41.

**Emma**

After a quick shower, we both made it down to breakfast, holding hands and quietly talking nonsense. Little moments like these are hard to come by and it was truly appreciated.

Walking into the room, my stomach growled at the scent that hit my nose, Michael chuckled, and pulled me to the buffet-style breakfast area. He filled my plate with pancakes and bacon and filled a glass of orange juice, I smiled as he did this. Michael truly notices everything about me. But not everything I see "ummmm ba....." I started to say before he turned and drizzled the pancakes with chocolate syrup.

"Yes, love?" He turned and grinned. Shaking my head smiling I went and sit where he placed my plate.

I was about to take a bite into my pancakes before I was plucked out of my seat and was spun around.

Mason.

I couldn't contain my laughter as he put me down to face him, "I've missed you so much, Emmy. So much...." He started to say but was interrupted by a cough. I turned to see Michael coughing and taking a sip of his coffee.

"So many things to do now you're out of your room" he finished glancing at Michael.

Weird.

He left me to go fix his own plate just as I was enveloped by two pairs of arms. "Hello, my dear brothers," I said receiving a kiss each from them.

"Hello, darling sister" they chorused.

'We do not want you near Aiden anytime soon' Noah warned me over the link.

'Yes Noah ' I promised him.

They nodded and left me to go find food. I looked around then dashed to my seat before anyone else decided to come to greet me.

Michael saw my antics and chuckled lightly into his coffee mug. Sticking out my tongue at him I then focused on eating.

After a few minutes of talking among ourselves and joking around, my parents came in. My smile widened as I saw my father, his head was down in his phone as he spoke into his Bluetooth earpiece. I got up to greet my mother, she was happy to see me out of bed and in the same room with Michael. Dad was still busy on his call and didn't notice me next to his mate. She was trying hard to hold back her laughter when he told the person on the phone that he doesn't know if I'm awake yet.

I easily put my arms around him and looked up into his eyes. He was surprised and nearly dropping his phone, "What the- goddess baby girl I truly didn't see you here " he laughs. His hug was so comforting that I didn't want to let go and neither did he.

"Okay, you two. Daddy-daughter time can wait till after breakfast" mom said placing a plate down for herself and dad.

"I didn't interrupt your moment with her Ari " Dad said in a teasing tone.

She huffed and began to eat. I went to Michael and he pulled me into his lap breathing in my scent. 'Will you be alright today without me around?' He asked. I wrapped my arms around his neck and placed my forehead against his.

'Yeah. It isn't that intense as before. I can hold out till tonight' I said pecking his lips.

'That's my girl.' he said returning the kiss.

"Yo, keep the PDA down" Jonah yelled. I turned to see everyone looking at us with amused and pleased smiles.

A blush spread across my face instantly. I turned around still seated on Michael's lap to face everyone, his hands tighten on my hips and he released a low growl, I shifted a bit to feel his now hard member rubbing against my jeans-clad butt.

'Emma. Move like that again, I will lose my control and mate you right here on the table.' He grounded out putting his hand over my core. Grinning to myself I did shift to see his reaction.

What happened, I didn't expect.

Without warning, he held on to me, jumping from his seat and quickly left the room with me, when we reached a good distance away from the breakfast room he slammed me against a wall and attacked my lips with a force he never did with me.

It was exciting. Pure bliss.

My legs around his waist, fingers tangled in his hair as he pushed his hand past the jeans and underwear barriers to my core. He felt how aroused I was and released a loud growl. "Fuck Emma," he said against my lips.

His fingers expertly brought me pleasure, with every kiss he silenced my moans but I wanted more.

'Baby I can't take it anymore. I need you. I want you.' I begged him.

He stopped.

Michael pulled away from our kisses, slowly he removed his hand and gently placed me back on my feet.

His eyes were still dark with lust, at first I was confused as to why he stopped then our conversation this morning came back to mind.

Taking a deep breath to calm my aching heart I gave him a smile and looked him in the eye.

"It's okay. I understand. I think I left something in my room, I will just go get it," I was able to say out loud and walked away from him.

I understood his reason for not fully mating me but it still felt like rejection all over again.



**************************************************



**Michael**

'No!!You idiot. Take our mate now' Zane shouted. What in the world just happened? I wanted to just pleasure her, teach her a lesson for teasing me but not to mate her. Her words caught me off guard and I allowed my insecurities take over, I saw her with him.

How stupid can I be? Turning down my mate.

My body felt heavy all of a sudden the feeling of loss and sadness took over.

Emma.

'She thinks you're rejecting her all over again. Even after your declaration of love. Mate confused and sad.' Zane clarified.

'Alia told you huh?' I asked making my way back to Emma's room.

'I have my sources' he said with pride.

I hated it when she's like this, it's painful to know I was the cause of her sadness.

"Emma" I called out rushing into her room.

Empty. I checked her bathroom and lounge area. Nothing.

Following her scent it took me back out of her room and down the hall, the trail ended in front of my bedroom door. Easily, I slipped into my room and looked towards my bed.

