I looked over my brother's shoulder as he carried me away from his bulky jeep. As our gaze locked, he cocked his head to the side, peering at me with the amber glow of his eyes. I could see the golden color returning very clearly too. There was something special about him. I couldn't hold on to it right now.
"Emma, you shouldn't..." Drake cut off Mother, striding with us.
"She'll talk when she wants to. If she isn't ready to talk to you yet, you should give her some time." Drake told Mother.
She looked at him with glassy eyes and nodded her head.
I hide my face, lowering my eyes. Tears stung in them. Everything began to repeat in my head. That was the reality I was running away to face them. Particularly my parents. They showed me what I didn't want to see. Their aggressive side. I would never hit my children.
"Will she stitch me?" I asked Jace.
"Depends," Jasper said, looking at my feet. The trailing blood was dried. How did he do this? I would ask Jace later about him.
"You could have at least called me, Ember," Drake said. My eyes lifted to him. I saw sadness in his rare eyes. "You can tell me anything. I'll do anything for you, sister."
Tears slid down my cheeks. "I don't want brother to scold you, too." I glanced at Jasper through the corners of my eyes. Jasper might have scolded me but he could die for me. I knew deep down. I just did not have the stomach to discuss what happened with my parents and forgot it so easily.
Jasper wiped my tears. "I prefer your smiling face, kiddo."
"Shh!" My eyes drifted around us. The students were gawking at us. "They would hear you and mock me later."
"No one is going to mock my sister." Drake pinched my cheek softly.
My parents were pacing behind Jasper, making no noise. Their faces were relieved after seeing me but worry filled their eyes. I was prepared to forgive them, but not to talk to them.
"Alphas," The woman got on her feet, in an alert way. She bowed her head.
"Treat my sister. She's wounded. Her knee and anklet." Jasper said.
My eyes turned to Jace and Drake beseeching them that I didn't want stitches.
"They won't give you stitches until it's required." Drake ruffled my hair, smiling down at me.
I gave him a small smile and nodded. I'm not a kid. It's normal.
"Hello, Emersyn." Dimitri flashed an encouraging smile my way as she picked up the scissor and gripped my jeans. I wasn't surprised when she said my name. In our pack territory, everyone knew my name.
"Are you going to cut them?" I asked, anxiously.
"If you like them that much." She put it aside and pushed it up to inspect my anklet.
I was genuinely relieved when she declared that my ankle twisted and the skin of my knee and leg wasn't torn deep.
I was mad at my parents. I didn't even look at them fearing that It would melt my anger. They needed to give me space to deal with everything. She couldn't cocoon me all the time. It was my life. I was big enough to face troubles.
My throat suddenly felt parched. My gaze drifted around. I sighed and got on my feet. Dimitri asked me to not put my weight on my injured anklet. I grabbed the hockey stick that Drake gave me. I didn't know he played this game. I never heard or saw them. But it was in the house. So they were playing this game.
With the help of it, I went out of the room. My feet halted when I heard noises. Someone was arguing.
My brows pulled together in confusion. I managed to sit down on the stairs as I placed the stick on the floor carefully. Whoever was downstairs, I didn't want to alert them.
Gradually, I climbed down the stairs, like a baby, first my feet, and with the help of my hands I shifted my bottom to the one step down the stairs.
Reaching the last stair, I craned my neck as I leaned forward to peer in the kitchen.
"How dare you to hit my daughter?" Daddy L snarled, his eyes cold on my mother.
"She's our daughter. You have nothing to do with her." Daddy C looked at him, coldly.
"Your wife..." Daddy L pointed his index finger at mother. "She took away my daughters years ago. My daughter isn't with us today. She couldn't spend the days she should have spent with her father." He jabbed his index finger on his own chest. "With me. I wasn't responsible for her condition. It was her choice to walk away. I respected that. She has no right to take my daughters away. She refused to address me - father, because of you. Now you're doing the same with Ember. You're pushing her away." Anger and hurt laced his every single word.
"I'm not pushing her away." My mother cried.
"You hit her. You hit my daughter years ago. You..." His lips flattened, and anger forced his forehead wrinkled. He ran his fingers through his blond hair. He must have sensed me. My mother's head turned to me.
Then she hit Emma too. I wish there was someone who could tell me everything about her. They pretended to be friends, good kin and kith in front of me but it wasn't the first time I saw them arguing, ignoring each other in the room, avoiding to look at each other. They couldn't endure one another.
"Dad?" I smiled at him. He was always good with me. He never lost his temper around me, never scolded me. If I did something wrong he just laughed out loud and always said his dead daughter's name with sorrow in his eyes. I was feeling sorry for her. She should try to understand her father instead of trying to judge him from the perspective of our mother. They were looking teenagers while arguing
"Ember, how did you manage to get downstairs with your rick." He scurried forward and glanced at me down with a frown.
I smiled up at him. He always smiled back no matter what. "I heard you."
He looked tense. I picked the wrong words.
"We were just talking, sweetie." My mother forwarded her steps, lying.
