34

Emma

Kathrine gulped and her hands shook terribly. "Y-you sure this is a good idea?" She stuttered.

I gave a hard nod and adjusted my protective glasses. "Absolutely. As my dad had said, a paper can only do so much. Now, take your stance and relax." I gently placed my hands on her arms and stood close to her to help her situate herself.

"Take a deep breath and keep your eyes on the target." I calmly told her as I helped keep her hands steady. "He won't wait for you to calm down so you can take the shot. Act on instincts. Rely on your senses. Let your energy flow through you and focus on the target. Pretend nothing is here but you and your target..." I slowly stepped away as she took a deep breath and exhaled.

She took a sharp intake of breath just as she squeezed the trigger. My ears rang a bit even with the ear plugs and headphones covering them.

"Good." I complimented her as I gazed down the field to where the target stood twenty meters away. "Aim is a bit off, but it still would have given you time to escape."

She gave a weak smile. "This is my first time ever holding a gun. This is... something different... kind of fun."

I chuckled. "I'm glad. Why don't we put a few more rounds in the target and see what we can do to help your aim." She nodded, took her stance again, and took a few calming breaths.

She shot five more rounds before she lowered the gun. "How was that?"

I held up my hand to have her give me a minute as I went to grab the target from the post it was on. I came back with it a few minutes later and pointed to each hole. "So, your aim keeps going either more to the upper right or mid-to lower left. Don't be afraid of the gun when you pull the trigger. Keep calm, keep centered, and keep focused."

"Maybe it wasn't such a good idea to start with the big guns." We looked up to see Rorie walking towards us. "Literally."

I rolled my eyes. "Ha, ha. It was more of her idea, anyway."

"Be that the case, she still shouldn't try to shoot yet." He held his hand out and she gave it back to him. "Do you know how to defend yourself if he grabs you?"

"I, uh...." She looked away and shook her head.

"Then we'll start with that." Rorie waved his hand for her to follow as he started to walk away.

She looked back at me, her eyes full of fear. "It's okay, you'll be fine. Dad and I will be back for you in a couple hours. I promise." She nodded and jogged to catch up with Rorie. I walked from the shooting range back to meet up with my dad.

He and grandma looked up when thy saw me approach. "You ready, Ems?" Dad asked.

I nodded. "Yup. I leave her in their care. See you later, Gram. Be nice to Kathrine; she's a gentle soul."

She scoffed and crossed her arms. "I'll whip her into shape. She'll be an independent little spitfire before you know it. Kester won't know what hit him."

I laughed and gave her a hug. "Alright, whatever, Gram. We'll be back in a couple hours." She waved to us as we got in the car and drove back home.

I slumped in my seat. "I feel so bad for Kathrine. It must be so awful to have to deal with someone as abusive as her ex..." A heavy cloud of tension drifted between us.

"Erm, everything okay?" I asked as I sat up.

"So, that's what's going on..." He gnawed on his lips and tightened his grip on the wheel once in a while.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Ask your mother." Was all he said. "But ask her when Kathrine is with you. This is something you both have to hear."

"Dad?"

"Just trust me." And the conversation was dropped just like that. The ride home was awkward and tense. I was real tempted to pretend I had a knife to cut it with, but I fought the urge, knowing it would only make things worse.

