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.

Amelia .

“You want me to bury my brother and get married to you on the same day.” I asked, my jaw ticked in annoyance, as I hid both my hand inside my pocket. I didn’t want anyone to know, atleast not yet.

My pulse hammered as I stared at Blake, hoping this was just a horrible nightmare, how did I go from having a husband, having a brother, to being here, divorced and in a room with a man that once rejected me.

Emotions slammed through my chest, he looked so different from the last time I saw him, his eyes were pale, a tattoo I didn’t recognize laid on his neck, I instantly looked away

My eyes darted to Blake again, five years. I tried to never think about him, I imagined some days with him, some thing reminded me of him, but now, having him stand this close to me.

“The will.” Gabriel explained.

“I’m supposed to believe some stupid will. My brother died, he is fucking dead an you stand here to tell me he wrote some fucked up will about Blake taking her and he has to be married to me for it to happen, Ryan always knew I was married, how do we know the people that killed him aren’t the ones that wrote it.” I asked.

I didn’t want to yell, but I wanted this nightmare to be over, I wanted to go back to having a brother.

“Where is this husband by the way? Ryan never liked him, we never did.” Blake spat. “I’m not happy about this either.”

I would be a fool to believe that.

“He was your bestfriend.” I whispered, the words was stinging through my chest, I felt a wave of pain radiating through my body. “He cared for you and not a single tears has escaped your eyes, all you can think about is taking over.”

Blake smirked. His jaw tightened in annoyance as he stared at me, he took a step toward me and I stood firm, my eyes darting to his, I didn’t dare look away.

Right now the memories didn’t matter to me, this is about my brother, and not the man that once broke my heart.

“Never question my relationship with Ryan, when you left, I was here with him, you weren’t, you didn’t call for months, we thought you will eventually after three years, he still never gave up on you Amelia , Gabriel and I, the clan were here for him.” Blake spoke and a shiver runs down my spine, a tear slipped out of my eyes. “How I grief Ryan, it’s between me and myself, I know why Ryan-choose me, he knows I will make things better, he knows I can fix things.”

“Marrying me is the right option, please tell me you had nothing to do with the will, why will he want us to be married.”

“He knows no one can protect you better than I can sweetness.” Blake spoke and I froze, that nickname.

Memories slammed into my chest as the mere mention of it.

“I love you sweetness.” His old words filled my mind, he didn’t, it was all a lie.

“Your husband.” Blake spoke, his tone stressing at the word husband. “Your husband can not do anything to protect you, but I can, Ryan knew he was not safe, it’s not normal for someone like him to write a will.”

“Was he mixed up with bad people like my father was.” I asked and he didn’t speak. I could see it in his eyes, he was, I was wrong all along.

He lied to me, he told me he had stopped, he didn’t.

And now.

He is gone.

“I’m not going to let them get away with this, whatever they did to Ryan, I will make them pay twice as hard, and-“ Blake was about saying when he turned to Gabriel.

“We checked the will three times. To make sure it was written by Ryan, it was, his lawyer has a similar copy and he gave it to Ryan that same night.”

“Why will he do any of this?”

“We will find out.” Blake spoke when my eyes darter to his, my heart skipped a beat the moment I realized how close he was when I pulled away instantly.

“So what, we honor the stupid will, it makes no sense, there had to be a way for Blake to take over.”

“It’s the only way, without a will, you are meant to take over , Ryan knows you won’t be able to handle any of this alone, you need to have someone by your side, and your husband is neither a part of the clan, nor someone we can rely on.”

That’s true.

I bit my lip.

“What happens if Blake does not take over? What happens is Asher refuses to divorce me.”

“I think he already has.” Gabriel spoke and my chest tightened, I instantly hid my hand. “And Blake can’t meddle in our affairs. He won’t be able to find whoever hurt Ryan, and he will be forced to nor do anything, you will be under our protection and if you don’t take over, the clan will find a fit leader.”

No.

It has been in the family for years, and Ryan worked hard to create his name, someone else could be anyone

“You mean my extended family.” I asked and Gabriel nodded.

Uncle, aunt, no, it would lead to horrible things happening but I can’t marry Blake either.

“Think Gabriel.” My voice begged

“It’s the only way.” Ryan spoke, his voice got tighter. “You have no idea what we are dealing with right now. What Ryan did before he died.”

“What did he do?” I asked

Silence.

“Just think about it, we don’t have all day. We need to get it done, I need to take over before the news gets to your family, if it does-“

“They will protest the will, and it will take longer for Ryan’s killer to be found, it may be too late.” I breathed out. “If they take over, no one will care for Ryan, or his death, they can even kick me out of the house.” I breathed out.

“Ryan always cared and loved you Amelia .” Blake spoke.

“If he did, he would have never wrote this will, if he did, he won’t have choose you over me five years ago.”

Amelia

“We don’t have to do this tonight Amelia,” Gabriel said, my eyes trailed back to him, I felt an intense discomfort spreading out through my mind, if we don’t, I’m never going to be able to sleep tonight, it’s bad enough I can barely sleep.

“We have to, the faster the better right, before the news gets out,” I stated and he nodded at me.

