Forbidden Hope: A Werewolf Wars Prequel Novella (9 page)

Emily closed her eyes, smiling. “You’re getting pretty good at this.”

“I wish I didn’t have to.”

Emily looked down at her hands before lifting his shirt up and pushing it over his head. Her nails grazed against the plains of his chest.

“Em,” he ground out.

She smirked, leaning forward, and placed a kiss to his lips. “I love you.”

“I love you too.”

Marcus deepened the kiss, placing his hands on her bottom. He quickly lifted her up and backed her up against the tree. Her long legs wrapped around his waist, pulling him closer. She fit snugly against him.
This is exactly how it’s supposed to be. We work together. She is my mate—my true love.
Desire filled him and he needed to show her how much her choice meant to him. He deepened the kiss, wanting to feel more of her.

Emily pulled back far enough, allowing him to lift her top up and over her head. Marcus traced his fingers up her black lacy bra strap before reaching behind her and unsnapping it.

She tossed the garment to the ground, and he recaptured her lips, molding their bodies together. He grunted, enjoying the feel of her breasts pressed against him. Emily slid her hands down, fumbling with the button on his jeans a moment. Marcus gently set her back on her feet and shoved his boxers and jeans off while attempting to kick off his shoes. Emily giggled as he stumbled slightly, and he shot her a smile. He watched as she slipped her feet out of her sandals and pushed her panties and shorts down her tanned legs.

Marcus gritted his teeth as he took in the full sight of her. She was so beautiful. He’d seen her this way many times, but it always amazed him at how truly gorgeous she was. Her beauty expanded beyond her physical appearance. Emily was the kindest, most caring person he’d ever met. She was everything he wanted.

“You’re staring,” Emily teased.

“And? So are you,” he said as her eyes slid up and down his body.

“Stop talking! I want to feel you. It’s been too long,” she mumbled as he closed the distance between them. She jumped up, resuming their earlier position.

His cock throbbed against her thigh—so close to where it wanted to be. Emily wiggled her hips, her hot center rubbing against him, causing a delicious friction. Balancing her with one hand and pressing her firmly against the tree, he slipped his free digits between them and slid one finger inside her tight, wet heat.

Emily moaned loudly, bucking against him. Marcus growled, wanting to ensure she got as much pleasure as he did. He inserted another finger and started a slow, but steady pace.

Emily tilted her head back with her eyes closed. Marcus leaned forward, placing a tender kiss to her pulse point. He trailed kisses down her neck and shoulder before dipping even lower to capture a taught nipple in his mouth.

“Stop teasing,” she panted.

“I thought you liked my teasing?” He bit her breast lightly, enjoying the way he made her come undone.

“Not when it’s been so long since we’ve been together. I want to make love to you, Marcus.”

Marcus hummed against her nipple, enjoying the small shiver that coursed through Emily. He understood her feelings all too well. It was maddening not being able to touch her—to claim her. Being in her presence wasn’t enough. The man and the wolf in him needed more.

Marcus removed his fingers, and cupped her behind for support before positioning himself at her entrance. Emily opened her eyes and stared at him as he pushed into her. Her mouth parted in an ‘o’ shape as she mimicked his movements.

Emily ground against Marcus, her breath coming in tiny pants. The world around her disappeared as she got lost in Marcus’ blue-grey eyes. She pushed her fingers into his thick black hair and pressed her forehead against his, never breaking eye contact.

In this moment, it was just the two of them. Marcus was her soul mate. He was the reason she woke up in the morning. The reason she smiled before going to bed. Her reality was dark and dreary. Marcus was the one thing she had that made her happy and she didn’t want to lose him—lose this for anything.

She bit her lip in an effort to keep quiet. Her vision blurred as her orgasm approached. Emily gripped onto Marcus tighter, pulling their slick bodies closer. She squeezed his waist harder, a tiny sob escaping her throat as her core exploded, sending warmth spreading throughout her body.

Marcus increased his thrusts, drawing out her orgasm as he followed her over the edge with a grunt. They clung to each other, limbs entwined, neither willing to break the moment. His eyes searched hers, and she smiled at him.

“I could stay like this all day,” she sighed contently. If only it were just the two of them here. She would give anything to stay in this clearing all day, to stay in his embrace for all eternity.

