Emma’s POV
I was sitting on the couch with my legs pressed against my chest. I rested my chin on my knees and just started in front of myself.
I couldn’t understand what was going on. I just found my mate and this should have been the best night of my life. I should have been happy, ecstatic, and excited about my future. I should have been in Logan’s arms, kissing him and telling him how much I loved him. My brother should have been happy for me. Logan should have been happy. Logan should have wanted me.
But everything was wrong. This wasn’t the best night of my life. It was the worst. I wasn’t happy, ecstatic, or excited. I wasn’t in Logan’s arms. I wasn’t kissing him or telling him how much I loved him. He wasn’t smiling at me and telling me that he accepted me as his mate and Luna. He wasn’t happy. My brother wasn’t happy. I wasn’t happy.
Nothing was right and I wanted to scream and run out of the house.
I clenched my fists and swallowed the lump in my throat. I wanted to cry, but I didn’t want to show them how hurt I was. I embarrassed myself enough in the kitchen a little while ago.
I looked at the little table next to our couch where the picture of our parents was. I always looked at it when I needed comfort. I missed my parents terribly. I loved Andrew the most in this world, but I didn’t want his comfort now.
My eyebrows furrowed when I realized that the picture wasn’t there. I looked around, assuming that Andrew moved it and forgot to put it back, but I couldn’t see it anywhere.
As I was looking around the room I realized that all the pictures were gone. There were a lot of pictures of Andrew and me hanging on the walls, but those were now gone. Another picture of my parents and grandparents that was on the mantle was also gone. Every picture was just gone.
How didn’t I notice that before?!
“Where are all the pictures?” I asked, looking at Andrew who was sitting on the couch opposite me.
He sighed and leaned forward, placing his elbows on his knees.
“That’s not important now, Emma,” Andrew said. “You need to talk to Logan. You need to let him reject you.”
I furrowed my eyebrows and narrowed my eyes.
“Where are the pictures, Andrew?” I asked.
I didn’t care about Logan. I wanted those pictures back.
“We are not here to talk about pictures, Emma,” Andrew said. “We are here to talk about Logan and you.”
I felt tears gathering in my eyes.
Andrew loved those pictures. He never let anyone touch them. He chose the pictures of me and him he wanted to hang on the walls. Why didn’t he care? What the hell was going on?
“Why did you take them down?” I asked as I felt a tear fall on my cheek. “You love those pictures, Andrew. Why did you take them down?”
When did he even have time to do that? All the pictures were here when I went to bed. I was sure of it.
“You need to let Logan reject you,” Andrew said, completely ignoring my questions.
I couldn’t stop the sob that escaped me.
Who was this man sitting in front of me? It wasn’t my brother. I couldn’t have been my brother.
“Who are you?” I mumbled, feeling my heart break.
He tilted his head and furrowed his brows.
“What do you mean, Emma?” he asked. “It’s me. It’s Andrew.”
I shook my head immediately.
“No,” I said. “My brother wouldn’t take those pictures down. My brother wouldn’t let my mate reject me. My brother wouldn’t let anyone hurt me.”
Andrew sighed and stood up. He approached me and sat next to me. I wanted to move away, but he stopped me. He pulled me to his chest and kissed the top of my head.
“It’s me, Emma,” he said softly. “I don’t want to hurt you. I want to save you from the pain you would feel later on. Letting Logan reject you is the best thing for you. Trust me.”
I didn’t. I couldn’t trust him.
He was wrong. It wasn’t the best thing for me. The best thing for me would be to have my mate next to me.
And they were wrong about all those things they said. I wasn’t weak. I was strong. I was stronger than they knew.
“I am not weak,” I mumbled. “I am stronger than you know.”
“Oh, sweetie,” Andrew mumbled.
Sweetie? He never called me that. Why was he calling me that now?
“You are strong,” he said. “You are strong in so many ways, Emma, but there are just some things that you wouldn’t be able to do. Being Luna is one of those things.”
I pulled back so I could look at him. I studied his face for a few seconds. He looked like my Andrew, but something was telling me that he was not.
Was I going crazy?
“You don’t know me very well,” I said, trying to remain calm. “I am brave. I am strong. I am kind. I would be a great Luna and I can’t let him reject me. That would be a mistake.”
“Emma…,” Andrew spoke, but I interrupted him.
“No,” I said. “I don’t want to hear it, Andrew. You are wrong and I am going to prove it to you. I will show you that I am not weak. I will show you that I am good enough to be a Luna. I will show you that you made a huge mistake when you underestimated me.”
Andrew’s eyes widened and he looked speechless for the first time since this whole mess with Logan started. I was glad, though. I didn’t want to hear anything he had to say. I was done with him.
I stood up and walked out of the living room. I wanted to leave the house and go on a run, but I needed to find those pictures first. I had to put them back where they belonged.
