Darkice turned to face me, taking a long step back. I paced forward, inhaling the air. I didn't feel pain. It must be his powers. I wish I could read books about them. I was trying to come here when he tried to stop me in his wolf form.
Halting, I ran my fingertips across the petals of white flowers. It was so soft and smooth. I wanted to feel this happiness the moment my eyes landed on them. Nothing could be more beautiful than nature. My eyes were drinking in the colors and shapes of the plants all around me. I could stay here all day and night just staring at them.
"They would be looking more beautiful under sunlight?" I asked.
"They did," When I turned to look at him, he was already looking at me.
Flashing my full smile his way, I gazed up at him. "Thank you." I said.
He nodded. "We should go back. Elders are here." He said with tightening on his lips.
"Is it a bad thing? " I asked, every pore of my body was aware of his warm arm around me. Particularly my heart, it was pounding.
"Not for you, Syn." He said tenderly.
My heart beat a little louder than before. I like to be around him. I love the way he says my name. "Oh," I pushed the word as I thought the need to fill the air.
When we reached the hall, I saw Daddy L and some gentlemen I hadn't seen before.
"Go with them." Darkice whispered in my ears before slipping his arm away.
A shiver ran down my spine. Elizabeth immediately replaced him, flashing her genuine smile. She led me away from the hall. Silver came to my other side. We haven't been officially introduced.
"Hi, thanks for your help. But I'll manage." I didn't want to accept it but Silver scared me.
"Why are you frightened?" Silver asked, looking at me. I was missing my high heels.
I gulped, " Nothing." I managed.
"She's lying." She muttered to Elizabeth.
I gulped as dread made my heart kick.
"Don't fright her with your questions." Elizabeth rolled her eyes. "Don't mind. She can't help her attitude. Which is not an attitude. It's her nature. "
"Beth," She pinched her pink lips together. She opened the wooden door.
Elizabeth giggled. "It's just a meeting. Only the members could be part of it." She told me.
"I thought it was just a party." I murmured, getting in the room. I took the first couch I saw. I couldn't walk more without limping.
"You didn't tell me your name?" Silver asked.
"Ember, I'm a first-year student." I told her.
"Ok, Em." Silver sat on the next couch, smiling at me. "If you don't understand a thing, you need some help. You can tell us."
I wasn't expecting generosity from her. When I was done staring at her in shock, I nodded my head, uncertainly.
Elizabeth hunkered in front of me and rested her palm on my leg softly. "Let me heal you first, dear."
"No, I'll be fine."
"Everyone present in the hall knows that it's troubling you. It's good to be brave but also stupid when you know it could be healed. What's the profit in enduring it." Silver flashed her smile.
"She's right." Elizabeth closed her eyes, brushing her fingers on my skin.
My eyes dilated seeing the sparkle around my skin. "Is this magic?"
"Fae magic." Silver said proudly.
"But you're his mate." I asked, bewildered and shocked.
"I'm half fae and half wolf." She said, looking up at me as she withdrew her hand. "First I was considering myself full fae but after visiting Dark Realm. I'm certain about my powers and what I am."
"Dark Realm?" My voice was full of astounded ness. I tried to keep it as low as I could. "Dark King's place? Have you visited there? Can I go?" I asked.
She smiled sadly, I felt gloominess over Silver's arms too.
"We haven't gone there after our friend...." Elizabeth's voice cracked. She pushed herself up on her feet. She turned her back to us. She closed the door. I knew she was plucking some time to control her emotions.
"Emersyn?" I asked. They were her friends. They must have her pictures. They wouldn't show me if my parents would have asked them not to reveal her to me.
"Yes," Silver nodded.
"I don't know anything about her. No one talks about her to me, only me. I don't know why." I felt the need to be genuine with them. I didn't even know them. But they were her friends. I want to trust them.
They exchanged looks but no one uttered a word. "Are you hungry?" Silver asked in her happy tone.
"Oh, yes. I should tell Edward."
"Edward!" I couldn't hold my tongue. My expression must have explained my dislike. Why does she need him if she's hungry?
It astonished me when they began to laugh. "You don't like him?" Elizabeth asked.
"It's not fully true. I just don't know him." And my brother scolded me because he wanted to sit in my seat.
"It's okay. I was missing this in my life." Elizabeth said, laughing.
It just confused me more. "I do not understand."
"You don't need to, Em." Silver said.
