It was Friday and the house was buzzing with excitement. My grandparents had arrived early in the morning. They had smiled at me as they hugged me. I was getting better with letting them touch me. Alphas and other Sires were arriving downstairs while I locked myself in my room. 

Mom had placed a black dress for me on the door, with my shoes below it and some jewellery. 

Today was different. I had seen Miles and he was smiling brightly as if he did not know what day it was today. 

It was Friday. The day I was locked in a room for every male to come and do whatever he wanted with me. I would- could not move as they happily used my body. The room would be dark and I would not be able to see but my mind would drift off to a happy place. To watch the sunsets on a cliff as the water moved below. 

I get up from my bed and walk towards the door. I lock it tightly, and walk to the window. Closing the curtain, I sigh as darkness fills the room, but the sun beams through the curtain a little.  

I pull off my skirt and top, leaving me in my bra and panties. I walk towards the long mirror my mom had put in my room. I see the scars on my body, scattered all over my stomach and back. My finger traces over then gently. 

"Cameron! I didn't steal anything!" I scream as I feel the whip against my back. 

"You fucking stole the knife! Do you think you can kill me with it?" 

"You're hurting me!" I cry as he throws me onto the floor. 

I look up at him, my back screaming in pain as tears fall down my face. 

"I will show you what I can do with a knife," he glares at me. 

He had cut up my skin, letting the blood flow through it. He knew I would heal but the marks did not heal as he rubbed iron and salt all over them. It slowed down the healing for any supernatural being. 

He would tell me to conceal the marks on my body because I was disgusting. I had been so angry at him that I had screamed at him to kill me. To end my life if he found me disgusting. He had laughed and told me he loved every part of my body but he did not want to see the broken parts. I had cried like a weakling as he had laughed. I was weak. 

It has nearly been a week since we ran away from the nightmare. I woke up in the morning and I did not feel anything. Emptiness filled my heart as I had stared out the window. I got dressed and went downstairs to see everyone laughing and teasing Oli about his big day. Miles was out with Amanda, dad had said when I had asked where he was. 

Mates had hundred percent attention,I could see that with everyone mated around the house. Uncle Kyle and Auntie Rachel were going to come back today to meet Miles. They had been visiting a pack to give out the invitation for the acceptance party. 

I had sat there with all of them, smiling and listening to what they said. I waited for Miles to come back but he did not. I wanted to ask how he was, if he was feeling the same emptiness inside of him that I was feeling. 

He did not come back and I had walked upstairs silently as others had started to arrive. 

I trace the scars with my fingers. 

I don't want to go to the party, I say to Ava as she listens. 

Then don't. Get back into bed, and let's ignore the world. She replies and I smile. 

They want me there. I answer her. 

What do you want? She asks me instead. 

I want to get back in bed, I smile at myself in the mirror and I hear her laugh. 

Then go. She says. 

I turn away from the mirror and climb into bed. I was going to sleep all day and in the morning I was going to feel much better. Today was not the day. 

**** 

"Emily?" I hear the knocking on my door. 

"Yes?" I hum my reply as I sit up in bed. It was Miles. 

"I can't open the door," he says and the door handle rattles a little. 

"I'm getting ready," I quickly say and I hear him mumble an okay. 

"I'll wait for you outside, alright?" He says behind the door. 

"Miles, you should go downstairs. I'll be taking a long time. I need to look perfect," I say to him. He doesn't reply as he stands outside. 

Are you okay? He mindlink me. 

Yes. I'm Oli's sister and it'll be my first time meeting everyone. I should look perfect. I answer him. 

Okay. He hesitates outside the door but then walks away. 

I stare at the clock opposite my bed. It was eight in the evening. Everyone would be here by now. 

Dad had told me in the morning what would happen at the acceptance party. Oli would be called onto the stage and he would accept the Heir title. The pack would shift at exactly half eight and they would run around the territory once. That was all that would happen and then people would just party and meet each other after a long time. They would leave then. 

Get up. Ava suddenly says in my mind. 

What? I ask, confused. 

Get up. Go outside. Now. 

I frown as I climb off the bed and switch the lights on. I quickly pull the dress on and push my feet into the black flat shoes. I walk towards the mirror with my makeup on it. I pick it up and head towards the bathroom to brush my teeth and wash my face. I apply the red lipstick and brush out my hair quickly. 

Quick quick quick Ava groans in my mind and I look at myself in the mirror. 

Smile. I tell myself and the mirror image smiles at me. 

I walk out of the room, hearing the music playing outside. 

