Chapter 70

"Argg!!"

Groaning out loud, Emmaline massaged her head as she stood up from the ground. Her face contorted in discomfort as she could feel the twigs and grass piercing her skin.

"God. It feels like I have been run over by a truck."

Biting her lips, she brought her aching legs closer to her chest and glanced at her naked self which was covered in dirt. She scrunched her nose and began brushing away the dust when she heard someone calling her from behind.

"Em-Oh God,"

Zion shouted as he approached her from behind only to freeze in place. With eyes widened to the size of saucers, he quickly covered her with a weave he was carrying. Emmaline smiled and wrapped it around her tightly.

"Here, I bought clothes for you sissy," Ryder grinned as he emerged from Zion's back and handed Emmaline a blue shirt and black trousers.

"Thanks," Emmaline said and took it from his hands while the two men turned around to let her dress.

*****

"Well, you were phenomenal last night," Ryder exclaimed as he patted Emmaline's back only for her to slightly move away from his touch. Zion noticed how she gave him a tight-lipped smile but keep wincing occasionally as they both walked to the Northern Valley.

"Are you okay?"

He couldn't help but worry for her. Emmaline quickly schooled her expressions to hide her pain.

"Y-yeah, I am perfectly fine. It's just I had no idea. I was running mindlessly, leaping giant bushes and tearing the trees in my paths. It was like I had no control over myself. And by the time, I regained my senses, I was too exhausted to go back and eventually succumbed to darkness and then next morning, woke up naked in the middle of a wild forest." She said and burst into giggles. Ryder also joined her but Zion didn't share the feelings of the brother-sister. Her body was completely worn out, tiredness dripped from her face, it was clear as a day. Zion was even surprised as to how come Ryder wasn’t able to see it. He was busy in his whole delusional world, appreciating her as to how ruthless she was last night.

"It's all right. You know I am happy that you passed the first phase." Ryder comforted her. Emmaline frowned.

"First phase?"

"Yup. You see Lycans are the supremo of the entire werewolf clan. Our massive figures blazing with speed and agility, power running like molten lava through our veins, and that feral growl we let out, feeling our lungs explode and eyes darkening in desire and hunger to tear out enemies, limb by limb, is not everyone’s cup of tea. You need tremendous self-control to deal with that. Last night might not be your first transformation guessing when you're born a werewolf but being a Lycan, it was your first experience and indeed you did great. I mean being a Lycan, if I have to judge you, I say you pass the test with flying colors."

Ryder said and looked at Emmaline. She nervously smiled, "Yeah, it was great. I could feel the power glistening on my skin and the wind caressing my face as I pranced and danced in the darkness, hopping around. It was fun."

"No, it wasn't."

The trip halted in their tracks when Zion shouted angrily completely done with the whole thing.

"You ran away in the middle of the night after nearly killing your mate who is also the Alpha of my goddamn pack. There’s nothing great about that Moon. If someone gets to know that, your life will be in danger."

"What? I hurt Damien?" Emmaline yelled making Zion nod angrily but stiffened when he noticed a smile rolling on her lips.

"Wow!! That's great. So, how did my sister kiss his ass?" Ryder grinned as he squeezed Emmaline's shoulders who also snickered.

"Stop laughing," Zion hollered at him. Ryder who was laughing his heart out, his smile instantly wavered and a stern expression crossed his eyes. But Zion ignored his glares and turned to Emmaline who was equally angry at how he was interrupting her fun.

"Do you realize what you have done, Moon? You've hurt Damien. It's good that he hadn't died given that you have no control over yourself. But he has sustained major injuries that were lethal and the entire pack is right bogged in despair and grief. All the eyes are currently searching for his Luna who should be right now next to him but she is here rejoicing over the fact that she is responsible for his state."

"Yes, I am rejoicing and am not at all guilty," Emmaline fought back. She folded her arms across her chest and scoffed, "I can't believe you're blaming me. Weren't you there when Xander shoved his silver stick into my shoulder? Weren't you the witness of the injustice I've faced in that house?" she shouted and stormed towards him.

Zion was startled but guilt entered his eyes when his gaze collided with her watery ones.

"His bitch mother killed my Mommy. His Dad is responsible for wiping my whole family. That man, your Alpha despite knowing everything is siding with those murderers, turning a blind eye to all their heinous crimes. Now say that I am lying!!"

"I know that Emma," Zion sighed and cupped his face, "And I am not blaming you. But being your friend, I am only advising you to don’t let your hatred overpower you and end up divulging your intentions. You hate Damien and it's no more hidden from the world. Even every wolf of Shadow Banes knows it by now but you need to understand that they worship him. According to them, the Knight family is their God, their protector, and the bulwark of the Northern Valley. They don't know their real faces and to put the reality in front of them, to dethrone Damien, you need to first collect solid evidence against him. I know that last night wasn’t your fault. But you should be walking on eggshells Emmaline not stoop to violence. It will only ruin things."

"Oh, come on, she had no control over herself and that's why it happened. It's not a big deal." Ryder spoke in her defense.

