Logan’s POV
My heart was going to beat its way out of my chest.
She was still alive. She started breathing normally the moment she passed out.
But she wasn’t conscious and she wasn’t waking up no matter how loudly I screamed and banged against the stupid window.
“Please, baby, wake up,” I cried out for what felt like a millionth time.
I heard footsteps rushing toward us.
“Dad!” my son yelled as soon as he ran inside.
I heard my daughter gasp and she ran toward me.
“What happened?!” Sophia cried out as she placed her palms on the glass. “Is she okay?”
“The darkness took over,” Anna mumbled, making me turn around and look at her. “She won’t be Emma when she wakes up.”
Sophia sobbed and Hunter pulled her into his arms.
Alex came to stand next to me.
“How long ago did she pass out?” Alex asked, his voice laced with fear.
“About two hours,” Andrew responded.
Two hours? It felt like fucking eternity.
Sophia was sobbing quietly and it was breaking my heart. I wished that I could comfort her, but I knew it would be useless. I didn’t even know what to tell her. I needed someone to comfort me and tell me that everything would be okay. Emma usually did that. She was my rock. She made me strong and brave. I needed her to wake up so she could reassure me and then I would be able to tell my daughter that everything would be okay.
“Hi, sweetie,” I heard Daisy’s soft voice.
“Aunt Daisy,” Sophie cried out.
I glanced to my left and saw Daisy pulling Sophie into her arms. Daisy placed her hand on Sophie’s head and held her close. Alex approached them and hugged them both. Daisy kissed his temple.
“When did you get back?” Alex asked her.
“A few hours ago,” Daisy said as she let Sophie go.
She smiled a little and caressed Sophie’s cheek.
“How about you and I go back to the packhouse?” Daisy asked softly. “There is so much I want to tell you.”
Sophie looked back at Emma and shook her head.
“No,” she said. “I want to be here when she wakes up.”
I looked at Hunter and shook my head. I didn’t want her here when Emma woke up. I wasn’t sure in what condition she would be in. I wasn’t sure what she would say.
Hunter understood immediately.
“Go with your aunt, Angel,” Hunter said. “We will keep you informed, okay? You don’t need to stay here.”
Sophie shook her head again.
“Go, Fia,” Alex said sternly. “You don’t have to be here when she wakes up.”
Sophie looked at Alex and he kissed her forehead.
“Go,” he said, pushing her gently toward Daisy.
Daisy wrapped an arm around Sophie’s shoulders and started leading her outside. Anna was leaning against the wall, keeping her eyes on Emma the entire time.
“Go with them, Jake, please,” I said. “I don’t want them to be alone.”
Jake nodded and started walking behind them.
“Keep me informed,” he said and I nodded.
I looked back at my mate. She was still lying on the ground, motionless.
“Where is Mason?” I heard Andrew ask.
“He was out on a run when Dad mind-linked me,” Alex explained. “He is on his way back.”
Andrew mumbled something, but I didn’t hear what. I was completely focused on Emma’s hand.
She moved her fingers.
She was waking up.
“Emma!” I shouted, drawing everyone’s attention back to her.
She groaned and my heart skipped a thousand beats.
“Mom!” Alex shouted, slamming his hand against the window.
She groaned again and turned her head to the other side.
“Em!” Andrew shouted, his voice trembling.
She opened her beautiful eyes and my heart stopped beating.
I knew that the darkness took over her, but seeing it was so much different. Her eyes were completely black and the smirk that appeared on her face made my stomach turn.
“Mom,” Alex breathed out, his voice laced with fear.
She ignored him, keeping her black eyes on me. I gulped and watched as she stood up slowly. She approached the window and narrowed her eyes at me.
“Hi, baby,” I said quietly. “I missed you.”
She was still my Emma. Even with the darkness inside her. I couldn’t help but call her by her nickname. I couldn’t help but tell her I missed her.
I studied her beautiful face and all I saw was my mate. Her eyes may have been different, but everything else was still my Emma.
She looked at her hands and furrowed her eyebrows a little. What was she thinking?
I could feel how tense everyone around me was, but I ignored them all. I focused on her and it felt like we were the only ones in that fucking cabin.
“I love you,” I told her. “I love you with my entire heart and soul.”
She looked up at me and chuckled darkly. All I saw in her eyes was darkness. The
color of her eyes that I loved so much was completely gone.
“We’ve been through so much,” I said. “I am not letting this thing take you away from me. I am not letting it destroy us.”
She remained silent and tilted her head a little. My heart was breaking inside my chest. My love wasn’t here. That thing took her place.
“I love you,” I told her again. “I will never stop loving you.”
She looked at Andrew and tightened her jaw.
“Hi, Em,” Andrew said, his voice trembling. “We are here for you. We won’t leave you.”
She looked back at me and laughed.
“You don’t know who I am, don’t you?” she asked, shaking her head and laughing. “You already forgot about me?”
I furrowed my eyebrows and glanced at Andrew. What the hell was she talking about? She was Emma. The darkness came to the surface, but she was still Emma.
“Emma’s pussy was so good that you forgot about your first fuck, Logan?” she asked and I snapped my head back in her direction.
She was smirking and shaking her head at me.
What the fuck was she talking about? The first woman I had sex with was…
“Sienna,” Andrew mumbled, making my body freeze.
No.
It was impossible.
