Claire stood up sharply and stepped back a bit, after removing her hands from Emma’s neck reluctantly, as she heard her twin’s voice.
“Mother, what is happEmma sighed in utmost relish for the umpteenth time as she bit into the last pancake in her plate, an act which caused a smile to sneak up on Melvina’s lips, even as she thought on the short but impacting events of the early wees of the morning.
Her mind hadn’t been at rest, especially over the issue, that her son had died in the two occasions that the redhead had seen him in her dream, and he had died while saving the human too. She had been wondering and considering letting her mate know that the redheaded human was his son’s mate. But she knew that it will complicate the issue more further.
If her mate knows, she knew that he wouldn’t let the human be the Luna of his pack which he had spent much of his years grooming and protecting from the evil shackles of his elder brother; and so might force his son to get married to his beta’s daughter, Claire, which she doesn’t trust one bit, or rather he would send the human away.
And that’s the main reason she didn’t want to let her mate know; the avenue of sending the human away. Apart from the fact that it might drive her son crazy, she didn’t like it; her instincts condemned it. She feared that it might cause more harm than good; and so, though she didn’t want to lose her son over a human whom she didn’t know much about, she also didn’t want to go against her instincts, because bad things always happen when she does.
She would just have to wait for her friend to be back from her journey.
“Melvina…” Emma called, interrupting Melvina’s thoughts.
“Yes…” Melvina replied, refocusing her sense of sight on the redhead.
“Are you still eating that?” Emma asked, pointing at the pancakes which had been beckoning on her for a while as they laid idle on the plate in front of Melvina.
“Not really. You can have them.” Melvina answered with a toothy grin, as she passed her plate to Emma. She hadn’t really eaten any of her pancakes, for loss of appetite. The whole event of the early morning had drained away all her appetite for food.
“Seems you like food a lot…or rather why do you like food a lot?” She asked Emma, who has already finished off one pancake already, and going for the next on the plate.
“I don’t know. It’s been that way ever since I knew what was food. My mother once said that I had sucked the hell out of her breasts while I was a baby, while refusing other sources of milk and food. Perhaps, it is genetic.” Emma replied, before taking the second pancake into her mouth. She hadn’t mentioned that none of her family members eat as much as she did, the male folks included. And the funny thing about the whole matter, which never ceased to amaze her was that, despite her much love and hunger for food, she never increased in weight. Her sister had once taunted her about it, saying that she must have had an eating baby or worm in her stomach which devoured all that she ate, and at the same time, not causing her to increase.
Although it had been a mere joke then, she had taken it so serious and had began to question her stomach capacity and if perhaps there had been a growing creature within her, that had caused her to eat a lot. She had done two things then. She had asked her form teacher questions about it, but the aged woman had told her that if she had carried a baby or creature within her, that she would have had a very big belly, and her body size would have increased, and that she should stop watching crazy moves.
Although the answers had put her on ease a bit, it still hadn’t satisfied her. And because of that, she had missed a day at school, while meeting their family doctor in his hospital for his reports on the situation. He had said the same thing as her form teacher; that there wasn’t a creature in her, just hormones in a nutshell. Had she been abnormal? She had asked. No. Their family doctor had replied. Would it go away after some time? She had asked again. Yes, it should. The aged man had replied her with much assurance.
She had been 12 then, almost a teen. It had been more than 5years now, and still she ate like she had when she was little, ravenously, although more elegant as the time had passed by. She had stopped caring and had grown a thick skin against the taunts of her mate which had at one point had caused her to starve herself in school, taking little portions just to reduce the taunts. She had stopped when she had gotten sick because of it. She had stopped then, and had started reading books to build a layer of thick skin and an extra layer of confidence. And it had paid off. In her senior years, she had conquered the rumours and the haters, and had been voted the most beautiful, three times in a roll, till she had left high school. She wasn’t about to go on a break now.
“That’s…wow.” Melvina said after a while of having processed Emma’s statement, before letting out the laughs.
“She must have really gone through hell then.” She added, remembering that although she had been so much happy having two kids, they had sucked out the hell out of her breasts, sometimes biting when sucking, and she had slightly smacked their asses then, to deter them from their mischievous acts.
