Chapter 67

Emmaline

Finally, the night arrived. A night that would unveil all my secrets, the day my life will take a huge and complete turn and the day I will gain my real powers.

Tonight was the Full Moon, a day which I have been waiting anxiously for so long.

I was in the garden, barefoot waiting for Zion while the whole world was still asleep. It was five in the morning, the time when Damien is in a deep sleep. I was in complete consciousness when he fed me the medicine by his mouth, that was super gross by the way but hey, I had to drink to get healed.

That bloody Xander, for sure I will give him a painful death but that awaits the accomplishment of my agenda. Zion was though against my idea, I still put the final seal on it. Because that’s my only option.

"You're punctual."

My lips curved up hearing that mocking tone that obviously belonged to Zion.

"Yeah, so will you tell me the purpose of this secret meeting?"

He snorted and strolled towards me while his hands were nestled in the pocket of his black cargo.

"Of course. It's a full moon tonight when each werewolf residing in this valley will transform but you won't."

I huffed and crossed my arms, "Tell me something I don't know Zion."

Like seriously, he chose to rewind his cassette right now?

"You told me the same thing that day too. So, will you do me a favor and tell me the whole story? Why wouldn't I change?"

"Because you're a Lycan."

A deep voice rang through the woods, startling me. I immediately turned alert and looked around.

"Who's there?"

"Relax Moon," Zion spoke this time catching my attention. I shifted my eyes towards him when suddenly a man double his size appeared from his behind.

My jaw dropped.

His physique was equivalent to a Hulk.

With huge bulging muscles, sturdy and broad chest, dark ebony hair, chiseled jawline, beautiful baby blue eyes, pink lips, light stubble dusted on his cheeks, and dressed up in a black leather jacket and black trousers with long boots, the man was the perfect definition of hot and handsome.

I kept gawking at him like a fool when suddenly something clicked in my mind.

"Y-You.. you look familiar. I mean you resembled someone whom I know very well." I drawled out as I was still in a trance and looked at Zion for an answer.

"Doesn't he look like someone Zion?"

The man was young, I mean younger than Damien and maybe just the same age as me. Or one or two years older but not more than that.

Zion chuckled as he looked at the handsome guy and what surprised me when he also smiled at my words.

Did I crack a joke? But boy, his smile was so beautiful.

"It's because I am your brother, Emmaline."

'WHAT!!'s

My eyes popped out of my sockets. He resembled m-me?

"No way," I scoffed and looked at them but their serious expressions turned me uneasy.

No, that's not at all possible.

"Zion?"

Adrenaline rushed through my veins. Zion's gaze softened watching my scared face. He stepped forward and grabbed my shoulders before giving them a tight squeeze.

"I know it's shocking but we both need you to stay calm and listen to us. Act maturely alright?"

He spoke softly while looking into my eyes. None of his words get through my head but Zion can be trusted. He was my friend and the only soul in this madhouse whom I can bank on.

"Yeah," I spoke unwillingly and looked at that man whom I was fangirling a few minutes before. Sadly, he turned out to be my brother.

Zion then turned to that Hulk and signaled him to blow the lid off.

"We need to go somewhere safe first."

I frowned, "Why? What's-"

"Yeah, we can go near the riverside. It will be quiet this time." Zion cut me off in between making me narrow my eyes at him.

The man nodded and then looked at me before turning his heels and heading for the riverside. Zion followed his trail while I followed them grudgingly.

*****

"You're Alpha Ryder, the Lycan guest who was supposed to visit Northern Valley yesterday?"

I asked my brother who was looking at me with cold eyes. His expression was grim and it was difficult to discern whether he was happy or angry to see me.

Ryder gave a curt nod, "I did visit your in-laws yesterday but your husband was so busy and didn’t consider it necessary to welcome his guest. Alpha Damien not for once showed up last night which was definitely a big slap on his arrogant and greedy parents' faces. They were dying of embarrassment but I could see the hidden anger and frustration in their eyes. So, I inquired Zion regarding that and he told me that Damien was with you the whole day. Awake and making sure you’re safe."

'Really?'

My jaw slacked as I also really had no idea about that. But the way Ryder described his meeting with the Knights, there was a clear display of resentment and rage on his face for them. So, it did feel good to see that we both share the same hostility towards them.

"Those bastards injured Moon and it was her idea to lure Damien into giving her the medicine," Zion spoke and looked at me with a displeased expression making me roll my eyes.