"Come on! I came for you!" Eliza waves from the stairs. I smile as she urges me to walk faster. 

"You look beautiful by the way," She grins as I follow her to the backyard. I smile at her as she opens the door and all I see are people laughing and talking with each other as they eat some food. 

"Who are all of these people?" I ask her as she holds my arm and pulls me closer to herself. I'm grateful as she leads me closer to the stage. 

He's here! Ava grins. 

"Alphas and Sires of different packs and clans. Jaxi is a hybrid so he invited both of them, but usually you only invite the Alphas," Eliza explains as Dad grins at me from above the stage. 

"Do you want to go up there?" She asks me as he starts talking to Oli. 

I shake my head and she nods standing beside me as Oli smiles at her. 

"I can stay with her," Miles walks towards me and smiles at Eliza. 

"You can go run with them," Amanda says to her and Eliza grins and winks at me as she runs towards the other wolves as they get ready to shift. 

"Have you eaten anything?" Miles asks me and I shake my head. 

"I'll go get us something to eat. Both of you stay here, alright?"he says and I nod as Amanda smiles at him. 

He leaves and she smiles at me. 

"Can you tell me his favourite colour? I want to get him a nice present but I need to know his favourite colour first of all." She asks me quietly. 

"Black," I answer and she nods. 

"And he's not allergic to anything is he?" She asks and I shake my head, scanning the crowd. 

"Is something wrong?" Amanda asks me suddenly. 

"I think I need to find someone," I answer truthfully as Ava groans in my mind to walk away and look for him. 

Who is him? 

Mate! 

I freeze as I say the word. "Mate." I whisper. 

Amanda's eyes widen as she looks at me. 

"What? He's here?" She asks and I nod, looking around. 

"I don't know. I think so but I don't feel it." I frown as I look down at myself. 

Am I that broken that I do not feel a mate bond?

"Hey, let's go find him?" She grins at me and pulls me towards a bunch of men. 

"No," I pull my arm away from her as the men look at me. 

This was a bad idea. 

"You have to touch him to fi-" 

I shake my head shutting her words out of me as I turn around. I run ahead, trying to get back inside just as I bump into someone. 

"I'm so sorry," I apologise quickly and try to run around the man. I feel him wrap his hand around my arm and I freeze as I feel the sparks and Ava's happiness. 

"Alpha King." I hear Amanda's voice behind me. 

He doesn't let go of my arm as I feel everyone's eyes on me. Us. 

Don't freak out, Ava warns me as my magic rages inside of me. 

"Let go of me," I say to him softly. 

He immediately let's go and I let out a breath as I feel him take a step back and stand in front of me. 

"Jaxi!" I hear Eliza shout suddenly and I turn around to see her watching me.

In seconds my dad is standing in front of, blocking my view of the man. 

"Alpha King. A word in my office," Dad tells him politely. 

"She's my mate." Alpha king growls. 

"And she's my fucking daughter and you're not making a scene here."  

"Come with me," mom says to me as she holds my hand and pulls me away from their staring contest. 

"Where are you taking her?" Alpha king calls out as we walk away from them. 

Mom doesn't reply back as she takes me upstairs to my room. She walks me inside and smiles at me. 

"Tell me what you're feeling," she asks as I sit down on the bed. 

"I didn't feel the mate bond," I tell her honestly. "I didn't know he was even here until Ava told me. Is that terrible?" I look up at and she shakes her head. 

"No of course not. Tell me truthfully Emily, are you ready to have a soulmate?" She asks as she walks towards me. 

Please say yes. Ava says to me. 

I'm not ready Ava. I can't do it. I answer her back.

You need to take a chance. Mates make us happy. I want us to be happy. 

"Emily?" Mom calls out my name. 

"I want to give it a chance." I tell her and mom smiles at me. 

"Mates make you feel happy, trust in your heart," she grins as she holds her hand out to me. 

I hold her hand as she walks towards the door and we walk downstairs. 

Thank you, Ava says to me, softly. 

I smile back at her as we walk towards Dad's office. Mom opens the door and I feel eyes on me immediately. I look up to see his beautiful eyes staring at me. 

"Come here, Emily," Dad says as he points towards his seat. He stands up as I walk towards him and sit down on the black intimidating chair. Everyone's eyes follow me. 

Deep breaths. Miles mindlink me and I notice him standing behind everyone as he smiles at me. 

I'm scared. I tell him. 

Before he can answer me, dad looks at me. 

"You okay?" He asks and I nod silently as I feel his eyes on me. 

