The Alpha's Human Mate

The Return of the Alpha-to-be

“It’s been over a month since that day Gems. When are you going to ask them?” Maddie asked as she placed a glass of Irn Bru in front of Gemma before taking a sip from her own.

Gemma sighed. Ever since that night when Carrie had confessed to killing her mother, Gemma had tried to find the right time to ask questions. She had always been told that rouges had killed her parents in an attack but no mention of vampire’s or brutal killing had been mentioned. She had thought that she would speak to mammie and pop’s a couple of day’s after that day but when Gemma had gotten home from school, the pack doctor had been. He had increased Carrie’s medication and advised that she had had a nervous breakdown and was in a fragile state.                                                                                                                   It had taken Carrie almost over a month just to be able to function slightly better by which point Gemma didn’t have the heart to ask questions. Pop’s had been haggard and stressed while apologising everytime he looked at Gemma, if not with words, then his eyes. After that day, not only were things slightly uncomfortable at home, but Gemma hadn’t felt right staying at conner’s place as anytime Gemma had left to go anywhere for longer than her school hours or with her friends, Mammie would still worry, except now, she would wring her hand together.

“I can’t just now Madz. I’ll have to wait until….well i’ll just have to wait”

The girls were relaxing in Maddie’s room, both chilling out after a busy school week. Being Friday, Gemma had agreed to a sleepover at Maddie’s house after auntie Luna had asked permission. Pop’s thought it would be a good idea to help defuse the tension in the house; While Cindy was at the cinema with her friends and then dinner and sleepover, Kyle had his best friend round playing COD until the small hours of the morning.

Gemma picked up another fish finger sandwich from the plate at her side after changing into a pair of shorts and t-shirt as Maddie slipped on her tweety pie long night shirt. Although it was only 7pm, the girls had changed into nightwear and had decided they would paint nails, put on face mask’s and just enjoy being lazy. School had kicked up a big gear as Gemma decided to take five O levels this year which was a lot of work. Last year she took and passed four and had decided to stay on to the final year of high school before going to university. Cindy still had two years to go before going to University, but Gemm and Maddie had already sent off their application in October last year. While Maddie was only a twenty minute drive away with her University being well known for its Fashion & Design course and in their home town. Gemma had applied to Edinburgh for Law but she had promised that she would stay at home and not with Connor. Everyone actually supported her if she wanted to stay in halls, yet just the possibility of her staying with Connor had everyone in an uproar.

“So how is auntie Carr doing anyways?” Maddie asked as she held up a pink, red and blue nail polish bottle for Gemma to pick. Throwing her the red one as she sat down to do her toes deep blue, she moved onto the bed and turned down her speaker that was playing Cheap Thrills by SIA.

“Slowly better but not better enough for me to talk about the past. I honestly think everyone is hiding information from me. Some things are just not adding up”

Maddie nodded in thoughtfulness as she continued painting her toes, her eyes darting between what she was doing and Gemma’s pinched face. Gemma jumped slightly when she received a w******p message, laughing as she picked up her phone

Hey bbz (Kissing emoji)

Hi U ok? (blowing kiss emoji) Aye Aye, wuu2? 

@ Madz 4 Sleepover, u? 

 Ah right. Funny it’s ok for u to go there but not with me? 

Con...please don’t. I’m already trying to deal with this without us fighting….again

Can I at least take ur out for v-day? Even if it’s in shitty Gala?

Heeeyyyyyy. My town is not shitty ok! It’s quaint. Yea. let’s go for dinner here.

I’m booking a b&b and don’t say so. Bad enough I can’t take u away. Least we can do is spend it together.

(blowing kiss emoji x4) ok

I mean it Gem. don’t blow me off. Lie that ur staying at madz if u have too.

I won’t. I promice xx

“Soooooo….Guess that’s Con huh?” Maddie asked, her face without emotion but her eyes showing her distaste

“What’s with the tone?”

“There’s no tone” Maddie replied, earning a look of disbelief from Gemma who c****d one perfectly shaped eyebrow at her. Maddie sighed before answering back

“Gem I know you don’t see it, but honestly….something about him doesn’t make….sense” Maddie stopped painting her toes to look at her friend. “He smells ….off”

“Off?” Gemma frowned before giggling “He’s not meat that’s gone past his sell by date!”

“Gem..i’m being serious ok. Look, you know how everyone has this smell that lets you know if they’re fully human, mixed or a shifter right? Well he smells...off. Like he’s not actually any of them. That’s why everyone is on edge with him. No one can get a sense of him” Maddie explained before resuming her painting.

