The following week wasn't so bad. It felt like they have completely forgotten about me which was good except the part where I had to eat or take a shower. I was locked in a cell still wearing the same dress. The watch was gone which was good. I was dirty, stinky, thirsty, and very hungry but if my calculations we're right it has past one week and today was the day of the ball. I was so excited I was finally going to see Emmet again.

Somewhere around noon, the same two guys came and told me it was time to get ready for the ball. They grabbed me and dragged me to the room I used to be staying at.

"You've got three hours to get ready. Don't be late." They said and left. I didn't waste any more time and ran straight to the bathroom and took a long and hot shower. I took my time and cleaned myself maybe three times and then just stood under the hot water relaxing my muscles.

I was a little nervous because of the thousands of thoughts I get with different scenarios of what could go wrong. If everything will go as planned. I just wanted everything to be over so I can finally be with my man I can get my best friend with me. I missed her. A lot. But not as much as I miss Emmet. He was my mate after all.

I knew I've been long enough in the shower when the water began getting cold. I exited the shower and went back to the bed. On it were laid a lot of things. There was a beautiful blood red dress, amazing gold high heels, the horrible watch, another necklace with a camera if I'm guessing right and a lovely golden purse, and let's not forget the ridiculous earpiece. And last but not least a gorgeous mask. Everything put together makes a remarkable look for a masquerade ball. I looked inside the purse and there was a mirror, a lipstick, a small bottle of perfume, and a well-hidden little bottle filled with who knows what. My guess is something poisonous. After all, they expect me to kill someone.

There was a curling iron so I used it to curl my hair and then put makeup on my face. When I was dressed and ready I had some time to spare. I looked at myself in the mirror and thought. If someone sees me now, they would never believe that I was kept in a cold and stinky cell for a whole week. I looked so much better than three hours ago.

"I'm ready." I said calmly knowing that they can hear me with no problem. One of them opened the door for me to exit. They stopped me at the door and gently put the scarf on my eyes. Then the both of them grabbed my arms and led me to the way. I was sat and backseat and one of them sat next to me then the car started and we headed to the ball.

"Hello, again Katerina. Tonight I want you to find a man wearing one specific mask. I want you to pour the liquid from the little bottle in your purse which I'm sure you've already found, in his glass. You're not allowed to talk to him or touch him or whatever. You'll have to be secretive. He can't notice you. Any questions?"

"What does his mask looks like?" I asked and the guy beside me removed the scarf and showed me the mask.

This couldn't have been an easier job. I was eager to be there already. I will follow the old man's plan until I find Emmet hopefully he will remove the watch and we can be out of there.

I knew we were there when I saw all those light showing the glamorous old building. It was more like a castle. Absolutely, mesmerizing.

"You'll enter alone, we will wait for you in the car. Keep up to the plan and don't do something stupid." Said the guy next to me and then the car stopped I turned to my right to look at the window and it was amazing. Some guy opened the door for me giving me his hand to help me exit the car gracefully. I took his hand leaving the car and walking up the stairs covered with a red carpet. I walked the same way everyone was going through the big corridor and then I stopped to look around. I saw a huge ballroom filled with people with different kinds of masks. I had to go down the large stairs and join a huge group of people.

There were people sitting on their places on the tables, others we're in groups talking and others were dancing. From here I could detect neither Emmet nor the guy I have to kill.

When I took the stairs it was like I was naked. Almost everyone looked at me. I felt like Cinderella. Was I the only one wearing red or is it something else? Gracefully, I went down the stairs and headed to the bar. I needed something to drink.

"Dry Martini, please." I said to the bartender and waited for my drink. When it was ready I took it, turned around, and drank from it looking at my surroundings.

A man got my attention when we made eye contact while walking towards me. He looked so familiar to me I just couldn't name it. He stood in front of me smiling a little.

"Hello, miss I couldn't help but notice how beautiful you look. Can I have this dance with you please?" He asked just when another song started and my eyes widened from realization. It was Jason. This was Emmet's plan.

I left my glass at the bar and gave him my hand. He led me to the middle of the dance floor where it was filled with people. It was even kind of crowded.

"You're not here to have fun. Make this quick!" The old man ordered again.

We were dancing when I felt it. The most amazing smell in the world. My wolf began dancing from happiness in my head. It was him. My mate. I looked around but didn't see him until I felt his hand on my left arm where the watch was. He quickly pulled my hand behind my back trying not to look suspicious. He put something on me like a bracelet or something else I didn't know. The second the bracelet clicked the watch opened by itself and fell in Emmett's hand.

I was free. I could do everything I want. No one can tell me what to do and punish me when I disobey. I like making my own rules. I like being the boss of myself.

I quickly removed the earpiece from my ear and pulled the necklace from my neck breaking it from that action. And for the last time, I smashed them on the floor.

I turned around without waiting anymore and faced my handsome mate but when I realized what he was wearing and I got angry.

