Emma’s POV
I was awoken by a loud knock on our front door.
I opened my eyes and groaned. What time was it?
I blinked a few times and let my eyes adjust to the darkness in my room. The moonlight that shone through my window was bright enough for me to look at my watch. It was 11 p.m. Who was here this late?
I removed the covers and went towards my bedroom door. I opened it in time to hear my brother’s voice.
’Logan?’ he said. ‘What are you doing here?’
’Where is she? Where is Emma?’ Logan asked nervously.
His voice was the most amazing sound I have ever heard. It was like music to my ears. What was wrong with me? It never sounded like that before. It must have been because I was tired.
But he sounded cold, rushed. I didn’t know why he was asking for me, but I had a feeling that I was in trouble. But I didn’t do anything wrong.
’Emma?’ my brother asked. ‘She is sleeping. Why?’
I could hear surprise and confusion in his voice.
I started walking toward the stairs and was instantly hit with the most fantastic smell, pine needles, and snow. It smelled like a winter forest.
’Wake her up,’ Logan growled. ‘Now.’
He sounded mad. Why was he mad?
’I am awake,’ I said and started walking down the stairs.
I stopped in the middle to look at Logan.
Everything shifted when I looked into his eyes. He was now the center of my world. He was everything. I felt this great need to touch him, to be in his arms.
He was my mate!
He was my fated mate!
An overwhelming wave of emotions washed over me. I was happy. I was excited. I wanted him so much. I wanted to run to him, but I stopped myself when I saw how cold his stare was.
What was going on?
’Logan?’ My brother called him.
’She is my mate,’ Logan said through his teeth.
My brother gasped and looked up at me. I nodded and looked back at Logan. He was standing there looking at me with a cold expression on his face. His fists were clenched, and his posture was rigid.
He didn’t want me. That’s why he was so angry. I was not good enough to be his Luna.
’Emma,’ Andrew called my name. ‘Go to your room. Now.’
He must have seen how angry Logan was and wanted to talk to him about this. I turned away and walked back upstairs.
But there was no way I was going back into my room. I wanted to hear what Logan would say. I had a feeling I knew, though.
I heard them walking to the kitchen, and I sat at the top of the stairs. I would be able to hear them talk, and hopefully, they would be focused on their conversation and unable to hear or sense me. I just had to be very quiet.
I hugged my knees and waited.
’Talk,’ my brother said coldly. ‘How did you know before you even saw her?’
’I don’t know,’ Logan sighed. ‘I could sense and smell her. It happened about an hour ago. At first, I thought I was going crazy, but then I decided to follow that smell. I knew for sure when I came closer to your house. Leon started going crazy.’
’That is weird,’ my brother said. ‘Mates usually know when they see each other. They can’t sense it before.’
’I know. But I did,’ Logan growled.
My brother sighed. ‘Why are you angry?’
’She can’t be my Luna, Andrew,’ Logan said.
My heart broke. I hugged my knees even tighter. I felt warm tears running down my cheeks. Nothing hurt like your mate’s rejection.
’What? Why?’ my brother asked angrily.
’She is a child,’ Logan said. ‘She is not strong enough to be Luna. I need someone stronger.’
’You are kidding me, right?’ my brother yelled. ‘You are going to throw away Goddess’ gift because you don’t think she is strong enough?!’
’It is for the pack,’ Logan said calmly. ‘You know our pack needs strong leadership. Especially now that rogues are attacking even more frequently.’
’Alpha is always stronger when he has his Luna by his side,’ my brother growled.
’He is and I will have my Luna,” Logan said. ‘I am thinking about taking Sienna as my chosen mate.’
My heart stopped beating. He was choosing another she-wolf instead of me. And not just any wolf. Sienna. She wanted to get rid of me. And she would. She would become a Luna, and she would exile me from my pack. Maybe she would even kill me after she discovered I was Logan’s true mate.
’Why didn’t you already do that if you think she will be a great Luna?’ my brother asked angrily.
’I wanted to wait for my true mate,’ Logan answered. ‘To see if I was gifted with a strong, she-wolf. But now that I see that is not the case, I can freely choose somebody else.’
’I can’t believe this,’ my brother said quietly.
’You know I am right, Andrew,’ Logan said. ‘You know that you, me, and Sienna will be great leaders, and the pack will benefit greatly from our leadership. We can’t do that with your sister. She is only 18.’
My brother said nothing, and I think he agreed with Logan. He thought that I wasn’t strong. I didn’t think my heart could break even more.
I’d heard enough. I got up and walked to my room.
My heart was breaking into a million tiny pieces. I didn’t think that I would ever be able to put it back together. And he hadn’t officially rejected me yet. I didn’t know how I would survive when he did.
Mates could reject each other. It didn’t break the bond, though. Nothing did. It was only words. But it let you know that your mate didn’t want you, which was horrible. The bond was alive, but you couldn’t do anything about it.
Watching Logan and Sienna together was going to kill me slowly.
’Eliza?’ I called my wolf. ‘Are you okay?’
She didn’t respond. I couldn’t even feel her. She probably retreated to the back of my mind to heal.
I needed to do the same. I needed to leave and clear my mind. I couldn’t stay here. I couldn’t see my brother. I couldn’t see him.
I quickly put on my tights, a hoodie, and sneakers. I grabbed a jacket from my wardrobe and approached my window.
My room was on the second floor, but there was a roof just underneath it. I always sneaked out this way when my brother forbade me from going out with Amy. He never caught me. I hoped that tonight would be the same.
I tried to open my window, but I couldn’t. It was stuck.
“What the hell?” I mumbled as I tried again.
I just closed it before I went to bed. Why couldn’t I open it now? What the hell was going on?