She looked over at Gemma who was now frowning at, her own nails only half painted as she contemplated what Maddie said. She huffed out a breath before shaking her head and putting the remaining polish on.

“Well he’s human enough for me” Finishing her painting, Gemma put away the bottle before reaching over the plate of fish finger sandwiches and eating one. Maddie made a face before she grabbed her own BLT and happily groaned in satisfaction.

“Anyways, are you still seeing Jason?” Gemma asked.

“Uh, he’s such a dog!” Maddie said, scrunching up her face

“Erm...he is an actual dog you know….with him being pack” Gemma laughed out, her eyes sparkling.

“Ha ha, your hilarious Gem.I meant, he’s not met his mate yet, so he just wants to do any girl he can before meeting her. Apparently he was “at home with his nan” when Tasha saw him making out with Hannah near Duckworth park” Maddie said, making the inverted comma action with her hands.

Maddie had started dating Jason six months ago. While he was a member of their pack, he was also part member of another in Glasgow due to his mother who met his father at a BBQ dinner, where people gathered to find mates if they hadn’t met someone by the age of twenty. His father had met his mother there and Jason was also welcomed at the other pack due to his grandparents still being there. When Maddie started dating him, he had been a cocky but nice guy. He was a pretty good fighter and often trained with the warriors as he wanted to be one. Over the last six months, he had grown stronger but as a person, he had started to change. The females of the pack started to take notice and he let it go to his head.

“I mean, we only kissed and-”

“Sucked face….along with other stuff” Gemma cut in laughingly. Maddie threw a pink heart shaped cushion at Gemma’s face before sticking her nose in the air and pretend otherwise

“b***h please! I was the one who caught you. You can’t lie to me”

“Shut up” Maddie laughed. She sat back against her pillows before sighing with a dreamy expression

“What can I say, he’s built almost like Thor. God his cock...it’s so big and juicy and-”

“TMI” Gemma said, making a face before dissolving into giggles.

“Phuleaseeeee. Like you haven’t?” Maddie retorted back

“Madz-”

“We are as bad as each other...well ok maybe not Cin. She’s proper miss-goody-two-shoes but-”

“Madz-” Gemma tried again

“Ok ok, I won’t call her that, though you gotta admit she’s the good girl in our group. But my point is we both have done stuff even though not the actual deed. But you are just as much as a slutty hoe as me-”

“I’m going to have s*x with Con on Valentines day” Gemma burst out in a rush, her face burning red

Silence met her admission. Maddie looked at Gemma, her face pale. She tried to speak and couldn’t before she sat up slowly and turned her whole body to face her friend.

“What?” She whispers, shock evident in her tone.

“I uh...I’ve been thinking about it for a while. I mean, it’ll be our anniversary soon...us being together, he never pushes and I mean….Stop looking at me like that and say something!”

“You can’t sleep with him Gem” Maddie whispers, her face paling further. Her eyes grew wider in her face.

“What? Why not? And why are you whispering?” Gemma asked, her frowen deeper as she took in Maddie’s pale complection and her strange behaviour

“Gem...Gem. Listen ok, please...I’m begging you, please….do not sleep with him”

“Well technically...There’s no actual sleep involved since s*x-”

“No!” Maddie interrupted as she shouted. Gemma’s mouth dropped as she looked at Maddie’s shaking hand that moved to push her own hair back from her face “Gem, have I ever stopped you from trying thing’s? I’ve always been the crazy b***h in our group and trying to get you and Cin to do things but please, PLEASE believe me when I say trust me….do not have s*x with him. Please!”

Gemma got up from the bed, careful not to smudge any wet nail polish that was still left. She put her hand on her hips and glared at her friend

“Ok what’s going on? For months you have been weird every time we talked about me and Con doing things...you always try to discourage me before being fine with it. What’s going on? What are you hiding?”

“Have I ever let you down? Ever? When it’s been something serious?” Maddie said as she too stood up. She walked over to Gemma and looked her in the eyes.

“No but-”

“Then please, please just wait. Look I can’t tell you right just now. I promise I will, but you have to wait-”

“Wait for what Madz!!” Gemma shouted as she threw her arms up in the air “I’ve waited long enough don’t you think?”

