Today was the party and Natalie was more excited than anyone. She had gone upstairs to her room and said she was getting ready and needed hours to look perfect because the world was coming. 

The world in her words were the Alphas. My parents were going to come today and I prayed Miles came with them. I needed to see him. 

She had shown me a black sparkly long gown with a slit up the thigh and a similar silver one. She had asked which one I wanted and I had looked at her with a raised eyebrow. 

"Why so fancy?" I asked. 

She had said it was a formal party stupid. I had picked the black dress and she had grinned and said she would wear the silver one. She told me she would put the dress in my room and then disappeared. 

I grin as I walk into the kitchen to see it empty. I needed my breakfast- the cake. I open the fridge to see a full cake inside. Alphas's property. Do. Not. Touch. A paper was hanging on it. I smile as I pull the cake out and throw the paper away on the counter as I sit down and start to eat the cake. 

It was delicious. 

The door opens and I look up to see Alec standing there frozen in his spot as I put the spoon full of cake in my mouth. 

"You're eating my cake," his voice sounds surprised. 

"I'm so-" don't apologise. 

I shrug my shoulders and ignore him instead. Alec walks towards the counter and before I can even say anything, he picks up the cake and holds it above my head. 

"Why?" I frown at him. 

He shrugs his shoulders and walks out of the kitchen. I try not to groan as I put the spoon back in my mouth. 

"Give it to me." I hear him say and I turn to look at him as he walks towards me. 

I pull the spoon out of my mouth and shake my head. "Get another one." I tell blatantly, pointing to the tray full of spoons on the counter.

His eyes light up mischievously as he walks towards me and leans over me to pick up a spoon. 

I grin to myself as I lean up on the seat and use the spoon to take a bit of the cake. He groans as he quickly pulls back, the spoon falling out of his hand as he balances the cake above his head. 

Alec glares at me as I stuff the spoon in my mouth and sigh happily. Before I even realise, Alex pulls the spoon out of my mouth and walks out of the kitchen, mumbling how he had made that cake for himself. 

I smile at the door as Natalie walks inside, grinning. 

"My plan is working!" She whispers loudly and I smile as she grabs my hand muttering how we needed to get ready. 

***

"I could die happily looking at you," Natalie sighs as she stares at me. 

 I stare at myself in the mirror. She had given me a black sparkly dress to wear and it looked beautiful. Natalie had asked me why I took my makeup bag and walked into the bathroom. I could see a few scars on my leg through the slit of the dress and I needed to cover it up with the ones on the back as well. The dress had a very low front and it was very revealing but it looked beautiful on me. I had walked out of the bathroom, my makeup done and she had grinned at me, telling me to sit down so she could put my hair in a nice loose bun. 

My shoulders were bare but Natalie said I looked beautiful as she gave me black heels to wear. 

"Alec will not be able to control himself today," she grins at me as she hands me a black fur shoulder wrap. 

"You look beautiful,"I say to her and she grins, looking down at herself. Her dress was identical to mine just a different colour but it looked stunning on her. 

"Come on," she holds my hand and pulls me out of the room. "They should be waiting for us," she says. 

"Nat-" I tug on her hand, making her stop. She raises an eyebrow to look at me. "My parents are coming. Why? What would I tell them when I'm not the Luna." I ask her. 

They should have been invited. 

"I honestly don't know what to say about that," she shrugs her shoulders. "Try to enjoy today. There will be food and music and your family." She says and I nod as I walk down the stairs with her. 

My family would be coming. That's good. Maybe Miles will come. 

I follow Nat out of the house to see Liam waiting outside a long car. 

"Fuck me," he curses as he smiles at Natalie as she runs towards him. He wraps his hands around her, muttering something in her ear, making her giggle. 

"You look beautiful, Emily." Liam smiles at me as he opens the door for us. 

"Thank you." I return the smile as I bend down and climb into the car. 

Alec and Anna were sitting at the far end, looking like the beautiful couple they were. He does not look at me as Cam whistles as I sit next to him. 

"You are going to fucking kill them all," he looks me up and down. I smile as Liam and Nat sit inside, closing the door behind them. The car starts to move. 

