Chapter 61

Twenty minutes before

No sooner had Damien left with Isabella than Zion picked up his chance to annoy Emmaline. He smirked watching Emmaline who was staring at their retreating figures and walked closer to her.

“You lived in New York right; then why do you behave like a caveman?”, he took a jibe.

Emmaline immediately looked at him and shot him a death glare, “Fuck off” she sneered and tried to walk past him when he grabbed her hand. She looked at him only to find his stern gaze set on her. The humor was long gone and was replaced with a grim expression.

“Misbehaving with Madam is beyond the pale, Emmaline. No wonder if you’re a Luna, the pack would rip your heart out if you hurt Alpha’s parents. They are the cornerstone of this pack, we won’t hesitate to kill anyone who flouts their authority.” Zion threatened her.

Ryan immediately jumped in between and pushed him away from Emmaline.

“Stay within your limits. She is the Luna, Zion.”

“Beta”, Zion sneered in his face taking him by surprise. He towered over him and gritted, “It’s Beta for you. And you don’t fucking forget that I am your senior so don’t lord it over me.”

Ryan gave him an incredulous look, “What is the matter with you? You don’t have to pull your Beta card with me.” His voice turned heavy.

Emmaline looked at him. His eyes teemed with hurt and his voice held pain. She felt bad for him because Ryan had always been supportive of her. He had tried to save her multiple times even when she gave him a cold shoulder.

Clutching Zion’s collar, she turned him around and pushed him harshly. Zion was taken off-guard as he stumbled backward and looked at her in shock. Even Ryan was surprised but ignoring him Emmaline came in front of him and glowered at Zion.

“Who the hell do you think you are, huh? Why do you keep pestering me all the time? Reminding me that I won’t survive if I keep resisting and, force myself to grovel. Are you Isabella’s sycophant?”

Her words threw him to the edge, “HOW DARE YOU-“

“SHUT UP!!” Emmaline yelled and took a threatening step in his direction startling him, “I am not afraid of you. When I didn’t spare your Madam then it wouldn’t take me a second to crush you between my fingers.” She said and chuckled darkly.

“You hurt me and my family. On what basis that you’re the Beta? Then fucker I am your Luna, I will wipe out every single wolf who dares defy my authority. How dare you threaten my family and Ryan? You’re also a mere servant so stay within your limits. You already got a narrow escape even after welting Jasper and me. But this time I wouldn’t let you go without a punishment. So fucking scram.”

She growled and turned to Ryan who was looking at her with an open mouth. Grabbing his hand, she made him sit on the chair. Zion curled his fingers into a fist as he watched how she scraped another chair that was beside Ryan and plopped on it.

“What will you have?” Emmaline chirped to Ryan who still was in a daze. He looked at Zion through his peripheral vision and immediately tried to get up.

“I am sorry Luna but I can’t-“

“Please.” Emmaline quickly grabbed his shirt in her fist and looked at him sadly. Ryan felt a tug in his heart watching her innocent eyes.

“I have no one in this house. Neither a family nor a friend. I am tired of watching the four walls and spending my days talking to myself. You also know that my wolf doesn’t talk to me. If it continues then I am sure my end is not very far.”

Her eyes slowly welled up with tears. Ryan panicked and slumped on the chair, “Don’t cry, Luna.” He grabbed the tissue and quickly forwarded it to her.

Emmaline sniffed and took it before wiping her tears, “I am not saying to be my friend but can you please just eat with me?” she pleaded.

Ryan immediately bobbed his head and started serving her.

“You made pancakes. That’s my favorite Luna,” he tried to chirk her up.

Emmaline smiled, “Glad to know that. You prefer maple syrup or strawberry?” she spoke and looked at Ryan who let out an awkward smile.

“Uhmm, my favorite is vanilla butter but I will go with strawberry.” He said and scratched the back of his head. Emmaline chuckled at his flushed face.

“Why are you blushing? It’s all right, I am not judging you.”

Ryan smiled and poured the syrup on her pancake before doing the same for him, “Actually, it’s been so long since I got to eat the dish which used to be my favorite in childhood. My mother used to make banana pancakes for me.”

Emmaline nodded while she took a bite, “Really? Where is she now?”

She spoke but immediately regretted it when his smile dropped. She bit her lips and put the fork down, “Sorry-“

“No, it’s all right.” Ryan cut her midway, “My parents passed away when I was eleven. They died in a fight. Since then, Damien took me to his house and I have been living here. And you know it’s been years so all the memories got blurred in my mind just like how a ship sink into the ocean. I don’t even remember them much, thanks to the Alpha’s parents. They treated me like their son and Damien treated me as a brother. We shared the same clothes, ate the same food, and went to the same school. Damien even shared his personal stuff with me like his collection of expensive watches, opulent cars, and other stuff. My loyalty to him is not because I am his Gamma but because he is my friend. A true friend.” He said while smiling to himself.