“Me too.”

“For the love of god, please don’t,” Vincent called from a distance.

Emily gasped and quickly pulled away from Marcus. Her cheeks burned with embarrassment. “I thought you were staying away,” she croaked as her brother emerged from the trees, his back turned to them. She prayed he hadn’t been there too long.

Marcus gathered up their discarded clothes and handed her garments to her. Emily dressed in record speed.

“I didn’t see or hear anything, but ugh, I can smell sex in the air. Really?” he turned to Marcus. “She’s my baby sister.”

“Baby sister by three minutes,” she reminded. “Besides,” she snorted, “you sleep with any girl who has a pulse. I don’t see where you have room to talk.”

“Hey,” he said, his hand flying to his chest in feigned hurt. “I have standards.”

“You do?” Marcus retorted.

Vincent rolled his eyes playfully.

“I should shift,” Emily said, retreating from them.

Vincent held up a bag. “I have your spare clothes. You’d better hurry.”

Emily nodded and dashed out of their sight before stripping again and transitioning.

***

M
arcus looked up as Emily entered the kitchen. Her eyes met his briefly before flitting away. She headed straight to the kitchen counter and began putting her plate together.

“Hey, Em,” Vincent started, sauntering over to her. “We rented Teen Wolf if you’re interested.”

Emily glanced around the room. Marcus knew without asking that she was looking for Emmett.

“He’s not here,” Vincent mumbled in a barely audible whisper.

Emily bit her lip.

“Dev and I will both be in the room too,” Vincent explained.

“Okay.”

Claire grunted behind them, and Marcus turned to the alpha female.

“I don’t know what you think you’re doing, but whatever it is, you’re only going to make things worse.”

Emily snorted. “I’m already in a nightmare. The least you could do is let me enjoy my last few weeks of freedom—well what freedom I’m allowed.”

“I’m trying to keep your best interests in mind,” Claire replied.

“If that were true, then you wouldn’t let dad send me to New Mexico,” she snapped.

Claire simply shook her head. She finished filling her plate and then walked out of the room.

“What is wrong with her?” Emily wondered aloud.

“She’s just antsy because we caught three wolves on the backend of our property earlier. Dad and Daniel are interrogating them,” Vincent spoke up.

“Again?” Emily asked worriedly. She glanced from her brother to Marcus.

“Come on, Em. Shake it off, let’s go watch our movie,” Marcus said, stepping forward.

***

E
mily finished cleaning up the living room. As much as she enjoyed spending time with the guys, they were slobs. Vincent was by far the worst; his room was so horrendous, she refused to even cross the threshold.

“You’re up late,” her father’s gruff voice said from the doorway.

Emily stiffened; her heart lurched up into her throat. She turned slowly. “I was watching movies with Dev, Vincent, and Marcus.”

“Marcus?” Emmett’s brow lifted in question.

“He’s kind of a package deal with Dev and Vincent. Unless, of course, you intend to forbid me from seeing my brother’s too,” she snapped.

“Don’t get lippy with me, young lady,” Emmett snarled.

“Or what?” she hissed. “I haven’t broken your rules.”
Liar—he doesn’t know that.

“I’m watching you, Emily,” he warned.

“I don’t doubt it.” She knew she really should shut up, but she didn’t care anymore. If he was going to force her into a life she would hate, then she didn’t care about respecting him anymore. Respect was earned, and he’d lost her respect the minute he’d put his hand on her and forced her into this nightmare.

“What is wrong with you, girl?” Emmett yelled. He grasped her shoulders tightly and shoved her forcefully against the wall.

“Me? What is wrong with you? Do you even realize what you are doing to your family?”

Emily knew exactly what was coming the second she saw his hand lift up. She cringed away from his palm, but it was not enough to avoid the sting of skin-on-skin contact. Her head snapped to the right, and she blinked back the tears that filled her eyes.

“You will get your attitude in check before Fernando Juarez returns. This deal is important to our pack. Stop being so selfish.”

Emily swiveled her head back to her father, narrowing her eyes in defiance. Her heart beat rapidly in her chest as she stared her father down. Emmett’s fist balled at his side. His other hand latched itself around her neck, lifting her off the ground. Her feet floated in the air, and she grasped at his arms.

