first, Emma walked over to the counter. Staring at herself in the mirror Emma letherself remember the picture of her mom that she had stared at so many times
growing up. She looked so much like her. Aside from her eyes the rest was
mostly the same. Wondering if that had anything to do with why another Decker
man had fallen for that face. Shaking her head hoping to rid herself of all the
doubts swirling inside of it, Emma stripped her clothes off and set them neatly
into the hamper in the corner.
The water was steaming hot when she stepping into the stream. Emma let
it run over her head, the first of her tears mingling with it. Unable to hold the tide
back any longer she sank down in the corner bringing her knees up against her
chest, and sobbed. Murdered. Both of her parents had been murdered. Her Mom
hadn't died in some accident of fate, she was forced off that damn road in
Vermont, right into the trees. Deep down Emma knew even if the impact hadn't
been enough she would have died that night. What was going through her head
as she swerved off the road? Was it blinding terror? Was it sadness that she
wasn't going to get longer on this earth? Was she grateful that Emma and her
Dad weren't there with her? Knowing there was never going to be an answer to
that stole the air from her lungs.
How had her Dad died? Did Emma even want to know? Was he fighting
as a wolf? Shot? It hurt too much to imagine. He must have known the end was
closing in, since she had been sent to public school, so her Dad knew she was
surrounded by people all day long. It's exactly what she would've done in his
position. Patrick brought the picture of his Beth along that day. Having her with
him one last time. Knowing she would never see that picture again was justanother blow. That bastard had stolen both of her parents from her, and he
hadn't even left a picture behind to remember them by. And for what? Because
he wanted a woman who never wanted him back? She loved someone else, her
fated mate. He never would have been that for her Mom. Never. That simply
wasn't the way it worked for shifters. So why the hell couldn't he let go? Was he
jealous someone else got to love Beth, or was it that he was angry she chose
Patrick over him? How fucking childish of him. Like a naughty little boy who
destroyed his favorite toy when he out grew it so nobody else would ever know
the joy of playing with it. All the lives that man ruined. Vowing one way or another
Russell wasn't going to win this. He wouldn't get away with taking her parents
from her, and she damn sure wasn't going to add herself to the list of his victims.
Finally spent Emma stood up turning her face into the spray erasing the
salty tracks of her tears. Needing normalcy she went through the motions.
Washing her hair with the pearly white shampoo. Breathing in the comforting
scent of apples as she slicked the thick conditioner onto the lengths, careful as
always to avoid bringing it up too close to her scalp. Nobody wanted to get out of
the shower with roots already feeling oily. Picking up her razor to shave while the
conditioner sat on her hair working its frizz reducing magic. Skin smooth and
hairless she lathered her self up with the thick moisturizing body wash.
Emma rinsed her hair and body knowing that when she stepped out of the
shower she wasn't going to be the same person that walked into the bathroom an
hour before. Her life was smashed to pieces again, but it just wasn't in Emma to
stay broken. Pulling on a pair of purple cropped sweat pants and a gray tshirt shesquared her shoulders and walked out. She would always feel the scars lining
her soul. Like that cracked plate she bought to hold the candles the other day.
Determined that this was going to make her stronger, because she knew deep
down that Russell Decker thought her weak, easily dealt with. Without a wolf she
might be, but that didn't mean she would cower for a bully.
Chapter 13
Seated on the couch staring dejectedly into the fire blazing away in the
hearth, Lex was the only one left as Emma padded barefoot down the stairs.
Giving him space she settled on the opposite end of the sectional, tucking her
feet up underneath her. She could feel the uncertainty radiating off Lex in waves.
He wasn't sure he was welcome here anymore. "Lex, you know that none of this
was your fault right? I am incredibly grateful that you told me. It wasn't exactly
easy to hear, but thats not on you. It takes alot of heart to tell people things you
know are going to hurt them. Kian is lucky to have you in his life, and I am too.
Nobody's gonna blame you."
"Deck might. His family killed yours. Yeah, thats some soap opera shit Emma."
Lex shook his head. Emma wondered to herself what it would have been like to
grow up together, as cousins.
"No, not his family. An evil man killed my family. The rest of the Decker's are
good, down to their bones good, which is why they didn't know. He hid his true
nature from everyone."
"You actually mean that." Lex finally looked over at her. "I haven't told my parents
yet. I just couldn't. I'll have to someday though. They were both close with
MaryBeth. I can hold them off for awhile, but they're going to want to meet you.Dad especially. You look so much like your Mom, thats gonna make him real
happy. I've always thought he blamed himself for not leaving with his sister."
Not really sure what to think of that Emma nodded. "I can understand that, I
would want to meet me too if I were them. But, won't they be disappointed that I
don't have a wolf? That's not exactly something worth bragging about at family
reunions."
With a laugh Lex shook his head, "but that doesn't mean we would be ashamed
of you. It would just be one thing about
