Most of the warriors survived that day. Two of them died, one from West Crescent and another from Blue Moon pack. Emma shed tears as she looked at the men who had died trying to help her. She felt extremely guilty and decided that she would have to go against Axel by herself. Seeing the sadness she had caused, she felt terrible and regretted her actions.
“It’ll be okay,” Katya told her later. Katya had been indoors ever since she returned to the pack. She had refused to leave her room and would stay there all day. She refused to have any visitors except her mother and Emma because she didn’t think anybody else understood her. “You were trying to do good but it ended up badly. That’s like what happened to me but at least no innocent person died because of me. I’m sure it’s hard but I think you’re a strong woman and will find your way out of it.”
“I’m the adult here,” Emma said with a small smile. “Have you forgotten?”
Katya smiled. “So what are you going to do now? Are you going to give up on your friends?”
“I think I will have to, for a while. I can’t involve more people so I’ll have to wait until I’m stronger and have more resources.”
“If you need money, I can talk to my brother.”
“Lucius has done enough already. I don’t want to trouble him.”
“He can give you a job and you get paid for it. Who knows he could even fall in love with you and reject that horrible woman Michelle? You could be a better Luna than she will ever be.”
“Don’t talk like that about your brother’s mate. It doesn’t matter what she’s like to you. I’m sure there’s a reason why he won’t let her go. You’re too young to understand certain things.”
“You mean she might be good in bed?” Katya asked.
Emma gasped. “No, no, no I didn’t say anything of the sort.”
“She doesn’t like him touching her,” Katya said. “I once went to their unit without knocking and she was pushing him away. He was begging for her to let him kiss her at least.”
“What?”
“I was shocked. My brother is the alpha. He shouldn’t have to beg for anything, especially from his mate.”
“Okay, this is too much info.”
“He tries to hide the fact that he is very unhappy but I’m his sister. I know him better than most people.”
Emma sighed. “Now I feel bad for him.”
“You should get close to him. You’re very pretty and nice. He will love you.”
“Stop putting silly ideas into my head,” Emma said. “I will be leaving the pack soon.”
“Please stay longer. I need you.”
“Okay, I’ll stay for one more week. I’m sure you’ll be better by then.”
Katya hugged her. “Thank you so much, Emma.”
After talking with Katya for about ten minutes, Emma went out to the backyard. She stood there and walked around the nursery beds that had beautiful seedlings. She knelt by a carrot bed and pulled out one. She went to the tap and washed it before sitting on the grass to eat it.
“Have you heard the news?”
Emma heard the voice and stood up. It was Lucius, looking really good in a white dress shirt and black pants. His hair was a bit ruffled and his eyes looked very bright.
“What news?”
“It’s bad,” he said, walking closer. “Maybe you should sit down.”
Emma sighed. “Considering all the things that have happened in my life lately, I don’t think anything else could be that bad. I’m pretty sure I can handle it. What’s up?”
“It’s Axel.”
“What did that rotten bastard do now?”
“He killed one of your friends,” Lucius said.
Emma felt a lump in her throat. She swallowed. “Do you know which one it is?”
“The name is Richard.”
Emma felt her eyes getting misty immediately. She turned and looked the other way as the tears came out uncontrollably. She heard Lucius walking closer but dint move. She felt a tap on her shoulder and turned. She took the handkerchief he had proffered her and started wiping her eyes.
“He was the one I cared about most,” Emma said. “He loved me. I was most interested in saving him more than the others. He was the one who convinced them to stay with me when they wanted to leave. No, no, not Richard. Why did it have to be him?”
Lucius came closer and placed a hand around her shoulder, letting her cry on his.
“I’m so sorry about what happened,” Lucius said. “I will help you make that man pay. I’m tired of how he treats innocent rogues who just want to leave their lives. This has to stop.”
Emma continued to sob, her body shaking. She had lost too much in a span of a few weeks. She couldn’t take it anymore.
“Hey!” they heard a sharp loud voice. Emma stood up straight and moved away from Lucius. She turned and saw the angry face of Michelle, Lucius’ mate.
“What the hell are you doing with my man?” Michelle asked. “You already had one of men of this pack killed. What do you want from us?”
“Nothing, I’m sorry.” Emma said.
“Lucius is my mate and future husband,” the woman continued. “Do you get it or do I have to explain it to you. He is taken. T-A-K-E-N. I know that you’re going to try and use this damsel-in-distress thing to lure him but it’s not gonna work. You should leave and find your own man.”
“Don’t be silly, Michelle. I just came to tell her about her friend’s death. Be more sensitive. Not everyone thinks the way you do.”
Michelle was about to yell but she bit her lip when she heard voices and saw two men coming from the outhouse with buckets. The women bowed before proceeding to the tap. Michelle smiled at Lucius.
“Darling, I wish to talk to you about something. Could you please come with me?”
“Sure,” the man said.