"That son of a bitch wanted me to kill you!" I said with a smile on my face. There was no chance of me doing anything as close to that to Emmet. Not ever. He showed me the million dollars smile and grabbed my waist pulling me closer to him.

"You're killing me with that dress still on you." He smirked at me and with one hand grabbed my face and collided it with his. Our lips touching again. It was the most incredible feeling in the whole world. His hands lurking around my body. His lips on mine kissing me so intense and passionate. My hands wrapped around his neck playing with his soft hair. The feeling of his body against mine. There was nothing I've been wanting so much since I met him. The electricity I felt from touching his bare skin was just extraordinary.

I felt the need to tear his clothes off right here right now and have him all for myself. I knew he could feel my arousal from the moment I felt him bugging me right where it belongs.

"Mine!" This brought us back to reality making us stop the make-out session and turn around to face the now black eyes of Jason looking straight at some girl from the far end of the ballroom.

"Go get her buddy. We are leaving, you can stay and have fun. We'll see you at the pack." Emmet told Jason releasing him from duty tonight. Jason didn't wait for us to say anything else and quickly headed to his mate. She looked beautiful from what I saw and I was very happy for him.

"Time to leave. I want you all for myself in my bed." Emmet said in his husky voice that turned me on even more. I gave him one last quick kiss and smiled at him.

"There's nothing I want more than that." He took my hand in his and we headed to the big stairway and towards the exit. We removed our masks when we got out of the castle and were about to go down another stairway which was leading to the road and the cars when I heard a familiar voice from a few meters behind us.

"Katerina get back inside right now!" who does he think he is to tell me what to do. I heard Emmet growl and then we both turned around looking at the guard who was supposed to keep me from doing something "stupid". I laughed at him.

"Fuck you!" I screamed at him and turned around pushing Emmet with me down the stairs.

"Come on Emmet. Let's go." He listened to me and we headed to the cars but then I heard him loading a gun.

"No." I said leaving Emmet's hand and turning around to protect him and luckily I did because the exact same moment he fired the gun and it shot right at me. If I hadn't stood behind him he would have been shot.

"No!" I heard Emmet scream and when I thought I was going to fall down he caught me and I was met with his beautiful face again. I looked at my stomach and I saw a hole and a lot of blood around it. I didn't feel the pain until I looked down probably because of the adrenalin from everything that's happened today. I thought I had a chance of happiness but again something happened. I was probably going to die after this. And I couldn't even have one normal night with my mate. I didn't tell him how much I loved him. We couldn't have everything, two people that love each other have. We couldn't have kids and grow old together. He was going to be alone. I looked at his eyes. He looked so scared. His eyes shown with tears.

"Emmet." I managed to say.

"No, no, no, no, you're not leaving me now. You're not." he said leaving me on the floor. He stood up and stripped his jacket and then his white shirt. He crumpled the shirt and put it on the wound. He took me up in his hands again and quickly got inside a car. It wasn't necessary to explain how much pain I was in. I could barely breathe.

"Drive! The closest hospital! Fast!" Emmet shouted. The driver didn't need more to obey him.

The pain was really bad. I haven't been shot there before and didn't expect to recover from this one. I haven't felt that much pain in my whole life. The pain was unbearable but knowing that I won't have the life I wanted with my man was worse. I had to use my last moments with him to tell him how much he means to me.

"Emmet I want you to know..." I cried in pain. It was painful to even talk.

"No! Don't talk like that you'll be alright do you hear me?" He assured me putting pressure on my wound.

"I love... You." I tried to lift my left hand and caress his scarred face. He leaned to my hand and then kissed it.

"Oh, God. I love you too Katerina. With all my heart." It felt so good to hear him say that. It warmed my heart but it was so painful to watch him so hurt. And all because of me. I was the reason he's been so hurt. If I didn't show up in his life he wouldn't be in so much pain right now.

"I'm sorry."

"What?" He asked confused.

"Its all my fault... I don't deserve you." I was very weak now. I felt the life leave my body. I knew my time was coming.

"No baby, please don't waste your energy talking nonsense." He leaned down kissed me. My lips trembling from crying.

"Shh. It's okay baby, you're going to be alright. I promise you." At this point, I could barely make out what he was saying. My head was spinning and I got really cold.

"No, no, no. Stay awake Katerina!" It was dark in the car but suddenly it became very bright. My eyes hurt from the bright light. I couldn't see properly because of the light and all the tears in my eyes. I knew I wasn't in Emmet's hands anymore I was in a hospital bed but I could feel his hand holding mine like he was holding for dear life. Honestly, it was like he was holding the last piece of my life. It was like his touch was keeping me alive.

I heard a lot of people talking and walking more like running. But I couldn't understand a word they were saying. I felt like I was in a trans. I didn't see or hear anything but I could feel the pain. And it was terrible. I wanted to let go. I didn't want to fight this anymore. I wanted peace.

When I felt Emmet's hand leave mine I didn't feel like I had anything else, to fight for anymore. I just let fate decide whether or not I survive this.