“You have no idea what you’ve done,” Jennifer sneered, taking another step forward.
Emma, half a head shorter, was forced to look up at her with a cold stare. “You pretend to be a weak and pitiful little girl,” Jennifer spat. “You masquerade as innocent, trying to gain sympathy. But I know that you are not what you seem. You are cunning, neither kind nor gentle. You and your mother are both deceivers!”
Mentioning her deceased mother quickly fueled anger within Emma. She was not weak, nor pitiful.
“You better not mention my mother! Are you Patrick’s mother? I am willing to respect you, and I ask for the same respect for the deceased! I don’t want your money, and I won’t ask for your help,” Emma retorted.
Jennifer refused to believe a single word she said, continuing to mock, “I can see right through you, Emma. I won’t let you use my partner and my son.”
She deliberately emphasized Nelson as her partner!
Is she mad? Emma understood very clearly, Jennifer’s pathological possessiveness over Nelson. She was afraid. Afraid that her sudden appearance as a daughter would divert Nelson’s love away from her. Emma wanted to laugh; she couldn’t fathom Jennifer’s pathological love for Nelson.
But clearly, she also disdained fighting for that love. She didn’t care for her father’s love, nor for the role of being a father.
“I won’t use Nelson for anything,” Emma said. “I won’t stoop to vying for his love, I don’t need it. Likewise, I won’t have any thoughts about your son. I never wanted to come here in the first place, I had no choice.”
Jennifer laughed, tilting her head back high. “I won’t believe those words, Emma,” she said coldly. “You have been presented with a rare opportunity to come to the wolf’s community. This place is different from your old home. There are many things here that can make your life better. Can you really tell me you’re not the least bit tempted? No werewolf would refuse to come to the Silver Moon Pack!”
The Silver Moon Pack was a wealthy and orderly tribe within the werewolf society. Many less prosperous tribes hoped to establish stable trade with the Silver Moon Pack. Everyone envied this place. It was the New York City of the human world, full of opportunities and wealth.
But Emma was not an ordinary person; she had no interest in any of this. She had no grand ambitions, no excess of ambition. When her mother was alive, she wanted her mother’s love, and later she hoped to live with Florence. She had no convoluted thoughts.
She just wanted to live life on her own terms, not in the thoughts and views of others.
So she widened her eyes, not understanding if Jennifer was serious about these words. She silently observed this woman for a while, realizing that she was serious, and she really seemed quite crazy. Emma shook her head.
Talking to unstable people will make you unstable too. She intended to bypass her, not stand here and listen to this nonsense.
But Jennifer grabbed her arm, her nails digging deep into her flesh.
“You can’t just ignore me and walk away while I’m talking to you!” she gritted her teeth.
Emma’s face turned grim, trying to remain calm.
“I don’t need to hear your delusions here,” Emma fiercely broke free from her grip. “I am not interested in anything you have to say! Let go of me, you have no right to dictate to me!”
“Yes, but remember, Emma Bess,” she said coldly. “You are still living under my roof.”
Emma seriously scrutinized the face in front of her, seeing nothing but anger and hatred. What had she done to this woman? She hadn’t done anything; Jennifer’s own paranoia was too heavy. She feared the unknown, feared losing what she currently had.
Emma just happened to be one of those unstable factors. She had become Jennifer’s punching bag in a situation where she had no choice.
Emma felt it necessary to make things clear.
“I won’t be here for long, Jennifer,” she said. “I have emphasized this repeatedly, whether you believe it or not, it will be the truth.”
This made Jennifer burst into laughter.
“Oh, I’m counting on that,” she said, her eyes narrowing slightly. “After all, if you don’t leave when you come of age, I will personally make sure you are kicked out.”
Emma raised her chin high. “You won’t do that, I don’t need you to. I can’t wait to leave.”
Jennifer smiled darkly. “You won’t leave like this, Emma, I bet you. You will want to stay. But I don’t want you around my partner and son.”
Emma really wanted to find a doctor to diagnose the woman in front of her, to see if she had delusions or any other paranoia-related illness. How else could she be so unreasonable?
Moreover, she didn’t want to be with her family at all. Even though her son seemed nice, Patrick was indeed very nice, caring and gentle, and also an alpha.
But she didn’t want to be with Jennifer or Nelson. So she would leave.
Finally, Jennifer let go of her hand. Emma felt the place where Jennifer had grabbed her arm was burning like it had been scorched. Jennifer had a strong grip, almost as if she wanted to crush her. Her joints felt fiery and painful, but the most important thing now was to leave.
She didn’t want to witness further pointless arguments with Jennifer.
“I warn you, Emma,” Jennifer said spitefully. “Stay away from my husband and son.”
“Don’t worry, Jennifer,” Emma retorted, “Getting close to you and your family is the last thing I want to do.”
She didn’t bother waiting for Jennifer’s response and turned to head upstairs to her room.
Even after closing the door, Emma still found it hard to understand Jennifer’s extreme reaction.
After all, the first time they met, she seemed at least a bit aloof and distant, they hadn’t had too many direct conflicts yet. She didn’t expect her to be like this.
She turned on the tap above the bathtub, preparing to relax in a hot bath. She undressed, looking at the bruises that had started to darken on her arms. She felt a headache coming on. If such a small dispute could lead Jennifer to be so aggressive, she didn’t know what other challenges she might face in the future.
But she was grateful that Jennifer now revealed her true self. This way, she would know how to deal with her in the future. Emma stepped into the bathroom, settling herself into the bathtub filled with hot water, and relaxed.