Emmaline didn’t say anything. She just listened to him silently while munching down her food. Ryan noticed it so he quickly changed the subject, “By the way, the pancakes are very tasty. You made me remember my mother.”

Emmaline turned to him and flashed him a smile, “If that’s the case then I will make for you every day.”

“Really?” Ryan screamed in delight making her burst into laughter.

“Of course, but you must promise me that you would talk to Damien to let me out of the room. I can’t stay there like a caged bird.”

Ryan nodded before shoving a large piece in his mouth, "Hmm, I will. Don't worry." His voice came off as muffled.

Emmaline snickered at his swollen cheeks. She jabbed her index finger in his right cheek, "Why do you eat like a squirrel? Stuffing the food in your cheeks. Are you a caveman?"

She deliberately said it loud and turned around only to be left disappointed as Zion had already left.

"Where did he go?" She whined and flitted her gaze around the room.

"Probably, hunting,” Ryan replied.

Emmaline looked at him and soon they both burst into laughter.

*****

"Have you been starving? How much you are going to eat?"

Emmaline scrunched her nose and looked at Ryan who was again filling up his plate.

"They aren't coming back and I don't like wasting food." He spoke and shrugged his shoulders. Smiling in content, he started feasting on the bacon.

Emmaline rolled her eyes, "So you're going to finish everything?"

"Duh", Ryan didn't bother looking at her and continued eating.

Emmaline slammed her palms on the table, "Stop eating like a pig and promise me. I am warning you, Ryan, dare you forget the things I have told you to ask Damien and you'll see my worst side. I want my books and my gadgets back." She complained.

Ryan hummed in response and shot her an annoying look, "I heard it. Your one scream is as effective as ten. You want to complete your studies and want your freedom back. Now will you let me eat in peace?" He snapped and was about to eat when Emmaline snatched the fork from his hand.

“Hey!!”

Yelling, he lunged at her but Emmaline raised her hand higher, with her other hand, she started pushing his head making him groan.

“You brat!!”

“Don’t show me attitude piggy” Emmaline grinned and was about to get off the chair when Ryan grabbed the back of her head and pulled her forward with a jerk. Emmaline flinched in response and got crashed onto his chest.

Her eyes widened. She immediately tried pulling back when Ryan inched forward and pulled her closer making their noses collide. Her breath hitched. Taking advantage of her frozen state, Ryan traced his fingers over her hand that was holding the knife and reached for the fork.

“And you don’t forget you can’t match my height, shorty.” Smirking, he took the fork back from her fingers. Her jaw dropped.

“You-“

“WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE??”

They both jumped on their seats hearing that fierce growl. Dropping the knife, Ryan immediately stood up and faced Damien who was shooting daggers at them.

“N-Nothing Alpha. We were just having breakfast.” He spoke and flashed him a small smile. Damien didn’t respond. His gaze then dropped to Emmaline who was staring at him coldly.

He witnessed their banter and boy, he was pissed as hell. Marching towards them, he eyed the table that was bedecked with empty plates stained with leftovers.

Ryan quickly pulled a chair for him, “Have breakfast Alpha. Luna had prepared a variety of delectable meals.” He tried to lighten up his sour mood knowing very well that the Alpha must have witnessed everything and was just a second away from breaking his neck.

Damien raised a brow and sneered, “Well thank you but I don’t eat air.”

Ryan threw him a muddled look. With furrowed brows, he took a furtive glance at the dining table only to find empty utensils.

“Uhmm, it was so tasty. I guess we pigged out.” He smiled nervously.

“Slight correction. You pigged out, I ate according to my appetite, piggy.” Emmaline snorted while patting his stomach. Ryan broke out into cold sweats at her bold move. He quickly removed his hands but her obsessed mate had already seen it.

Damien shifted his burning eyes towards Emmaline and spoke with a clenched jaw, “Piggy huh? Gave him a nickname too.”

Emmaline sighed, piqued at her husband who had succumbed to the green-eyed monster, “Relax, there’s still plenty in the kitchen. Put your ass down, I will bring it for you.”

She then lazily stood up and strolled to the kitchen leaving Ryan and Damien shocked.

“Did you hear that?”

Damien couldn’t believe his ears. It sounded so like a couple. He looked at Ryan who had his head turned to the kitchen, bewildered by Emmaline’s sudden change.

“Y-Yeah, I think she has started accepting you.” He smiled at him and squeezed his right shoulder but the suspicion in his eyes didn’t disappear.

Emmaline heard them talking and continued walking toward the kitchen when her eyes suddenly met with Zion who was standing beside Isabella.

Isabella threw her a stink eye and stormed away from there. Emmaline scoffed and focussed her eyes back on Zion.

The two of them then parted their ways but not before flashing each other a subtle smirk.