5

Emma

Our lips were only a breath away from each other. I could feel his heavy breath wash against me. I'm certain he can feel mine. We're so close. Just barely a space separated our lips. Right before our lips connected, Kester sighed and I suddenly felt cold.

"Emma, I-I can't..." His breath came out raspy. I opened my eyes and found him leaning against the railing of the porch. "I have a mate somewhere out there, and as much as you hate it, Soran is your mate. I can't do this to us. It would only make things more complicated in the future."

I nodded and looked away. "I understand. I'm sorry."

"No, it's my fault." I met his gaze again. "I should have tried to stop myself and us when I felt the urge to kiss you. You didn't do anything; I did. I acted, you reacted. It's my fault..."

I slowly stood and brought him into a hug. "It's alright. It's partially my fault. I should have stopped myself. Let's promise to never do that again, okay?" I stepped back and held out my hand. He gave it a firm handshake, then pulled me back into the embrace.

We pulled away and smiled at each other. "Well, that was... something." I said to make small talk.

"Yes, it was." I gasped and looked around Kester to see my dad watching us.

"I-I-I-I..." I couldn't speak.

"We'll speak about this later." He turned his attention to Kester, who was frozen in place. "Your mother is looking for you."

"Y-yes, sir..." He quickly jogged down the steps and ran back to the pack house.

"Come inside, Emma." He met me at the porch steps and together we went inside. "Now, care to tell me what happened today before this point?" So I quickly told him once I had calmed down enough to speak.

Mom entered the room when I finished and sat beside my dad on the couch. "This sounds almost familiar."

"Wait, what?" I looked to mom. "How?"

They shared a glance. "You wanna tell her?"

"Tell me what?" I asked as I looked between them.

Mom met my gaze. "You see, I didn't want to be with your father when I first saw him." He grimaced. "It was my first day at the school, and I found him allowing a girl to give him a blowjob right in the middle of the hall."

My eyes widened in horror as I stared at my dad. "You what?!"

"I'm not proud of it, either..." He mumbled as he pulled mom tightly to him, his nose going to her neck.

"Wait, then what happened?" I asked, my curiosity rising. "Why did you still go with him even though he did that?"

"Because neither of us knew we were mates," Dad said into her neck, making her eyes shut softly.

"Huh?"

"Your father was a player." Mom put a hand over my knee. "A big one at that. Because of it, his Wolf went dormant and he wasn't able to recognize me as his mate until I bit him."

"You... bit him..." I blinked slowly. "I did that to Soran, and look what happened."

Mom shrugged. "It was a shock to both of us. I had no idea what the sparks were, and your father couldn't believe that his Wolf had awoken after that."

"Oh..." I picked at my nails, trying to understand this.

"It was a very rocky start." Mom chuckled and dad groaned. "At first, we wanted nothing to do with each other. He was the player of the school, and I was the new girl. It took him a while to understand it, and I still didn't want to be with him. I'd already had a brush with the bad boy, and I didn't want it again."

"Explain?"

"Another time." I grumbled at that. "Anyway, it took, what, three, four months for me to accept you?"

He nodded. "After you passed out when I shifted in front of you." I giggled at that. "Even then, you were still hesitant."

"True." Mom shrugged. "But it took time. I did end up loving you back like you loved me and wanted to be with you and only you. You changed and dropped your image so you could be with me. You didn't care. Emma, it could be the same for you. Just give Soran a chance."

I slowly shook my head. "Mom, he knocked up ten women since finding out who I was. He doesn't love me; he's lusting for me. He doesn't want to be with me. He's probably just gonna use me as another one of his flings, then toss me away like he did with the others..."

"You don't know that."

"I can see it, mom!" I met her gaze again. "I can see it in his eyes! He doesn't love me! He just wants to use me! I don't want to get hurt! He'll only do that to me!"

"I'll kill him." Our eyes snapped over to see my brother standing at the foot of the stairs. "No one hurts my sister. He'll wish he was dead."

I smiled softly and opened my arms to him. He came and sat in my lap. "That means a lot to me, Orien. Thank you. You're the best brother a sister could ask for. "

"You mean it?" He asked as he looked up to me, his big eyes soft as they searched my features.

"Would I ever say otherwise?" I smiled.

"Yes."