Silence fills the car and Natalie sighs. 

"Doesn't she look beautiful, Cam?" She turns to him and he nods, a smile on his face. 

"I really like her hair," he reaches his hand out to touch it, but I pull away, leaning closer to the window. 

"Sorry," he smiles apologetically. 

"It's okay. It's just me," I shake my head at him and he grins. 

"Well I really like your dress and your hair and you look like snow white!" He exclaims suddenly. "Yes that's who I was thinking of! Your lips are so red and-" Alec growls at him. 

"We are here," the driver says. 

In seconds, Liam gets out along with Alec and Anna. 

Natalie turns to Cam again. "I want you to stay with her all night, alright?" She tells him and he smirks at her. 

"I see your mind, Natty," he chuckles as she rolls her eyes and gets out of the car. 

"I'm confused,"I say to Cam as he turns to me. 

"We're going to make Alec jealous," he chuckles as he gets out of the car. Cam leans down and holds his hand out to me. "Are you coming, princess?" He winks. 

I smile as I hold his hand and get out of the car. 

"Emily!" I hear dad's voice and I turn around to see him on the stairs, Alec walking towards them with Anna, Liam and Nat behind him. 

I grin as I see my family standing outside the venue doors. Miles. 

I see him waving from there and I grin as I run towards them. 

I'll get there first. Miles mindlink me as he runs towards me, everyone stopping to watch him. 

I laugh as Cam calls out my name but I run towards Miles. 

"Oof." I wrap my arms around his neck tightly as he lifts me up and spins me around. 

"I missed you." He mumbles into my hair as he holds on tightly. 

"I have so much to tell you," I whisper into his ear. 

"Well I was expecting that sort of reunion for me.." I hear Dad's voice as I open my eyes to see him walking towards me as Anna pulls Alec inside. The rest of them follow him inside as Miles puts me back on the ground. 

"Sorry." We both apologise at the same time as I turn to my dad. 

Miles laughs as Dad hugs me tightly. "I missed you," he sighs as he lifts me up. 

I was short compared to them all. 

"I missed you too," I reply back as Mom coughs pointedly. 

"I hope you have been missing me too," she says as she crosses her arms. 

"I missed you too, mom," I let go of Dad and hug her tightly. 

"Come on, I can hear the music. Let's dance," Miles holds my hand as I let go of mom. 

"Careful!" Dad calls out as Miles pulls me away from them. Mom mutters something to my dad about letting them have fun. 

"I missed you," he holds my hand tightly as I lift my dress up from the front and walk up the stairs. 

"You already said that," I smile at him as he holds my dress up and helps me up the stairs. 

"Wait for us!" Mom calls from below the stairs as we stand outside the door. 

"I will say it a million times more," Miles holds my hand and he traces the letter M on my palm softly. 

"I am going to eat until this dress is tight on me," mom says as Dad puts her on the ground. He carried her up the stairs. 

"Let's go, princess." Dad holds his arm out to me and Miles frowns at it. I walk towards Dad and hold his arm as Miles watches us. 

"Well, are you coming?" Dad asks him and Miles grins as he walks towards me and holds my hand tightly. 

I really missed you. He mindlink me as we walk through the doors and into the hall full of people, laughing, dancing or talking. 

I turn to look at Miles as he tugs on my hand. "Let's go dance?" He asks and I grin, nodding as I let go of Dad's arm. Miles pulls me away from my parents and towards the dance floor. 

"Like old times?" I ask and he laughs as he wraps his arm around my waist and pulls me closer to him. I place my hands around his neck and he smiles down at me. 

"Like old times." He smiles at me as we sway side to side to the music. 

It was very hard to calm me down especially when I was having one of my breaking points. The first time Miles had seen it, he had frozen in his spot when he saw me crying so hard and hitting my head on the wall to stop the noises. When it happened a month later, again, he was prepared this time. 

Miles had played music and held his hand out to me. He told me to trust him and we had danced silently to the music. I had let the music flow through me and it had calmed me down. From that day forward, Miles made me dance to nearly every song he played. We had fun in  darkness. 

