Chapter 408
Four hundred and ten
Emma POV
Right after I sent the text, someone knocked on my bedroom door. One of the maids opened it, holding a bouquet of red roses, a box of dark chocolates, and a wrapped gift.
“These were just delivered for you, Miss Emma,” the maid said, setting everything on my desk before leaving
I walked over to the desk. A small card was attached to the flowers. I opened it and read Charlie’s handwriting:
I know you said you needed time, and I promise I’m not rushing you. I just wanted to bring a smile to your face tonight. Take all the time you need. – Charlie
Guilt hit me. Why was he doing so much? Part of me was annoyed that he was trying so hard, but another part fest bad for being annoyed when he was only trying to be sweet.
I took a picture of the flowers and chocolates and sent it to Anita with a caption: Look at this.
Three seconds later, my phone rang. I answered, and Anita laughed.
“It’s not funny, Anita!” I said, rubbing my temples.
“I told you!” Anita said between laughs. “The solution is right in front of you p>
“What are you talking about p>
“Look at the picture,” Anita said. “You marry Charlie publicly. You make your parents, and the whole pack, happy. Everyone gets the perfect Alpha wedding. Then you keep Alexander as your secret mate. Nobody has to know! Alexander stays hidden, your family stays happy, and you get to keep your sanity p>
I stared at the wall. “Are you out of your mind, Anita? I’m not going to build my life on a lie just to keep people happy. If I ever marry Charlie, he needs to know about the bond severance before it happens p>
Anita scoffed. “Goddess, I wish I were in your shoes. I’d handle it so well.” She paused. “You know Charlie has been asking me all day to help him win you over? He keeps asking about your favorite things p>
I narrowed my eyes. “I hope you aren’t giving him false hope p>
“I’m not lying to him,” Anita said. “I told him I won’t pressure you to pick him. I’m staying neutral p>
I fell back on my bed and sighed. “Life is crazy. For years, I spent my time getting over Charlie rejecting me, waiting for him to notice me. And now that he’s sending me chocolates and asking for a chance, I have a Rogue Lord pulling at my soul from across the border p>
Anita laughed. “When you put it like that, I don’t even want your problem. Yours is way too complicated p>
I laughed under my breath. “Tell me about it p>
For the past two days, my phone hadn’t stopped ringing. Friends from around the pack kept calling, texting, and stopping by our house to check on me. Word of the abduction had spread, and everyone wanted to make sure I was okay.
In a way, I was grateful for the distraction. Having people around and answering their questions kept my mind busy. It stopped me from staring at the walls and thinking about Alexander.
After two of my closest friends said goodbye and left in the late afternoon, the living room went quiet again. My stomach growled. I realized I hadn’t eaten since breakfast.
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I walked into the kitchen, pulled a loaf of bread from the box, and grabbed a jar of strawberry jam from the fridge.
spread jam on a slice of bread when my phone pinged on the kitchen island.
I picked it up, expecting another message from a pack friend. It was from an unknown number. Normally, I ignored texts from numbers I didn’t recognize, but the message on the screen made my heart jump.
Emma, please don’t block this number. It’s Cherry. I just need to know if you’re okay. Please respond to me.
I set the butter knife down, my fingers shaking as I typed. I tried to sound calm even though my heart was pounding.
Hi, Cherry. I’m safe and doing fine. How are you?
I stared at the screen, wanting to ask how Alexander was doing, whether he was okay, or if he was still angry. But V stopped myself.
A minute later, another text came in.
I’m okay. Look, Emma, I’m not a messenger for anyone. But you and my brother are being foolish. You can’t let pride make all your decisions. You two need to talk.
My jaw tightened. I typed back: If your brother wants to talk to me, he knows what to do. He shouldn’t be sending his sister to check on me.
The reply came almost at once: He didn’t send me. Alexander has no idea I have your number. I took it from your contact list before you left the compound.
My heart sank.
He doesn’t even know, I thought. Alexander wasn’t trying to reach me. He was sitting across the border, holding onto his pride and leaving things broken.
I took a breath, disappointed. Alexander was stubborn. Why should I waste my days waiting for him and thinking about him? If he wasn’t going to make a move toward me, I wasn’t going to chase him.
I didn’t tell Cherry any of this. I said nothing about the bond severance or my parents. I simply wished her well, put my phone face down on the counter, and forced myself to finish my bread.
That weekend, our family gathered at Uncle Cameron’s estate for our usual dinner. It was also a welcome-home dinner for Wesley and Isabella. They’d cut their three-week honeymoon short when they heard about our abduction and flew back early.
