Amelia .

“Asher please don’t do this.” My voice hitched as the maids placed my luggage by the front door, I should have never allowed Asher to sign the deed to the house, I guess I was stupid, I should have never trusted him.

Never in my wildest dream will I ever think about him leaving me, getting another woman pregnant.

One of the maids flashed me a frown, her eyes softened.

“Asher.” I yelled, as the door closed, he didn’t even even care for me anymore. My feet felt cold, my knee weakened as I stared at the door, my phone on my hand one bag that contained everything.

I worked hard for us, all he ever had was this house one his mother left to him, I should have agreed when he asked for my name to be a part of the deed.

I didn’t realize how long I have been standing there until I knew I had to leave, the guards escorted me outside, I felt a sharp pain radiating through my chest as I made my way further out of the house and I slipped into the nearest cab.

“Where ma’am.”

“Airport.” I breathed out, I could barely keep my gaze away from the house until we slipped through a corner and I could no longer see it.

“Stop thinking about him Amelia , he is not even worried about you.” I mumbled against my breath.

It took me about twenty minutes to get to the airport, my eyes darted to the words written on every screen.

“New York.” I breathed out.

“We have one flight about to leave, there is one seat remaining, if you would like we can add you to that flight, Once you make payment.” The woman smiled at me, I wiped my tears and I nodded softly.

He is not coming again, he is probably telling Hannah how much he loves her and how excited he is, they are together.

I was torn between angry and sad, mixed feelings radiated through my body and I sit my eyes for a moment.

The next time I had any sense of my environment, I was on the plane, seated between two couples, they looked at me as if they wanted me to move, I didn’t.

For the rest of the plan ride, I tried not to think about Asher, I thought many time of sending him a quick message, I would type half way and end up not doing it, I thought about calling my brother and telling him I’m finally coming home.

As much as he will hates Asher, he will be even more happy I am home.

As I stared at my phone, I knew couldn’t make that call, I can’t tell him on call.

——

“This is where you are headed.” The cab driver asked, my eyes darted to the piece of paper.

“Yes.”

“Ma’am don’t play me with me, are you sure, this is not just anywhere, you look like you have been through hell, are you okay?” He asked and I rolled my eyes at him.

“Just take me there, I will pay.” I breathed out, he stared between me and the card again, why did he look surprised, what has Ryan done again.

Fuck.

I didn’t question it. The drive was painfully slow and I didn’t miss how the driver stared at me from time to time, through the little mirror, I didn’t miss how his eyes twitched each time I caught him staring, I didn’t miss how confused his face was.

“I can only go up to here, it’s the road up the hill, the first right.”

Confusion slammed into my chest, I stared at him with uncertainty, he can’t be serious.

“Wait what, you can’t leave me here, it’s a long walk and I have bags, I said I am willing to pay, I will give twice as much, just take me to the house.”

“I have helped as much as I can, not anymore, no one will be willing to head up there and you know that as much as I do.”

I didn’t.

I know my family background, Ryan always said he will never take our father’s path and he will bring change, I had imagined the family name was refined.

He promised.

Fuck

“Please.”

“Don’t make me kick you out.” The driver spoke and memories filled my mind, I felt tears threatening to spill out of my eyes, a sharp pain radiated through my chest when I huffed a curse out, I headed out of the car, and I got my things.

“You know as much as I do, if I could take you all the way there, I would, you can leave your bags here, I can assure you no one will take them, once you get to the house, send someone to get them, you seem like a good lady, be careful. You have no idea what’s goes in in that glass house?” He warned, my eyes darted to the glass house

It looked better than the last time I saw it, I bit my lip anxiously as I made my way toward the hill, halfway through it, I left my bags, anything in there can be replaced.

It took me about thirty minutes before I got to the front gate, between anger, tiredness and regret for not calling Ryan, I knew that I was exhausted.

The house was packed, I didn’t miss how it was filled with so many people but today didn’t feel like other days, there were strangers I had never seen, my eyes darted toward the first guard and in instantly recognized me

His eyes filled with fear, he was scared.

But why?

“What’s going on Gabriel?” I asked.

“Miss Amelia, what are you doing here? You can’t be here.”

“Where is Ryan, what’s going on?” I asked.

His eyes flickered with fear as I made my way toward the house, the further I got in, I could hear voices and Gabriel was yelling for the guards in front to stop me from going any further, when I froz

“Ryan no.”

Amelia

One of my fears was to become like my parents, the other was to leave the world without fixing things between Ryan and I. Little did I know, coming here will uncover a new fear.

A memory that imbedded through my mind, one that caused me to fall to the ground, one that caused Gabriel to pull me out of the place and into my bedroom.

I never imagined me dying or Ryan leaving me, I always assumed we will have forever, forever to finish our fights, forever to have a good life.

My eyes darted to Gabriel who refuse to leave, each time I closed my eyes, I would see him, I would hear his voice, just when I thought Ryan was close, the memory will slam into my mind.

Tears spilled out of my eyes.

