Shenaya/ Emily’s Pov
I looked out the window of my small but cozy apartment near the Seine River in Paris. My family, and the entire pack, had been incredibly supportive ever since I arrived here. Ethan and Mother insisted I stay in the pack house with them, but I begged for my own space. The thought of living in the pack house triggered my PTSD, and I feared it would bring back painful flashbacks. Thankfully, they agreed, on the condition that I would have two Omegas stay with me and that they’d visit me in my new apartment in the human world every day. I accepted their terms.
A soft cooing sound drew my attention, and I turned to see Hailey, one of the Omegas, holding my baby boy. The memory of his birth was still fresh. When the doctor told me it was a boy, I couldn’t help but shed tears. I remembered how Aiden once mentioned he wanted a baby girl who looked exactly like me, and I laughed at him then.
I named him Aaron Leonardo Caesar, but I simply called him Leo. Ethan had offered me a position to co-lead the pack with him as his Co-Alpha, insisting that a female insight was needed, even though his Luna was already there. He wanted me to do something to get my mind off things, but I declined. I just wanted to be on my own. I thought leaving Rome would help me heal, but I wasn’t even trying to heal. Deep down, I knew I had to go back to Rome, to face Skylar, and take revenge for everything she put me and my unborn pup through.
“Are you okay?” a voice pulled me out of my reverie. I turned to see Ethan standing there. He had promised to check on me every day, and he hadn’t missed a single visit.
“I need to talk to you about something important,” he said, his expression serious. My heart sank; Ethan was always cheerful, and when he had that look on his face, it usually meant trouble.
“What is this about?” I asked, almost afraid of his answer.
“It’s high time you took charge of your life,” he began, and I already knew where this conversation was heading. “The main reason you came to Paris was to become a better person, but you’re not giving yourself the time or chance to do that. It’s been three months, Emily, and you’re still stuck in a past where you’re not needed. Aren’t you tired of crying all the time?”
The look on his face made me feel guilty. I knew he had had enough of my brooding.
Instead of responding, I bowed my head and listened.
“Don’t get me wrong, Emily. I’m not tired of you; you’re my sister, and I would do anything in the world to protect you. But you need to move on. You have your baby, and he’s doing well without them. They’re probably enjoying their lives right now,” he said, and I realized how selfish I had been.
“I’ve come to a conclusion, and this is an order, not a request: You are going to move to the pack house with me tomorrow and share the responsibilities of the pack with me. The pack also belongs to you, and right now, we need all the help we can get because some rogues are trying to invade.” He finished sternly.
“I’ll be on my way now,” he said, turning to leave. But when he reached the door, he looked back at me, his tone softening. “See you tomorrow, Emily.”
I didn’t even realize I was crying until I tasted the salt of my tears on my lips. Ethan was right. I had been selfish. I hadn’t considered what he and Mom were going through while caring for me. Today marks the end of my sorrow and pain. I would accept the pack’s responsibilities. I needed something to keep me busy and to get my mind off Aiden. Even though seeing his son reminded me of him every day, I would do my best to move on.
Determined to make a change, I decided to go to the mall and shop for what I’d need to take to the pack house tomorrow. Perhaps I’d even change my look. My hair had been growing out since the last time I cut it to shoulder length. I decided on a skull pixie cut and dyed my hair blonde. After the haircut, I felt lighter and more refreshed.
Instead of heading back to my apartment, I decided to indulge in some more self-care. I went to a massage parlor, got a pedicure and manicure, and finally, it was time for some shopping.
As I stepped into “Eleven-Twenty-Nine,” one of the biggest fashion stores in Paris, I spotted someone who looked like Lilah, one of the Omegas from Rome. I tried to dodge her, but she spotted me immediately and called out my name before I could escape.
“Shenaya? Is that you?” she exclaimed, leaving me no choice but to face her.
“Hi, Lilah,” I forced a smile.
“What are you doing here?” she squealed. Lilah had always been kind to me back in Rome, and I trusted her. I just wasn’t in the mood to catch up, but it seemed I had no choice.
“It’s been ages, Lilah,” I said. “I’m here to shop for some new clothes.”
“Really? This store belongs to me,” she announced, leaving me in awe. I knew she married her mate, a very powerful Alpha in Paris, but I didn’t realize she was this successful. Lilah was living proof of manifestation; she always said she would marry rich, and now she was living her dream life as Luna of her pack.
She gave me a tour of her store while we caught up a little. I told her about my family and how I turned out to be an Alpha wolf instead of an Omega. I left out anything related to Aiden but mentioned that I now live with my family in Paris and would likely visit her store more often.
As we toured the store, I found myself drawn to the designs. I had always been interested in fashion and had made my dresses Suddenly, it struck me: I wanted to be a designer. I was willing to start fresh, to build a new life with no more flashbacks or nightmares-just sweet dreams about the future.