24

Emma

"It's time for dinner." I looked up from the book I was reading to see Soran standing at my door. Doesn't he know how to knock?

"Alright, I'm coming." I placed a book mark at my spot and set the book on the night stand. I stood and followed him to wherever the kitchen is. It would take me months to learn the layout of this place. Good thing I'm only here for a month.

After getting lost and not caring about where we were going, we made it to the kitchen. The most heavenly scent drifted up my nose and I nearly melted into a puddle. What in the world is that smell?

"I take it you like the smell of my mother's Italian pork roast?" I jumped at the voice, forgetting that Soran brought me here.

"Yeah, whatever." I shrugged. "It's just food." Holy hell, I almost spit out my saliva, that's how bad my mouth is watering. Soran rolled his eyes and brought me to a table. He sat me on the left side of the head of it and he took the head. When I looked down the table, I saw many people and Soran's father and who I assumed to be his mother at the other end of the table.

Alazara and Soran's Beta sat across from me. Alazara waved and I waved back. I'm guessing the guy next to her on Soran's right must be Lexton, her mate. Nice to have a name to the face.

Just as every one got settled, people came pouring out from the double doors leading to the kitchen. They were on roller skates, serving people at each of the seven tables, each one holding maybe twenty people. Something's telling me that this isn't his entire pack... I know he has more than one hundred-forty people. That number is only a fraction of his warrior numbers!

A plate was set down neatly in front of me from my left and a drink set in its place from my right. At the exact same time. I looked up to see two different people skate off, one setting down plates and the other glasses of various drinks. How did they not crash into each other?

I shrugged it off, enjoying the "dinner and a show." Just as I was about to take a bite, heels stopped behind my chair and someone cleared their voice. "Um, excuse you, but what are you doing in my spot?"

I took the bite, held back the moan that threatened to escape at how good it was, swallowed, then turned to face the person who spoke. "You talking to me?"

The woman behind me scoffed, flipping her jet black hair. "Yes, I'm talking to you. You're in my spot."

"And you are...?" I trailed off and waved my hand for her to continue.

Her nostrils flared. "Katie, the one who is going to marry Soran and be Luna of the pack." I faintly heard Soran groan. I saw from the corner of my eyes him cover his with a hand.

Okay, time to have some fun. "I don't see a name, so this can't be your place." A few people snickered. "Unless you..."

"What?" She snapped. "Unless I what?"

"Unless you urinated on the chair to claim it." Her face paled as her cheeks grew a bright red. "If that's the case, Lexton, right? Trade me chairs. I don't want it."

"Ew, gross!" I swear Soran nearly spit his drink up from his nose as Lexton wrinkled his at me. "Why would I want to sit in that?"

"I-I didn't!" Katie flustered and and glanced around the room. No doubt people were watching.

"I hope so..." I mumbled to myself. " 'Cause if so, then this thing has to be cleaned and sanitized from your unholy bitchiness and cooties." I think that was Soran's mother who burst into laughter and was quickly shushed.

Katie swallowed hard and tried to compose herself. "Listen here, bitch. I don't know who you are or why you're even here, but some human like you should not be here ruining this tight knit Wolf community with your ignorance and human filth." The people watching us gasped and the room grew silent.

I, however, leaped to my feet and got right in her face. Even with her heels on, I stood an inch taller than her (thanks dad for the tall genes). "Call me human one last fucking time and I swear it will be the last time you ever speak again. I don't care who you say you are, who you think you are, or whatever the hell your ranking in this pack is, I will silence you. For your information, I am not a human. I am a Wolf. A Beta of the Lynspack! From your attitude and how you're holding yourself at this moment, I can easily tell that I outrank you! So I suggest you leave and stay the hell away from me! If not, it won't be just your heels that will be broken."

A fork clattered to the floor. It seemed to echo in the silent room as I gave the coldest glare to Katie who grew more white in the face with every passing second. I don't even think she's breathing.

She gulped and opened her mouth to speak, a horrible idea on her part. "Wh-who do you think you are to think you can speak this way to me?"

I crossed my arms. "I am Emma Kutcher, Beta of the Lynspack and apparently mated to Soran." The tension in the room grew more. "I believe I have every right to speak here."

"But this isn't even your land!" I could see her confidence growing slowly. "You can't do anything to me! If so, the treaty will be violated! You'll be killed!"

I looked her right in her brown eyes, not blinking once. "Just before I came here, I killed a treasonous Alpha who thought she could take over the entire United States. I killed her with nothing but a poison tipped knife. Not once did I turn into a Wolf. I left everything to fate. And! This was on another pack's land. Even with a severely damaged ankle, I managed to kill her. She thought that by getting to me and killing me she would have a foot in to taking over. I think I have pretty good odds against you and anyone else who would stand in my way."

