Dark Fates (A Paranormal Anthology)(16)

Meryl paled, but her eyes grew mean. “Mate? How dare you? You’ve had your mate, and you lost him. You had Jeffery. How could you sully his name with the likes of Noah? What would he say? You’ve forgotten your so-called love for a man who died for you so you could be with this pup? Shame on you.”

Emeline ignored the sting across her heart. She hadn’t forgotten Jeffery, but she’d moved on. Damn what Meryl thought.

“We’re done here, Meryl. I’m entitled to happiness.”

“You’re a whore, Emeline. Mark my words, you’ll pay for your sins.”

Emeline opened the door and growled. “Don’t threaten me, Meryl. Go home and wallow in your own misery. I’m done doing the same.”

She slammed the door in Meryl’s face, this time locking it. As the adrenaline left her, she sank to the floor, tears covering her cheeks.

She was happy. She really was. Noah would make her whole again, just as she was making herself whole.

She loved him.

Oh yes, she loved him and had for a while.

They’d spent over a year side by side, him courting her slowly. She’d had all the time in the world to get used to him in her heart, and he was already there, making himself at home.

She thought of Jeffery and what she’d had with him. It wasn’t the same, but it should be.

Noah was hers now, and she would claim him.

In fact, she thought Jeffery would approve of Noah, even like him. That was just the kind of wolf he had been. They might never have completed the mating bond, but he’d been part of her soul and her memories for so long, she could not remember a time when he wasn’t there.

“Oh, Jeffery,” she whispered, crying happy tears over her new discovery.

Noah’s scent hit her hard, and she cursed herself for leaving the back door unlocked just as she’d left the front door. It seemed today was the day for surprises. However, this time, Noah was a welcome one.

She turned to him, a smile on her face, only to see stone.

“Noah?” she asked, her voice soft. “What’s wrong?”

His jaw tightened, and he took a step back as she moved toward him. Her heart stuttered, and she blinked.

“Noah?”

“I should have known the reason you weren’t ready,” he whispered, his voice broken. Oh goddess, no. “You’ll never be ready.” He sighed, his throat working as he swallowed hard. “I only wish you loved me only a fraction as much as you loved Jeffery. I’m sorry to have made you cry. You shouldn’t have to deal with the pain of saying goodbye and having to choose. I understand that now. Goodbye, Em,” he whispered. With that he turned and walked away, leaving her frozen in his wake.

No, he wasn’t supposed to leave. He’d gotten it all wrong. Damn it. She ran behind him, her mouth open to call his name, when something struck her on the back of the head. Blinding pain snapped at her, and she blinked once, twice, before hitting the ground, her world dark.





Chapter Seven


Noah found himself in front of Logan and Cailin’s door, unable to knock.

She’d cried for a dead man.

Cried and cried and broken him.

He couldn’t blame her for her tears. Couldn’t blame her for her choice. Mates were everlasting. Finding a second one in a lifetime was almost unheard of. The pain and anguish that came with choosing the second and slowly letting go of the first would be hard for anyone to overcome.

Adam Jamenson had done it and had hurt his second mate, Bay, terribly in the process.

Noah just wished Emeline had done the same.

No, he couldn’t quite say that. Not when the pain of what Emeline had gone through, was going through, was too much to bear. Noah hated the fact he’d put her through that.

The door opened, and Cailin stood there, pity on her face.

Damn it, he hated pity.

It was all he could do not to weep like a baby and wish for them to make it better. He knew he could have gone to his parents for comfort, but they hadn’t met Emeline yet. He’d been planning on introducing them the next day, actually. Cailin and Logan, though, knew all about Emeline and were her friends. They’d understand the depth of her sorrow and the strength of his own.

“Oh, Noah,” Cailin said. “Come on in, honey. We’ll get you something to drink.” She pulled him in the house, and he shuffled in, numb. “Logan?” she called over her shoulder. “Bring the whiskey.”

Logan rambled in, Edward in his arms. He gave one look at Noah then cursed under his breath. “Here, take the baby, I’ll get the whiskey.”

Noah shook his head. “It’s too early for whiskey.”

Logan squeezed his shoulder. “When you’re in the state you’re in, it’s never too early for whiskey.”

Noah nodded anyway then went to the couch and sat down—well, more like flopped really. He couldn’t think about anything more than the tears on Emeline’s cheeks and the way she’d said her dead mate’s name.

Damn Jeffery.

Cailin plopped Edward in his lap then sat next to them. “Hold the baby. He makes everything better most days.”

Noah held Edward close and sighed. “You’re right about that, but I don’t think even he is strong enough for this.”

“Then we’ll help with whatever is left,” she said simply then leaned her head on his shoulder. Logan came to his other side, set the tumbler of whiskey on the table, and then sat back.