What is his name? 

"We must leave immediately." The man that is sitting with him says as he stands up. 

Are they leaving? 

"Come with us, Emily." He says and I frown as my mate doesn't say anything as he watches me. 

It doesn't feel uncomfortable. 

"I prefer her to stay here," dad answers the man who sighs as my mate stands up. 

"With no disrespect to you, Alpha Gray, she is my mate and you do understand what would happen if we are not together." 

His voice was deep and beautiful as he looked at me. 

"Our bond would hurt us and I do not wish to be away from my mate." He says as he looks up at dad again. 

Our bond would hurt us. 

I did not know anything about soulmates. Dad always said I was too young even when I saw Oli and Eliza always holding hands when they were young and calming each other down. 

Dad turns to look at me. I see it in his eyes. The bond will hurt me if I don't leave with him. 

"You promise to protect her? Because I swear to the fucking moon goddess, if I find out she's been crying, I will rip you apart," dad threatens my mate, who simply dusts off his suit. 

"I understand." He replies as he turns to look at me again. 

"Come with me," he holds his hand to me. 

I stare at him.  

He won't be like Cameron. He won't be a monster. Take a chance. 

"Am I leaving now?" I ask as I look up at my parents. 

"You don't have to leave. You can go whenever you want." Dad says to me. "Nobody can force you. It's your choice," he smiles at me. 

Take a chance. 

"I would like to go." I smile at him and he nods as he wraps his arms around me. 

"I don't want you to go," he mumbles to me. 

Oh. 

"I can stay-"

"We must leave. My car is waiting," my mate says again. 

I nod as I pull away from dad. 

Alpha King holds his hand out to me again and I place my hand in his. Sparks. I feel them dance around our hands. 

"We'll always visit and I'll send you your clothes," Oli says as they walk me out of the office. 

"Miles, come on," I say to him as I hold my hand out to him. Amanda frowns, her hand tightening on his. 

The world seems to stop as Miles shakes his head. 

Not on this one, Em. You have to let me go now. I will always be here. He says to me as he points towards his head. I have to stay here with my mate. He tells me. 

I frown as I pull my hand away from my mate. I shake my head. 

No. I couldn't do anything without Miles. I needed him with me. 

"Please," I plead at him and he pulls away from Amanda as he walks towards me. 

"Listen to me," he holds my hand and places it against my heart. "I'm right here," he traces the letter M on the back of my hand as I hear growling. "You have to do this alone. You're strong and powerful." I believe in you. He says to me. 

What if Cameron comes for you? I mindlink him. 

Miles chuckles at me. I have your whole family here. I'm sure they wouldn't want me to die. 

You're my family. I whisper. 

I ignore the hand on my arm and the sparks. 

It was pathetic but I did nothing without Miles. Leaving without him was close to impossible. 

I'm always here. He traces the letter M on my hand again. Believe in yourself. Take a chance to be happy, Emily. I can't leave my mate and come with you and I can't ask her to leave everyone behind and come with me. He tells me honestly. 

It feels like something broke inside of me. He had his mate and he would always choose her. He was happy here and I was not going to be a monster and take him away from the happiness. 

"Okay," I let go of his hand and smile. 

Eliza hands me a bag telling me it's got some clothes in it for me. The rest would come later. 

I turn to the Alpha King. Live my life. 

"Goodbye," I say to my family as I walk out of the house.

I was going to be happy. 

The man holds my bag for me as I see the car waiting for us. 

We're just a mindlink away. Miles says to me and I nod. 

Let everyone go. Live your life. 

I let out a deep breath as I sit inside the car. The door closes behind me and silence fills the air as we drive off. I don't look back. 

Say something. 

I wait for minutes, maybe hours in the car as the silence starts to suffocate me. Alpha King was sitting in the front with the other guy. I was sitting alone. 

When the world outside starts to darken, I look towards them. "Where are we going?" I ask quietly. 

"Texas. It's where our pack lives," the man answers me. 

"I don't know your names," I say to him. 

He chuckles, "Liam and that is Alec," he points to the Alpha. 

Alec. Ava sighs in my mind. 

Silence fills the air once again until we park in front of a plane. 

My mate walks out as Liam turns to look at me. "We can get you there safely in a plane and honestly I'm in no mood to drive for that long." He smiles at me and I nod as I get out of the car. 

I follow Liam into the plane and towards the golden seats. "Sit here and just buckle yourself up. I can bring you some food if you would like." He asks me as he places my bag next to me. 

"No, thank you."I smile at him and he grins back as he walks away from me. 