"Okay, I think that's enough." Hands were placed on our shoulders and we were pulled apart. I leaned back away from Katie, who looked like she was about to shit herself. "Katie, go find another place to sit. Emma, I would like to speak with you in my office after dinner."

"Y-yes, Alpha..." Katie slowly pulled away, her legs shaking, making it hard for her to walk right. I turned and took my seat again. I took a bite of my food, surprised it was still warm. I looked up from the corner of my eyes to see Soran staring at me, completely shocked at what had just happened.

"Do I have something on my face?" I touched my cheek. Soran just slowly shook his head and looked back to his food. I think I broke him. Well, she deserved it. She shouldn't be calling me those things.

And who does she think she is? Saying she's gonna be Soran's mate and be the Luna? From his reaction I knew he hated the idea. I bet he doesn't even like her! I'm supposed to be the Luna and-

Wait, whoa, whoa, whoa! Hold up there, Emma. You already said you wouldn't be Luna. You're only here to heal then be on your merry way. You already told yourself you want nothing to do with Soran. Just... just be cool and let this pack do what it wants. If they want her to be the Luna, so be it. Not my problem.

While everyone ate in awkward tensions, I ate peacefully and tried to make conversation. I could only get a couple words out of Alazara and Lexton. Okay, so maybe I set a few people on edge. So be it. Katie shouldn't have said what she did.

Once dinner was over, I stood the same time Soran's father did. He motioned for me to follow him. I stuck my hands in my pockets and coolly left the dining room behind him. The walk to his office was silent and I easily got lost. How does anyone find anything here?

We stopped at a door and he let us in. He sat at his desk and I sat in the chair in front of him. He sighed and folded his hands in his lap. "Emma,"

I nodded to him. "Look, Emma. A lot of people have been wanting to tell Katie off, but you went about it wrong. We don't openly insult people here. We take that to the back or to a private room. You were out of line."

"I apologize for stepping out of line, but I refuse to apologize to Katie." I crossed my arms. "She insulted me first, and my pack doesn't take too kindly to insults. We stand up and speak our mind about what people are saying about us. Immediate justice with words is given."

He nodded. "I understand this. I also understand you've been doing the same thing to my son."

I groaned. "Don't even get me started! I swear there's something wrong with that guy- er, sorry. Keeping my mouth shut."

He softened his features. "I understand that my boy and his friends didn't exactly have the best first impression when entering your land, or what they tried to pull with those mated women. And everything he pulled afterward didn't go without punishment. I even threatened pulling the Alpha title from him and giving it to his brother."

I chuckled. "I would have loved to have seen his reaction to that. Sorry..."

"Anyway," He cleared his throat. "He promised to straighten up and try to approach you from a different angle. How has that turned out?"

I shrugged. "He has tried something different. He told me that he was trying to change for me and not get with any woman he sees. But he's a player. Players normally can't and won't change their ways.  I don't want to get hurt, so from day one, I've been trying to reject him."

He recoiled back in his seat. "I was never told of this. Reject? Why, that's almost never heard of in this pack, or other packs we monitor. You see, we accept people for who they are and if they have faults like Soran and him... getting around... we work things out. Usually it's threat of not being able to see their mate for days on end; sometimes weeks depending on how severe it is."

I slowly shook my head. "You guys are so weird with how you conduct yourself. First I find out you allow children to fight, and now you're telling me you refuse to let mates see each other if one or the other does something wrong against them instead of allowing rejection? What have I gotten myself into?"

"A different society," He responded. "We work differently. We're not like most packs, and that makes us stronger. You really should give Soran a chance so you can understand our ways better and-"

I held up my hand to stop him. "I'm only here long enough to figure out what's wrong with me and get healed up. Once that happens, I'm going back home. And I'm probably never coming back. Call me selfish, but that's how I feel. I don't want to risk getting hurt."

He nodded slowly. "I get where you're coming from. My mate felt the same way. She... well, she came from New York, which has completely different customs than we do and she thought she couldn't handle it. She was only one word from rejecting me before I stepped in. She hasn't thought about leaving since."

"But that's a different scenario than what Soran and I are going through." I cut in. "Even after he recognized the Connection, he continued to go off with other women behind my back. I'd hear them bragging about it the next day! Even though I was trying to reject him, it still hurt me more than he could imagine. I'm afraid that even after we mate- not saying that we will- he'll continue to go behind my back and..."

