Helanie:
"Oh, Helanie!" Vani yelled and ran into my arms the minute I entered the house. I imdiately hugged her back while Emt walked in, guiding the warriors to place our bags in the corner and the gifts for Vani up front.
"Hey, have you lost weight?" I noticed it imdiately, and my heart broke for her. She was basically just bones.
"Oh, that’s nothing. I’m fine," she lied, avoiding my eyes before turning to look at Emt. "I knew you were coming, and I prayed you brought Emt with you," she added, making her bias very clear.
Emt responded with a smirk and a gentle pat on her head.
"And I ca bearing gifts," he replied, making her clap her hands excitedly.
Honestly speaking, that was all him. I’d been so stressed after Azura’s arrival that bringing gifts didn’t even cross my mind. But Emt had it all covered. From fruits and groceries to school supplies and even clothes. He brought everything.
"No wonder you’re my favorite," Vani shrugged, stepping back and undoing her hair to show off her haircut. But then, just as quickly, she tied it back into a bun, like she was afraid soone might see her.
"What happened?" I asked, curious.
"Mom says not to leave my hair open or I might get the attention of the kidnappers," she whispered. My heart shattered the mont she said it.
"But you’re in the safety of your ho," I said, walking around the living room. Even the windows were boarded up.
"They abduct children from their hos, even from their bedrooms," she replied, a sad pout forming on her lips.
I felt terrible for her, and for all the children in the pack.
This is supposed to be the age when they’re carefree, enjoying their childhood before life dumps responsibilities on them. But here they were: scared, anxious, and living in constant fear.
"Fear not, little Vani. I’m here now. Nothing can get past to hurt you," Emt said, settling onto the couch with a warm smile. A smile so bright and comforting, even I couldn’t help but smile back at him.
"You’re cute," Vani giggled.
She was still just a baby in so many ways. Girls her age usually thought they were adults already. I never had the chance to be a child myself, but I was glad Vani wasn’t in a hurry to grow up. And to make sure she gets to live her best childhood, I was now even more determined to find that kidnapper.
"How many tis do I have to remind you to fucking lock the door?! Do you want to get abducted or what?"
As expected of Larissa. She stord in with shopping bags, yelling at Vani without even looking around until her eyes landed on us.
She took off her sunglasses, dropped the bags on the side table, and rushed straight back outside again.
"The Queen of the North is here with the Rogue King," Larissa announced to the people, making roll my eyes as she alerted the neighbors, who began pouring out of their hos like ants to sugar.
I sat next to Emt in a bad mood, still annoyed.
"Did you see how she used the whole kidnapping thing to control Vani? Isn’t that so ssed up?" I whispered, making a face.
"Yeah, and I’m also noticing how cute you look while making those faces," Emt replied casually, lounging comfortably with one leg over the other. His complint made my cheeks turn red.
"Do you have to make such comnts?" I asked, though internally I was glad he was here, helping lighten up.
"I have to mark my territory," he said smoothly, turning his head toward with one of his signature smirks.
"Helanie!" an older woman from the neighborhood called out, rushing over with a young girl behind her, probably her granddaughter, no older than her early twenties.
"I wonder how much you’ll actually be able to help us," she began, her voice cutting. "You were once a victim of a heinous cri yourself and couldn’t do anything at the ti." Typical. Just like old tis, her bitterness hadn’t aged a day.
"I think you missed the whole episode where she fought back against her rapist and won. That’s why she’s the Alpha Queen now. By the way," Emt added, "I didn’t see you bow to her."
The look she usually reserved for wasn’t the one she gave Emt, even when he was being blunt. She still smiled for him.
"The Rogue King," she said, eyes gleaming. "After your last visit here with your brothers, I started looking you up. Emt McQuoid—you’re quite the charming bachelor. How is it that you haven’t found your fated mate yet?" she asked, gently nudging her granddaughter forward, who imdiately smiled at Emt.
"Who said I haven’t found my fated mate?" Emt said coolly, and just like that, the girl’s smile vanished. She glanced at her grandmother, then back at Emt.
I instantly straightened up in my seat. I had a bad feeling about what he was going to say next. He does that—blurts out the truth like consequences don’t exist. Sotis I wonder if the concept of keeping things to himself ever crossed his mind.
"Has a child gone missing in the last two days?" I interrupted, changing the subject quickly. I looked to Vani, who squeezed her way past the old woman and her granddaughter.
"Just last night, a boy went missing," Vani said quietly. Her whole deanor dropped. The fact that these kidnappings were happening without any signs of forced entry was what made it all the more disturbing. Sothing wasn’t right.
"Now that we’re here, we’ll take care of everything," I reassured her.
The old lady grabbed her granddaughter’s hand and walked off, clearly irritated that Emt wasn’t falling for their setup.
In the corner, Larissa stood texting soone. I wondered who she was informing, maybe her husband or son?
That’s when Vani excused herself to grab us refreshnts from the kitchen, and after a long pause, Emt finally broke the silence.
"You’re embarrassed or afraid of being called my fated mate?"
His question hit like a rock. I sat up straighter, staring off into the distance.
How could I tell him what his brothers really felt about us?
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