that was happening. I wanted to kick and punch and fight, and rant, and nag, and destroy. More than all, I wanted answers. Why am I the one all those things happened to? Couldn't I have gotten a better lot? Did the universe really single me out for all this punishment? I tried to wrap my head around how the future would look. It was from one scandal to another, between packs. The comment sections of the blogs online were killing me. Women were wishing they were me, others were thanking their stars that they weren't, the men bashed me and dragged myself and everything I stood for through the mud. “Who's there?” I asked, pausing my mental breakdown to focus on who was at my door. I booked a night at the hotel, and I knew my time was almost up, but fuck knows that I couldn't get out of there, not with the way I looked and felt. No answer came, but I didn't hear foot
Emily's POV “I'm sorry, that's so unprofessional of me.” Sasha apologised. “It's human, not unprofessional.” I excused her. “Matter of fact, can we be more unprofessional going forward? I think I like that vibe.” I smiled. “Sure, Emily. Thankfully, there are no audio requirements from this session.” “Gracias.” I said. “Back to your story, darling…” She smiled. “What else do you want to know?” I asked. “How did you let a man take control?” She asked me. “Is that beneficial to this interview?” I questioned. “Maybe.” She answered. “Alright. Adrian and I got together just a few months after a very lavish party that was thrown in Mount Leigh. It was the talk of town for weeks, all three Alphas were there.” “I heard about that. “She acknowledged. “And how was the party, if I may ask?” “You may not. It was hell.” I said. “Back to Adrian then.” She moved on. “Well, he seemed cool. We had lunch at his house one day, and he seemed pretty awesome, my kin
Emily's POV “Hello Emily, I'm Sasha, and I'm downstairs.” she said. I passed out a bit in the bed where I also scattered the contents of my purse. It'd been a long day, long week, long life! “Hmm, I'm coming.” I answered her, still sleepy-eyed. “No, you don't have to. Just tell them to let me up. I'd hate to be a bother that much.” Sasha said. “Uhm, okay. Can you give her the phone?” I asked. “It's a guy down here.” Sasha informed me. “Oh, yeah, please. Give it to him.” I said, remembering that it was a guy I met too. “Hi Ma'am.” He greeted me. “Hello, I'm sorry, I can't remember your name anymore. Please let her up. I'm Emily Baron, check that on your register.” I croaked. “Alright ma'am. Room service was in your room earlier, but you were unresponsive, would you like to have them back now?” He asked “Yes please, I could use some water.” I answered. “Coming right on. Have a nice stay, ma'am.” He said and handed the phone back to her. I cut the
Emily's POV “I hate this life.” I said to myself as I stopped by Zac's house to pick the rest of my stuff. “I'm heading for Zachary's apartment.” I said to the doorman, hoping he'd recognise me. “Oh, yes I remember you. But Mr Zac is not at home.” He said. “That's fine, he knows I'd be coming to grab my things.” I said, in a rush. I also tried to hide the fact that I was getting a little bit fidgety. “I hope he didn't hurt you?” The man asked. I was literally at the verge of screaming for him to just let me go, but I saw that it was out of concern and experience, so I let him off the hook. “I really don't want to talk about it,” I said, smiling sadly. “I understand.” The man replied. “Policy is that you cannot be in over ten minutes, so I'd ask that you be quick.” “That will do. Thank you so much.” I said and dashed into the elevator. I know it was a little stupid that I'd do that stunt on my own, knowing that Zyna had access to his place, but I'm sure if any
Damon's POV “How do you feel?” I asked Emily. We'd just ridden back from the hospital. Zac was to be operated on in a few hours, Adrian's diagnosis was out, and they found absolutely nothing wrong with him, but they had to watch him. “I don't know.” She replied. She sat still in her car, even minutes after she'd turned the engine off. I waited for two full minutes before she whined down the glasses. “That's normal.” I said, rubbing her hand. But she drew back suddenly from my touch. “Something is wrong.” I said. “I'll see you later, Damon.” She said, starting the engine. “There's no way I'm letting you leave like this.” I objected. “It's not up to you.” She replied, and pressed a button to shut her car glasses. I stubbornly leaned on it, and so the glass didn't come up. “I've spent way too much time in the gym for this to be a threat.” I boasted. “Emily, please tell me what's on your mind.” “My whole life is, Damon!” She yelled. “It's easier on you than it i