“Ok, ok look. It’s going to be your proper anniversary in what? Like April right?” Gemma nodded, her arms folding in front of her chest. “Ok, then just please, wait till then. I promise, I swear It will all become clearer then. Please Gem”

Gemma bit her lip. Something was going on and everyone was in on it. She was now sure of. Before, she thought it was just the parent’s; but then Cindy and Kyle had started acting strange whenever any mention of Conner came up in conversation. While Maddie had also been slightly weird, she put that to him being unknown to her. Maddie had always been protective of her, even more so since...that night. But this? This was something else. Maddie looked like she was going to cry and Maddie never cried. It took a lot to even get her really sad, never mind cry.

“Ok Madz, but I swear, you better tell me what’s going on by then” Gemma said as she pinched her forehead as she felt a headache coming on. Maddie nodded solemnly before she moved to the door.

“Where are you going?” Gemma asked as she sat back down on the bed, flicking through the netflix channel.

“To get you paracetamol. I can tell you’re going to over think this and get a headache which has probably already started. The ones I kept in here finished. Be 5 min” Maddie left.

Gemma sighed and once more pressed her forehead as she selected a horror movie from the selection and grabbed the last fish finger sandwich. Her thoughts running about the place, she decided that the red racy underwear she got from Anne Summers for valentines day would be used for their anniversary which she would make extra special. Deciding on what to get him for valentines day and going through her options, she finally felt a little better once she had decided; admitting to herself that she had been a little unsure about sleeping with him and feeling like it was something she should do. Gemma sighed again as she waited for Maddie, pulling a blanket over her legs as she got cozy, as the conjuring started on netflix.

Maddie pulled out her phone and called Cindy as she moved away from the door and started walking down the stairs.

“Hey, what’s-”

“Gem’s planning on having s*x on valentines day with Connor” Maddie interupted, not bothering with plesanteries

“She’s what?! Oh my god are you serious?” Cindy screamed. Shuffling could be heard as she moved away from the chatter in the background which Maddie assumed meant she was walking away from people so as not to be heard.

“I’m serious. I’ve just managed to convince her not to do anything and to wait until April but Cin-”

“You have to call Max. He needs to come back now” Cindy interrupted, her distress evident

“I know. I was thinking the same thing. He’s going to go off his head. He barely contained himself when he first found out about them dating”

“Uh. Why are boys so stupid? This wouldn’t have happened if he had just told her the truth in the first place!” Cindy replied back as she angrily growled.

“I know I know. Look let me call Max but Cin, I need you to stick to her like glue. If she slept with him, she would regret it and Max...God!, Max would go off the rails. We’d lose him Cin!”

“I told you last month to tell her-”

“I know. I just didn’t think she would ever be ready to move on like that. All this time, I really thought she was dating him just to not think about Max and that once he was back, it would be fine….and that she wouldn’t actually go the full way. She’s part wolf so i thought she’d still feel the pull” Maddie said sadly as she got to the kitchen.

“Sssshhhhh! Are you f*****g insane! What if someone heard you? What if Gemma heard you!!” Cindy shouted, swearing in the process which let Maddie know how worried Cindy was.

“Relax, no one’s home and Gem’s upstairs. I’m in the kitchen”

“It doesn’t matter. Mum has practically gone insane keeping this secret and you’re just being so f*****g selfish blurting it out willy nilly. Only you and I know because we overheard our parents talk.”

“I’m sorry Cin. I...I just wasn’t thinking. Your right” Maddie sighed “Look you do what you have to and i’m going to call Max. Together, we’ve got this ok?”

“Yeah...Yeah. Madz, I’m sorry” Cindy said in a quieter voice.

“No no. It’s my fault. I was being selfish and stupid. We’re good Cin, don’t worry. Let me call Max”

Cindy sighed “Ok keep me updated ok?”

With promising she would, Maddie hung up and prepared to make the next difficult call. She looked towards the stairs as she quickly fired off a w******p message Gemma telling her that she was going to get some more snacks if she wanted anything and that she was going to make sure the house was locked up before coming upstairs. Like anyone would walk in or attack the Alpha’s house. There were plenty of security in place including special warriors out on patrol near yet far enough of the house to allow privacy yet security too. She took a deep breath as her phone connected and a rough scottish voice answered, his tone carrying authority yet she could hear his affection clearly.

“Hey Magpie. How you?”

“Max...come on! I’m not a kid anymore so stop with that silly name” Maddie complained as she whimpered a little

“No matter how old you get, I’m going to call you Magpie….Magpie” Max chuckled deeply.