I stood in front of my bedroom mirror, trying to find the energy to get dressed. I usually loved fashion. I enjoyed picking out bright outfits, styling my hair, and doing my makeup. But tonight, I felt drained. I pulled on a red strap dress, tied my hair into a messy bun, and skipped the heavy makeup.
When we arrived at Uncle Cameron’s house, Isabella saw me as soon as I walked through the doors. She gasped, ran across the foyer, and wrapped her arms around my neck.
“Emma!” she cried, squeezing me. “I’m so glad you’re safe! I couldn’t stop thinking about you the whole flight back p>
I laughed and pulled back to look at her. Her skin was glowing, and she looked happy despite the worry in her eyes. “Look at you,” I teased. “That new-bride glow suits you p>
Isabella waved her hand, laughing. “Oh, please p>
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Wesley walked up behind her with a grin. Before I could say anything, he grabbed me around the waist, lifted me off the floor, and spun me around.
“Wesley!” I yelled, hitting his back. “Put me down! My dress is short p>
He set me down, laughing.
As I fixed my red dress, I noticed Charlie standing near the archway to the living room. He was watching me. My stomach tightened, but I kept smiling and didn’t let it show.
We all moved into the living room and sat on the leather sofas before dinner. It was just the younger crowd: Wesley, Isabella, Charlie, Anita, and me. The older ones were talking in the other sitting room across the hall.
Wesley sat on the arm of Isabella’s chair, his expression changing as he brought up the rogue attack.
“I still don’t understand why my father keeps saying no to a direct raid,” Wesley muttered, shaking his head. “We should send a team straight to that rogue hideout and blow their camp apart p>
My heart skipped. The thought of pack enforcers entering Alexander’s compound with weapons sent panic through me.
“This is exactly how our leaders dealt with the Meridian cult for years,” Wesley continued. “They let them hide in the mountains until they grew strong enough to hurt innocent people. So many suffered because nobody stopped them from the start. These rogues are no different. If they could kidnap you two, they could do worse p>
Isabella leaned over and whispered something in Wesley’s ear. He looked at her, his mood changing as he smiled and whispered something back.
Anita, sitting across from them, groaned.
“Can you two please get a room?” Anita complained, rolling her eyes. “Or better yet, go back to your honeymoon! Who asked you to come home early just to be this cute in front of us p>
Wesley laughed and put his arm around Isabella. He looked at Charlie and raised his eyebrows. “Hey, Charlie, you’d be a fool not to win Emma over now. Look at her p>
Charlie looked at me and smiled. “I’m doing my best, Wesley p>
I bit the inside of my cheek to stop myself from rolling my eyes.
Anita chimed in with a smirk. “Oh, Charlie was quite the hero during the rescue planning. He was ready to punch the rogues himself p>
Isabella smiled and set her glass of water on the side table. “You know, hearing about these rogues makes me think about my own past. I don’t know this group, but months ago, when my son Maverick was kidnapped, a rogue leader stepped in. He forced his own men to release Maverick and made sure he was returned unharmed. It shocked me because everyone always paints rogues as monsters. It made me realize that maybe some of them still have some humanity left p>
Charlie scoffed and crossed his arms. “Not Alexander. That one is dangerous and beyond redemption. There’s no way he was the person who saved Maverick. It must have been another rogue group p>
I turned to Isabella. “What did that rogue leader look like p>
Isabella tapped her chin. “He was very tall. He had ice-blue eyes, dark hair, a tattoo down one arm, and a few ear piercings p>
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Anita froze beside me for a moment. Then she burst out laughing.
oh my Goddess!” Anita gasped, pointing at Isabella. “That’s Alexander! Was he called the Lord back then too p>
Isabella looked surprised. “Yes! That’s what his men called him p>
Anita started laughing again, burying her face in a sofa pillow.
Wesley and Charlie stared at her, clearly confused.
Isabella turned to me, her eyes wide. “Wait, Emma… is he the same man who kidnapped you and Anita p>
“Yes,” Anita laughed so hard tears fell from her eyes.
Wesley frowned. “Maybe he has a rule when it comes to children p>
“He didn’t kidnap us,” I said, looking around the room. “Neither Anita nor I were taken by him. It was his second. in-command, the guy with the multicolored hair, who went behind Alexander’s back and took us p>
Wesley and Charlie exchanged a look. Wesley looked confused, while Charlie’s glare hardened.
“It doesn’t matter who pulled the trigger,” Charlie said, shifting in his seat. “They’re all part of the same syndicate. They would have done far worse to you girls if we hadn’t traded that old woman for your release p>
I closed my mouth and looked down at my hands. Saying anything more in Alexander’s defense would only make things worse. Silence was the best choice I had.
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Lucia Morh
Lucia Morh is a passionate storyteller who brings emotions to life through her words. When she’s not writing, she finds peace nurturing her garden.