Elizabeth seemed calm and sorted kinda but Silver, I could see the fire in her eyes. She's a brave and rebellious type. Their friendship has everything a person dreamed to be. A true friend, they could rely on. Well, I don't have such luck. They're nice to me because my brothers are part of the pack, and the pack is like a family.
I was pulled out of my room early this morning. I didn't completely hate it but I also didn't like it. The gym wasn't my thing, sleeping late, staying in bed that was perfect for Sunday.
"Come, sleepy head." Jace chuckled, gripping my arm as he pulled me out of the house.
"It's too cold at this time." I stared at him with annoyance, hoping it would work and he let me go back to my comfortable zone.
"Get used to it. It's not different from our hometown's weather." He said over his shoulder, after finding his mate, he looked different in a good way. Happiness could be seen from afar.
"But I wanna stay in my room before my classes start." I pulled my arm back. My eyes were closed. I wanted sleep to engulf me so my stubborn brother could leave me alone.
He shook his head as I cracked my eye open. He pushed me toward the treadmill and pressed the button. "I hate you, Jace." I hit him. My palm landed on his elbow.
"Stop being dramatic, Kiddo." My eyes snapped open hearing Jasper.
"I do this every day." I pointed at the treadmill, my feet kept moving against the moving spot beneath my feet.
"You skipped yesterday." Drake said, folding his arms, his biceps doubled in size. They were wearing less clothes as it was a burning day.
I stomped my feet while walking over it. "I don't wanna do this today. I'll complain to Daddy L. I got injured...'' Only they have heard me using short names.
Jasper cut me off. " Beth healed you."
I opened my mouth and shut it immediately, astounded when I heard a soft laugh from behind me. I spun. All the colors drained from my face. The youngest team of King's was present in the hall, exercising routinely.
Silver, Sisily and Elizabeth were smiling, they waved their hands as my eyes landed on them. They were looking like models in their shorts and blouses. Alessandro and Carlos were looking at us with soft smiles, Daniel was doing pushups, not caring what was happening around, and Edward was leaning against the wall with a bored expression. I wanted to dig the floor and bury myself inside. It wasn't because of Edward. It was because of him. My eyes darted on the mounts of his eight abs. He wasn't much older than me. How did he manage to get so fit? He was sitting on the bench grasping the dumbbells.
I forced my gaze to my brothers. I didn't want to embarrass myself. But the damage has been done.
"I'm not gonna talk to you, Three. " I told them, glaring at the screen.
"It's okay, Em." I heard Silver.
No, it's not okay. I wanted him to like me. Now he would consider me a kid.
"Oh, come on, Em." Drake smirked
I refused to look at him. I am serious, big brother. Slightly turning my neck, I glanced at him through the corners of my eyes. He wasn't giving any expression, he was just looking straight and doing his workout.
Iceberg!
I flattened my lips, calling in irritation through my lips. I kept walking.
The glass door opened. A beautiful girl with long blonde hair, and light grey eyes walked in like she owned the place. Her shorts and blouse were tight, clinging to her skin. All eyes turned to her, including my brothers.
Opposite, I was wearing full wool pajamas and full sleeves t-shirts. My hair was pulled back in a ponytail. I hadn't even combed them. I'm a mess, out of place. I glared at my brothers one more time.
"Good morning, Alphas, Girls." She dropped her bag near his bag and sat on the same bench with him. Her eyes roamed over his exposed body. "Good morning, honey." She raked her index finger on his bicep which I was admiring.
He nodded at her, giving her a quick swipe of his golden eyes.
He already knows her. I snorted low.
I didn't know what had gotten into me. I slapped the button to stop it. But I increased the speed. Thank goodness for the daily workout, I jumped out of it and headed to the door.
"Ember," I heard the commanding voice of Jasper.
Not responding, I rushed out of the gym. My feet didn't deter until I reached my room. Tears rolled down my cheeks. Frustrated, I wiped them away.
I grabbed my phone and quickly sent a message to Daddy L. I propelled it back on the mattress and turned to the washroom. My phone beeped.
I shut the door of the washroom. Dad would help me no matter what.
I picked a red suit for myself today. It was paired with a bracelet black blouse. The sun hasn't shown yet. I could feel the coolness in the air.
My phone whipped to the side as it began to ring. I sauntered over to the bed and stared at the screen.
I answered it instantly after seeing his name flashing. "Hi," I breathed out, forcing myself to be cheerful.
"Are you alright, princess?"
"Yes, I just want to go shopping. I haven't even met mother yet. " I reminded myself. Drake always called her mother in front of me. We youngest do what our elders do.
