Emily's POV
"I'm sorry it took so long." Lucas apologised as he pulled up in some really fancy lot.
"You did what you had to." I said weakly, waving it off. "It just would have made the situation less crunchier if you'd told us both about each other." I added.
"Did anything happen?" He asked, looking at me quizzically through the rear glass.
"Yeah." I answered, "Well, it wasn't a big deal, but she was rude and sassy. I tried hard to look past her, but she's just so hard to ignore. She's a real piece of work."
"Emily," He called my name, after hesitating a bit, "you're a pretty woman, and I think we might make something out of this, but if you've said something to Grace, please tell me."
"What does that even mean?" I was weak and tired, but not too tired to tell when someone was being funny.
"I'm saying," Lucas picked up again, his voice rising with almost triple intensity, "That if you said anything untrue to her, you should tell me now." He was breathing so forcefully, it made me even mad.
"You're crazy for assuming that." I replied to him, "Let me out." I didn't even wait for him to oblige. I grabbed my purse, and wobbled out.
I must've looked like a sick animal, and I felt even weaker, but I trusted the surge of adrenaline at that moment to come through.
"Please wait." He screamed from the car. I didn't hear the door open or shut, he surely cannot be expecting me to turn back and meet him.
I had too much pride for that.
I already pulled my phone out and opened a ride app.
I searched frantically for riders, but everyone in Mount Leigh seemed to be asleep.
Finally, one popped up, and clicked on him instantly. Whatever his rates were, I just needed to be out of there.
The wolf world is one I wanted behind me, always and forever.
I didn't want to hold on to its beliefs, I didn't want to live by it, I didn't even want to remember them.
But I couldn't lie to myself that I didn't know why strength was sapped out of me.
Alone there, in the parking lot of a five star hotel, came memories of my last days with Damon.
Things had grown increasingly sour, and messier.
I'd pitched the idea of leaving to Nala several times, but on no note did she buy it. I understood the fact that she was an old woman, who needed some sort of financial security that only someone like Damon could afford.
Not only did she refuse to go with me, she also constantly tried to change my mind.
Since I'd already used the bulk of my wolf's glory, before even meeting her, to help Damon stay alive, my transformation was always going to be progressive.
And not just that, I couldn't survive too far away from Damon, because if we ever reconnected, my wolf was going to suffer, even though I'd never fully met her. And for the past ten years, I didn't want to.
All ties between those and I were severed.
Back to the present, I knew all I needed to do was talk to the Moon Goddess. Beg her to stop the pain, heal me. But she's the one person I hate, coming right after Damon and Zyna,
"You might die, Emily, if you ever cross paths." Nala's voice ran in my head, uncalled for.
"That would never happen." I remember replying to her. "But if it does, what should I do?" I asked her.
"Emily, let's hope it doesn't. If it does, only another Alpha can undo." She divulged,
"Why are things with you guys so messy and complicated?" I asked, pissed off,
"Watch your tongue, child." Nala said, right before I left her room and banged the door in her face.
I wasn't getting the answers I wanted.
But it's good that Nala prepared me.
I'd sunk to the ground, and my ride was still ten minutes away.
Might as well be dead when he arrives.
"Can we start on a fresh slate?" Lucas' now annoying voice sounded behind me.
I was literally fighting for my life,
"How about you get away from me and I don't see you again, we both forget this night happened, and move forward?" I was tense and pissed, a bad combination of emotions.
"You don't tell me what to do, pretty." He said, and squatted to meet my eyes, "I'm Lucas Morgan, Alpha of The Rogues, like other packs call us. I also own multiple businesses across the country, can boast of being in charge of Crestviews defence."
"I think there is more to what you're letting on. But do you also know something else? I don't care , never did, never will. And you better not know more than my name, because if I find out that you're stalking me, I'd stop at no length to send you back to whoever She is!" I threatened weakly.
"You want to know something else that I know?" He asked me, whispering dramatically.
I didn't grace him with an answer.
"You're dying. Might not make it alive to your home on that ride. Are you seriously going to let an innocent rider suffer your death? I hear laws here are so strict." He said.
I felt goosebumps all over my body.
"Come in." He said, stretching his hand.
At that exact moment, my ride arrived.
I feared to admit that Lucas was right. I didn't even have the energy to pick myself up.
The Uber guy got down and walked towards me, eyeing Lucas and I suspiciously.
"Good morning." I greeted, as soon as I saw the guy's shoes were close enough for his ears to be within earshot. "I'm sorry I made you waste your gas, here's a refund" I held the newly minted dollar bills as high as I could.
I sensed his hesitation, and Lucas did too
"Take it man. She's not going with you." Lucas said, and put his hand around my waist.
The guy took the money out of my hand, and raced to his car.
"What did you do that for?" I asked Lucas.
"Just so he knows you're comfortable." He replied,
"I think that was counter effective." I giggled as long as my strength permitted me,
"Come on in." Lucas' face was no more smiles
As I surrendered myself to the stranger, I questioned his motives, and mine.