Emily quickly turns into her driveway, placing her car in park and turning off the engine as if she was in a rush. She gets off quickly and runs inside her home, surprised that her door is unlocked. She feels shaking and distraught. Resting on the door after she has slammed it shut behind her.
"Emily? Why are you slamming the door sweetheart? What's the matter with you?" Her mom is at the kitchen stirring her delicious chocolate chip cookie dough.
"Sorry, mom. I just, ugh!" She closes her eyes tight and gulps down hard as she slowly makes her way and sits on a barstool at the kitchen island holding the back of her neck with her right hand.
"Why are you here at my place again?" She squints her eye looking at her mom confused and tired. Her mom chuckles as she continues to mix her cookie batter.
"Well, I figured I'd come by to check on you, and. . ." She places the bowl down grabbing a cookie sheet and spraying it with cooking oil.
"To remind you, that you have your date with the Wilson's boy today remember?" Her mom looks at her and smiles. Emily grunts and gets off, walking towards the refrigerator.
"Mom, no offense. But, I have absolutely no intention of going out with that guy. And for the record, you really have to stop setting me up on blind dates. I hate it!" Emily looks at her mom, as she opens a can of Pepsi and sips it as she walks past her to sit on the couch.
Her mom sighs as she walks towards her and sits next to her. "Sweety, I just want to see you smile for a change. It's been weeks since you've been in a really bad mood. I just thought, maybe a date would do you goo-"
"Mom! I mean it. Look." Emily stands from the sofa and looks at her mom. A stern and determined glance in her eyes. "I will go out with this guy, this time. But if this date goes bad I'm done! And, after this date, whether it goes good or bad, you have to promise me to back off. Ok?" She gulps on her pop and grabs her phone vibrating in her pocket.
She sees a text message from an unknown number and opens it up.
"Hey, pretty girl. Meet us in an hour at the Reynolds Bistro inside the town's vineyard. We look forward to seeing your town."
She sighs realizing this is probably one of the guys she had met at the coffeehouse. A slow churn of butterflies waking her intrigues as she thinks back to that gorgeous set of dimples and jet black hair. Her mind goes back, remembering Tyler's eyes and something inside her makes her feel unease over this date.
She has to find a way out of this unwanted date with the Wilson's son, she doesn't know why, but she knows she has to do something to get out of it, or at least end it as fast as possible.
"Damn it!" She sighs putting her phone back in her pocket.
"What's wrong sweetheart?" Her mom narrows her eyebrows in concern.
"Nothing. I forgot I had a previous engagement today. Look, I'll go out on your date tonight with um, whatever his name is. Call him, let him know I will meet him at Maggie's Diner in four hours. I gotta go freshen up so I can meet him. I love you, ok?" She kisses her mom on the cheek and quickly runs upstairs to change.
Her mom rolls her eyes smiling as she quickly makes her way up the stairs. "His name is Kenny! Don't forget. And, please be nice!"
"Whatever! I'll try." She yells back from upstairs making her mom, Brie chuckle.
Not having any reason to impress the Wilson's son, she changes into an all-black outfit. Wearing tight black leather pants, with a black fitted t-shirt, and black knee-length boots. She quickly styles her hair by combing it with her fingers so it doesn't look too messy and applies a little perfume on her skin.
She takes a last once over on her body-length mirror and quickly grabs her phone and black jacket along with her car keys and makes her way downstairs.
She looks at her watch, half-hour has passed by. Quickly, she exits the room and makes her way to the kitchen, and grabs a small Ziploc placing a few cookies that had just been cooling down on top of the island.
"Ok, momma! Say hi to poppa for me. I'll come by the house tomorrow before work for breakfast. I'll see you later, ok? Oh and don't forget, Aiden is coming home with his new girlfriend next weekend so you and poppa gotta let me know if you need me to go pick them up at the airport, ok?" Her mom hugs her and kisses her cheek, cupping her face with her hands, and smiles at her.
"Have fun and stay safe baby girl. Don't worry about your brother, I already talked to him this morning. I will talk with your dad to get one of his helping hands to pick them up in case you get too busy at the office. And if that boy, Kenny tries anything with you that you don't want, you let me know and I will-" Emily chuckles and hugs her mom.
"You and poppa will do nothing. I can defend myself. That boy tries anything inappropriate with me, I will kick his ass myself, you forget dad and Aiden taught me well how to defend myself?" She chuckles and begins to walk away, grabbing another cookie off the pan sheet and taking a bite off of it.