“Yeah…” Emma said, smiling widely too, delving back into the memory lane, as she remembered that her mother at one time cuddling her little self to herself, while telling her to overlook the taunts from her peers about her eating habit, that they had been just jealous that she would outgrow them. Her little self had been consoled by that.
Now she wondered what had happened to her mother of those years; her caring, uncomplicated mother. Now, her mother seemed more withdrawn, not caring towards them as before; and it made her wonder what have changed, what had happened to make her mother shrink back. It made her nostalgic all of a sudden, and she hadn’t called her sister yet. Oh, she had to go home. She thought, as she gurbled up another pancake.
Melvina noticed that Emma was deep in thoughts even as she gurbled down the third and fourth pancake in the plate. She wondered what could be going on in the girl’s mind. She wondered too if this was the right time to ask her why she had reacted harshly to her, an hour or two ago.
“Emma…” She called tentatively, dragging her own stool closer to the redhead’s.
“Huh…” Emma hummed, as she devoured the last pancake in the plate.
“Why had you reacted harshly to me then, when we spoke in the sitting room?” Melvina asked, keenly watching her.
Emma dropped the plate on the counter, cleaned off her lips with the back of her right hand, before taking up her eyes to meet that of Melvina’s.
She wasn’t sure whether she should tell Melvina off, or just play along. She decided to make amends, after all, the woman had fed her with the best pancakes she had ever tasted. So, for that, she would make an exception.
“You had lied to me. You all had lied to me.” She finally said, deciding to start the conversation that way.
“But I di…we did….” Melvina was saying, when Emma interrupted her harshly, not wanting to subject her ears to another round of lies. She was done hearing them.
“I have regained my memory, for some days now.” She stated, causing Melvina to stop her gestures, and swallow in her saliva.
“So, yes, I know everything now…about what really happened in the forest, about bthe phanthom, about the witches that are looking for me…” Emma continued, causing Melvina to widen her eyes in surprise.
“But…but you had been unconscious.” The older woman said, still surprised on how the redhead had known that she was been sought after by the witches.
“Yeah, I thought so too…” Emma muttered.
“I’m sorry, Emma…was just trying to protect you.” Melvina said, sincerely sorry. She could see why the human had been hostile to her earlier. No one liked been lied to. But the fact that the human had been able to listen in to their conversations that day in the forest, startled and worried her. How was that possible? She thought, still staring at Emma. She couldn’t wait for her friend to come back. As the days passed, she was getting impatient. She felt that time was running out. But she didn’t know for what. She just felt it.
“Yeah, that’s what every one has been saying…like I’m a baby. For fudge’s sake, Melvina, I’m a grown up.” She said, her voice tone increasing a bit.
“Yeah, I’m sorry for underestimating. I won’t lie to you again.” Melvina stated, meaning her words.
“Promise?” Emma asked, bringing out her smallest finger for a shake off.
“Promise.” Melvina replied, shaking off Emma’s little finger with hers, in a knot, sealing the promise.
ening here? Claire, what are you doing?” Clem asked again, still watching at the duo in front of him.
He had been looking for Emma, with the others, ignoring the shreds of pain hehad been feeling which was a sign that his wolf wanted to be let out for the first time, when he had perceived that his sister might have had something to do with the redhead, following her unnatural hatred for his soon to be Alpha’s mate. And when he had seen Derek trying to go into the hallways, leading to their respective rooms, he had overtaken him, citing that his mother wouldn’t want them transversing in her house and searching for a human, and luckily for him, Derek had obliged, deciding to wait for the outcome of his search, deciding to trust him.
And when he had been moving through the hallways, checking in rooms, he had halted when he had heard shuffled screams in his room. He had hoped that it wasn’t his Alpha’s mate being bullied by his sister, as he had hurried his footsteps to the room, only to see his mother standing guard, and his twin choking someone. He hadn’t really been able to see the person, just the shoes and trousers, but he had been almost sure that it was the human. And for that, he was a little bit scared, knowing what his Alpha might do if he finds out.
“Claire.?” He called out again, walking fully into the room.
“What are you doing here?” His mother asked, interrupting whatever he had to ask.
“I’m searching for someone.” He replied, before moving speedily, and turning his sister sharply, before his mother could intercept him.