"Well, that's a good idea. The driver has reached out of the door."
"Thank you, see you soon."
I disconnected it quickly before he decided to give me a lecture on using Thank you. Grabbing my purse, I headed to the door.
They dote on me. Life was full of blessings before coming here. Everyone is going to dislike and they are going to show me down.
When I reached outside the house. They were returning from the gym. That girl was still with him. I stared at them longer. They looked good together. They looked like a perfect couple made in heaven. My foot!
Sighing, I open the back door. "Thank you." I slumped onto the back seat. My brothers weren't here so I left a note on the table.
Katherine mom was already waiting for me pacing the hall in her high black heels. At my sight, a big smile appeared on her face. "Ember!" She said happily.
My mother and she shared the same color of eyes. Amber like mine. I rushed forward and embraced her tightly as she opened her arms for me.
"I'm so glad to see you, sweetheart." She kissed my head.
I giggled like a kid. She was always sweet with me, loving and caring. "Wao, look at you. Always prettier than before."
Her cheeks turned red and she smiled harder.
"Dear, you have grown too fast." Rhin, the caretaker of the house said, coming into the hall. She was holding the tray. She returned from vacation.
I sniffed the air. She laughed, releasing me from the engulf, and took a step back.
"Rhi! It's good to see you." I gave her a quick hug and took it from her. I loved her cooked chocolate muffins. I sat on the couch as I grabbed one.
"Didn't JA..."
"No, this Jasper Alpha is bossy." I giggled recalling my childhood days when it took me too much time to say a word correctly, particularly names.
She ran her fingers through my hair. "You don't look excited to go to school." She asked, sitting on the couch next to me.
When I looked up, I saw worry over their faces. "You know I always want to study here but. I wasn't expecting their behavior.... um, it's kinda suffocating. Everyone wants to put instructions and a lot of rules on me."
"And you hate them."
"I'll talk to Carla." She smiled,
I embraced her. "Thank you, Mother. But everything is under control.'' I told her, pulling back. I grabbed another muffin and bit on it. " They're amazing. I love you, Rhi."
Her cheeks flushed. "Thank you. I should prepare for breakfast." She hurried to the kitchen.
"You can tell me anything, baby." She said.
"I know," I kept on munching it. "No one would tell me anything, you know."
She sighed, clasping her hands together. "Your dad has promised you."
"But why, Mother?" I turned to face her. I prolonged my hand and slid the plate on the table. "I'm not a kid anymore. No one wants to understand this."
Another sigh left her body. "That's the problem. You're growing." I arched my brows. "Am I cursed like Emma?" I asked.
"No," She almost squealed. She cupped the side of my face. "No, you're not a cursed baby."
"But how could it be? I'm born without my wolf and Everly is perfect and her wolf is strong like Jace and Luke." It always confused me.
"It's natural. Nothing to worry and you're not cursed, my child." She sounded like an old woman who thought she was looking like a model.
"Alright, as you're not going to tell me anything or show her picture. It's useless to prolong the topic." I returned to my muffin.
She drew herself up. "No more muffins. Breakfast will be ready in ten minutes,"
"Okay," I nodded.
My room is upstairs next to Samantha's room. "Why don't you look at the dresses I've picked for you. " She told me.
"I trust you. Did Sam call?" I hadn't heard from her since last month.
"Yes, she'll visit us before going to her hometown." She paced toward the kitchen.
Samantha was mated to Alpha Lonan Scott of the Highlander pack in Scotland. I took the plate and headed to the library. He sent the car but he's not in here. I knew where he would be.
I popped the muffin in my mouth. Chewing, I peeped in. My smile broadened seeing him enclosed by stacks of papers, and files. Without knocking, I walked in. I took the chair near the desk. When I was a kid I used to climb the bookcase. That made him run after me all day.
"You brought me a muffin, Em?" He asked.
No doubt, he could sense me. "No, Rhi made them for me." I giggled when I picked one and took a large bite. " Rhiannon cooked them when only kids visit home." He complained.
"What are you doing, Dad?" I craned my neck to peer over the stack. A laptop was opened in front of him.
"Office work." He looked up at me. "I'll be out of town for a few days. You can call me at any time."
I nodded. " I don't wanna be a fashion designer like mom and mother," I told him.
"Whatever you like, just say the words, Emersyn." He smiled, closing the file. "Breakfast is ready. I don't like when Kathy knocks on the door." He said.
Only Drake and I are allowed in his library. He takes care of it like his baby.