"You don't have to say any more." I sniffed and held back the tears. "I know this is a lot to take in and I know you're hurt, but listen to what I have to say. Soran really is a good person. He's well respected and looked up to. I just know he'll be the best Alpha this pack has ever seen."

"Now you," I met his gaze again. "I've only known you for an hour and I can tell you're strong and not afraid to speak your mind, yet you hold such kindness and compassion. You two would make the ultimate mates and powerful leaders. Yes, Soran can be an ass, but trust me when I say he'd never do anything to hurt you if you'd just give him a chance."

I stood up and pushed the chair in. "I may or may not consider this." With that, I excused myself. Lexton was waiting at the door to escort me back to my room. We walked in silence. I just have this feeling he heard every word that was said. I don't care. Hopefully he'll relay the message back to Soran that way he'd know what his actions have done to me. Maybe it'll help him see that because of what he's done, he has a very high chance of not getting with me.

Lexton stopped at my door and let me in without a word. I shut the door behind me and went to lay on my bed. I pulled my i-pod out and turned my music on, allowing myself to get lost in my own world as I picked up my book and continued from where I left off before dinner.

~~~~

"Any word from the doc?" I asked as I made my bed.

"Not yet," Soran replied from my doorway (I refuse to let him in). "He's still looking through your file. It sounds like he's getting close, but we can't be certain yet. He hasn't slept in over twenty-four hours. He needs his sleep."

I sighed. "About when will we hear the results?"

"It's hard to say." My hands balled into fists. "But he's really trying. I don't know why it's taking him so long to decipher it. He's exceptionally well at what he does."

"Whatever," I smoothed out the wrinkles and turned to face Soran. "I'll let him do his job. It's not like I can do any better."

We were silent for a few moments before Soran spoke. "We need a break from this. Why don't you join me for a walk around the grounds?"

This peaked my interest. "Let me get dressed."

"Aren't you already?" He gestured to my jeans and T-shirt.

I shook my head. "Nah. It's gonna be a bit chilly. And since my Wolf senses are out the window, I'm more susceptible to the elements. I need warmer clothes."

"I'll let you change, then." With that, he left my room, shutting the door behind him. I changed my simple T-shirt for a long sleeved shirt and a light weight jacket. I put my hair in a pony tail, stuck on some tennis shoes, then left the room.

Soran was standing a little ways down the hall. When he saw me, he stood from leaning against the wall and held his arm out, expecting me to grab his arm. I rolled my eyes and walked past him.

"You coming?" I asked. I heard him sigh and soon he was walking beside me. He led the way to the front doors and out into the bustling little town that's established here. It still amazes me that a place like this even exists.

"Where to first?" I asked as we stopped at the stairs.

"Let's just wander and let our legs carry us where they want to go." With that, he made a sharp right turn and began walking. I quickly caught up to him and let him take us to wherever.

We saw so many shops with a lot of people going in and out almost non-stop. People laughed and talked, and just seemed to be having a great time. They acted as if nothing bad was happening in the world around them and that they were constantly at peace with one another.

And yet, from what I've heard, if something threatens their peace, they are merciless when it comes to destroying those who try and kill their peace.

It's just... so different from my pack. This will definitely take some getting used to. I wonder how used to it I'll be after a month. I hope I'm only here for a month. Maybe less. I don't want to be here any longer than I have to be. I just hope they can figure out what's wrong with me.

On our walk we saw several clothing stores, floral shops, the equivalent of a Toys R Us, and a super market. I was in awe the entire time, still not sure how a place like this could exist. It amazes me that this place functions and thrives. It's just unreal.

"Alpha Soran!" We both quickly spun around to see the doctor running after us. "Soran, I know what's wrong with her! It all makes sense! I don't know how I didn't see it sooner! Quickly, quickly! We have to get back to my office!" And with that, he was off and running again.

Soran and I glanced to each other. "I don't think he got any rest and is running on energy drinks."

"I agree." Soran sighed. "Anyway, let's not keep him waiting." So we followed the doctor back to his office.

"You kept me waiting!" He said when Soran opened the door. "Anyway, straight to business! I can't believe it was so hard to find! It should have been a quick find! Any one could have spotted it! In five seconds, no less!"

"What is it?" Soran growled and the doctor stopped running around his office, papers falling from his arms.

"Er, right." He cleared his throat and rubbed his eyes. "I'm sorry. Even after you told me to rest, I couldn't. I was so close to figuring it out! Anyway, what she has was injected so skillfully into her, I'm surprised she hasn't detected it."

"Out with it, Doc!" I bounced in place then winced at my sore ankle.

"Sit, Emma." Soran helped me sit in a chair and prop my leg up as the doctor looked at his clipboard. "Tell me, Emma. What is a Wolf's true weakness?"