“Oh my God… Claire.. Why?” He asked, his eyes widening in shock, in ange, in sadness, and in fear, all at the same time, at the sight before him. Emma was totally beaten up, and was struggling to breath. What has his sister done?
“She deserves to die.” Claire answered, folding her arms across her chest, as she stared back at her brother who was looking at her with a variety of emotions. One thing was for sure though, he wasn’t supporting her actions, this time around.
“Because Derek is besotted to her? You ever thought of what he will do when he finds out?” He said, the octave of his voice rising sharply.
“Mate me.” She stated monotonely, ignoring Zali’s scoff and citation that Emma was Derek’s mate, thus causing Clem to laugh out in derision.
“You’re more stupid than I had thought.” He wondered aloud, causing his mother to beat him at the back of his head.
“How dare you insult your twin sister because of a useless human?” She asked, staring at Emma with contempt.
“You should be supporting her to ascend the throne as Luna, not castigating her.” She added, holding him by the arm.
Clem shut his eyes for some seconds and sighed deeply. There was no need explaining to his mother and sister that the human was Derek’s mate, and the latest search of the witches. He just needed to get Emma away from here, through the backyard, before Derek and the rest finds her here. That was the least help he could offer to his sister and his mother now. Knowing his friend, there would be an immediate creation of chaos if he steps in here and sees his mate like this.
He shrugged his mother’s hold off his arm, before squatting down to the height of the beaten Emma, who looked dead. Her face were bruised, her legs too.
“I’m sorry.” He muttered, touching her on the cheek. Once, she had grasped his attention strongly, actually still did, and he didn’t want any harm yo befall her. He still liked her.
Emma opened her eyes slowly, as she heard his apology.
“It’s alright.” She murmured, swallowing her spittle. She was thirsty. She needed to get out of here.
“Take me home.” She whispered, holding him by his arm. “Take me home Clem.” She repeated, before closing back her eyes.
Clem soughed again, as he heard Emma’s plea. No matter how he looked at it, his family would still be in trouble. The reason why the human had been allowed into a werewolf’s party was for her own safety, and so that she could be worked on by Melvina, to know why she was attracting the witches to herself.
And now this had to happen. Of all the times, his sister had chosen now to act stupid, to let her emotions control her decisions. Damn it! He screamed within his head.
Taking a deep breath, he carried Emma in his hands before standing up erect, knowing that this alone; his carring of Emma would also bring down his Alpha’s wrath on him, since he would perceive the scent of his mate on him.
But he had to take her out of here. He should bear the brunt of the wrath alone.
“What are you doing?” His mother asked, as he tried to step around them, in order to leave the room.
“I’m taking her home.” He replied, trying to walk pass him; but his mother blocked his way, while his twin looked on, with a smirk on her face.
“No, you won’t.” She retorted.
“Why?” Clem asked, his eyes pleading with her to understand, to not to do this; since he had sworn with Shane not tell anyone that the human was Derek’s mate.
“She has to die.” She answered.
“She’s just a human. His affection for her would soon die off, especially after his birthday next week.” He said, trying to use the same tactic he had used on his sister weeks ago to veer her off the path of bullying the human. It had worked then, for a while. He wondered what had truncated it.
“Yes. It’s true that she is a human. But his affections for her wouldn’t die off, until she is dead.” His mother stated.
“That’s not true, Mother. She’s just a fling.” He mentioned.
“No, she isn’t. I know that she is his mate.” She replied, smiling evilly when she saw the look of shock on her son’s face.
“Even if you choose your Alpha over me, I know my daughter wouldn’t do so. She overheard you guys at the party, weeks ago. And of course, she told me.” She added, circling the shocked Clem as she spoke.
“You know what happens then when you kills an Alpha’s mate ..” Clem stated, overcoming his shock, and trying another tactic.
“He wouldn’t know.” She stated.
“He would know she was here. He’s already waiting by the entrance to the hallway, had almost walked in, before I intercepted him.” He said, almost smirking in victory, as he saw the look of fear on his twin’s face.
“Mother…” Claire whispered, coming closer to her mother.
“We have to….” She was saying when a loud voice boomed across the room, even waking up Emma.
“What the hell is going on here!!” The voice had screamed.