Chapter 20: This Is Hypocritical

Dex couldn’t stay and watch the spectacle any longer. Emma had kissed him and now she was extolling the virtues of arranged marriages? He couldn’t stand it, so he stormed out of the banquet hall. He left behind the lies that Emma had chosen to be a part of and the crowd that was eating them with a spoon.
Once again, he’d been a fool.
The outside air didn’t cool his anger. He needed a long walk. What he should do is shift and let his wolf run it off. He couldn’t imagine that Emma wanted to stay with Lucien with the way he treated her, but he couldn’t say what was in her heart. When they should have been talking, they were kissing.
He jammed a hand into his hair and let out a groan. Emma was messing with his head and he was letting her. “What was I thinking?”
He’d been thinking that Emma had felt right in his arms. That Emma was his. He’d been mistaken. He put a hand to his lips remembering her taste. She’d been soft and warm and just the way a she-wolf should be.
Looking up, he realized he’d walked to the beach. The waves crashed on the sand. The sky was full of stars, but he didn’t have anyone to enjoy it with. He still had feelings for Emma. He still loved Emma. There had been other women, but not one of them had been her.
He flopped onto the sand, not sure what to do next. He had to come to grips with the fact that Emma might have played him. That idea didn’t sit right with him. That wasn’t the Emma he knew. That wasn’t the Emma who had helped Leyton. His Emma had a good heart, a loving personality. He refused to believe that five years with Lucien and taken that away from her.
“There you are.”
Dex glanced over his shoulder to see Brutus approaching him. Brutus had made it clear how he felt about Dex being around Emma. His Beta must have forgotten their times together. Happier times for sure. “Hey.”
Brutus squatted down next to him. “Quite a show.”
Dex couldn’t defend Emma because he didn’t know what was going on, but he would give her the benefit of the doubt when talking with Brutus. “I’m not sure what that was.”
“It was Emma playing you, dude.”
Dex didn’t believe that. Now that Brutus had said it out loud, Dex could hear how stupid it sounded. “No.”
“No? Dex. Come on. They were talking about their marriage as if it were something to behold.”
“I don’t think it’s that simple, Brutus. Emma’s big on appearances. She wouldn’t embarrass Lucien, no matter what was going on in her mind.”
“You think she’s leaving him?” Brutus asked.
The disbelief dripped off of his words. For a moment Dex was unsure. Then he remembered that this was Emma. His Emma. She didn’t have a cold bone in her body. “I don’t know, but I’ll have to see.”
“Please don’t be a fool for her again,” Brutus said.
“What’s it to you?”
“I’m the one who is going to have to pick up the pieces again.”
Dex shook his head. “I’m not a kid anymore, Brutus. If my heart gets broken again, I’ll take it like the Alpha I am.”
“Yeah?”
“Yes.”
Brutus shook his head. “You were a mess last time.”
“Well, I have a pack to worry about now. I can’t just wallow so I won’t.” Dex put his hand on Brutus’ arm. “I know you trust me, Brutus. You know that I’ll always put the pack first, but this is Emma. It’s not some random woman I’m chasing. If she needs me, I’m going to be there for her.”
“I think you’re a fool.”
“So noted, Brutus.”
His Beta shook his head. “Don’t do it. Please, Dex.”
“I have to, Brutus. Emma is my mate. Even if she doesn’t realize it, she is. I was too young to know that five years ago. I was too young to fight for her and I believed what people said. That I had nothing to offer her compared to Lucien.”
“She’s your mate?”
“Yes, Brutus. You know how that feels. You know what happened when you met Leyton.”
Brutus shifted to sit on the sand. Maybe Dex was getting through to him. “But if Emma stays with Lucien then you’re screwed and if Lucien finds out about you we are all screwed. He’s a warmonger, Dex.”
“I’ll have to change that, Brutus. The bottom line is that Emma is my fated mate and I can’t deny her even if I wanted to.”
Brutus rose. “I just hope our pack survived, Dex. None of us have any other place to go.”
With that, Brutus left Dex to his thoughts. He listened to the waves and knew that they were telling him to be patient. He wanted to scoop up Emma and take her back to his house. Forget the Council. Forget Lucien. Emma was his.
As if he’d conjured her up, a little voice behind him said, “Dex.”
He spun to look at her. “Emma.”
“I’m sorry for that, Dex.”
“For what?”
She waved a hand behind her. “That whole thing with Lucien. I have no idea how that came about, but until I talk to him about leaving, I have to act like his wife.”
“You’re leaving him?”
“Yes. I haven’t figured out how or where I’ll go. I have some things to sort out first and get through this Council before I can make a move. Until then, I am still Lucien’s wife. Still his Luna.”
“For all that he lets you be that,” Dex said.
She nodded. “I know, but I don’t want him to get wind of my plans.”
He wanted to take her into his arms. He wanted to reassure her that she would always have a place with him. “You haven’t told anyone else?”
“I don’t have anyone to tell. My parents won’t approve and I’m isolated.”
His heart went out to her. She was in an abusive relationship. Even if Lucien had never raised a hand to her, he still wasn’t good to her. The fact that Emma was planning on leaving Lucien, made Dex burst with pride. This was his Emma, strong and determined. He’d always know she’d had it in her. Now she knew it, too.
“I’m sorry Emma.”
She waved away his apology. “I’ve done this to myself and I’m ready to be out of this situation.”
“What can I do?”
“Can you be my friend?”
“I can be more than that.”
He took a step towards her. She raised her hand. “I think I need to do this the right way. I want to see you Dex, to remind me what should be, but I can’t cheat on Lucien. Until I break from him, I can’t be with you that way.” She looked up at him, her doe eyes pleading. “Can you wait for me? Can you live by my parameters?”
“Whatever you need, Emma.”
“I’m not sure yet what those parameters are, but thanks for understanding Dex.”
“Can I hold you?”
“You sure that’s a good idea?”
“I’m a grown wolf, Emma. I can control myself,” he said.
He just wanted to feel her in his arms. A taste of what could be once she was free of Lucien. She stepped into his arms and nothing had ever felt as right in the world as this. She fit. They fit.
“Oh, Dex.”
She felt it too. He clamped his mouth shut so he wouldn’t reveal what he knew. That she was his fated mate and he never should have given her up. He should have fought harder despite her objections. She was his. Emma was his and no one else’s.
Dex could have stayed there forever. “You probably need to go back.”
“Lucien is probably drunk, but I am tired. It’s been a long, emotional night.”
“I can walk you back.”
I guess no one would think that odd. We are staying in the same cottage.”
“Ironic isn’t it? It’s as if the universe wanted us to be this close,” he said.
He let go of her.
“We have to be careful. I don’t know if Lucien knows about you, but from something he said, he suspects something,” she said.
At that moment, Dex once again wanted to take Emma away. He could protect her while she divorced Lucien. He could keep her safe as he should be doing. Then again, he didn’t want to be overbearing like Lucien. “I understand. If you ever feel unsafe, you find me. Not just here, but when this Council is done. I’ll always protect you.”
“I know that Dex. I appreciate that, but I’m more worried about Lucien bringing war to your pack.”
Dex rose to his full height. “I’m not afraid of Lucien, nor is my pack. We don’t want to fight, but we will if necessary, Emma.”
“I’m trying to avoid that.” She sighed. “Maybe you shouldn’t walk me back. I don’t want you on Lucien’s radar anymore than you already are.”
“Oh, Emma. You don’t have to protect me. An Alpha protects his Luna, not the other way around.”
He put a hand on her face and she turned into his palm. “Please do this Dex?”
“Anything for you Emma.”