Blake sat beside me, I had never had him this close to me in five years, if Asher were here, he would panic, he would sit between both of us..

He is not here, he is with Hannah and not even thinking about me.

After four hours of deliberating and thinking, I knew this was the right thing to do, Ryan was killed horribly and disposed of like a dog, it’s something I’m never going to forget, if I were in his position, I would do anything to make sure my killer is found.

My attention drifts off to the paper, I have long wished to get married to Blake, but the dream vanished, I never expected I would be with him again.

I don’t want this, I don’t want to get hurt again.

“Sign here and Blake will sign here, I can get the paper processed overnight,” Gabriel explained.

I didn’t dare ask how.

“Fine.” I held the pen softly, I could feel my hands quivering, my breath caught in the air as I stared at Blake for a single second, I could barely read his emotion.

“Amelia we can-“

“No Gabriel, it’s for Ryan.”

A sentence I have long tried to convince myself of: it’s for him. I signed my name on the paper, unlike me, Blake wasted no time signing his and I knew it was done.

I am not going to wake up Amelia Asher Klein, I’m going to wake up as Amelia Blake Blair.

The Alpha’s wife.

I felt my stomach twist in pain, for a second, the room felt stuffy until I quickly made my way out of the house.

My knee weakened as I settled on the bench in the garden, the air felt still no matter how softly it brushed through my hair, I could barely breathe.

Ryan is gone, and he left me with a huge burden, I know my brother and he would never force me to get married to someone else unless the situation is bad, I never imagined Asher leaving me and Ryan didn’t write the will knowing Asher would divorce me.

Fuck.

Who did you mess with Ryan? What have you done over these five years?

The thoughts pulled away from me, when I heard the sounds of footsteps heading toward me, a familiar scent filled my nostrils.

“Please leave, I don’t want to see you.” I breathed out, I maintained my gaze away from his, I didn’t want to. “I told you to leave Blake, please don’t think we are going to rekindle and fix everything.”

He didn’t move, his scent was strong, I pulled my attention toward my phone, staring at a picture I took with Asher just this week

Maybe I can call, maybe if he finds out Ryan is dead, he would want to be here for me.

But the marriage with Blake.

It doesn’t matter, I need to see him.

I could feel my wolf begging me not to do it when my hand slipped through my screen, I found my hand tapping his name when someone dragged my phone

“Hey,” I yelled, my eyes flickered to Blake in anger. “Are you crazy, give me my phone Blake, you don’t have any right,” I yelled.

“That’s where you are wrong, you are my wife, you are not calling him,” Blake stated, he stared at the screen briefly when his face twisted in annoyance.

I watched as he pressed the off button, without even giving the slightest chance to let it ring.

“Fake wife, this marriage is not real, it’s only because of Ryan and whatever protection that I need, once we find his killer, I’m leaving.”

I haven’t thought much about where I would be, it doesn’t matter, this place is not my home without Ryan.

“Yelling would strain your throat Amelia,” Blake uttered against his breath, he didn’t seem to be fazed by my words.

Irritation clawed up my body.

“Phone,” I asked, pulling my hand out in the air.

“No, not if you are going to call him, and we are getting you a new phone,” Blake stated, I stashed the phone into his pocket.

I felt my fingers tremble as I took another step toward him, I knew I couldn’t make the mistake of pulling his phone out of his pocket.

I wasn’t ready to deal with any of this.

“Keep the phone, stay away from me, if you think any of this childlessness would fix this, us.”

“Us.” He asked.

I mumbled a curse under my breath.

“There is no us, there would never be an us,” I spoke, the words came out harsher than I intended.

My eyes flickered to his, I watched as it softened, the Blake I know would have said something back, why didn’t he?

Why did it bother me he didn’t speak

Right now he is making me rethink everything and I hate it.

“Keep the phone if you would like.”

I took a step away from him.

“I’m not trying to hurt you, I am not Asher, I won’t throw you out of the house,” Blake said.

How did he know that? Is that obvious, did he go behind my back digging around for answers?

I can’t pretend, I hate that even after five years he can easily see through me, he didn’t deserve it.

I blinked my eyes a few times as a tear slipped out of my eyes

“Just leave me alone.” I breathed out. “Please,” I added as I stared at him, my

eyes gazing toward his. “Do what you have to, find Ryan’s killer but stay away from my personal life, once it’s over I’m leaving.”

Just as I was about to take another step away from him, I felt his hand wrap around mine and he pulled me closer to him.

My body trembled against his, I tried to wiggle my way out of his hold, I knew I wasn’t nearly as strong as he was.

“Let go Blake,” I yelled.

“Does being this close to me affect you, Amelia?” He asked, he leaned further in, I felt my skin rise up with goosebumps when I felt his lips near my ears.

“I’m sure it doesn’t.” He mocked.

“Fuck you, Blake.” I spat angrily, yet that wasn’t nearly enough to make him leave me.

“I’m never letting you go sweetness, this marriage is not only for convenience, but it’s also forever, and I would be a fool to ever let you go, after five years of waiting for you,” Blake whispered.

He pulled away from me in an instant, leaving me to my thoughts.