Lucien finished his lunch, but he wasn't finished grousing about Dex. Emma had to listen to him the whole time, while keeping her mouth shut. She didn't want to argue with Lucien, but she also didn't want to hear anything against her lover. Dex had good ideas and maybe it was time for wolves to go in a different direction. If Emma had a brother, she wouldn't want him to die in a useless war. "How does someone think that way?" Lucien asked, lingering over a cup of coffee. "I just don't get it. Is it because he wasn't raised by his parents? They didn't get to instill the basics of being a wolf?"Lucien shook his head and Emma remained quiet. Now was not the time to share her feelings with him. He might bar her from attending the last meeting after lunch. She wanted to be there more than anything to see who was on Dex's side and who was on Lucien's. "And this afternoon, the Lunas get to speak."Emma perked up at the idea. This could be the beginning of her breaking away from Lucien.
Lucien was in bed and asleep, to Emma's surprise when she returned to their room. He was snoring louder than usual. She'd expected him to be out drinking. He'd been defeated in his quest to get the packs to return to the old ways. Emma had walked along the beach thinking before she came back to the room. When she entered the bathroom, her phone dinged. "Meet me at the cove, please."Dex."I'll be there."She slipped out of the bathroom, but Lucien was still snoring. She closed the door to the room with a slight snick then listened. Lucien was still asleep as far as she could tell. He wasn't one to wake in the night. Even so, she vowed not to be gone for too long.Dex was at their spot. The moon shone on the water as the waves lapped at the sand. Emma shifted back to human form and stood before Dex. "Hey.""Hey. That was pretty ballsy back there, not agreeing with Lucien."Emma cocked her head. "Was it the right decision? I don't know, but I can't go back and change it. What would you
Lucien packed his suitcase in silence as Emma tiptoed around him. She just had to get back to their house to put her plan in action. She doubted that Lucien would leave without her because of how that would look, but she couldn't bank on that. The last kiss with Dex was still on her mind. It was the last for a little bit and then she'd be his. That's what she wanted. That's where she should have been all along. "I need to speak to a few people before we leave," Lucien growled. He hoisted his suitcase off of the bed and left Emma to fend for herself. He left the door open as she struggled to close her suitcase. With it finally closed, she took a breath. Glancing into the hallway, she noticed Dex. He stood outside his room, his bags in his hands. He winked at her, then walked down the steps. She'd have to carry her own bags, but it was a good start towards her independence. When Emma arrived at Lucien's truck he wasn't there. It was a nice day and she used the time to enjoy it. He'd
The girls' night in had been the best time Emma had had in a long while. She'd gone to bed tired and feeling supported. She woke with a renewed sense of what she needed to do. She might stay one more day in Julie's house, then she had to go onto her next stop. Emma had never been on her own before; she hadn't had a job since marrying Lucien and didn't know what her skills were. If she could find a cheap place to live while I awaiting a meeting with the elders she could probably support herself. The smell of coffee led her out of bed and to the kitchen of Julie's two-bedroom cottage. The place was cozy and Emma could see herself renting a place like this until she was on her feet. Or free from Lucien so she could go to Dex. "Sleep well?" Julie asked pouring her coffee."Yes. Better than I have in years. Thank you for taking me in."Julie waved a hand. "I've always been a little bit independent. I know I'm supposed to do what the pack Alpha wants, but I couldn't turn you away."Emma
Dex jammed his hands into Emma's hair and his gaze pierced her soul. "What are you doing here?" she asked. "I got your text. If you thought I was going to let you be out here on your own, you have another thing coming," he said.His eyes were full of love and passion and it all enveloped her like a snuggly robe. "This isn't your territory."He kissed her, then grabbed her hand. "I have special permission to bring you through this territory, but we don't have much time."He snagged her suitcases then led her into the woods. "You managed to sort that out since I sent you a text?"He stopped and looked down at her. "Let's just say I've had some plans in place. ""You knew that Lucien would kick me out.""I didn't know. I assumed, Emma. There's nothing nefarious behind me being here."She nodded. Dex was the wolf to trust. "Lead on."He began to move then stopped. "I'm glad to see you, Emma. I can't wani to bring you home."Home. That word sounded so good coming from his mouth. Would his
Emma woke feeling sated and hungry at the same time. Dex wasn't in bed, but she could smell coffee so she'd bet he was somewhere in the house. She stretched, showered, then found him in the kitchen. He handed her a cup of coffee. "You need me to make breakfast?" she said. "No, we're going out. The pack wants to meet you. Well, those that haven't already."Her heart skipped a beat. "What if they don't like me?"He kissed her nose. "You are being silly. Of course, they will like you."He drove her to a clearing in the middle of the woods where a crowd had gathered. Barbecue grills had been set up and the scent of roasting meat reached Emma's nose. Her mouth watered and her stomach grumbled. Dex leaned down and whispered in her ear. "I guess we're getting here just in time."Leyton appeared in front of Emma and dragged her into a hug. "I'm so glad you're here. We can chat when you're ready about what I've been doing to fill in as a Luna."Emma didn't want to crowd out Leyton. "Of cours
Dex looked up to see Leyton shift into human form. Without Emma. He and Brutus were in a deep discussion about pack business in the Wolf Woods Meeting Hall. Emma had been on Dex's s mind since he left her this morning. "Leyton?" Dex asked.She entered the room out of breath. "They. Took. Her.""Emma?"What would he do if something happened to Emma? "Yes. These wolves came out of the woods. I didn't recognize them.""Did they shift at all?" Dex asked. Lucien's wolves had a distinct marking on them. He didn't know if it was a tattoo done when they were in human form or a brand. It translated into their wolf form so Dex suspected it was something permanent on their human skin. "Yes," she said, her eyes wild. Dex put a hand on her. "Leyton. It isn't your fault."She looked at Brutus, who hadn't said anything, then back to Dex. "But I couldn't stop them.""Your job wasn't to guard Emma, but to show her around, Leyton. You couldn't have done anything."She caught her breath then nodded.
Emma woke when someone opened the door to the room where her cell was located. She'd slept fitfully. With her stomach empty she couldn't settle. She would starve before she agreed to anything Lucien had to say. When she opened her eyes, one of the silent guards stared at her through the bars. She didn't bother asking him anything. He would obey his Alpha. That's just how things worked. She sat up and stretched, her stomach rumbling. There would be no food; Lucien had made that clear. Dex must be going crazy with worry by now. As far as Emma could tell, she hadn't been here a full day, but it must have been half a day. She'd slept, but she didn't know if night had passed or not. The room had no windows and Lucien had ordered them to keep the lights on all of the time. The door opened again and Lucien stepped through it. He motioned for the guard to leave. When he turned to Emma a cruel smile split his face. "Hungry yet?"she wasn't going to rise to his bait. She wasn't the Emma he ma