I look over my shoulder to see Alec drinking champagne as he types on his phone. 

Why is he sitting so far away from me? 

*****

I had tried to fall asleep during the plane ride but it did not work. I could not help myself as I kept looking over my shoulder at him. He did not laugh or smile as he talked to Liam. 

We arrived hours ago and we were sitting in the car. It was beautiful here, the sun shined brightly. The sun was rising slowly. 

"Finally," I hear my mate say as Liam parks the car outside a huge house. Wolves and people suddenly surround the car as Alec walks out and walks inside. 

Liam gets out of the car and opens the door for me. 

"Come on, you can meet everyone," he smiles. 

I see people trying to look into the car and I frown. 

No. This was a bad idea. 

My fingers trace the letter E on the car seat as I take a deep breath. It's okay. I can do this. 

"Get home assholes!" Liam shouts loudly and they all scatter. 

He grins at me as he urges me to get out of the car. I hold my bag in my hand as I climb out of the huge car. 

"Follow me. You'll love it here," he says as he opens the front door to me and walks inside. I follow him quietly looking at the beautiful tiled floor and the huge chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. 

"Alec, Anna and I live here."  Liam says as I hear the door close behind me. Click. 

"And what about me?" A beautiful woman walks downstairs smirking at Liam. 

"And my beautiful mate. There are a couple of omega here who love to cook for us." Liam says as he walks towards the woman. "Oh and Cameron." 

I freeze. My body does not move as his name floats in my mind. 

"No." I shake my head. 

It was a trap. It was a trick and he had found me. 

"No no no." I shake my head turning around and walking back towards the door. I try to pull on it but it's locked. "I want to go home!" I scream, as I try to pull on the handle. 

"Why?" I feel a hand on me and I flinch as I move away from the girl looking at me confused. 

"Please," I plead for her to save me. To help me run away. 

"What's wrong?" She asks, walking towards me as I push myself into the corner behind the door. 

"Stop!" I scream,covering my ears as his voice screams my name. 

You can't run from me Emily! 

He found me. I kneel onto the ground as my body shakes and my legs feel numb. 

"Emily? It's okay," I hear Liam voice. 

Is she okay? 

Where is cameron? 

Is she his ex? 

Has he damaged her so much that she's shaking? 

What the fuck is going on down there? 

Baby calm down. 

The voices fill my mind as my body shakes and I feel the darkness dance around in front of me. 

No no no I need to run. 

I can't stop the darkness as it wraps itself around me and I fall into oblivion. 

Liam's pov. 

"Oh fuck." I curse as Natalie grabs her quickly before she can fall to the ground. 

"She just fainted at his name." I say in shock as I watch her. Natalie pushes her hair away from her face and it seems like she's dead. Her pale skin glows a little and her black hair shines. 

"Is she breathing?" I ask in a soft whisper. 

Did I just kill Alec's mate? Fuck fuck. 

"Yes stupid." Nataline mutters as she rolls her eyes at me. 

"What the fuck happened here?" I hear Alec's voice behind me. I turn around with wide eyes and look at him. 

"She fainted!" I exclaim in shock. 

At a name. 

Alec sighs. "Put her in the guest room. I'm taking Anna out today to tell her." He says and I frown. 

"She's your mate," I state the obvious. 

"I can see that, Liam. Put. Her. In. The. Guest. Room." He orders me and I sigh, rolling my eyes as he disappears back upstairs. 

"Come on, pick her up," Nat smiles at me. 

"This isn't a test right? I can get some water and wake her up an-"

"Liam," Nat laughs."Pick her up and let's take her upstairs." She says again and I nod as I bend down and lift Emily into my arms. 

"A room close to ours or Alec?" I ask her as I walk upstairs with her behind me.

"Closer to Alec. It'll help the bond," Nat says and I nod as I walk into the room closest to Alec's. 

I place her on the bed and Natline walks forward, tucking her in. 

"We shouldn't let Cameron near her," Nat says. 

"You know how he is. He sees a beautiful girl and he'll want to say hello," I say to her as she turns to look at me. 

"This is serious, Liam. I don't want her dying on us. That's a pack war and it will literally end in disaster. Her dad is a hybrid, her mom has magic. Her family is powerful. We might be the strongest pack in the world right now, but it didn't come easy." She walks towards me. "We can't go up against magic." She tells me and I nod, holding her hands as I pull her out of the room. 

"I missed you," I smirk at her as she laughs. 

●●●●●

Well well. I guess it's time to say goodbye to Miles :(