CHAPTER FIVE

Emily listened to the rhythmic thudding of his heart as she held him. She understood what it felt like to carry the weight of unwanted expectations. Everyone in her family had gone berserk when she had given up an opportunity to start up her own legal firm in their town to work as a non profit caseworker in New York. They were even more disappointed that she rejected the coven's magic.

She inhaled deeply, suddenly feeling the need to look into his eyes and assure him that he'd be okay. Her heart was beating fast. She wondered if he could feel it, the way she felt his own.

Emily couldn't comprehend why her body was jittery whenever he was around or why the feel of his lips plagued her dreams and thoughts. She sighed, the hug was sending sweet shivers down her spine.

She moved closer, tilting her head up slightly, and looking at him from under her lashes. She caught him staring down at her with his pupils dilated. She bit her lips and stood on her tiptoes.

Consumed by the need to taste her lips again, Andrew gripped her waist drawing her even closer and lowered his head towards her.

Mine. Andrew's wolf purred, making him jerk, his brows furrowed in confusion.

Emily sighed discontentedly, then placed her hand on behind his head pulling his lips to hers. A little moan escaped her throat. His lips came crashing down and had almost met hers when the realization of what she was doing hit her. Her eyes bulged open. She ducked immediately, slamming her face into his chest.

Andrew growled slowly, his amber green eyes had changed to golden slits.

Mine. His wolf repeated. Andrew jerked back, realizing that his wolf had taken control of his senses.

What? Yours? He questioned, slightly disoriented by the new revelation.

She's mine. His wolf purred.

That's not possible. The last time you claimed somebody it ended horribly. Andrew argued in his head.

"I, I'm sorry," Emily stuttered into Andrew's chest bringing him back to reality. "I couldn't, I wasn't ready."

"Shhhh" Andrew murmured, burying his nose in her hair. "It's okay…"

Emily didn't feel okay, she didn't understand why she even initiated the kiss. Shivers ran down her spine. It was as if something possessed her and took control of her senses. She had never lost control like that before. The worst part was that despite her embarrassment, she was still aroused.

Memories of their last kiss flooded her mind. She shuddered, the feel of his tight abs and cologne was not helping her. She could hear his heart thud frantically beneath his chest.

"Are you sure?" She asked huskily. "I mean our first kiss was understandable, but we barely know each other and.."

She paused.

Why isn't he saying anything? She asked herself.

"Andrew?" She called out.

She broke the hug to get a better look at him. His brows were furrowed like he was in deep thought.

"Andrew, is something wrong?" She asked tentatively, placing her hand on his chest.

Andrew looked down at her, with a dazed expression. A thousand thoughts ran through her mind. Maybe she'd embarrassed him?

Oh my goodness, why did I try to kiss him? She wondered in her head. Should I wipe his memory? Ugh Emily! What have you done again? What's that spell again?

"Huh? Yes yes," he mumbled.

Emily scrunched her brows, her palms suddenly felt clammy.

"Why? What's wrong? I'm sorry I.." She explained.

"Uh… Did I say yes. I meant no?" He responded.

Emily squinted her eyes, then harrumphed in disbelief. She tried retracting her hand but he grabbed it and held it to his chest.

"Hey, nothing's wrong Emily, I was lost in my thoughts for a while." He responded softly.

Emily sighed relievedly, her shoulders relaxed a little.

"I was just wondering how it's possible to have skin as flawlessly soft as yours." He whispered, looking down with a curious expression.

"Wait, what did you just say?" She asked

"How is your skin so flawlessly soft?" Andrew asked seriously.

Emily groaned, a blush crept onto her cheeks.

"You've got to be kidding me. Are you serious right now?" She asked wearily, a smile threatened to break from her lips.

Andrew nodded solemnly.

"Come on! No way! Why are you so cringey?" she said, hiding her face behind her palms and trying to walk away from him.

Andrew smirked then chuckled. He held her shoulders and whispered into her ears.

"Come on, reveal to me the secret of your skin care routine." He joked.

Emily groaned, stifling the laughter making its way through her throat.

