17.

**Emma**

"I hope she's better today," I heard Madison's voice through my last remnants of sleep.

"She will be. Michael is in for a beating for what he put her through," The next voice said. Maxwell.

"I think the twins got that covered," Madison said with a cluck of her tongue.

"Go wake her up Maxie. I have so much planned for us," she said next impatiently. Their whole concept of being quiet seems to have flown out the window.

Smiling with my eyes still closed I murmured, “You already did. I don't think whispering is your strongest point.”

I opened my eyes to see a blushing Maxwell crouched down beside me. Madison was in fits of giggles as I poked his red cheeks.

"Emma." He groaned.

Over the past week, I have gotten closer to them, even in my antisocial state they made it their duty to be with me every step of the way. I was after all an addition to their family but even before ..... Michael, I was accepted.

Snuggling more under the blanket I looked at them and was truly grateful to this family. This pack. For accepting me - the 'wolf-less' girl. "We are going shopping today. Come on," Madison said anxiously.

I tensed and felt Noah shift behind me. Maxwell saw the reaction and gave me a confused look.

"Don't you like shopping?" he asked.

"She's not leaving this territory till Jonah returns," we heard Noah said in a calm tone which was to be obeyed.

I managed to sit up and deliver a weak smile as I saw Noah walking around the bed in sweats alone. His body was tense and his face was expressionless.

"Okay, then but she will be around us and a few guards Noah," Maxwell countered.

Noah's steely gaze was fixed on Maxwell who wasn't backing down. I understood why Noah turned down the little shopping trip and I was sort of happy not to go but it wasn't worth another fight.

"I'm good with going for a swim. We can do shopping another time," I offered with a smile.

Noah nodded while Madison kept her gaze on him and agreed distantly. Biting my lip trying not to laugh at her, I looked at Maxwell. He was still a little miffed by my brother's order.

"Maxie," I called out to him. When he turned towards me, his features soften and a smile came upon his face.

"Okay sweet pea," he said tugging on my hair.

“Temper. Temper. Temper,” Noah said to me as he left my room.

“Stop it,” I returned trying not to laugh out loud.

"How are you feeling today, Emma? We heard you last night." Madison said sitting next to me.

"I'm a bit back to my old self, ya know. I have a feeling that Jonah will bring him back. Soon." I said twisting my fingers.

It was a long shot but a little positivity won't hurt right? They both nodded their heads in support.

"He will come back kicking and screaming because he didn't seem too keen on staying," I heard Maxwell muttered before storming out. The words were said without any true meaning behind them but it still made me flinch outwardly in emotional pain.

"Don't mind him. Mikey... Mikey just needs to find himself after what happened. We are all still coping but it affected him more," Madison said with a sad smile.

"What happened?" I asked.

Everyone has been skirting around what happened a year ago at Dark Moon and I wanted to know why.

She took a deep breath and looked at her hands.

“At Dark Moon, humans are not allowed on wolf territory. They can come into the town but not here. The fear of one being a hunter was the reason and this rule was one to abide by. Only a human mate can enter, no matter the rank.

“Michael and his best friend Jax went on some male bonding thing they do every month. They either go camping or do a whole club life thing all weekend. That month they came back with a girl who Michael claimed to be his mate....” She said, letting go of a deep sigh.

A bit of anger flared in me at that impersonator who convinced Michael she was his mate.

"Didn't his wolf know this to be false?" I asked. That's odd.

She shrugged.

“We don't know what happened but Michael was at her beck and call. He did anything and everything for her. Maxie and I felt that something was off with her and we told him. But he said we were jealous of him and didn't want to see him happy.

“His own family… He turned on his own family even Jax. His best friend for years. We also noticed she never let him kiss her or touch her like mates do. After a month of her arrival, we were attacked by hunters. They caught us off guard. We were celebrating the festival of the moon. Around that time, it was carefree because it was our time to be free to celebrate life, not death.

“They got through our borders with ease. Women and children were slaughtered while the men protected those that found safety. Dad had us in the shelter while he went and look for Michael. I don't know exactly what happened after we were in hiding but when we came out, a neighboring pack was helping with clean-up and Michael was gone. Also, his 'mate'.

“Dad hasn't mentioned what happened that night, all he said was Michael left. He was a disgrace to the pack,” she finished with tears falling into her lap.

I held her close as she sobbed on my shoulder. "I lost my best friend and my brother that night. It still hurts so bad," she cried out.

I felt guilty for letting her bring up that dark past but it helped in understanding as to where in life Michael turned cold. This human mate… where is she? She must have to be connected to the attack. Why was Michael so easily convinced that she was his mate?

"Heyyy I thought I was to be the sulky wolf here," I joked, wiping away her tears.

She let out a short laugh, " We can team up and put Maxie in misery" she retorted.

"Sounds like a plan," I said wiggling my eyebrows. That got me a louder happier to see Madison laugh. I smiled as she got back to her old self.

She looked at me with a tilt of her head and said, "I'm glad you came here. If you didn't then I wouldn't have an awesome big sister".

No one has ever been so sincere and appreciative of me except Aiden and Mason. It felt good to belong to be accepted. I threw my arms around her and said, “Likewise, little sis.”

"Okay, let's get a move on and why I don't get invited into girl time to get hugs like that," Maxwell said, barging into the room eating cereal from the box.