My mind kept wandering to what he said. What could he mean by all that?

~~~~

"So, how was training?" I asked Kathrine as we took her home.

"Exhausting..." She grumbled as she rubbed her arms. "Rorie's boy is very brutal, even when he tones it down! I still think you guys are all part of the Mafia. No one is that prepared and trained for fights and attacks. It's not natural."

I just laughed, giving up on convincing her weren't a mafia. "Yeah, he's something else. He prefers hand to hand combat over long range, but he's exceptional with both."

"Tell me about it." She grunted as she rolled her shoulders. "I still can't believe he's so much younger than me and knows so much. But I've gotta say, he and his sister are great teachers. I learned so much from them. I want to go back tomorrow!"

"You do need rest," My dad pointed out. "This was only your first day and you're not used to this much physical activity. Besides, you still have your online schooling to think of."

"Damn..." She crossed her arms and pouted. I laughed at her as we pulled up to the house and got out. She's doing real well and really opening up now that she's safe and away from potential dangers from her ex.

"Hey, Kathrine," We stopped half way up the walk way.

"Yes?" She tilted her head a bit.

"We, uh, need to speak with my mom." I rubbed the back of my neck. "Dad suggested you and I need to speak to her. Something about your ex?"

Her face paled. "Did he...?"

"No, no!" I held up my hands. "No, nothing like that. I have no idea what it's about, but I think she'll know once we start talking to her."

She gulped. "Alright... if you insist." Kathrine was a ball of nerves as we headed inside.

We found mom in the kitchen. "Welcome back, girls!" She set down her drink and leaned against the counter. "How was training?"

"Tiring, but I can't wait to go back." Kathrine said, but kept looking at the floor.

"What's wrong?" Mom stood from the counter and led us to the table. "Something is troubling you two."

I licked my lips. "Dad said we needed to talk to you."

"About?" She asked as she folded her hands.

"I don't know." I stated as I picked at my fingernails. "He got very tense on the way home after dropping Kathrine off. It happened after I mentioned what Kathrine's ex did to her."

Mom went serious, yet she also seemed to be a bit concerned. "Tell me."

I turned to Kathrine who swallowed hard. "He... abused me, a lot."

I quickly focused back to mom's face she appeared to be calm, but I could see the fear behind her eyes. "Honey, I'm so sorry."

"Dad wanted me to talk to you about it." I said again.

"W-well..." Mom looked to her hands as they shook slightly. "Abuse isn't pretty, as you know."

"Mom?" She met my gaze. "Are you... are you feeling okay? You seem... distant and afraid."

She nodded slowly. "I, too, suffered a form of abuse."

"From dad?"

"Heavens, no!" She gasped. "Your father would never do that to me! No, it was my ex. We were in middle school when we met. I thought he was the greatest thing to walk the earth, but everyone could tell he was the worst thing for me. He distanced me from my family and friends, and he made me do things, things I regret."

"What did he do?" Kathrine asked as she leaned forward a bit.

Mom bit her lip. "Skip school, get piercings, a tattoo, make me seem like a total slut how I would dress to match his beauty standard, and various other things. One night after a huge fight with my mom, I ran away to his place. We were alone and he got into his father's alcohol stash. We drank that night and he wanted sex. When I declined..." She trailed off in the distant memory.

Kathrine and I glanced to each other. Mom never told me about this guy. How could she have hooked up with a scumbag like her?

"When I declined," We focused back to her. "He tried to kill me. He knocked me to the floor and almost made me pass out. He then lit his place on fire and tried to trap me inside to burn alive. I managed to escape and he was tried as an adult for arson and attempted murder in the first degree."

"Whoa..." Kathrine and I exhaled at the same time. "But wait, you don't have piercings." I pointed out.

She leaned in and indicated to her lower lip and eyebrow. "I ripped them off of me before I passed out from smoke inhalation. They hurt like a bitch, but I didn't want them to mark and define me anymore. After the trial and Daniel was put away, we made sure he could never get to me. Security surveillance was set up around the house, and I got a restraining order against him."

Her face started to turn white. "It worked for a long time, until he escaped." Kathrine gripped my hand under the table. "He found Shelbie, Rorie, Jayden, your father, and I at a park. Your father was out getting frozen treats while the other three were off a little ways. Daniel came out of no where from behind me and placed a knife to my throat," She showed us the very faint scar.

"That bastard..." I hissed as my teeth ground together.

Mom nodded. "I managed to get away and Daniel came after your father and I, threatening to kill Asher and reclaim me as his girlfriend. In the end, he somehow managed to get away and a huge man hunt ensued. After a while, I had agreed to live with your father back at the main house. Before I could completely move out, Daniel found us. Your father had me run away while he fought Daniel. I don't know what all happened after that, but I was told that Daniel could never harm me again."

"What did he do?" I leaned forward, wanting to know how my dad defended his mate, my mom. The desire to protect the one you love is so strong, it can make you do things you would have never imagined.

"He..." Mom glanced at Kathrine. "He beat Daniel and told him off before handing him over to the authorities." What. That's it?! I was expecting blood, gore, and maiming! So disappointing...

"And how do you know he'll never get you again?" Kathrine bit her lip, eager for mom to continue.

"He's in a max security facility and is being watched twenty-four seven." She explained. "He's not going anywhere."

"That's good," Kathrine sighed in relief. "I'm so glad he can't ever get to you. Do you think I'll never be afraid of my ex and never have to worry about him again?"

"Absolutely," Mom smiled. "You will be free of him, I promise. This family won't let you get hurt by him ever again."

"Thank you," Kathrine smiled, hugged my mom, then headed up to our room. I stood to follow her.

"Emma,"

"Yes?" I turned back to my mom.

"Sit," I slowly sat back down, unsure what was going on. "I changed the story a bit to sound more human appropriate."

"What do you mean?" I raised an eyebrow at her.

"Your father disabled Daniel." My mouth popped open. "He tore open Daniel's legs and made it to where Daniel could never walk again. So even if he wanted to escape, he would never make it past his cell without needing assistance."

"Wow..." I shook my head.

"Protecting your mate will make you do unthinkable things." With that, mom stood and left the kitchen.

I thought back to what I was told about what Soran did while I was gone.

It seriously put things into perspective for me.

Maybe he is being sincere about all this.

Maybe... maybe he does deserve a chance.