CHAPTER 80

A chasm lay before them and it was night there, but the night which did not have the power to chase away night but rather to devour it. Ema forced herself, opened the door and got a breath of the dark, heavy air which was not refreshing. 

 “You’re late,” a voice boomed from the darkness and Ema’s spine was covered in goosebumps. 

 Women, who knelt on one knee as a sign of respect towards the Ruler fell on her knees and bowed her head. “I’m sorry, Alpha” There were complications that I did not for See, I’m sorry I failed you, Alpha. ” 
 

 From the blackness of the night, a huge form seemed to materialize out of the night as if it were the night-given form. Gulping, as she looked up at her shadowy Paramour, the Big Black Hooded Wolf, Ema felt as if he dominated the clearing, threatening her at close quarters. 


 “Complications?” the wolf sneered his lips curled in a snarl as he stalked Ema around as if considering what and where to sink his teeth into. “Is that what you dare to label as your total ineptitude in the most basic of chores?” 
 

 To this, Ema winced but made a point of maintaining a bowed head. “It wasn’t simple, Alpha. There were unforeseen factors-“ 
 

 “Shut up!” snarled the wolf and even the earth seemed to respond to his voice. “I do not want your excuses I want results and you Ema you have not been able to get them again. ” 

One could hear the disappointment of the man in his voice and its weight was overwhelming. Ema had always been hardworking, and efficient, all the other positive connotations associated with being a workaholic. But now, she was before her furious Alpha, and she was feeling like a mere insignificant insect. 

 

 “Speak,” the wolf went on, his tone feral now, “How come you and your team of high-profile rogues were defeated by a bookshop owner and some dogs?” 

 

 Ema was just about to say something when she felt anger briefly before being overcome by embarrassment. Notes he took couldn’t have all written themselves It wasn’t just them, Alpha. Elijah was there, and all of his wolves. And there were other types of people, a group which of course could not have been envisaged by us – 

 

 ‘Oh no you don’t!’ the wolf roared, holding up a paw to silence her. “It’s always ‘excuses’ with you, Ema. ” he said to her slowly, ‘I’m afraid I made a mistake in choosing you for this job. ’ 

 

 It feels like these words punch her in the stomach. She had invested fully in this fight, quite a lot than she could forfeit. For it all to be dismissed as easily as she did, meaning it was never real to her in the first place, was almost more sting than she could take. 

 

 “Please, Alpha,” she said, cannot believe she is now begging the lupine alpha in front of her. “Let me explain it to you; I will correct it this time; I will make you meet Amelia by bringing her to your knees in your front. ” 


 Now the Big Black Hooded Wolf sat still for what seemed a very long time, and the hand on Ema’s shoulder tightened its grip. When he started speaking once again, the tone that he adopted was frosty and contemptuous. 

 
 ‘You have been given your opportunities Ema, many more than most get and you have failed each time, and miserably at that. ’ 

 
 Of all the words spoken Ema cringed at the word, as if she could feel it being branded into her very soul. Incompetent. He found himself wondering if that was all that she was – a selfish, sulky teenager with nothing else but the lazy, sun-kissed outsides to her name. 

 

 “Perchance,” the wolf stated, “I have been overly forgiving. Have chosen to turn a blind eye to your poor performances, given your past performances But that is over If there is one thing I abhor, its weaknesses They are incongruent with this organization Ema, you are now a nuisance to this company. ” 

 

 Fear gripped Ema’s heart. She knew the consequences that everybody of such a status was subjected to by the pack. Suddenly her thoughts were with her and she tried to find any, even the least, word to utter and perhaps free her from this difficult position. 

 

 “Alpha, please,” she began and he interrupted her with a loud sound. 


Enough. I have made up my mind. As you have betrayed the pack’s law, and as you have committed such a heinous act, you will be demoted to the commoner status of the pack, and you will start anew – if you can.


That briefly liberated Ema as soon as the relief hit, it mingled with the feeling of shame that followed immediately after. She was to be degraded to a lower rank, and exposed to public scorn but, she would survive. But at least she would have an opportunity to be acquitted.


“Thank you, Alpha,” she whispered, not daring to look up. Without any doubt, sometimes people make mistakes, but the main thing is not to repeat them, that is why the answer was like this, I swear I won’t disappoint you again.


The laughter of the wolf was not amused at all its tone was even pitch cold. “See that you don’t.” “Because next time, Ema, there won’t be another chance.” “Next time, the punishment will be far more… permanent.”


With that, he faded into the darkness leaving Ema alone in the clearing and grove. As the oppressive darkness dissipated she slowly got up to her feet, goosebumps all over her body, her heart still beating fast and rage in her eyes, and her chest.


Although nervous, Ema could not help, but be excited about the events that she had just witnessed while going back into the forest. She was insulted by the demotion and, deeper than this, an icy hatred was rising in her. The girl has not stinted herself in any way for this cause and has obeyed every command to the letter. And this was how she was repaid?


It was not only what the Alpha had said that had her ire rising. No, and as she went back through the events over the last few days in her head, it was Amelia that she was drawn to. Sweet, innocent Amelia, who had turned their world upside down with her selfishness, and her desire for a ‘normal’ life.


Amelia, it appears did not have any inkling of the consequences resulting from her action. Of the lives she had exposed, of the subtle equilibriums she had disturbed, the lives she had endangered? Ema considered her team all sore and emotionally low after the mission they had been assigned. Hunt for Amelia came to her mind, the time used for searching her, the efforts, money, and perils involved. All for what? For which of you, that is, Amelia, could pretend that she was human?


Ema thought that no matter how much she focused on it her anger level rose more and more. Amelia had received something that few only could dream of; the opportunity to shape reality inconceivably. And she had flung it all away for a bookshop, for a calm and orderly existence.

As Ema got to the point where the forest ended she stopped and leaned against a tree admiring the lights of the city in the far distance. Out there, Amelia was likely to be sound asleep, being guarded by all the men, probably never to know the havoc she had wreaked.

At that, Ema felt the change inside her as if she was awakening from deep sleep. The loss of face and the resultant demotion were the final nails into the coffin Eric was going to make her. She would redeem herself – yes – but not for that abstract worth in pack society. No, she would do it to teach Amelia a lesson of the consequences of her reckless actions.

“I promise,” Ema hissed into the night, “I will do anything human or not to make you pay for your sins Amelia. Do you want to play at being human? I will show you what it means to be a vulnerable human. ”


With that rallying cry playing in her head, Ema went on her way to the city. She now had many things to do, many a plan and scheme to accomplish. The pack might have demoted her, but her skills, contacts, and knowledge weren’t the things that could be ripped away from her. She would patiently wait for what she wanted and as soon as she had all that she needed, she would go for the kill.