I thought for a second. "Silver?"

"Yes," He clicked a pen. "Silver. Too much of it can kill us. Get it in our system and we're as good as dead. I'm just baffled nothing's happened to you."

"Wait," We looked to Soran. "Are you saying you found silver in her body?!"

The doctor nodded. "Yes, a pretty high level of it. If she was fully Wolf, she may not be here right now." Soran nearly crushed my hand and I winced.

"I think what saved her from that is the fact that she's part human. Well, was, before all this."

"How do we cure it?" Soran asked, his voice soft and strained.

I stared into his eyes. Really stared. They were afraid. Scared. He was terrified that something could happen to me. He actually, truly cares about my safety. He wants to make sure nothing bad will happen to me. He doesn't want to see me get hurt.

Maybe... he really does feel the Connection.

"Well..." The doctor trailed off and scratched his head. Soran leaned closer. "There is one thing we can do to flush her system, but it would leave her bed ridden for days and it would take nearly two months of recovery."

"No way!" I instantly protested. Both their gazes snapped to me. "I said I was staying here no more than a month! That's what you promised!" I jabbed my finger at Soran.

"There has to be something else." I faced the doctor again, begging him to offer another solution.

He picked at his chin. "There... there is another way, but it's way too risky."

"What is it?" Soran and I asked at the same time.

The doctor slowly turned away, the slowest I've seen him move all day, and headed for the cabinets. "These tablets do exactly what the other method does, but it's only used in emergencies."

"Tell us what both do," Soran shifted in his seat.

The doctor swallowed. "Well, the first method is we drain her of her blood while simultaneously purifying it and putting it back into her body. It's very taxing on a body, thus the reason she would be bed ridden for days and recovering for two months."

"And the other?" I bit my lip.

The doctor stared at the container of tablets. "These do exactly the same this, but with a shorter recovery and no blood draining. However, the purifying liquid we have in the first method is within the capsule. In the first method, it's kept from entering the body and is left to stay within the machine. In these pills, it's supposed to allow the body to get rid of the foreign objects, the silver and the capsules contents."

"How long for treatment and recovery?" I asked.

"Usually, the person must take two a day, one in the morning and one before bed." He explained as he turned the container. "They must do this for five days. Now, here's where the risk comes in. The body can get rid of the contents either through natural causes, or by throwing up. The person taking the pills will be very sick and it will take roughly a month for them to get over the sickness once treatment is over."

"Okay, that may work." I nodded.

Soran was shaking his head. "There has to be more."

"There is," The doctor sighed heavily. "Emma, if you were still a Wolf, you would be able to get through this no problem. But since the amount of silver is so high in you and you would have to take these pills twice a day, the purifying agent in these can kill you before you even take your third dose."

"What?!" Soran leaped to his feet, snarling at the doctor. "You keep those filthy fucking pills away from her! I don't want you coming anywhere near her with those! I'd rather have her be cleaned by the first method than having her be killed by those damn things!"

"Soran, let go of me!" I struggled to get some air, since he's crushing me to his chest. "I can't breathe!" His grip released a bit, but I was still pressed against him.

"Soran, there is another way for her to take the pills-"

"No!" Soran growled and stuck me beside him. "She will not be taking those!"

"Please just listen,"

But Soran cut me off. "How soon can we start with the first method?"

"You're not even giving me a chance to give my own opinion!" I snapped at him and pounded my fists on his back. "Let me have a say in this!" Reluctantly, he brought me back around but kept a tight hold on me.

"You said there was another way to take the pills?" I asked.

The doctor nodded. "Yes. It would take longer; about the same amount of time as the first method, given your condition."

I sighed. "What is it?"

"Well," He opened the lid and pulled one out. "You would instead be taking one pill once a day for ten days. Then I would have to monitor you for about a week, and if I deem it absolutely necessary, give you another dose or two. Once I'm certain there is nothing left of the silver, I'd give you something else way less lethal to get rid of the rest of the capsules contents out of your system. I would then be monitoring you to see when your senses come back as the recovery progresses. You see, if you were still a Wolf and your senses were top notch, your natural body temperature would burn the contents of the pill away."

I nodded slowly as I took it all in. "Two months either way. There's no way around it. Which one is the lesser of the evils?"

"The first option." Soran answered quickly. "No doubt about it. I would not be putting you at risk like that."

"I'll let you two talk about this alone." With that, the doctor put the pills away and gave us privacy.

"Emma,"

"I want to go with the second option." I interrupted.

