Emerald's POV"Can you... excuse me for a minute?" I say softly after Adam released my hand. It was clear he didn't feel anything that I had, that he was unaware of what had just currently happened. "You alright?" Darrel asked, having sensed my offputting feeling. "Yeah," I responded, maybe a little too quickly. "You guys catch up, I'll be back."I could sense that Garret knew something was wrong with me but I didn't look at him. I didn't want him to follow me. I wanted him to be able to catch up with his brother. Absently walking out of the living room, I roamed anywhere from there. I wasn't sure where I was going or my heeled feet were taking me, but anywhere to make sense of what I had just seen was far better than trying to make sense of it while in company with him. I knew he had nothing to do with the bondage and abuse I had faced for nine years. I doubt he even knew of my existence like the rest of my pack seemed to be oblivious of. But for him to be their friend as it seeme

Emerald's POVAfter talking to one another for what felt like hours and finishing our ice creams, I had Adam show me the way to Garret's office. I had yet to be in the room, never remembering where it was and just out of some fear of getting lost. Bidding me goodnight after he took me to the door, he went to, what I assumed, was his room down the hall. Raising my fist to knock on the door, Garret beats me to the punch-"Don't you dare knock," he says instantly. Opening the door, I pop my head in to see him at his desk, facing me. He was writing down something and didn't have his sole focus on me but I knew he heard me enter. "How'd you know?" I questioned playfully. "I heard you walk up with Adam," he explained. "You don't ever need to knock, this home is yours just as it is mine."Walking further inside, closing the door behind me, I made my way to the seat in front of his desk. "I didn't want to invade your privacy, figured you were doing something important.""You could never i