They weren't going to tell me the secrets, the things everyone tried to hide. "I'm hungry. Can we go out?" I asked him, knowing he would never deny me anything.
He looked at my anklet and nodded. "But," He rested his palms on his knees, bending ahead. "I'm going to carry you." He kissed my head.
"No," I made a face and I got to hear his genuine laugh. "I'll use my hockey stick," I told him pointing upstairs where I left it.
"Very well, young lady." He climbed the stairs to get it.
"Sweetie, at least look at me." My mother put her hand on my head.
With the help of the railing, I pulled myself up to my feet. They were hiding. They knew I knew still they would neglect my questioning gaze all the time.
"Here," He gave it to me.
Something stuck in my head. I took it from him and walked over to the door. "What was that place?"
"What place?" He asked with creased brows. He opened the door for me.
I kept moving slowly. "The place where I..." I gestured at my leg.
"Well, that place belongs to the new Alpha." He said.
"New. The. Alpha?" I asked.
"Yes," He nodded, taking the keys of his car from his pocket.
"Is he more powerful than you or all the alphas?" My feet halted. My brothers have installed me with enough information to understand this world.
"He's the heir of the Dark Realm. He's a Royal."
"But weren't they out of power some centuries ago?"
He smiled, looking impressed with my knowledge. "They are the purest blood. They are powerful and from the royal family. It is obvious they have to come after the King and Queen's death."
"Your daughter?" I asked, at the mention of them. The secret is among only royal families. Everly told me the light queen gave birth to twins after her beloved son's death. I asked Jasper. He said it's just a myth. I believe him. Dead people can't be reborn.
"You remember my promise, Ember?" Daddy L asked.
"Yes, you'll answer all my questions the day I'll turn eighteen." I haven't seen the real Emersyn and King Dastien. It nagged me all the time. I don't see any need to hide their identity.
"So tell me about the Dark Realm. Is the Alpha from there? Can I go there?" I asked enthusiastically.
He smiled. "You brought me out here to know this." He asked.
I shrugged my shoulders. "Not only this." He was one of the people in my life I could say things without any fear.
"I got it. And about the Alpha, he's born in the realm. After the King's death." He sighed heavily. It wouldn't be easy for him to lose his daughter that day. The pain was clear in his eyes. " As Drake replaced me. He's the Alpha now. It has to be someone to keep everything in position. Balanced. We're not certain, sweetie. Time will reveal the able one. The one who could take all the responsibilities."
"How did they die, Dad?" I asked. It wouldn't be easy for him. But I needed to know things. She was my half-sister. My mother has given me her name.
"I don't know, kiddo. She was in the dark Realm. No one has ever visited there. Except, Royals." His jaw locked.
I felt goosebumps on my arms. "Aren't we royal?"
"We are. But not in the realm." He shook his head, looking up at the sky. I followed his gaze. The sky was clear and the sun was up. "You should talk to your mother." He suggested, abruptly.
"No," I squealed, in disbelief. "She just can't hit me. If Jace hadn't come between us. She would have torn my face. I might not be beautiful, but I love myself." I told him.
His eyes glowed amber. These days, amber eyes are going to scare me. I took a step back.
"You're the most beautiful girl in the whole universe, my child."
I laughed. "Every parent says so. Don't they?"
He chuckled. " She loves you." He muttered.
"But not enough to control her anger and her wolf." He opened his mouth. "I don't wanna talk about it." I glanced down at the grass.
"As my princess says. Have you seen the mess of the academy? You'll love the food." He smiled.
I nodded, happily. His smile broadened as he saw eagerness appearing in my eyes. I always wanted to be here. But I couldn't tell anyone. My mother made all the decisions related to my life. Thanks to Queen Reina, I'm here today because of her.
"Hello, Alpha Dawson." I heard a cheerful voice.
My head turned to her. A pretty oval face came into view, her blonde hair was of middle length. Her blue eyes were filled with shock over me.
Uncomfortably, I shifted on my feet. I was broken. She must be commenting on my situation in her head.
"Sisily, It's been so long since I've seen you. Queen's order brought you back if I'm not wrong."
"Yes, uncle. She's.....?" She trailed off, her eyes seemed glued on me.
"She's Emersyn. You must have heard about her." He asked.
"Yes, twin sister. One with a wolf and one without a wolf." She bit the corner of her lips nervously. "I'm sorry." Finally, she plucked her eyes off of me.
I chuckled. "Hey, it's okay. I'm quite famous. I guess."
She relaxed, sighing and she forwarded her steps. "Sisily Wolfe, nice to meet you." She forwarded her hand.
I took it warmly. "Pleasant, Sisily." She shared a smile. "Well," I withdrew my hand. Her grip was soft. "We are heading to the cafeteria. Would you like to join us?" She looked decent.
"Um, my friends are waiting for me. Some other day." She said, looking at us.
"Sure, kid. Say hello to your grandpa, " he said.
"Would do, uncle." Pacing away, she waved her hand at me.
I never met her personally but her uncle Daniel and Drake are friends. I nodded my head. Things would be different if Everly would be next to me. But it was a good start. He began to tell me about the academy as we headed to the mess.