"How is everything here?" He asks as he swirls me out and then swirls me back inside. My back presses against his front as we sway side to side. 

"Everything?" I sigh  and he hums against my hair. 

My eyes scan the hall and I notice Liam and Nat laughing in the corner with each other, Cam talking to a girl. My eyes land on Anna and Alec as she fixed his tie and mumbles something to him softly, making him smile. 

"I have made friends," I say to him as he twirls me around so I am facing him. 

"Who? Can I meet them and see if they pass the friends check?" He asks, his hands wrapping around my waist again as he leans down and rests his forehead against mine. He closes his eyes and I smile at it. 

He feels at peace. It's what Miles would do when he needed the world to shut down and he would just hold me. 

"Liam and Nat pass the test," I whisper softly to him. 

"Do they?" He hums and I smile. 

"I had a breakdown on the first day I got here. I heard his name, and I freaked out. They took care of me," I tell him truthfully. 

"Breakdown?" He pulls away and looks at me. 

"There's a guy called Cameron here-" Miles freezes, his hands tightening around me. I place my hands above his on my waist, "he is good. He makes me laugh, and he isn't like the other one," I promise him. 

His hands loosen up on me as he nods his head. 

"Would you like to eat? You can catch me on what's happening at home." I say to him and he grins, nodding his head. 

"Let's go. I'm starving," he holds my hand and pulls me off the dance floor and towards the buffet system where Liam and Nat were. 

"Emily? Where's Cam?" Nat asks me as we walk towards her. 

"He's talking to a girl," I say and she chuckles, rolling her eyes. 

"I remember you," Liam points out as he looks at Miles. 

I turn to Miles and he raises an eyebrow at Liam. It was a formal party and Miles was wearing a black suit with a black tie. I had seen him in suits many times, when he needed to be Cameron's face. 

"Who are you?" Nat asks him. 

"Miles," he holds his hand out to her and Nat smiles as she shakes his hand. "Emily's friend," he says. 

"Only a friend?" Liam asks and I frown as Nat elbows him in the rib. 

"Sorry about my mate," she apologises. 

Miles chuckles. "It's alright. She's my soulmate in the Afterworld." He grins down at me. 

I grin at him as they look at us confused. Miles and I had promised each other that when we both faded to the Afterworld, we would wait for each other. In this world, we were given mates by the Moon Goddess and we were not ready to be together. We needed to heal ourselves first and in the Afterworld, we would be happy.

"Soulmate?" Nat asks, confused. 

"She's my girl," he wraps an arm around my shoulder, pulling me closer. 

"You're going to mess my hair up." I groan, as I pull away from him, pushing him away from me. 

"Emily Gray, you better run," his eyes light up mischievously as he says my name. 

I chuckle as I turn away from the shocked Nat and Liam and I run away from Miles. 

"What are you doing?" I hear dad call out my name from the crowd as I ignore everyone's stares. Miles laughs behind me as he tries to chase me. 

With Miles, I did not care what anyone thought of me. I could be me and we would have fun. 

"Slow down!" He calls out to me and I look up just as I run straight into Alec who catches me. 

He balances me as he looks at me confused. "Why are you running?" He frowns, looking around as most people stare at me. 

"We were just messing around," Miles stands behind me as he says to Alec. 

Alec looks at him and frowns. "Who are you?" He asks. 

"We met?" Miles frowns but then sighs as he realises Alec does not remember him. "I'm Miles. Emily's friend," he smiles at Alec who nods. 

Alec turns his head towards me. "Come with me," he holds my hand and I smile at the sparks as he pulls me away from Miles. 

"I'll get you food!" Miles calls behind me and I nod my head towards him as Alec tightens his hold on my hand and pulls me out of the hall. 

"Where are we going?" I ask him as I notice him walking me down the stairs. 

"Alec," I pull my hand away from him as we reach the clear car park. 

Alec turns around, stepping closer to me. I see his eyes changing colour just as he leans down and kisses me. 

My body freezes. 

"Kiss me goddammit." He growls as he tilts my head up. 