Maddie groaned before looking once more towards the stair to make sure Gemma didn’t come down. Maddie took a deep breath and noticed how Max went quiet, he was so intune with the pack here. Even so far away, he knew something was different about this call. Something serious.

“What’s up magpie?” He asked quietly, all traces of laughter leaving his voice

“Nothing. Was just missing you”

“Madz” He said softly “You can tell me you know? Are you ok? Is mum and dad? God! Is Gemma? It’s Gemma isn’t it? What’s happened? Did that fucker hurt her? Are they still together? Why are you so quiet?”

“Chill Max. Honestly, everything is ok! Sheesh!” She lied as she realised he had gotten so worked up thinking about Gemma “I was just wondering when you guys were exactly going to be home? I was thinking about maybe doing like a surprise party”

Max sighed in relief as his heart rate slowed back down. “Ok so we nailed the training obviously. Mark is coming back but only for a few days as he needs to come back to finish his training. But we are back on the second weekend of March. I actually wanted to be there for Valentines day but we have the last assessment including our finals. Ben and I decided we may as well pack up our things so we didn’t have any excuse to come back here which is why it’s then. Still almost 3 months early though”

Maddie bit her bottom lip as she realised that Valentines was barely seven days away. While March seemed so far off. Judging by how Max acted at just the thought of something happening to Gemma let her know that no way could she tell him her worries. He had his final exam coming up and it would be brutal. It would be intense and required a focused and calm manner.

It was a grueling three day exam which was mainly a series of practical exercises, outcomes and yes even a fake surprise attack, treaty and pack dynamic exams. Taking the decision not to make the issue worse, she changed her tactic.

“I just assumed the exams would be done before valentines and that you were gonna surprise Gemma”

“God I wish. I’ve been counting down everyday! But the council scheduled us on these dates and without an extremely valid reason, they won’t change it” He paused before his voice took on a hard and angry tone “Is she still with him?”

“Yeah but auntie Carr won’t let her stay or go away with him, so ya know….no real time spent together. Beside’s, I don’t think he’s serious about her, something is still way off about him” Maddie said

She grabbed a bag of skittles, Milk buttons and onion ring crisps before she closed the lights and started making her way back to her room

“Good because i’m her f*****g mate! She’s mine! She can’t be serious about anyone but me. She knows, deep inside, she knows. Just a few days and I’m there. You keep her grounded Magpie” He said aggressively

“Haven’t I been doing that since you told me she was your mate?”

“I know and i really appreciate it. Once we are mated, I promise to get you whatever you want for doing this Madz. I mean it”

“Like a ferrari?” Maddie mischievously asked

“Sure” He said as Maddie squealed in delight “A nice little toy car one”

Maddie grumbled as he laughed. She got to the top of the stairs and huffed out a breath of air in annoyance

“You know, most Alpha brothers do get their young sibling things like that!”

“And those siblings have passed and are fully qualified drivers. Not one’s who have yet to take their first lesson” He retorted as he knew she was referring to the Alpha in Glasgow who gifted his seventeen year old sister a brand new Jaguar XE sport for her birthday.

“Whatevssss Max” She said as she walked to her door. She stood outside to finish her call, knowing that it would be awkward if she took the call inside “i gotta go Max”

“Are you beside Gemstone?” He asked, his voice taking on an earnest tone “Let me hear her”

“Geeezzz Max. Stalkerish much? That’s so weird!”

“I’ll remind you of that when you find your mate and do some crazy ass s**t” He gripped back.

Rolling her eyes, she put her phone on mute and walked into the room. Gemma jumped before laughing as she looked away from the tv where a scary scene was taking place. Setting down the goodies which Gemma started attacking with gusto, Maddie tried to think of a safe but clean topic to discuss without arousing suspicion.

“So I was thinking that we should go for pizza and cinema tomorrow?” Maddie asked

“I thought you wanted to just chill here the whole weekend and stay in?” Gemma asked in surprise, her mouth working on the skittles.

“Yeah but I was thinking...only if it’s still raining, may as well enjoy being in!”

Gemma shrugged and agreed as she started talking about upcoming films and what to watch. After knocking back on a film Maddie suggested due to Connor taking her to see it on date night, Max’s low angry growel came out of the phone. Maddie realised that the conversation started on dangerous grounds and before Gemma could hear it too; cut the phone off and settled in to spend time with her friend while planning the best way to deter her from going forward with Connor.

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“I’m so glad we did this Gem’s. I just wish it had been somewhere else instead of this-”

“Heeyyy...no mean stuff about my home” Gemma cut in quickly.

