7.

Emma

Silence.

It was a stifling and tense silence. I sat on a single chair, facing not only my family but the Moon Dust pack's present Alpha and Beta. I didn't expect them to show up or stay for this family matter but I calculated it within my musings.

"I asked my questions, so it's only the answers I'm waiting on," I said breaking the silence with an uncomfortable laugh. My posture was rigid and my hands were tightly clasped together on my thighs as I waited for them to speak. It was truly nerve-wracking.

"Did you know in cases of extreme starvation, the brain will begin to eat itself," Mason interrupted me. I looked at him with a raised eyebrow. Now I know it's something bad. Whenever he's nervous, Mason blurts out random facts about anything.

"Oh. Thanks for that tidbit, Mase."

He chuckled lightly before turning his face away from me.

Oh?! So he's privy to whatever they're hiding. My heart ached by that realization. My hands shook by the slight emotional upheaval. Deciding to ignore him for a while, I placed my focus on my family.

"Emma," Alpha Jack said getting my attention. "Before we tell you, I want you to know that we all love you. We will always protect you and we will always be there for you whenever you need us," He continued.

The 'I love you' speech. Just how many times have I watched this in drama movies and read them in cheesy romance novels? Aiden reached for my hands and gently squeezed them in reassurance.

"Et, tu, Aiden?" I spoke softly. He caught on to my question and sat back in embarrassment.

"Emma," My mother said with a shaky voice. Whatever she was about to say was tearing her apart. Also for my father whose whole body was tense.

"Having you in our lives was and still is a dream come true. Watching you grow every day solidified our strength in keeping you safe. We may not share the same blood but we're still your family," she continued.

I frowned deeply at her words and noticed how my brothers shifted uneasily on their feet. I couldn't move. I couldn't speak. My eyes were on the couple I call Mom and Dad. The phrases 'keeping you safe' and 'not blood-related' were like neon lights in my mind. Are they serious? This wasn't a trick, right? These people.... they are my family. They won't lie to me.

"What your mo... My wife is trying to say is..... We are not your real parents," Dad said. Blunt. Precise. Straightforward. That's my dad. Technically he isn't apparently, still, I said nothing.

They began to speak but I couldn't hear them. Why was it so hot? All their chatter sounded muffled. I was still trying to wrap my mind around the 'not your family' part. Suddenly the house felt too hot, tugging at my t-shirt, in discomfort, I turned to the twins. Their expressions said it all.

"You two aren't my brothers, huh?" I asked in a bare whisper. I tried to smile but my face was too stiff to show any type of action.

"Bullshit. We are your brothers."Jonah said harshly. I tried to smile once more but couldn't. Everything was numb. I struggled to come up with a proceeding question but ended up saying random things.

"So adoption. Wow. It seems like it was an open secret since a random guy at the mall knew. Weird. I think that's the theme of the day." I tried my best to continue but just couldn't. The remaining words felt like they were literally choking me. Raising my hand to my throat, I rubbed it absentmindedly.

"No. Not adopted. Placed for your protection," my father said or was it this stranger?

"From who? The birds and bugs in the woods.?" I asked incredulously. Jonah and Mason coughed over a chuckle before Mom shushed them.

"Emma...." I heard Aiden say reaching for me.

I forcefully pulled out of his grip. Being touched at the moment didn't feel right somehow. Feeling uneasy and shell-shocked, I got up and began to pace the entire floor. "The people... My parents. They are alive right?" I asked with a slight stutter.

"Yes, they are. On your eighteenth birthday, they are expecting you back home."

I looked at my mother like she just grew two heads. "That's a few months away. Just exactly when you were gonna tell me? When I'm plopped right back in their arms. How were you going to get me there?" I shrieked in incredulity. Call me dramatic but all of this was coming out of the left field, if it wasn't for that guy at the mall, I may have never known till I sat in front of my birth parents in an awkward silence filled the room.

Mason was about to comment but I held my hand up to stop him knowing it was going to be something farfetched. He gave me a sheepish grin before walking over to his father. "The plan was to tell you after my inauguration ball," Aiden said answering my question.

"That's..." I glanced at his father who now had a guilty look on his face. Rules state the new Alpha of any pack should not be in any romantic relationship besides one with his chosen. With my mind putting two and two together it will be a clean break for us, Aiden especially. No more girlfriend physically and emotionally.

Another slash of hurt cut through my heart. I knew our relationship is the cause of the tension between Alpha Jack and the elders but damn how many strikes I had to take. I would have been losing my family and boyfriend in one go.

Shit!

"Did y'all plan to send me to my so-called parent borderline crazy?" I shrieked. If I can feel the pain of their confessions at the moment which was messing with my emotions and mentality, imagine if their plans went through. I was trying not to cry and accept the reality of things together.

My parents are not my parents.

I have brothers but not in the blood sense.

"We can sit and talk about it," Mom offered. Should I still be calling her mom or did she expect Rebecca better? Is it going to be extremely awkward after tonight? Looking around the family room I had an answer. Alia was whimpering in sadness, she too was confused.

"Question though. So the guy... The guy at the food court... Eyes like mine. Total sugar daddy GQ look. He's my...." I stressed on the last letter waiting for them to jump in with the answer.

"Uncle. He's your uncle." Mom answered quickly. A wide smile was on my face now.

"Can I meet him? I mean he practically found me and was awfully nice. A bit weird but that seems to be like every uncle. Y'all should stop talking in riddles though." I was actually bouncing on my feet. I met a member of my real family. Maybe he will help with the transition when the time comes. I never had an uncle. Mom and Dad were only kids to their parents.