There she was, my baby, sitting crossed leg looking at a picture in her hand. Gently I sat beside her and saw what she was looking at, it was a picture of us back at Dark Moon. We were in my room fooling around with my old Polaroid camera taking candid shots the one I kept was with her focusing on the camera with one of her brilliant smiles which reached her eyes while I was kissing her head. That day I knew I fell hard for her and won't be getting up soon.

"This is us. This is what we're supposed to be but I messed up," she said quietly. A tear fell on the picture before she had time to dry her eyes, "I'm truly sorry Michael. I didn't mean to hurt you." she continued.

She was beating herself up over something I shouldn't let break us.

"Tell me what really happened," I asked. My voice was strained when I asked.

She shuddered unconsciously then turned to me. Her eyes were filled with disappointment as she took a deep breath.

"After you left, I went to the infirmary to see him, Noah was about to leave but before he left I assured him I will tell Aiden about you. I thought it was going to be hard but it wasn't. I saw him then and there as a friend no longer my boyfriend of 2 years so I told him. I was caught up in telling him how much you meant to me when he kissed me. I was repulsed by the contact and compared it to ours. Pushing him off I asked him why he did that. He said he was checking to see if I still love him" she said ending with a bitter laugh.

"Since I met you I only loved him as a friend. Anyways I heard... I heard your howls and felt the emotions through our bonds. I blamed him for what he was doing to us then it was like he snapped. I saw him in a different way, it was like he was crazed when he said that I only love you because of the mate bond and he's the one I love and deserve to be by my side. Aiden never spoke so harshly to me he even used that stupid alpha tone on me. Obviously, I denied it. He then went on to say you only wanted me because I was the princess" she finished with a heavy sigh.

My fists clenched the sheets as I took in everything Emma related. Aiden was obsessively in love with my mate.

"He challenged me for you," I said blankly staring at the wall.

"What? When? " she said turning my face to her. The worry was in her eyes and I know it was for me.

Kissing her lips I told her it was over and not to worry about me.

She rolled her eyes, "I will always worry about you" she said. I knew she will.

"He attacked Mason before he challenged me. I don't know why but I haven't asked Mase what happened. He's unstable, Emma. " I told her laying back against the headboard.

"Aiden never attack nor shouted at Mason before throughout our entire friendship. He's probably over the edge with being captured and most of his pack gone." She said biting her lip.

I felt a stirring in my pants as I watched her bite her lips, her hair was lightly framing her face and her eyes had this faraway look that gave it a glassy effect.

Just that position she looked so ethereal. After hearing her side of everything and Aiden's actions I knew that it was intentional to break us apart now here we are.

My insecurities came into play it burned both of us.

"Did you know before I left I had feelings for you? I was amazed by your strength and your stubbornness. You were able to make me submit and I don't submit to anyone well except your dad," I confessed to her.

She was blushing furiously. Tucking strands of hair behind her ear, I went up next to her and kissed her cheek.

"Even if you weren't a princess and a white wolf I would still have this love for you," I said with all the honesty and love I had to give.

Emma was my second chance for a great life and I'm not regretting giving in to the little feelings I had for her then, because now I have the most beautiful, strong, and lovable woman as my mate. My princess and my future wife.

She turned and kissed me with everything I was also feeling. From gentle and loving our kisses became wild and erotic, her hands found their way below my T-shirt, it sent so much pleasure through my body by that simple action.

I let her hair loose loving the way it felt against my skin, laying back I allowed her to straddle me and take off my T-shirt. Her eyes were filled with the want from earlier.

Slowly she kissed every inch of my bare chest, then I felt her hesitation her breath brushed against my heated skin causing a hiss to escape my lips. Her fingers seem to be trailing a line on my chest, looking down I saw what held her interest. The claw marks were faint now but she saw them "I'm alright Emma. I think your blood is still in my system that's why I'm healing so fast." I said to her. She continued to trace the marks, "How did he get so close to doing this? I've seen you fight " she asked getting off the bed.

"Baby its all been dealt with. Don't worry about this" I said getting up.

"He could have killed you for his selfish reasons" she continued. Her eyes were dark, fists were clenched tightly I can see she was trying hard not to let her powers come in to play.

"But he didn't I'm in front of you aren't I?" I said stroking her cheek.

"Michael, tell me now or I will go to the twins," she pushed but relaxing under my touch. I ignored her and brought my lips to hers savoring the feeling I love whenever I touch her.

When I knew she was fully relaxed I sent her images of Aiden's last attack and what I did in retaliation. She flinched in anger so I put more force in the kiss and began caressing with her breasts.

'He hurt you, Michael. He hurt his prince' she screamed at me through our link.

'And I dealt with him accordingly. ' I said lifting her to my waist. Her body relaxed, finally.

Ending our kiss and tried to regain our calm breathing, I held her gaze as I lightly touch her body in random spots. A silly grin was pasted on her face which made me grin also.

A loud knock interrupted our little moment, " Emma? Michael? Uncle Donnie wants you to meet him outside in the northern grounds" we heard Jonah called out

"Be right there" I shouted in reply as I leaned forward to kiss my girl.

"Don't have us waiting for you two" he shouted before I felt his presence away from my room.

"We shall continue this later" I whispered in her ear, her body arched closer to mine and kissed my neck.

After tonight Emma will be fully mine.