Connor was driving to their hotel that he had booked in the neighbouring town of Selkirk, Aikwood Towers. A romantic, Scottish, medieval tower that had been restored into a romantic getaway surrounded by luscious greenery and clear rivers. There weren’t any other homes around the area, giving the secluded castle a fairytale vibe. They were celebrating Valentine’s day but not on the actual date due to Connor’s grandfather who had an accident, and while it wasn’t serious, he had been in hospital. Connor had flown to London to visit him two days before valentines and had asked Gemma if she wouldn’t mind if he changed their plans for a week. Gemma had readily agreed but it was four days later when he had called to say that his grandfather still needed him and that he would need to postpone their romantic getaway until the end of the month. 

While Gemma was sad about the situation, she had agreed as she thought about how loving and supportive Connor was being. Not many young people his age would put someone older first. The fact that he had and then proceeded to take care of him made her feel more love towards him. He was a good guy. He deserved her full loyalty and yet even now as they sat in his metallic blue BMW X Range, driving through the most romantic scenery before them; her thought returned to Max. Thinking about how even before being Alpha, he was caring and loving and considerate. How his face would soften when he looked at her, how his respectful manner wasn’t just for the people that were top of the pack but for everyone. Shaking her head and feeling guilty, she grabbed Connor’s warm hand as she drove, keeping it on her lap.

He smiled, his light blue eyes sparking along with his easy smile; his white teeth something straight out of a toothpaste ad. He found the entrance into the lane that took them to the hotel and soon they were parking up and checking into their hotel. As they walked through the elegant long corridor on the second level, he held her hand, wheeling their small hand luggage case behind them as they followed their porter to their room. Their wide, impressed eyes taking in the grand designs of the hotel, the colour and decorations bringing out its beauty in different ways. The glow from the chandeliers making the cherry wood floors gleam while giving a warm welcoming feel to its guests.

They thanked Sam who took them to their room as he discussed the menu and drinks on offer along with kitchen and in-room dining facilities. After having such a big meal at a very posh and opulent restaurant in Edinburgh neither of them could stomach the thought of any more food; yet Connor did ask for some Dom Perigion. Gemma’s eyes widened as Sam left with a knowing smile after some eye contact from Connor.

Connor took her hand and pulled her to him before tipping them over onto the king sized bed, His lips crushing hers as he weaved a hand through her curling black locks, his other hand gripping the black sash tied at her waist over her deep green off shoulder dress. Gemma gripped Connor’s white blond spiked hair as she opened her mouth wider, his kiss turning her on. Gemma moaned as Conner groaned and pulled her closer as his hand slowly started to travel under the dress, His fingers seeking entrance to her treasured place.

“Room service” Sam said as he knocked on the door.

Connor groaned in frustration as they sat up properly, Gemma’s face turning a deep shade of red both from excitement and embarrassment as she rushed to straighten herself before rushing into the bathroom quickly. She could hear Connor speaking to Sam and thanking him for the delivery before the door was closed. Gemma turned on the tap before looking in the mirror as she patted her face with cool water, trying to lessen her burning cheeks. Her eyes were glowing but not just with desire. She reached up and wiped her left eye, looking at the tears on her fingers. She knew why. Max. God damned it!. Even here, even now he still got in the way! Yes she was turned on by kissing her boyfriend, but she was sad too because this felt different. This felt like something was going to change and this change was something she had always felt would happen with Max. Hearing Connor call out to her, she quickly turned off the tap and took a few breaths as she fluffed her hair a little bit more, wishing she had her makeup bag with her to touch up.

Stepping out of the gold and cream coloured bathroom, she was surprised to see that he had turned of the main light, hiding the gold and cream coloured room and only had some of the lamps that looked like they were strategically place as if to form a path leading to where she saw Connor shadow on the open balcony.

“Connor?” Gemma called out as she started walking toward the balcony

“Out here” He replied as he moved further into the shadows

Gemma stepped out onto the balcony, the gentle breeze ruffling her hair as she gasped. The stars and the fairy lights the only source of lighting on the balcony. Gemma first struggled to see Connor beside the white cart with the two champagne flutes and bottle on ice, the table scattered with red rose petals that also scattered on the floor beside a kneeling Connor. Her eyes widened, her fingers covering her lips in surprise as her eyes took in the scene; her heart pounding as she blinked back the dream of what was to be back to the reality of what was happening             

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Maddie sang along to the frozen two song ‘show yourself’ as she walked toward the kitchen, her feet tapping along as she exaggerated the dance moves of the characters. She flung her blonde hair out of her face as she grabbed a large bar of twix and ripped open the side to take a bite of the chewy sweet goodness, groaning in please. Her Mobile started playing out a Taylor Swift song as the doorbell sounded. She frowned as she knew she wasn’t expecting anyone. Her mum was with a group of ladies organising the yearly BBQ party at one of the pack ladies house while her dad had said he needed to go to some pack meeting before shopping at the local supermarket. Maddie looked at her phone as she walked over to the front door, her mouth lifted up in a smile at her caller.