"NO!"

The harsh shout from my father startled me, and my happy bubble popped. "W-why?" I asked with a furrowed brow.

"Because he's the reason why your parents sent you here with us."

"Just who are my parents?" I should have asked that earlier but things were looking like scenes from a witness protection movie. My eyes widen. Maybe I am in the witness protection. Wonder what my real...

"No Emmy. You are not in the witness protection program." Mason said out loud. An embarrassing blush took over my cheeks, "Mase," I whined. He knew how active my mind was and knew most of my quirks. The room held a collective chuckle releasing the tension. Heaving a heavy sigh I began to pace some more, my thoughts burdening me once more. "I need some air. Can we talk about this tomorrow or something?" I asked not meeting anyone's eyes.

"Sure, sweetie."

The twins made a step towards me but I simply shook my head no, stopping them completely. "Not this time. This is a lot and I haven't heard the full story yet." I said with a humorless chuckle.

'Let's go for a run. It may help us.'

My wolf was right. We just need a bit of exercise and isolation. Assuring them all that I will be fine I rushed to the backyard and shifted just as I was covered by the trees.

'What is going to happen now?' Alia asked.

'I don't know. I just don't know.'

Noah

"We have to go after her," I said to my brother. It's been two hours since we allowed her to leave the safety of our home. How could they let her go off alone when that pyscho is so close?

He shook his head, "Give her time"

Always the laidback one. Sometimes I feel like I'm the only one taking her protection seriously. No one took note of how her eyes are getting golden as it nears her birthday. Her wolf needs to be with its own blood. Any longer and she will be challenging Alpha Jack for his position. We were all told of this but yet no one isn't setting up any precautions.

Growling lowly under my breath I rushed to my room for the backpacks I always double-check each day. Taking them back to the family room everyone stopped their conversations watching my movements. I placed the three bags near the backdoor and checked them again. Supplies and clothing as good, I replaced the meal packs with fresher ones after everything was good to my liking.

"Son. He isn't coming. The boys got her out of the human town seconds after catching the scent." I looked at my father over my shoulder. "This man isn't an ordinary wolf," I commented.

"In which we have precautions..." he continued trying to stop me from leaving the kitchen.

"It never hurts to be prepared. Now you all can stay here. I'm going after MY sister" I said running in the direction her scent was the strongest.

We should have told her sooner. We should have told her everything. I wanted to tell her when she first shifted but making her hide her wolf was too much. She was ecstatic to see her wolf, I was the one who taught her how to control the urge to shift and her temper. After telling her that she had to keep it all a secret the light died in her eyes. Emma longed for her wolf since she was a kid, wanting freedom but we had to stifle it. When she hears the other part of the secret my fun little sister will be no more.

I found her by the lake still in her wolf form whimpering. It pained me to see her like this. I lay next to her with my head on her back not saying a word. She was hurting. Her strong facade finally broke. I was wondering when would that happen.

'Emmy. I'm sorry.' I said to her. A whimper filled with pain and loss reached my ears.

After a moment of silence, she spoke.

'I have so many questions you know but logic tells me to listen to you guys first. What if I don't like what I learn? What if I don't want to go to them, will they force me to return?' she said.

I stayed quiet not knowing how to answer that. Sitting up on my hind legs I looked at her, she would feel even more betrayed by us if she knew from someone else. I had to tell her now.

'Emma, you...' I started to say before I saw my family along with Aiden and Mason come rushing towards us. Something was up and it sure as hell wasn't good. The desperation and anxiety I felt over the pack link were too high. I knew it was too quiet. That meeting at the mall wasn't coincidental. That guy is more of a snake than a wolf.

'We have to go. Is she alright?' Jonah asked. The urgency in his voice mimicked my current actions.

Mom shifted and picked up a backpack from her feet. "Rogues are crossing the border. Emma, baby. Your brothers will be taking you away from here to keep you safe but you can't leave in wolf form." Mom gently said to her. She looked at me then Jonah when he came to stand by my side.

Huffing in agreement she shifted while Aiden quickly brought her a new change of clothes. They stood staring at each other saying their last goodbyes. I knew he loved her but it would destroy them in the end. I looked away when he kissed her and heard her sobs in between their kisses.

"Be careful. Remember your training. Please ... Please be safe, butterfly" he said with his voice breaking.

She nodded quickly kissing his cheeks and then lips. "I love you so much," he said before pulling away. I noticed she didn't return her love for him. She usually does. Mom and Dad hesitantly stepped up to her but she ran to their arms saying thank you. Mason was last to say goodbye, they said no words just held each other for a while.

Though it was all abrupt, things were calm. It allowed me to concentrate on the situation outside of our little safe zone.

'Emmyy we have to go. Now. Something is wrong' Jonah said to us. He was agitated. It was the same for me and the others but Emma was unexpectedly calm. I felt the overlaying tension in the air. Something or someone was dominant in the rogues' scents. We have to go. We have to get Emma out of here.

It had to be him.

She took the backpack and followed Jonah west of our pack's border. I was being helped with my backpack which can accommodate a large wolf when my father spoke.

'Stay close to the unclaimed lands. Keep west and find refuge in a pack that's closest to your destination. May the goddess blesses you all' my father said. Behind his words were an apology and pride as he backed away from me. His wolf body was tense and ready for the fight that was waiting for him.

The intruders were close.

We have to leave.

With Emma on Jonah's back, I turned to see my family one last time. Their actions spoke of the situation. They couldn't spare us a glance. The pack was in danger. Just how prepared did they come?

Dear goddess,please keep us safe.

Our journey has just begun.