Chuckling slightly, Andrew held her shoulders and he steered them towards a shade tree with benches ahead of them, giving her time to compose herself.

Nice distraction. His wolf commended. Now let me out, I want to meet her.

Andrew growled lowly.

No way, there's no way I'm letting you near her.

Why? She's mine! His wolf snarled.

Andrew rubbed his temple, wondering if his wolf had finally gone mad.

"You!" Emily said finally, slapping his arms as she sat down.

Andrew chuckled and situated himself as close to her as possible, while trying to drown out his wolf.

"Thank you for not making it awkward," she whispered.

Andrew groaned.

"I'm serious, I need to know your skin care routine."

Emily giggled again, relaxing into shoulders.

"So are you ready to tell me about your FBI drama?" He asked.

Emily relaxed further, sighing heavily as she spun a perfect tale in her head. Her conscience nagged at her, for some reason lying to Andrew bothered her. But, there was no way she was going to tell him what she was or reveal the existence of nonhumans to him. He'd probably go into overdrive and lose his sanity. She imagined what his reaction would be if she told him that most of the customers in Ben's Breakfast weren't human and could hear their conversations with ease. She was sure he'd call her a freak and run away.

She chuckled lightly and her throat.

"Forget the exuberant smiles and hugs I received in that bar, most of the regulars despise me. They were only checking to see if they'll get any juicy scoop to spread about me. I'm sure my mom has already heard that I slapped a man in a bar." She said started.

"Ahh" she groaned suddenly, "she must have also heard of the kiss. Tonight I would be hearing things like 'you immoral child! You're a failure and an embarrassment, I didn't raise you this way!'"

Andrew chuckled.

"Oh really? That means you drag men into Ben's Breakfast and do immoral things with them huh?"

Emily burst out laughing.

"You have no idea. And if you said what you just told me now in there, the whole town would be raving with news about how I'm now associating with criminals right now." She said in between laughter.

"No need, I already mentioned saving your life in that bar right?" She gushed. "I'm sure the rumors are already circulating."

"But why would they tell on you like that? It's not like it's their business? Did you do anything to them?" Andrew asked.

Emily chuckled lightly.

"Oh, I'm their business."

"Hmmm" Andrew wondered.

"The thing is. For decades before I was born, the women and men in my family were infertile. My mom was considered pretty lucky to be able to conceive and give birth to me, making me the only child in our family for a long time. Because we lived on the other side of this town, the townspeople also doted on me. I was their miracle baby, born to achieve great things."

Andrew nodded.

"When we lost my dad in a fatal accident, things became distraous for us. There were people who were extremely jealous of my mom and me at that time. To help us, my family and some members of the community contributed to send me to school. Their measly contribution was enough to see me through school. I made them proud in school, making straight A's, getting scholarships, graduating with honors and getting my doctorate degree at a young age."

"They expected me to move back here and start up something. They also had other crazy expectations that didn't sit right with me. So I stubbornly refused to do their bidding, packed up my things and moved to the Big Apple.

"I became an ungrateful child blah blah blah. Karma caught up on me real quick. After countless job disasters I moved back here." She finished.

"Hmm, we're not so different are we?" Andrew commented.

"Nah, we aren't."

"So what do you do now? Sneak men into storerooms to save their lives?"

Emily giggled.

"As the only Legal practitioner around…" Emily paused.

Her wrist was throbbing. She could feel the change of energy in the air. Putrid dark vibrations strummed around them. It was hungry and wanted blood and chaos.

Black Magic! She thought.

The being casting the spell hadn't noticed them because of her own protection spells. She listened carefully. Andrew was in danger, the spells were crying out for human blood. She'd have to cause a distraction so he could escape.

"Oh my goodness, I've said too much." She said sitting up and pretending to check her watch. "I've got to go."

"Huh? But.." Andrew started

With all her heart, she quickly wove a protective cloak around him.

"But nothing, I need to get back to work."

"When will I see you again?" He asked.

"Uhm… you owe me your life, remember? Like you said yesterday. We'll finish this conversation when next we meet."