"Okay, that was one time." I held up my finger to keep him from speaking. "But we got over that, right? Now look at us? The best of siblings."

He grinned. "Right!"

I hugged him tight, making him complain as I messed with his hair. "Who has the best brother in the world?"

"You do!" He squirmed in my arms. "Now let go!" I did and he tumbled to the floor. Instead of getting mad, he laughed and fixed his hair.

"But seriously, I will hurt him." Orien said as he stood back up. "I heard you crying when you talked to mom. I didn't like that. I will end him if he hurts you."

"Thanks, bro." I ruffled up his hair again, making him grumble as he swatted my hand away. "You'll be the first person I call if something happens."

"Okay." He grinned.

"Well," We looked to mom. "I think it's about time for dinner, huh?" We nodded and followed her to the kitchen to help make dinner.

~~~~

Oh... my... God... I can't stand this anymore! It's been a week since I asked Soran to the football field to reject him, and I'm losing my mind! This entire week, I must have tried thousands of different ways to reject him, but it's not working! I always either get interrupted by something or someone, or he stops me!

And guess what? I hear so many women talking about how amazing he is in bed. All within the past week. This is nothing like what my parents went through.

Soran is a thousands times worse than my dad. I don't need him in my life. I'd rather take my chances trying to find someone else to be with. I have to find a way to stop this before it gets out of hand and I'm sucked into something that will hurt me in the end. But how?!

It's as if the universe is keeping me from rejecting him! What is so important about him and I being together that it's as if some greater is being is fighting for us to be together?! I just wish it would stop!

"Emma?" I slowly looked up to the teacher. What hour am I in? "Qu'est-ce que tu fais?"

Oh. Right. I'm in French class right now. Crap, what do I say? What am I doing...? "Désolé. Je, euh... de penser..." There. I hope she buys it and leaves me alone.

"Penser à ce que?" Well, shit... What do I say I'm thinking about?

"Euh..." By now, the whole class was staring at me. "Je... euh... Je ne sais pas. Mon autre devoirs?" I actually don't have homework for my other classes...

Her eyes narrowed a bit. "S'il vous plaît de rester concentré en classe." I let out a small sigh of relief. Like I'll actually stay focused... Soran has been on my mind all morning, and not in a good way.

I was the first one out the door when the bell rang to end class. "Emma, wait!" I groaned and waited for Soran, even though I didn't want to. "Wow, I didn't think you'd wait."

I glared at him. "What do you want?"

"I want to speak with you during lunch." He said softly.

"No." I turned from him.

"Oh, come on!" He gripped my wrist, the sparks instantly flying between us. I gasped and yanked my hand free from him. He stood there, stunned, staring at his hand. I took this opportunity to take off to my last class, the one I don't have with him.

My desk nearly fell over when I flopped down into it. "Careful!" Gaven quickly caught me and my desk. "What's got you all in a hurry to where you think you have to hurt yourself?"

I fixed myself, then leaned in so only he could hear. "Soran wanted to talk to me after class. I said no, turned away, then felt the sparks as he gripped my wrist. I ran from him."

He slowly shook his head. "It was bound to happen eventually."

"But I don't want this!" I exclaimed, the eyes of the few students turning towards me. I turned an icy stare to each of them before focusing back in Gaven. "You know this isn't what I want. You know that I would rather be with some one else. You've heard the girls around school! You know what he's doing! I don't want this, Gaven!"

"Hey, hey. Calm down." He held up his hands in a somewhat comforting gesture. "I know this is a lot to take in, and I know you hate what's going on, but there's nothing that I can do. You know this. I really wish I could help."

I groaned and laid my head down on the desk, not wanting to do anything more for the rest of the day. I could hear the teacher calling for my attention, but I refused to give it. I think Gaven stood up for me, but I don't know. My mind is starting to wander.

The topic of my wander? Different tactics to reject Soran.

My wolf sighed. Just give up, would you? It's obviously not supposed to happen.

Shut up. I growled at her. I will try everything I can to reject him! I know you hate that he keeps going with other women! Don't you see that he's only gonna hurt us?

But-

Open your eyes, Anna! I snapped at her, shutting her up. Not once has he tried to be with only us! In only a span of a week, he must have gotten with at least half the female population at school! He doesn't care about us! Not once has he vowed to stay loyal to us! He's only going to use us, then throw us away! He doesn't want to be with us!

