In this pack and right at the grounds where they are currently gathered, Emily can't help observing the number of handsome men, young, middle-aged and old alike.But there is something about Mathew that makes him stand out in any crowd, those raggedly handsome looks, the confidence in his walk and the killer smile, it would all drive any healthy female crazy. And all the unmated she wolves are going crazy, as usual. Earlier, they were all fighting to be near Alpha Marcus, two of them almost getting involved in a cat fight just to have a chance to be his training partner, and now their attention is caught by the younger man.One can't decide which of the two men is better looking, both being dead gorgeous in their own way.The fact that Mathew appears younger makes him all the more desirable, but the funny part is that being older also makes Alpha Marcus more appealing to marry. He gives the impression of having more experience, stable and well ahead in terms of life achievements. Not
She is probably thinking too much. If she is not into the idea of falling in love and all the sh*t that comes with it, Mathew hates the idea even worse than her. He made that clear the first time she visited his house, when she found out Twyla was forcing things with him.Oh, of course, Mathew must want them to start the game right now. The Alpha is in sight so the two of them have to start behaving like they are in love with each other."Right," Emily smiles at him.She tries to pull her hand out of the Alpha's grip but he holds on tightly, unwilling to let her go."In case you haven't noticed," the Alpha says to Mathew, his voice dripping poison. The two men must hate each other a great deal, judging from the tension in the air as they lock eyes, and Emily suspects that she has nothing to do with this hatred. It is old, but whatever caused it, it is real and intense. "I have chosen her as my training partner. And you will do well to back off."Mathew ignores him, looking at Emily ins
The first thing that enters Emily's thoughts is, 'how did she find me?' but upon looking at Ella's face, it soon becomes clear that Ella had no idea that she would find her in the house because she's just as shocked as she is.Ella still looks exactly as Emily remembers her; the adorable baby face, round with big blue eyes and a bump for a nose. She had always appeared to be younger than the rest of her friends and always perceived by strangers as a kid, and that can sometimes have it's advantages because people become themselves when they think they are in the presence of a kid. Which allowed her to read people easily.And she still has the same looks, nothing has changed about her except the hair that she dyed a bright pink.Last Emily remembers, Ella did the same college program as her, and it is puzzling to see that she is possibly an interior designer.Maybe she is the man's girlfriend?Only one way to find out."Emily!""Ella!" The girls shout at the same time, rushing into each
"I didn't expect to find you here, my goodness, what are you doing here?" Emily gets the chance to ask the question first as soon as she and Ella let go of each other.She beams, still looking Emily over, as though searching for mishaps, "I escorted my boyfriend." she gestures at the man with her. Oh, she found love, good for her. Emily is happy for her childhood friend, but she feels a little stab of pain at the memory of her own failed relationship. She doesn't blame herself for the way things turned out to be between her and Jack, but it would have been very nice if he had been a good man and had given her what he had promised.She doesn't know about the other friend in their small circle, but it is good to know that one of them has found genuine love.Emily turns to look at the man in question. He is not very tall, but taller than both her and Ella. His build is athletic, lean and muscular, dressed in fitted black jeans and grey t-shirt.He is really good looking, and Emily finds
"You. Are. Staring. At My Man." Ella draws out every syllable, showing mock jealousy. "Oh, I am just curious about him, that's all," Emily quickly tears her gaze away from the good looking fellow."I don't blame you, you know," Ella winks. "He is quite a hunk.""Oh, stop that, Ella.""You know you've always loved handsome guys. I can see you are in the company of one already."Now she is going to make her appear like she used to be a whore who dated every handsome guy she could get."Don't mind her," she says to the man. "She is always like this with her friends.""I gather you know each other," the man says curiously, his eyes shifting between the two women."That's right. Ella is my childhood friend.""I see," the man smiles, walking into the room. "It is quite pleasant to meet old friends. Especially when one doesn't expect them.""You are right." From the casual comment, Emily can tell that the man is requesting for an explanation as to why she is here. He is curious too. "I moved
Mathew and Emily glance at each other, and they smile, Emily because she is embarrassed and Matthew smiles because he senses her embarrassment."Ella, we are not a couple," she says, as though this is something so obvious that Ella should have worked out for herself."Oh, of course you are not," Ella says, her eyes moving between Emily and Mathew. "How silly of me to make such a mistake. What's the name of your friend? Is he single? He is good looking, but since I am taken, I am going to set him up with one of my new girlfriends."This is, of course, Ella's way of testing if there's really nothing between Emily and the man, and she doesn't miss the moment when Emily gives her a sharp look before looking away again."Ella, you talk too much, as usual," Emily rolls her eyes. "His name is Mathew, and no thanks, he doesn't need a girlfriend. He doesn't date.""But why are you speaking for him? He might be interested...""No, he's not!" Emily insists, surprising even Mathew himself by how s
Seeing Ella is a kind of therapy Emily never knew she needed. For a moment, she feels like her old self, more connected to her body than she has been in a long time. It doesn't matter that Ella is deliberately teasing her about Mathew, infact, her ability to annoy her or find ways to corner her when she suspects something a friend doesn't want to admit is just one the many things she adores about Ella."Can we go out of here while the boys work?" Ella suggests.It is Mathew who responds. "No. I need her to help me decide the decor. We already agreed on that. If you two want to hung out just the two of you, you will have to do so after the work is done."This confuses Ella even more. There is definitely more to this pair than they care to admit. First it was Emily displaying signs of jealousy, and now she is discovering Emily agreed to help with the decor for his living room. Ella looks shrewdly between them, smiling inwardly."I insist that she leave with me," Ella says, smile still in
"What issues are those? I do not understand. It is one thing to make yourself believe that werewolves are real, but you getting involved with them? Just how?" Ella says, her face displaying how puzzled she is inside."That, I am yet to find out," Emily says, beginning to regret having brought up this story. She should have found something else to lie about. "That is as much we I was told, I am still waiting for someone to give me a proper explanation as well.""I am more confused than I was before you told me anything," Ella says."I totally understand. I imagine myself in your shoes, I'd think I sound weird too," she gives a light laugh. "If you have issues with believing that werewolves exist, we will clear that by having someone shift in front of you. After that, you can even help me uncover the secrets of what happened in the past that made me a target for the supernatural."By the time they will revisit this conversation, perhaps Emily would come up with another lie, a better lie.