Emerald Instead of resting early last night because I don't have overtime at work, Zane's sudden suggestion kept me wide awake all night. Fortunately, I didn't oversleep; otherwise, I'd be late for work."You look like a panda today," Mathilda noted. "Stop minding the rumors. They'll eventually fade."Oh, no! It's not the rumors that caused it, but our stupid friend's proposal. I wondered if Zane was even thinking when he blurted those words out, or was it out of pity. Whatever his intentions, I didn't like it."It's not the issue, but the stupid Zane, Mathilda!" I exclaimed.I saw a hint of a smile on her face, which confirmed everything. I wondered if they had all planned it together and let Zane be the one to execute it alone.My annoyance reached its highest level. Though I knew they just wanted what was best for me, I didn't like their planned solution to my problem."Don't you like it? Zane is mateless; you can use him. Besides, there's nothing to lose if you do it," Mathilda t
Matthew My life hasn't improved since the last time I fetched Natasha from the hospital. Her attitude has worsened, and if Emerald's schedule isn't changed, she will continue to create chaos there.I, on the other hand, am almost at the edge of my patience. No matter how hard I try to convince Natasha that I'm not backing out from the promise I made, she won't believe me. She wants me to fully commit to her to ease her mind, but with Emerald affecting me, I can't do it."Maybe in weeks or days, Crescentius will start the attack," Nicholas exclaimed, in one of our meetings.The impending fight not only brings trouble to all of us but also adds to the frustration I have with my life. I want to put an end to everything once and for all, but with the existing complications, it all seems impossible."I've sent notices to our allies, just in case. Our top priority is our constituents and as much as possible let's minimize the bloodshed and take the high road in this upcoming war," Nichola
EmeraldMy heart was pounding as I tended to Matthew's wound. I was meant to be on duty at the homestead this week, but due to the sudden war with the Crescentius, the Alpha personally requested my help here."All done. Just apply this ointment to prevent scarring," I handed him the bottle.Matthew's eyes lingered on me while I waited for him to take the ointment from my hand. He remained still, gazing at me as if I were a piece of art in a gallery. I felt a little awkward."Matthew?" I waved my hand in front of his face. "You're all set. You can go now."The longer we stayed in the same room, the more I struggled to breathe freely. Despite the rejection and pain, Matthew still had that effect on me. I suppose it will forever be etched on me, like a tattoo etched into my body. "Oh... uhh, thank you," he stuttered, accepting the bottle.I nodded and gestured towards the door for him to leave. He seemed hesitant, moving slowly as if he were an aged man. Just as he was about to exit, so
"Welcome home, Emerald." My mouth pursed into a smile after reading the big banner hung right in front of the gate before entering the homestead. A few familiar faces are outside, waiting for me to get out of my car. It's been a decade since I left the homestead to study in the States. Now that I have been a successful doctor, the Alpha wanted me to serve Red Moon. Going here was never part of my plan, but because I missed my parents too. I took the opportunity. I said yes to the Alpha's proposal. Well, some of my friends really did convince me to come back. They didn't stop until I agreed. When I stepped out of my car, I received a flood of praise. Some are fakes, while others are genuine. Nonetheless, I just smiled at them all. I foresee their real intentions. Being away from the pack and not receiving sufficient training for my other identity does not make me inferior. My wolf's prowess is comparable to that of the majority. "How's living abroad?" Amelia, my cousin, asked. I s
Emerald "I, Matthew Sainthood, rejected you, Emerald Green, as my fated mate," he said without remorse. His eyes were cold and brutal. There was no hint of regret or any other emotion in it. The coldness of the night couldn't freeze my heart any further, though it tried its best to numb the pain of rejection that ran so deep. Returning to this Pack felt like a coveted nightmare, a desperate hope for an increasingly distant fairy-tale ending. I bit my lip, yearning desperately for a change of fate, praying with all my might that Matthew would take back the words he had uttered. But he didn't. "Are you deaf or something?" he angrily snapped. "Accept my rejection, and let's put an end to this."My heart felt as if it were being squeezed, making it hard to breathe as I processed his rejection. I never expected my mate to be so heartless.A hundred 'why's' raced through my mind like a relentless current, but I couldn't muster the courage to ask Matthew all my questions.However, all of
Matthew"What are you thinking?" Natasha clung her hands on my arms, which I instantly got rid of.The image of Emerald's pain-filled eyes when I rejected her raced through my mind, filling me with overwhelming guilt. The touch of another woman now felt like a sin. Rejecting Emerald tonight was never my intention, but circumstances took an unexpected turn."Are you regretting your decision now?" Yes, I am regretful. We're talking about my mate, after all. But there's nothing I can do to change the situation. I've already made a promise to Natasha that I will take responsibility for her pregnancy, and I won't back down from it. A promise is a promise. Even though it means disappointing the woman who was meant for me, I've chosen to honor my commitment. "Matthew I hope you won't forget what you promised me," Natasha sighed, leaving my side after getting no reaction from me.If only Natasha's father were not so strict and willing to accept whoever his daughter's mate was, perhaps everyt
Emerald My head throbbed as I gradually roused from sleep, instinctively trying to soothe the pain by gently massaging my temples. My heavy eyelids protested as they lifted, and I winced at the intrusive, bright sunlight that flooded my room. I was still in a daze, my mind struggling to piece together the events of last night, when a sudden knock on my door interrupted my thoughts. I yawned before sluggishly making my way to it and swung it open, not expecting to find anyone in particular. To my surprise, there stood Mathilda. "What are you doing here this early?" I wondered aloud. Her eyes widened, and she chuckled, "Early, you say? Girl, it's almost noon. You wake up late," she responded with a teasing grin. My eyes unconsciously darted toward the wall clock, and a sudden realization hit me. Mathilda was absolutely right. "Jeez!" I exclaimed, a rush of panic coursing through me. "I hope you came here early. I'm going to be late." Mathilda only laughed, thoroughly amused by m
Matthew"How was your first duty, Emerald?" my brother asked. Emerald's eyes lingered on me for a moment before she cleared her throat and answered Nicholas's question. "It was fine."I wasn't supposed to be here, actually. There were some important matters that I should have been attending to, but I couldn't let this opportunity pass. So, when Nicholas brought this case to the table, I forced myself to join."Good to hear that," Nicholas replied, glancing at me, followed by a smirk. "If you have any concerns, you can contact me or Matthew—"The tone Nicholas used, filled with malicious teasing, made me wonder if he was intentionally trying to bait me or if he already had a hint about what was going on between Emerald and me. "— but if you contact me, I may not address it immediately as I'm a busy person. If it's urgent, contact Matthew," he added.I could almost hear Emerald's slow grumble, which she eagerly hid out of respect for my brother. She glanced at me and rolled her eyes