But... the sparks...

I bet they didn't mean anything to him. She was silent the rest of the class period.

Let me speak to him. Anna suddenly said as the bell rang.

What?

I want to speak to him myself. She said softly. I want to know for myself if he's really worth our time. Maybe I'll get to speak with his Wolf.

I'm not taking that chance. I said firmly. What if something happens to us? I can't risk it.

Please?

No.

Please?

No!

Please?

NO!

Plea-

"Emma," I glanced up and saw Gaven staring at me. "Hey, you alright?"

I nodded. "Perfectly fine."

He shook his head. "No you're not. You've been sitting in the same spot for nearly five minutes after the bell rang. You haven't moved at all."

I looked around the empty classroom, only seeing Gaven and my teacher's concerned gaze. "Sorry, I'm just... I'm not doing too well..." I grabbed my things and rushed from the classroom.

"Emma!" I pushed on, putting my speed and stamina to the test. I'm so glad the halls are deserted.

"Emma, come back!" His voice is distant down the hall. "Emma, wait! Talk to me, Emma! Emma!" I ignored him, his voice getting farther with each stride I took.

I shoved the school doors open and just kept going. I thought I was in the clear.

Until I heard more feet running after me. I pushed myself harder, my breathing now starting to grow heavier. I raced down the road, not once stopping. I listened behind me, hearing that the feet were slowly gaining on me.

It's not Gaven; him and I already had a race to see who was fastest. Kester probably already went home.

Who could be chasing after me? I risked a glance over my shoulder and wished I hadn't. I took another turn and headed back for the school to drop my bag off at Gaven's car. I need to get this extra weight off my shoulders.

I spotted him and his car. He was just starting to get in with his mate. I slung my bag off my shoulder and tossed it at him when I got close enough. I didn't bother to see if he caught it. I just kept running. With the weight of my bag off my shoulder, I was able to go faster. My feet were practically flying across the pavement.

I glanced back to see that the person following me was starting to slow down. I smirked then faced forward once more. I found a small break in the trees and ran into the forest. He can't go on to another land unless he has permission.

The odds are in my favor today.

I slid to a stop to catch my breath once I found where I wanted to go. I rested my hands on my knees as I took in deep breaths. Man... that was a far run... I seriously hope I don't have to do that again...

Once I was able to bring my breathing back to a manageable rhythm, I stood up straight and headed towards the pack house. I didn't knock; just walked right in. The members greeted me as if I was their own, and it made me smile.

"Oh, Emma!" I looked up and smiled.

"Hey, Vicca."

"What brings you here?" She asked as she sat on the stairs.

"Just..." Then the events of what happened hit me. I hadn't realized that running helped pushed those away... "Everything..." She nodded and guided me up the stairs.

"Tell me everything." So I did. I told her the events of today exactly as they had happened. She nodded and listened closely.

"And then I came here." I finished in a whisper.

Vicca was silent for a few moments before she spoke. "You know... you might have made the situation worse..."

"Howso?" I asked as I met her gaze again.

"Well..." She bit her lip. "Males, especially Alphas, love a good chase. And if you ran from the school to here..."

"He'll be waiting..." I said as I hung my head. "God damn it..."

"I can take you home." She offered.

I nodded. "Yeah, I'd like that... So, what do you think I should do?"

"You listened to your parents, right?" I nodded. "If your mother was able to make Asher change, then maybe you can as well."

"But-"

"Emma," I shut my mouth. "It may not seem like it, but people change when certain events come in to play. You said you felt the sparks? Maybe that was his eye opener. Maybe now he'll realize that the other women aren't worth his time."

"I don't know, Vicca..." I whispered. "I just... can't comprehend this. I don't want to be with him, but my Wolf wants to, and so does my heart. My brain is the only one being rational right now!" I winced slightly as a light pressure built up in my head. Anna wasn't happy with that statement.

"Maybe you should let Anna talk to him."

"What?!"

"Just try it." She suggested. "But stay close to the surface so you can interject if it starts heading down a way you don't want. Just try, Emma. Maybe you'll like the outcome."

I sighed softly. "Alright... Alright! I'l try it. But if something happens, I'm blaming you."

She held up her hands. "Leave me out of this. I'm just trying to help." We shared a soft smile before she took me back home.