I don't move. 

He didn't ask. 

"Emily," he growls as he pulls away. 

"Oh fuck!" He curses suddenly as he pulls away from me. "I'm so sorry," he apologises and I look up at him, his eyes black. 

"You're his wolf." I whisper. 

"The name's Chase," he winks at me as he takes a step towards me. 

"Come here, baby," he pulls me flush against him. I rest my hands on his chest as he smirks down at me. 

"Can you bring Alec back?" I say softly. 

"No." He looks at me cheekily, "That jerk doesn't want you. I do," I notice his gaze trailing down my face and towards my lips and back up. 

"What's going on here?" Dad calls out and I let out a sigh of relief as Chase lets me go. 

"What exactly goes on with mates?" Chase asks him with a raised eyebrow as dad walks towards us. 

"Come here, Emily," dad holds his hand out and I sigh thankfully as I walk towards him. 

"She's my mate," Chase holds my hand, stopping me. "Don't leave me," he pouts at me. 

"Run away, Alpha Gray." Chase taunts my dad and Dad growls. 

Chase growls back at him as he pulls me back towards him. 

"You will hurt her," dad takes a step towards us. 

"I will never hurt her." Chase vows. 

"Let. Her. Go." Dad growls and I notice his eyes changing. 

Miles. I call out his name in my mind. 

I'm coming. He replies instantly as I notice Dad advancing towards us. Chase pushes me away as he takes a step forward. 

Alpha against Alpha. Dad might have come alone but if it went pack against pack, Mom would not hesitate to destroy them all. Family always comes first. We learnt that. 

The doors slam open just as Dad and Chase growls and shift into their wolves. 

"Fuck fuck fuck," mom curses as she runs towards me. 

"What happened? He told me he was going to the fucking bathroom?" Mom mutters as she turns to look at me. 

"It's Alec's wolf. I think he challenged dad." I say and mom curses again. 

"Shall I try to stop it?"I ask mom as I watch Dad bite Chase on his leg and he howls but growls as he notices Miles. 

Dad stands in front of him, blocking his view of Miles and Chase runs towards dad. 

Mom starts to talk to herself about how both of the Alphas were challenging each other and how she was going to kick dad's ass for getting into a fight. I watch Chase bite Dad in the shoulder and Dad growls, turning them around, his wolf bigger than Chase's. 

"Form a shield on Alec," mom says to me suddenly as I realise Dad was going to rip him apart. 

I move my hand to the left and Chase howls as the wind circles around him, making him disappear from everyone's sight. 

Dad growls, looking around but sighing as he notices mom. 

She walks towards him as he shifts on the ground, his clothes intact but bloody. 

Mom slaps him on the back of the head. "I'm putting a leash on you," she mutters to him as I turn to look at Alec-Chase hitting his head against the shield like a bull and growling.

"You're bleeding," Mom growls at dad. I frown as I look towards dad on the ground. Blood spills from his arm and his chest. 

"I'm sorry, dad," I say to him as I kneel down on the ground. 

He grins at me. "You're my daughter and if I have to fight the world for you, I will. This was just your mate," he chuckles as he presses a hand on his chest. "I'll heal," he says to mom who glares at him but sighs. 

"I can heal you faster," I tell him as I place my hand on his forehead. Feeling the magic within me, I pull on it and let it float through my fingers and towards dad. 

"Well holy fuck," dad curses and I open my eyes to look at him, all the cuts and bites disappeared. 

"Did you learn that?" Mom asks and I nod as we stand up. 

I turn to look at Alec who lays in the invisible shield, completely bare. 

I walk towards him, the shield disappearing from him. Pulling my fur wrap away from my shoulders, I place it on his hips as I press a hand on his forehead and let my magic float through him, healing him. 

Alec opens his eyes, staring straight at me. 

"Emily," dad calls out to me. 

I stand up and turn to him as I hear someone handing Alec some clothes behind me. 

"I'm taking you home,"Dad says, his eyes glued onto Alec, daring him to refuse. 

"I apologise, Alpha Gray," Alec walks around me and towards Dad. "I completely understand." He nods his head at Dad who doesn't reply back. 