"Well, it is." Zion spat, "Anyway I am not going to argue with you anymore because right now Emmaline's presence is required in the packhouse. Damien is still unconscious; Isabella is all in tears and Xander is having a conniption fit because you aren't there."

"Is he blaming her for his son?" Ryder questioned him with raised brows.

"Of course, he was until I clamped him up with a white lie that a Lycan attacked our pack. Damien was trying to save Emmaline and ended up getting injured. And now I am on a mission to find our Luna who was technically abducted by that Lycan freak." Zion told him his plan.

"Well, that Lycan freak was none other than me," Emmaline spoke and looked at Ryder who smirked. Zion facepalmed.

"You're not getting my point, Moon."

"I got it." Emmaline sneered in frustration. "Fine if that's what you want, I will stay neutral. I will go back with and play my dutiful wife but don't expect me to fake cry because my I am not good at it." She said and rolled her eyes.

Zion looked at her and nodded after heaving a loud sigh.

"Fine then let's go."

*****

"You finally came huh!!" Isabella who was sitting beside Damien who was lying on the bed seethed in anger.

Emmaline clenched her jaw but she masked her annoyance with a blank face and strutted inside as Zion guided her to Damien.

"Don't get angry Madam. She was unconscious when I found her. Luna is clueless about last night. The attacker hurt her too."

"But she doesn't look in bad shape while my son is completely battered," Xander growled as he sized her from head to toe. Emmaline ignored him and continued moving ahead when Isabella blocked her way grabbing her attention.

“It’s not like that Sir. She is equally tired.” Zion spoke but was cut off by Isabella who flashed Emmaline an evil smirk.

"Of course, she will be. The Lycan freak must have ravaged our whorish daughter-in-law.”

"Enough," Emmaline couldn't stop herself and snarled making Zion jump. Her ferocious growl terrorized every soul in the room. They all froze in their places and looked at her with scared eyes.

"You hate me, I know that but I hate you more than you can imagine. I have no fucking clue what transpired last night so stop blaming me for everything that goes wrong with you. If I had the chance to run away with that Lycan you all are talking about then I wouldn't have returned to this hell hole where I am humiliated every single day, you fucking boneheads. So, for once give some rest to your empty skulls and get the hell out of my room."

She snapped and glowered at Isabella and Xander whose jaws dropped to the grounds.

Isabella who didn’t expect that comeback turned red in humiliation and rage.

“How dare you-“

“Yeah, how dare I. Well, I did dare and now I want everyone out. So just take your annoying asses out of my room yourself or I will kick you out.” Emmaline completed her words and glared at her hard. She then shifted her eyes and looked at the doctors who were treating Damien. Dread pooled in their stomach when their eyes met with her azure ones that were narrowed into thin slits. They quickly dropped their instruments and vacated the room leaving only Xander and Isabella behind.

Xander couldn’t bear the insult and marched towards Emmaline in anger when Zion blocked his way. His eyes widened.

“What the hell are you doing? Move!!”

“I am sorry Sir but while Alpha is injured that leaves Luna in charge and as per the pack’s rules, I have to obey her orders.” Zion rasped leaving him stunned.

“There’s nothing to be sorry about it, Zion.” Emmaline stated and moved forward before turning to Isabella who was shaking in fury. “It was him who made the rules and Alpha follows them too so father-in-law shouldn’t have any qualms about it. In fact, you are respecting him by walking on his path.”

Xander turned livid as she mocked him, “If I made the rules I can change them too.”

“Well, you can’t.” Emmaline retorted, “You aren’t an Alpha anymore. You don’t hold any right to make calls and amends the rules. And you know what? You don’t get to be mad when you have passed the baton to Damien on your own free will. So, take a deep breath and sit back. And as my husband is currently not in the state to perform his duties, being the Luna I need to hold the bridle in my hands and take his position. I bet you understand what I mean.” She said and flitted her gaze between the couples who were throwing daggers at her.

“Leave,” Emmaline spoke, her eyes turned cold as she looked at Xander who after giving her a murderous glare stormed away. She then turned her eyes to Isabella who was still on the same spot, showcasing her denial.

“Do you have difficulty in understanding English mother-in-law?” Emmaline spoke sweetly before giving her a sharp look, “Leave.”

Isabella growled and looked at Zion who watched her with a straight face. Eyeing them darkly, she grudgingly left the room.

“That was sexy.” Zion husked and winked at Emmaline as he hadn’t expected that she would mould the situation this way.

Emmaline on the other hand smirked. She then looked at Damien who was still asleep. She walked closer to take a better look.

A thick white bandage covered his forehead so his torso. He had a black eye, cuts on his face and his upper body was adorned with red scratch marks. Emmaline felt a sickening pleasure witnessing his wounded form. Even Zion noticed. How her eyes sparkled and lips twitched upwards. For some reason, it irked him but he supressed his feelings because he can’t blame her relishing his pain. She has every right to be happy.

Emmaline sauntered towards the bed and stopped near Damien. She pressed her palm on the headboard and leaned closer to his face.

“Don’t celebrate now, Zion.” She smiled and ran his fingers over his cheek, caressing his stubble.

“I have stashed a lot for them,” she sneered maliciously wiping the smile off Zion’s lips.