ADRIAN
Well, no one told me someone can be puking out blood from their mouth without having a high fever and the pulse as normal as an average human.
Staring down at Emily, I watched as she creased her brows, pinching the bridge of her nose as she held my hands on her forehead.
"Can you feel it? It hurts right there," she whined, her blue eyes glistening with tears as she spoke, melting every form of doubt I once had. My heart ached as I watched her fight back the pain. I knew Emily to be a strong girl, and also her body system might differ.
"I'm so sorry. What can I do to help?" My voice came out as a whisper.
Emily sat up straight, her cleavage popping out from the silhouette that she was wearing, and all I could do was recall Violet putting on the same red silhouette, revealing her hot figure and then inviting me to the bed.
"Quite slutty, isn't she?" Ares wouldn't miss a moment to show his disapproval of Emily.
"I wish you could spend more time with me. At least I'm still alive," Emily said in a matter-of-fact tone, her small chin jutted in the air with a challenging expression on her face.
"Right," I sighed, stretching my legs further. Conversations with her lately were just so awkward; they weren't as engaging and fun as they used to be five years ago when she was my heaven, my safest place in the world.
"I'm not asking for too much. Adrian, you know I'm not demanding too much. I know you're mourning Violet, but that doesn't mean you should neglect me," Emily pleaded. I looked away, trying to hide the flash of guilt that was about to cross my face.
Intertwining my fingers with hers, I tipped her chin so she was now facing me.
"I'm not going to apologize for not being there. I know actions have always mattered to you, so I'm going to do my best to be by your side." Her eyes softened for a moment before she looked away, a stubborn expression replacing her soft features.
Violet's death had made me realize a lot, and if there's any way for me to redeem my sin, I'd do that without hesitation.
"Okay, how about you name something I'd do to redeem my actions?"
A smile spread across her face. "I want you to make me Luna."
Ares' laughter through our mind link filled my ears. I was expecting her to perhaps choose me walking her to the garden just like the old times, or taking her out... I was ready to put that at risk without considering what the pack would say when they found me hanging out with someone who wasn't their Luna, just a few days after her death.
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**Violet's POV**
I'd been avoiding Mason since the park ball and I was impressed with how well I'd managed to get along without seeing him. I was also relieved that my grandmother was no longer passing disapproving glances at me.
Adding a teaspoonful of sugar to my coffee, I was about to take a sip when Grandma Charlotte came towards where I was. Her hair was packed into a loose ponytail, and from the loose shirt and gloves dangling from her hand, I could tell she had been training.
"Tired much?" I asked as she slid into the chair beside me.
"It's one of the perks of being old," she nodded, taking off her gloves.
"I don't think you know or do you?" She asked, raising her left brow. I dropped my mug and stared at her.
"Know what exactly?" I was all ears.
"That you're supposed to be training with the pack?" She retorted as if that was the most obvious answer. I coughed, a bit choked on my coffee.
"But..." I stuttered. What the hell, I thought.
"No buts. You need to get used to the fact that you're in a pack and in this pack, we work as a team," was her unyielding reply.
My face pulled into a frown as I thought of the possibility in my state.
"But since you're pregnant, fortunately for you, you won't have to get into any physical fights. I'll think of an excuse that won't make anything look suspicious," she added quickly, relieving me of my worries.
"Could you also think up an excuse so that I don't have to go at all?" I asked, very much aware of the fact that I sounded like a brat, but the stern look I received was enough to tell me I was pushing my luck too far.
With a slow nod, an unsaid agreement was declared.
Fair enough, I thought, even though I was the least thrilled with the whole idea.
Dressed in my old pair of Nike sneakers, a sweatband, my gym wear, and yeah, my gloves, we were headed to the Pack house with my Grandma Charlotte leading the way. And not to exempt the fact that my subconscious was coming up with several reasons I should be anxious about training. Some of them had to do with Mason—what if he was angry with me? And Rhoda—what if she decided to bully me again? What if she made the whole pack hate me? What if... I was about into another series of what-ifs when my eyes fell on the large crowd that was huddled together.
I gulped. Dipping my hands into my pockets, I walked slowly towards where everyone was. I leaned against a tree while my eyes roamed.
I was just getting comfortable in the crowd when a group of four ladies sauntered towards me, Rhoda taking the lead. She had a devilish smirk on her face, her arms were folded beneath her chest, and her chin tipped up.
Right.
"Mornin' sunshine," she teased, taking a step closer to me. I could hear her minions snicker and I ignored them.
"Just as I expected." She shrugged. "After what happened at the ball, I don't think we expressed ourselves the way we would have loved to, so let's fight," she announced with a rough prod on my chest.
A crowd had now gathered and I felt my face begin to color.
"Why not some other time? Violet's been sick and is recovering," I heard my grandmother say; she'd managed to find me.
Rhoda made a thoughtful face and then burst into hearty laughter. Her minions joined her. Boy, was she funny, I thought dryly.
"Oh, look who's afraid to speak for herself," Rhoda pouted, placing her hands on her chest. "Her sweet grandma just had to speak on her behalf. How sweet," they burst into a fresh set of laughter.
I rolled my eyes. I'd never seen grown-ups act so childish in a long while.
"Were you about to say something?" Rhoda asked in mock concern. "Of course you weren't. Maybe there's something you're hiding; that's why your grandma has to speak for you," she sneered. I wished the ground would open; I was sure the whole pack had gathered to watch us.
"Why don't you let her be? She's weaker than you. You're a freaking Omega and she's just a Beta. Haven't you seen her grandmother?" Nicole was beside me, a few inches closer to Rhoda, who only rolled her eyes.
Rhoda was no longer getting on my nerves; she was inside them. I had to speak up. No way was my first impression going to be this: weak and quiet coward. No effing way!
"I'm in. I'll fight you and I'll beat your ass," I announced and watched proudly as the crowd fell into silence. I wasn't a former Luna for nothing.