Alec walks away from us all, Liam and Nat following behind him. 

"Come on, Emily. I'm taking you home," Dad says to me and I frown, shaking my head. 

"I don't want to go," I say to him and he frowns at me. "I want to stay here, Dad." 

It was mostly a lie but going back home, where everyone would walk on eggshells around me, it wouldn't help me. Here, Liam, Nat and Cam didn't treat me as if I was broken. I did not need to stay here for Alec but I wanted to be free here. 

"He doesn't care about you. I saw him all day with that witch," Dad rolls his eyes as Mom shakes her head at him. "We can go home, and we'll get you a new room. A fresh start," he says to me and I smile at him. 

"Dad, I am getting my fresh start here. I want to live here. I promise to tell you if I need to leave but right now? Right now I really want to stay," I say to him as he holds my hand. 

I wrap my arms around him as he sighs in defeat. "I'm going to miss you," he mumbles to me. 

"I'm not going anywhere," I reply back as I pull away from him and hug mom tightly. 

"You have to miss me more," she says to me and dad chuckles behind her as I smile. 

"Of course, mom," I say as she pulls away. 

"We'll give you a minute," she drags dad away as Miles smiles at me. 

I watch as dad opens the door and mom sits inside. He grins at me. 

"Dad, wait!" I call out to him and he raises an eyebrow. 

"Don't tell mom but you're my favourite," I say to him quietly, knowing he can hear me. 

Miles laughs besides me as Dad smiles happily. 

I hear his words. "Don't tell Oli, but you're my favourite too." 

I watch them sit in the car and wait for Miles. 

"Are you planning to visit any time soon?" He asks, holding my hand and I smile as he twirls me around. 

"I could if you really really miss me," I say and he laughs. 

"Only if I really really miss you?" He questions as I watch my dress twirl around my feet.

"Only then." I reply back and his hand tightens around mine. 

Are you really happy here, Emily? He questions. 

The honest answer or a lie? I smile at him and he rolls his eyes. 

We never lie to each other. He says and I sigh, losing the smile from my face. He frowns, taking a step towards me. 

Alec has a girlfriend but I think I'm okay with it. I don't want to go home with my parents because all I see are mates and it's not going to help me heal properly. Over here, I am getting better, it's why I don't want to leave or tell my parents. They'll take me away but here I feel I can say no. I try to explain it to Miles. 

"Hey," he tilts my chin up so I'm looking at him. "If you feel down any time, I'm a thought away. You'll figure this out, you always do," he smiles at me. 

I wrap my arms around him and hug him tightly. 

"I'm proud of you, Miles." I say softly so only he can hear it. 

We were both so far out of our comfort zone that feeling proud was impossible for us. 

"I love you," he grins as he pulls away from me. 

"I love you too," I lean up and kiss him on the cheek and he takes a step back. 

"Tell me you get home safely." I say to him as he waves at me with every step backwards. 

I watch as he sits in the car with my parents. 

I feel happy and at peace as I turn around and walk back into the venue. 

I open the door softly as I see Alec throwing a chair and growling at Liam and Cam who stand in front of him. Nat and Anna sit on the stage but the rest of the hall was empty. 

"You shouldn't have let her go." Nat says shrugging her shoulders at him. 

"She doesn't know!" He growls, throwing a chair to the ground. 

"You should have told her then!" Nat replies back angrily. "You should have told her the truth when you had your chance! Now she's gone so there's no point being a bitch about it!" She jumps down from the stage and Liam stands in front of her a little as Alec glares at her. 

"What should I have said? Oh Emily,you can't leave me because I will die in  a month. I need you to mark me so the curse will disappear but fun fact, I don't want to be marked!" Alec exclaims dramatically at her. 

"What?" I ask softly. 

Die in a month? 

Curse?

"You're back!" Natalie notices me and she grins happily. 

"What do you mean by curse?" I ask and Alec stares at me, confused. 

"I'm going to die in a month, Emily." Alec says to me and before I can even question him, he walks past me with Anna following him and out the door.

●●●●●

Oh no.