“Hey b***h where you at?”

“MADZ!!. I have a surprise” Gemma screamed over the phone

“Geez, i’m right here! And not deaf” Maddie said as she stepped to the front door and looked through the glass hole to see who was there. Nothing but blackness could be seen but her nose told a different story. With a gasp and a squeal, she opened the front door as Gemma spoke

“Madz Oh my god will you listin?!!” Gemma shouted, her voice elated and loud “We are at Aikwood Tower right, so we checked in-”

“Uh hu” Maddie said as she squealed, her arms hugging a solid body made up of nothing but muscles. “Oh My God!! I can’t believe it!” Her eyes travelled up and up until she met grey sparkling eyes that shone in happiness as his laughing smile told it’s own story. Maddie was grabbed in a tight hug as Max picked up his sister and swung her around in delight.

“I know!!! Can you believe it?” Gemma said in delight

Maddie was confused as the sound of Gemma’s happiness was at odds with how she felt about Max. Gemma knew he was coming? Really? When did they even start talking again? Did that mean Gemma forgave Max? That her real desire overrode her anger?

Max waltz his sister back into the house before letting her go and move aside to let in the next surprise. Mark! The last time she had seen Mark, he had been fairly scrawny with deep brown hair and a baby face to match; but now both her brothers looked like they had trained with popeye and sporting muscles that surpassed even thor. Mark had his brown hair crew cut with deep undertones to bring life to his hair, his body shooting up to at least 6’2 while Max looked taller than him and his Dark brown hair had now become a fashionable mod fade haircut.

WIth the door closed, the siblings moved into the hallways as Maddie suddenly realised that Gemma was still talking. Max looked at the phone, his eyes sparkling further as he heard Gemma’s voice; his smile lighting up his face. He moved forward as if to take the phone from his sister but Maddie put her hand up in a stop gesture as she tried to clarify how Gemma seemed to know her brothers would be back today

“So you knew?” Maddie asked as she put the phone back to her ear

“Noooo, I didn’t. You so didn’t hear what I actually said did you?” Gemma laughingly asked.

Maddie could practically hear her roll her eyes. Suddenly she felt short of breath and Maddie had a bad feeling inside of her heart as she prayed Gemma hadn’t had s*x; knowing the painful outcome of that action and how it would affect her brother. Trying to remain calm, her twix now forgotten and lying on the floor Maddie tried again to make sense of what was going on.

“Gem’s I’m so confused-”

“I’m Engaged!!” Gemma shouted

“YOUR WHAT???! Maddie screamed, her eyes darting to her brother’s faces worriedly.

Gemma huffed out a puff of air, the sound of clinking glass could be heard in the background as she obviously celebrated. Maddie’s heart started racing, her eyes watering in sadness as she looked over at Max who’s smile had been replaced by a deep frown, his hands placed on his hips; much like Mark who looked between them in confusion.

“For god’s sake woman, listin for once!” Gemma repeated “We checked in, we came to our room. I went to the bathroom and came out and Con had closed all the lights except these lamps and fairylights...and god Madz, it was stunning and the stars….and there were these rose petals...he was on the balcony and I went there and he was on one knew and HE PROPOSED TO ME!!” Gemma screamed the last bit, her excitement bubbling over as she laughed.

“Oh god! Gem’s Listen-”

“And I said yes!!!” Gemma finished laughing harder. She screamed before sounds of kissing could be heard.

Maddie looked at Max, her heart breaking at the pain and torture on his face; his once sparkling eyes now dull and lifeless as they pooled with unshed tears, his body stiff in shock as he heard Gemma’s voice carry over.

“I’m engaged, Madz! We are engaged! And you are so my maid of honour!” Gemma gushed, not realising that her words were like a bomb being detonated, her words bringing heartache to those that loved her; bleeding a heart out while she laughed away in her own bubble of happiness.