"Why?!" Soran clutched at his hair as he paced. "Emma, there is a huge risk of you dying! I can't go through that! I don't want that to happen to you! We have to go through with the first option! It'll be better for you and you would have a higher chance of living!"

"You fail to realize that I like moving around." I crossed my arms. "With the first option I would be stuck in bed as my blood is removed and replaced. I'll become unresponsive to anything and I'll be beyond lethargic. I'll want to be up and moving the entire time! And yes, there is a chance of me dying with the first option."

"How?" Soran stopped pacing to face me. "What chance is there?"

"The machine could fail," I held up a finger for each possibility. "The part that keeps the purifying liquid from entering my system could end up seeping in. There could be a leak somewhere and I'd lose more blood than I'd be getting back. There are several factors with the first one that could lead to my demise." Soran flinched and turned away.

"And with the second one, it would just be the simple fact that I wasn't strong enough to handle it." His body shook. "But I have faith in myself and my strength. Soran, I want to try the second option. I believe that we'd be getting better results with it."

"No." He shook his head. "Not happening."

"And I'm not going through the first option." I said firmly. "I'd rather put my faith in my strength than the machine that could fail at any second."

"Stop," He shook again. "Please. Please stop saying that. I don't want you to die. I don't want that to be a possibility. I don't want to go through with the hurt that will follow. The machine is safer for you-"

"The pill is safer!" I cut in.

"No, Emma, it's not!" He spun and I stared wide eyed at him, seeing the couple tears trickling down his cheeks. "The pill is not safe! It has the highest chance of killing you! I can't lose you! Lexton told me everything you told my father. I see now all the hurt I've put you through, and I don't want that choice to take the damn pill to be riding on my shoulders, knowing that it was because of me that brought us to this point! I would feel better knowing that you are hooked up to the machine which has a one-hundred percent rate of working than the immeasurable rate of you dying because of the pill!"

The room grew quiet as I watched the tears fall from Soran's face. I've never seen him do this before. He's never cried. He's always been tough and cocky and the kind of person who seemed very uncaring of anyone and how they feel.

Yet here he is, caring about me and my safety. Crying. His emotions finally breaking through and breaking his tough exterior.

This showed me a completely different side of him. A side I never thought he had. He's not the big bad Alpha who gets around and doesn't care about anyone. He truly has deep feelings for the ones who are in his life and have greatly impacted his life. And seeing this makes me realize that I am the biggest impact he's probably ever experienced in his life.

Maybe this is the reason he couldn't get with me right away. Maybe he was conflicted with how he was seen to others that didn't know him compared to those who saw his true side and grew up with him.

I took a deep breath. I seriously don't know him like I thought I did.

A knock sounded at the door. "Soran, may I come in? It's urgent."

Soran sighed and quickly wiped at his eyes and turned away from the door a bit. "Yeah, come in."

The doctor stepped in. "I'm hoping you guys didn't make a choice yet. I went to get the machine ready off the chance you would choose it and I found that quite a few of the wires are rotted and there is a leak in one of the pipes." Soran's shoulders sagged.

He knows he's lost this one. "Yeah, no. It's fine. We already decided on the pills." My eyes widened a bit.

"Good, because the machine would have taken weeks to fix. The parts we need would have to come from New York."

"That's fine," Soran met my gaze, his eyes still tinted red. "How long will it be until the pills are ready?"

"You can swing back here after dinner." The doctor shut the door behind him as he went back to the cabinets to get everything ready. "They should be ready by then. And don't worry. I'll be diluting the contents in the capsules a bit so that way she's not getting hit by it in one shot."

"Thank you." Soran sniffed. "I'll take you back to your room, Emma." He held his hand out for me and this time I took it.

The sparks that usually course through us when we touch were just barely a flicker. It was if it was trying to spark, but the fuse just wasn't connecting. At least it was still somewhat there. Soran squeezed my hand a bit tighter as he led me back to my room.

I bit my lip at the silent walk back to my room. I have to say this, but I can't make my mouth say the words. It wasn't until we reached my room that I finally got my voice to work.

"Hey, uh, Soran?"

"Hm?" He opened the door and he stepped inside to sit me on the bed.

"If..." I took a deep breath. "If it'll make you feel better, you can stay in the room to keep a closer watch on me. Not in my bed, but just in the room. Maybe on the couch."

He met my eyes, his full of shock. "Y-yeah, that would be okay. Sure. Thanks. Erm, dinner won't be ready for a while. I have some work to finish up, so I'll come get you when dinner is ready."

"Okay," Soran squeezed my hand a bit tighter before slowly and reluctantly letting go to leave me alone in my room.

Once he was gone, I laid back on my bed and stared at nothing.

Today surely has been one interesting, emotional day.