“How?” I breathed out, I choked back on a sob as I stared at Gabriel, “I spoke to him last night, he was fine, we had a video call, he kept telling me to come home, to let out of the anger, to forgive him, I didn’t, we were getting better, we were starting to work on issues and.” I mumbled a curse under my breath.

I was going to give him a chance. I thought about it.

Gabriel’s eyes turned to mine.

“Say something Gabriel, my brother is in the living room, barely covered in any clothing, naked, covered in blood, and his paws are out, how did he die?” I whispered. “How did someone hurt a good powerful Alpha like him.”

My feet stomped the ground, I shook my head trying to stop the thoughts, this was by far the worst day of my life, I can’t sit here waiting, I can tell Gabriel is not going to let me know anything.

“Miss Amelia , please wait, you can’t go downstairs.”

“My brother is down there and I am done crying, he was fine last night, someone hurt him and you are telling me not to go down there, not to do anything.” I asked, my chest heaved with anger, I was this close to losing my temper. “I’m going to find out what happened.”

“He was killed.” Gabriel blurted out and my eyes darted to his.

I froze.

A bitter chucked escaped my lips and I knew it can’t be true.

“No. Only bad people get killed and not Ryan and, only people like my father get hurt, not him.” I made my way toward the door.

“You have been gone five years. You kept yourself away from our business, from the clan, until two months ago and you just wanted help, you have no idea what Alpha Ryan has done, what we all had to to do to survive, we know that because we were here.” He spoke and I froze.

I felt my pulse racing, a throbbing sound filled my ears.

I left for a man that cheated and divorced me.

That’s the one reminder I needed to know I have been living a lie, my life has been horrible. It is horrible. I should have stayed with my brother

“Ryan would tell me if something was wrong.”

“You know he wouldn’t, he would do anything to make sure you are safe, he would never drag you into this, what you saw is not even a flicker of the ugliness happening, you are not going downstairs and that’s an order, not until the new Alpha comes over to take care of it, I care for Alpha Ryan and, I watched him grow up, I watched you become this beautiful strong woman who will do anything to get what she wants, I watched both of you fight and break, I can’t protect him anymore but I can protect you Amelia , sit your ass down.” Gabriel spoke. “I know it’s hard.”

His words rolled off his tongue perfectly, I always respected Gabriel.

I don’t know how much I can handle anymore, deep down I know if I saw Ryan-one more time in that state, I would lose my sanity, a wave of nervousness washed over me as I settled on the bed.

“The new alpha. You are already replacing Ryan, his body is not even cold yet.”

“He wrote a will, we are only following it.”

A will.

Why will a twenty-eight year old write a will, did he know he was going to die. What else were they hiding from me, how long has this been going on? I wish he told me he was in trouble, I will come running.

“What happens when he gets here, do we find out who hurt Ryan.” I asked.

I was about to speak when I felt a sharp pain in my heart, there is only one person Ryan will trust with his clan, with his sister, with his life, and dear God I hoped it was not him

I haven’t seen him in five years. I had hoped he had nothing to do with it.

“Tell me how it happened, I can take it.” I breathed out. “Please.” I added.

How do you speak to some one and they die a few hours later. I should have come running home to him when he asked two months ago but I was selfish, I needed help and the moment I got it, I placed my attention back on the lying bastard Asher.

“Not my place to tell Amelia .” He asked, his eyes darting to mine before he stared at at my finger, there was a look of surprise on his face, I know he thought about the ring, why I wasn’t wearing any, he didn’t dare ask.

Gabriel took for a few seconds when he got a call. The new Alpha is here, the moment he made his way toward the door, I followed from behind.

My eyes caught a man standing by the end of the hallway, he had his back turned, I froze when I heard a voice and a familiar curse

Merde.

There is only one person that says that.

Please

I felt my head getting lighter, thoughts poured in faster than I assumed when he turned his head and his eyes met mine, my pulse raced and for a second, I felt my heart stopped.

Every emotion came rushing back to me, it slammed into my chest with force, pain gripped my body tightly, every memory shattered into my mind, Asher leaving me, Hannah betraying me, my brother is dead.

The air thickened, I felt more tears streamed down my cheek, I let out a heavy breath trying to calm my nerves down when my hands slipped off the wall supporting me, a loud voice filled my ears before darkness consumed me.

Blake ..

A few hours before he arrived.

“What did you say?” I asked, my jaw ticked as I listened in on the call, no good news comes from a midnight call, yet I knew this was not what I had expected. “So God help me if you said this wrong. Tell me what you fucking said.” I yelled.

I felt a vein popping through my forehead.

“I’m sorry Alpha, but it’s being confirmed, Alpha Ryan’s body was recovered tonight at the first, after his guard received a call about it and he thought he was a joke. But when he could not find alpha Ryan, and, he made a few calls and no one heard, they began to search.”

No.

I spoke to that bastard this morning, we were supposed to have a meeting tomorrow morning, how did this happen

My breath caught up in the air when I hanged up the call and I instantly called Gabriel.