"Yeah, you made it clear yesterday that you were against my plan. No need to throw it on my face again and again."

"But the question is why you even came up with such a plan?"

This time it was Ryder who questioned me.

My eyes twinkled with amusement, "And who are you to question me? You didn't even introduce yourself properly."

I took a jibe at him. Like really, he has the balls to question my decisions?

"Moon, he is your brother," Zion berated me.

"Yeah, I know," I said and looked at him, "but apart from that I know nothing."

Exhaling loudly, I snickered and sauntered toward Ryder who was staring at me with his hard, icy-cold eyes.

"You are a Lycan and so, am I. But why are our lives so different? You're an Alpha while I am married to one who is the son of our parents' killer. You're living a life of a king, sailing in money, and have friends and a family on your back while I am being tortured by these deranged psychopaths and have no one on my side."

Tears stung at the corner of my eyes but I pushed them back. I need answers from him or anyone who can tell me why my life is so miserable. Why despite surviving alone and fighting with the world with only having myself and Reina as companions, why have I to suffer at the hands of those murderers? Why isn’t he getting the same punishment as me? They were his parents too.

Ryder took a deep sigh, "It's a long story, sister."

"DON'T!!" I hollered and raised my palms in front of his face, "Don't you ever call me your sister because I am not."

"Calm down, Moon-"

"Shut up." I snapped at Zion and glared at him not to interfere. He immediately zipped his mouth and stepped back.

"Shout as much as you can but that's not gonna change the fact that we are blood-related," Ryder spoke in a gruff tone as he was done playing patient guy.

I smirked and jutted my chin out, "Really? You are pressing too hard to convince me that we are siblings. Care to elaborate why after so many years these kindred feelings ignited in your heart?"

His jaw ticked. My words for sure riled him up.

I walked towards him while maintaining my glare.

"I was in New York struggling with my life while you were ruling your kingdom, sybarite. If you knew me why you never care to pay me a visit? Why kept our relationship a secret all these years and decided to divulge it when I am in my enemies' cave? And please don't say that you were concerned for me because I won't trust it no matter what. So, try harder."

I mused and halted at arm’s length and craned my neck to look into his eyes that were glowering at me.

"Tell me one good reason as to why I should trust you. Why did you come running to find me when I came to Northern Valley of my free will? It was my idea to step into the lion’s cave then why are you protecting me? Is it really concern or are you scared that I will snatch your throne?"

Ryder's gaze darkened when I flashed him a smirk. His composed expression immediately morphed into a raging one. Taking a threatening step in my direction, he crouched to my level and snarled.

"You are so full of yourself Emmaline. A long period of solitude, anger, frustration, sadness, and despair had turned you narcissistic, egoistic, and pessimistic who thinks the world is only full of bad people. Your siege mentality is what draws you to evil and blinds you to the good part of life. I won't say that I can understand what you've gone through Emma because I don't but all I know is that even if I offer you my help, you would never take it." He grated out.

That stung badly.

A tear escaped my left eye which Ryder did notice but continued spewing venom.

"You will let that man give you a life full of endless misery and torture. You would keep on playing your childish girly games of wrapping him around your fingers by hurting yourself so that he heals you and act weak and vulnerable in front of him so that he turns weak and his feelings for you blossom. His love overpowers his respect for his parents and he ends up murdering them. Finally, your mission gets completed and you both have a happy ending."

"Nope," I spoke and raised my index finger near his lips, "Once he ends up killing Alpha Xander, I will revert to my original life and-"

"Well, that's where you're wrong sissy."

I was shocked when Ryder grinned and wrapped his fingers around my index finger before pulling my hand down.

"Whom are you trying to fool? You can show the world that you feel nothing for our that killer’s son but deep down you're enjoying this game."

The corner of his lips tugged upwards as he offended me.

White-hot anger flooded my veins.

"How dare you!!"

I slapped his hand away and yelled in his face.

"Oh, I can dare as much as I want." Ryder shot back with a clenched jaw," I am your brother. We are both of the same age so I won't shut up and will show you the mirror till you realize where you're going wrong."

"I am going wrong?" I looked at him in disbelief. After going through so much, that’s what I get to hear. People will now judge when they don’t even know that I put my life at stake multiple times and managed to come so far.

Ryder nodded, "Yes, you are. You're getting distracted and that problem is Damien. Believe it or not sissy, I don’t know if your hatred game had changed your mate's heart or not but you indeed have fallen hard for him."

He growled leaving him speechless.