Her mom chuckles calling after her. "That's my girl. Love you sweetheart."
She yells across the kitchen as Emily closes the door behind her giggling.
"Bye, Brianna!" She says over her shoulder towards her mom and runs to her car.
She quickly starts the engine and backs away quickly, driving away.
Her phone rings, and since her phone is directly connected to her car's Bluetooth, she sees an incoming call from Chloe. She smiles and hits the screen on her dashboard to answer the call.
"Hey, mama! what's going on? Did my lovely auntie, Clarissa get fed up with your flirting ass and sent you home already?" Emily giggles and hears Clarissa laughing in the back.
"Not yet honey. But, maybe soon!" Clarissa yells from afar making Chloe grunt. "Mom? seriously! I'm not that big of a flirt." She acknowledges and makes both Emily and Clarissa chuckle.
"Anyway, I was calling to see how your tour is going? Are you with Mr. Hottie already?" She asks Emily, her voice taunting Emily making her sigh.
"Ugh, please Chloe. Don't even go there. I mean, can I be honest with you?" Chloe listens attentively, "I'm listening."
"I have never met this guy before. Yet, I feel like I know him. What's worse! I wanted to kiss him so bad the moment I saw him. Is this bad? have I been single for so long that I'm getting over my head here?" Chloe giggles, and sighs.
"No honey. You're not over your head. He's hot, and you are beautiful. You know, the possibility of it being love, at first sight, could be at play here. Why don't you go and meet them? See where this leads you. He may just be the one Em! You deserve someone that will make you happy sweetheart. It's time you give yourself a chance for a change."
"Yeah, about that!" Emily grunts and stops at a red light, taking advantage to close her eyes and tilt her head back on the seat.
"Oh no! What is it? This does not sound good."
"No, it's nothing too serious. Mom set me up on another blind date. I have to meet him today, in just a few hours. I have no idea how I'm going to get myself out of this one."
"Easy, get him to become bored and realize that you guys are no match. This isn't the first time momma Brie sets you up on a blind date! You'll figure it out."
"Yeah, I guess you're right. I got this. Now, to go meet my mystery man who I somehow can't stop thinking about. See you later babe." Emily smiles and continues to drive.
"Alright babe, call me tonight. I want to know how it goes. Bye." Chloe and Clarissa say bye in unison and Emily hangs up the call. Sighing, and gripping the steering wheel tight. If only she can figure out why this man with jet black hair has made such a great impact on her, to an extent that she wishes to jump onto his arms and claim his lips.
******
Tyler's POV
I moved impatiently from one side of the room to the other. I tried not to think of how painful my body was feeling. I knew that the longer I took to either claim or reject my mate, the more my body was going to hurt. I still remember the first time I went through this. I was disoriented and confused, angry with myself for not being able to protect my mate against the sudden rogue attack. We have rarely gotten breached in our territory before.
The time we were attacked was because they knew my alpha and I were out in business. My sister was out at the time as well. I was glad she didn't get caught in the midst of all that. But I can't express the pain I felt from seeing my mate lying there, lifeless. It's an emotion I dread to feel again. I don't know much of how Emily is, and I would be lying if I said I wasn't scared shitless to take her as my second chance mate.
The bond between her and me feels so strong, it compels me to want to claim her each time I have her close to me; and it takes a lot of strength from me to stop myself from doing so.
"Hey, Ty? She's here. She's downstairs waiting for us in the lobby. Ready to go?" Liam knocks on the door of my room, I could sense her the minute she came into the territory. It's inexplicable how strong I can sense her. The same way my alpha Blake had tried to explain how he felt when my sister came back home, the day he found she was his mate.
My wolf Asher keeps jolting up, prancing around, trying to make me run out there and embrace her as tight as I can. I just know that it's going to be a challenge trying to keep myself away from her. I just hope my mother and sister can forgive me. But this is for the best o Emily's interest that I reject her, so that she may have a fair chance to live a happy and safe life. Even if it's not by my side.
I have lived without a mate for more than six years now, I can manage a life long more if it means she will be happy and living away from the numerous dangers we encounter from time to time.
I run my hand through my chin and close my eyes as I take a long sigh. Looking out through my window, and out to the endless grape Vines around us. The big mountain hiding our pack from this town at the far end.
This is going to be quite the challenge.
❤️🐺❤️🐺❤️🐺❤️🐺