We looked at him as he attempted to get cereal in his mouth by eating it straight from the box which most ended up out of his mouth.

"That's why," we both said as he dusted off crumbs onto the floor.

After making sure he cleaned up his mess, we all went for breakfast and spent the day by the pool. I've been pushing myself to get out of the sad state, knowing it wasn't healthy nor good since my emotions are linked to my powers.

The two days after Jonah left, Noah helped me get control of my powers. I learned quickly how to do it. I was surprised but Noah said it's due to how close Alia and I are, also our lineage.

Being a princess haven't sunk in yet but I still asked him questions about the castle and my parents. He didn't have all the answers but was able to satisfy my interest.

"When am I to meet them?" I asked him when we were finally alone for the day.

"When your mate returns, we have to go to them. It may be sooner than we expected," he said solemnly.

"Who are the people after me?" I asked.

"We have just been warned but a name wasn't given"

"But the person knew who I am to attack our pack."

"Precisely. "

**

I sat in the lounge room watching Thor for the umpteen time, but I wasn't focused on it. It has been two days and no word from Jonah nor any of the warriors. Worry started to settle in not only for Michael but Jonah too. Noah also has been a bit agitated. It’s the longest they've been apart without any communication.

"This is crazy," I said aloud.

What if they were attacked? What if Michael refused to come back?

I got up and started to pace back and forth.

*'Try calling for him,'* Alia said confidently.

"Okay," I answered. I calmed down and focused on Michael and Zane.

What I felt was like he was trying to block me out but it was weak.

*"Michael? Please. Can you hear me?"* I called out. My body felt hot and a faint pain was felt on my side but I brushed it off.

*"I don't care about your past. I just need you safe. Here. With me,"* I called out again.

*"He's close. The bond is getting stronger but something is wrong,"* Alia said panicking.

I pushed harder against the block, I needed to reach him. The harder I push our bond the more pain I got but bearable. My skin became sweaty.

*"Emma. Please. Don't,"* I heard him cried out in my mind. Relief of hearing his voice for a second came over me then the most excruciating pain took over me.

"MICHAEL!"

I screamed so loudly my throat burned. Clutching my side, I fell to the floor. Heat surged through my body as Alia cried out to Zane. Screaming in pain, tears blurred my vision as I saw five pairs of feet surrounding me.

"Emma!!" Noah called out to me but he sounded so far away.

"Mate," I was able to breathe out as the pain took over me again. I desperately clutched onto someone's hand. Teeth clenched as another wave of pain took over. It felt like someone was branding my skin with a hot iron.

"Michael must be hurt," I heard Anna said panicking as she came to me.

"Sweetheart, close the link to Michael. You need to do this." She said in my ear as the pain rolled in five times stronger.

"He needs me," I cried out. He may not accept the mate bond but I sure as hell did. He was my chosen no matter what. I knew I had to be there for him, no matter what. I don't care if he rejects me once more. I will stay in the background protecting and caring for him the best way I can.

"I know he does but you need to be strong for him when he gets here," I heard her say with a shaky voice.

I ignored her pleads and reached out to Michael once again. “Please be okay. I need you to be okay,” I cried out to him.

“I'm sorry Emma..... I'm...” were the last words I heard from him.

The bond was faint, the pain was there still but also faint.

"Something is wrong! I can't feel him. Where is he?" I screamed fighting to get out of Anna's hold.

Maxwell came next to me. "Emma please calm down. They just crossed the gates...." he said holding onto me.

I noticed Madison, Noah, and Angelo was nowhere to be found. "Let’s go. I need to see him"

My eyes were burning from hot tears. Alia was getting angry, not able to her mate. The more I struggle the tighter their hold got. I opened my mind to their thoughts.

*“He's in a bad shape. She can't see him like that,”* was Anna's thoughts.

My heart ached at her thought, I had to see him. Be near him. With a little push with my power, I was able to get them two feet away from me. I ran through the house and out the door.

Outside warrior, wolves were running behind a van towards the pack hospital. The doctor and two assistants rushed out to the van. I saw Noah running to the back-seat door. His face fell at whatever he saw.

I ran as fast as I can to the van, as I draw nearer, I felt my mate but his heartbeat was faint.

"Michael!" I screamed trying to wipe the tears as I ran.

As I approached him an arm held me back. "No. He needs me. Please," I begged whoever was holding me.

They took him out of the van and laid him down on a gurney. His body was bruised, cuts all over his chest. Blood was all over his hands and mouth. What caught my eye was a deep stab wound on his side which wasn't healing as it should.

The rise and fall of his chest were shallow. His skin color was so pale. Only one thing came to my mind. He was near death.

Whoever held me was pulling me away from him which got me angrier. I pushed him back enough to release me and for me to run. I didn't care who saw my mate needed me. I grabbed his hand as they were wheeling him into the OR.

A jolt of electricity was felt as his hand came in contact with mine. It gave me momentary relief. I felt his fingers twitched and weakly clutch my hand which made my heart soar. As we reached the door, I kissed his cheek and whispered, "I'll be right here when you need me".

I didn't want to let go but I had to. The absence of his touch left me so cold but all that matters is that he's here.

*'Mate is home,'* Alia said contented as I sat on the chair outside the door waiting.

Waiting for him.