“Tell me the news is wrong Gabriel. And who was the fucking guard that got the call.”

Silence.

I always enjoyed silence but today I hated it, I knew what his silence meant and it scared me, terrified me, it caused my fingers to tremble against my phone an my eyes darting to the picture on my office wall.

It was Ryan and I. When we were younger, we had caught our first prey, I stood beside him, covered in a black fur, my eyes radiated from all of the excitement and his brown fur was silently covered in dirt, I can never forget how fussy he was, how he never wanted to take it, and suggested we take the picture when we change into our human form and are clean.

Fuck.

“Say something Gabriel.”

“I’m afraid it’s true Blake , the body was discovered today and we found something, that matched his hand writing, it was a mile away inside his car.”

“What?” I asked

“A will.” The moment those words escaped his lips, I hanged up the call, I felt my chest pressed harder against my skin, he told me about the will two months ago, I thought he was just having one of his episodes and it was funny.

I never imagined he would go through with it, make me a leader to his clan, was it a cry for help? Did he know he was going to die.

Just as I stared at the picture, realization dawned to me.

Amelia .

What is she doing to do? Fuck, how do I tell her she lost her brother, it’s bad enough she already hates me, she is still stuck with that asshole.

He would have been dead for making her his wife if not that for one fucking promise.

Fuck.

Between getting on the first plane to New York, and thinking about Amelia , I made a quick call, to get four men to keep an eye on Amelia , her home, and make sure she is safe, whoever came for Ryan will not stop, he is going to come for his sister.

My mind drifted off to Amelia , our last encounter, the last time we shared a kiss, the last time she held my hand and the last sentence she said to me.

I hate you Blake , I wish you would never be happy, you are never going to find any anyone, you will die alone

I never did find anyone, how could I when she was the only thing on my mind.

—-

After a couple of hours, I got to New York and an hour later to the house, it was packed, Gabriel was no where in sight.

The moment I walked into the living room, I froze, I always thought I will be the one to go first, Ryan has been good, I always warn him to stay away from trouble, but having his father’s blood in him, it’s never going to stop that.

He looked like he was beaten up, several times before he was killed. There was sand underneath his paws, he was starting to change but never had the chance to complete it.

My hand brushed over his face and a tear slipped out of my eyes.

“Your death will not be in vain Ryan and, I promise to take care of every one, to take care of her.” I breathed out. “She will be safe with me.”

“Where is the guard that got the call, take him into one of the rooms and tell him to wait for me, I want to know if the call was recorded.” I spoke and they nodded at me.

My eyes darted to Ryan-one last time, I felt memories rushing through my mind when I shook my head, not now Blake .

“Who’s bag is that?” I asked, when my eyes caught a guard getting a bag inside the house.

His eyes twitched before his lips uttered her name. That explains why Gabriel is not outside waiting for me.

Oh no.

She can’t be here, no one will call her unless I ask them too.

I quietly made my way toward the hallway, my jaw ticked when a guard stepped on my feet and a curse falls out of my lips, for a moment, I felt like I was being watched, by a familiar eye.

It didn’t help when a wave of perfume filled my nostrils and my eyes snapped behind, her eyes were ok like for a brief second.

She looked beautiful, her lips pressed against itself when I noticed her eyes closing a bit, my chest tightened as I made my way toward her before she fell to the ground.

Fuck.

Her fragile body heated up my body, my wolf stirred in excitement, its being five years since I felt her this close to me, and the moment I placed her on the nearest bed, she looked pale, her cheek was tainted and her nose covered in red, a butte chuckle falls out of my lips when a tear slipped out of my eyes.

My red tomato.

I never forgot about the obnoxious nickname she hated so much, one of the fews she hated.

Her hand softly brushed against her hair, she just lost her brother, Ryan is gone, I can’t imagine how she is feeling.

“When did she get here Gabriel? Who called her.” I asked, no one had the right too except for me, I leaned further swirling my hand through her thick red hair.

“No one.” Gabriel spoke and my eyes darted to his.

“Then how did she get there, if she made plans with Ryan, he would have told me, are you saying the same mysterious person called her.” I asked, my jaw ticked in anger.

“She didn’t know, she came with a bag, I think-“ he was about saying when he kept quite, and my eyes darted to her finger, no ring.

It can’t be, she loved him, that bastard. I would have killed him if it were not for the promise.

“A bag.” I asked.

“Yes, I’m assuming her clothes and things, she looked like she has been crying but she didn’t know he was gone.” Gabriel explained and my breath hitches, she didn’t know.

Was it possible? What I prayed for five years.

Fuck.

“Get someone to take care of her, make sure she won’t leave the room.” I stated, I made my way into Ryan’s office, to take a look at the will, the one he wrote. I wanted to be with Amelia, not yet.

The moment I walked in, a weird sensation filled my body, the will was on his desk waiting for me when I made my way toward the secret safe, it was always her birthday. We never changed it, my eyes caught a note.

The moment my eyes met it, I paused.

No Ryan, fuck tell me you didn’t. We promised we won’t.