3

I tell Emma

“if you need to breath do it through the towel”

she nods as I take her hand, leading her down the stairs, my lungs burn as the smoke blinds me, I reach for the towel, taking a breath through it as we run towards the door.

I yank Emma out through the door and I close it behind us. adrenaline pumps through me as I pull her with me, my heart was racing as the heat of the fire came up through the floorboard, my body sweating as I tremble in fear.

We reach the next door so I take another breath, after this door there was another almost immediately after. The flames were creeping up the walls, from the cafe next door, it felt like we were in an oven.

I was so terrified, I could feel the heat behind the door. I could feel the fire burn behind it as I look towards it nervously.

“When I open the door we run ok?”

I ask her through the towel, her hands were sweating in my own as I grasp onto it tighter in fear that I would accidentally drop it.

I reach for the handle, slowly opening the door, the metal burns my hands as I pull it open, I yank her out and into the tiny flaming hallway, I kick the door front door, it was on fire so one strong boot makes it collapse in on itself, as I falls i pull her through landing on the street on our asses.

I scream as my ribs stretch painfully, then I fall forward coughing as my body works desperately trying to clear my lungs of the thick heavy smoke.

People surround us immediately, pulling us away from the cafe, I cry out as my side screams in agony, a thick layer of sweat coats my skin as my body shakes in shock.

A man appears with an oxygen mask, forcing it around my face as I gasp taking in the clean air. He scoops me up, carrying me to the back of the ambulance and setting me on the edge as I breathe in and out slowly, watching as the cafe ignites in flames and the fire brigade works to kill the fire.

I look around finding Emma as they place her beside me, giving her oxygen but her jaw drops, her eyes snapping to the crowd around us.

Her heart rate accelerates as her entire body goes stiff, her eyes desperately search the growing crowd of people.

I follow her line of vision, trying to see what she was seeing, but then it all becomes clear as a man I didn’t recognise breaks through the crowd of people, his nose in the air as he desperately looks for someone.

His eyes falling on her, his body going almost limp when he sees she’s ok

“Mate”

She whispers, I smile as he runs to her

“Mate”

He snaps back, she gets up just as his body crashes against hers, grabbing hold of her as she sobs into his shoulder.

His eyes close as he sniffs her, his hands wrapping around her protectively as he pulls back, resting his forehead on hers.

“Your ok?”

He asks, she nods her head

“I’m ok”

She answers, he closes his eyes hugging her again, but when they open he looks to me

“You saved her?”

I shake my head

“No I did not”

“Yes you did, there was no way I would have thought of the wet towel. And I didn’t have the balls to pull us through all that”

She says looking down at me, I was busy sucking in the clean air shaking my head.

“It doesn’t matter, all that matters is we got out”

I tell her spluttering before I slam the mask back towards my face. She rolls her eyes, shaking her head.

She turns back to him, hugging him again as I watch them in silence. As happy as I am for her I was also a little jealous. I can’t believe she would be leaving me, she was all I had left in the world.

It takes almost an hour for my lungs to start working properly again, when I could breath without passing out Emma’s mate helps us to his car, driving us to Emma’s parents house.

As we arrive they were waiting for us on the porch, running straight towards us and yanking us both into a hug.

My heart yearns for them as they lovingly check us over, making sure we were ok. Their kindness amazed me, their livelihood had just burned to the ground yet all they cared about me was me and Emma’s safety.

A far cry from the attitude of my father, I remember falling and breaking my leg at the alphas house one time, my father screamed at me because I was so weak, that I embarrassed him and all I was looking for was attention.

I stand back and watch as Emma introduces her parents to Emma’s new mate, you would have sworn they won the lottery as they greet him with tears in their eyes. They were the perfect family.

They showed us straight to our rooms, giving me fresh clothes to change into. Everything hurt, from my lungs to my legs. But as I fell into the bed all thoughts of pain disappeared, my body relaxing against the mattress. Exhaustion taking over as my eyes slowly close.

As I wake up it’s too Emma’s grinning face, as I take a breath smiling at her I smell the difference in her scent immediately. I jump up with a squeak

“omg he marked you already?”

She giggles like a little schoolgirl

“Yes he’s so wonderful lilly, he’s everything I've ever dreamed of”

but then her face fell, I frown taking her hand

“what is it?”

I ask

“well he’s from the blood moon pack so I will be moving there today, he is head trainer so he needs to be back ASAP”

My stomach drops along with my face, my heart shattering as I look to my hands, unsure of what to say. I didn’t want to be selfish but I really was going to miss her but I knew this was for the best.

I decide to pull my shit together and be the friend that she deserves to have right now.

“don’t be sad babe. Your life is about to start, i'll always be on the other end of the phone, it’s going to be ok”

I say pulling on the biggest smile I could muster up, she didn’t look convince so I continue

“look i'll be god mom to the amazing pups you're going to have and i'll be maid of honour at your wedding so please don’t be sad”

I tell her, a grin slowly spread across her face and she squeals in excitement

“I think we made a pup last nite”

She says giggling, just then the door swung open and he grabs her.

“are you ok?”

He asks alarmed, I couldn’t help myself as I laugh in the poor boys confused face.

He looks between us as Emma cracks up

“what’s so funny I heard you scream?”

I stretch my face trying to calm myself down

“she’s just excited to get married soon and She want me to be maid of honour”

I wink at him, his eyes widened in horror as I stutter and choke cracking up.

the poor boy has no idea what he’s got himself into. Emma will spend forever torturing him

“it’s ok relax we are just joking”

She says giggling, he blows out a breath looking to me and smiling

“my names Matt, we didn’t get to introductions last night I was em busy”

he said winking at emma. I already like him. I take his hand smiling

“I’m lilly, it’s nice to meet you, I hear your taking our girl away ”

He smiles at me sadly

“Yes, but I promise she’s in good hands”

“She better be, or you will have me to answer to”

He nods his head

“I promise, Why don’t you ladies go spend a few hours together before we leave? it could be a few weeks before yous get the chance to see each other again, and lilly just so you know your welcome at our home any time you want for a visit”

She squeaks in excitement

“Now that’s a good idea”

He grins, as she grabs my arm and yanks me off the bed. As I leave the room the scent of bacon makes my mouth water, I follow it passing emma on the stairs. She chuckles at me.

“mmmm that smells good”

I grin as her mum lays plates of fresh crispy bacon and sausages stacked up high with pancakes on the side around the table.

“are you sure your mates not bacon lilly?”

Helen smirks as I practically skip to the table. I giggled

“wouldn’t that be great tho! This looks amazing thank you helen”

“It’s no problem lily your skin and bone you need some meat on you”

I couldn’t argue with that so I just dug in savouring every bit of it.

When I look up next, it’s with a full satisfied belly.

Looking around I watch as they all

Laugh, telling stories and getting to know each other better. Sadness hits me, jealous of their connection, the love they have for one an other.

When I meet my mate I wanted to start a family immediately, I craved the unconditional love that came with one a baby, someone to love you nomatter what, to depend on you for everything. I wanted movie nights, game nights, family outings and sunny holidays at the beach. The thought warmed my heart, excitement build in my belly at the thought of sharing all of that with a mate, becoming a mummy and daddy and living in peaceful family bliss forever.