“You will show me respect, damn it, and you certainly won’t embarrass me in front of Juarez,” he replied.

Emily coughed, trying to speak despite the pressure on her throat. “But my embarrassment is okay? You can send me off to be some whore to Juarez’s grandsons. You can let Juarez pass me around between his grandsons like some toy!
That
, father, is embarrassing—that you would allow your daughter to be-”

Emily screeched as the hand flew toward her once again. She shut her eyes, tensing as she braced for impact.

“Get off of her,” Devon snapped, wrenching Emmett back. Her father’s grip tightened, and he threw her backwards. Emily stumbled in an attempt to right herself, but it was too late. She fell backwards with a scream and crashed through the glass coffee table.

Shards of glass embedded into her skin, and she hissed as she tried to move. Her whole body ached, but not as much as her heart. Who ever that man was he couldn’t possibly be her father. Father’s didn’t treat their daughters like this.

“How dare you,” Emmett snarled as he lunged at Devon.

“No,” Emily screamed.

Devon dodged Emmett easily, moving quickly on his toes.

“How dare you treat your daughter like that?” Devon snarled, his eyes yellowing with anger. “What kind of alpha beats up on someone who is defenseless against them? You are not an alpha.”

Emmett smiled, his green eyes sparkling. “Is that a challenge, boy?”

A lump formed in Emily’s throat.
Oh my god! What have I done?
If Emmett thought Devon was challenging his authority—his role as alpha, they would fight for the title to the death.

“What in the devil’s name,” her mother bellowed as she rushed into the room. Her eyes widened, a hand flying to her mouth as she surveyed the scene.

“Mom?” Daniel called, racing up to her.

“Daniel, get your sister out of here,” Claire said too calmly.

“Mom?” Daniel asked, walking to Emily and helping her to her feet.

“Go now,” Claire ordered.

“Devon?” Emily whispered as Daniel lifted her up into his arms and hurried out of the room.

“Let’s get you to your room,” Daniel murmured, running up the stairs two at a time. “Are you hurt badly?”

Emily shook her head. It hurt sure, but she would live. She wrapped her hands around Daniel’s arm. “You have to do something, Daniel. Dev challenged dad. You can’t let him get hurt.”

“Em-”

“I know you two don’t get along, but he’s your brother, Daniel. He’s our big brother, and he was defending me,” she yelled. Devon couldn’t get hurt because of her defiance.

“I’ll see what I can do,” Daniel sighed, hugging her. “Whatever happens, stay here. Do you hear me?”

“Please don’t let anything happen to him,” she pleaded, her bottom lip quivering.

“Stay here,” Daniel asserted.

Emily watched as Daniel stormed off. Tears pricked her eyes and she bit her lip in a vain attempt to keep her emotions at bay.
What have I done?

E
mily paced back and forth as she chewed on her fingernails. It had been nearly an hour since the incident downstairs, and she still didn’t know Devon’s fate. The altercation had been taken outside; aside from that, the rest was a mystery. Worry consumed her as nausea rolled in her belly. Was her brother okay? What had happened? Unanswered questions raced through her mind. She needed to know Devon’s fate. Her brother had to be okay. A distraction would be nice right about now.

Her eyes caught her reflection in the mirror as she passed by. Tiny nicks covered her face. Dried blood was plastered to her forehead and matted into her hair. Shards of glass were embedded in her ponytail. She was a mess. A mess her father had created. No, he was no longer her father. Father’s didn’t do this to their children.

Emily closed her eyes and took in a deep breath. She walked to her dresser and carefully plucked the sharp pieces out of her hair. When she finished, she stared at her reflection in the mirror. As she took inventory of her injuries, the pain started to set in. Her head throbbed, a heavy pressure building at the base of her head. A burning sensation shot through her right leg, and she limped to her bed to check if glass was stuck in her flesh too.

Emily was halfway to her bed when footsteps clomped up the stairs. She hobbled quickly to her bedroom door and peeked outside. Two heads rounded the staircase. Emily held her breath, watching as Daniel supported Devon. Her heart leapt into her throat and she swallowed painfully. Devon would never let Daniel help him—not unless he really needed it. But he was alive. She let out a relieved breath as she let that news sink in. Devon was okay. Her father’s fate was undetermined, but at this point, she no longer cared. Her brother was her only concern.