Hunted

Chapter 32: Please?

Colton

“Do you really think she wants me to come?” I asked my brother, Brandon. He had just come back from a neighboring pack. I filled him in on what had been going on with Emmry in the last well few months.

“I think you should go to have a good time but…if she can’t shift and doesn’t feel your mate bond..are you sure you’re even her mate?” He asked leaning against the car door. It was something I had been wondering about myself. If she didn’t feel it at all how could I know for sure it was real? Colton sighed and ran his hand through his hair.

“So you’re telling me to pretend I’m not her mate?” I gave him a look. He simply shrugged at me. I didn’t think I could actually just ignore her completely but I was going to try and not ruin her birthday. The last time I talked to her she was rather upset at me. I can’t blame here. What was I supposed to do? Tell her hey were mates? You’re meant to love me. Why can’t I touch you? Oh yeah because it sends shocks through my body…oh yeah I had a hard time hearing about someone attacking you and all I want to do is murder the person who dared to touch you.

“Colton…. Hello?” Brandon’s hand waved in front of my face and I blinked. “s**t sorry.” I pushed his hand away and laughed. “Come on let’s go.” I gestured towards the car and got inside. Savannah was going to meet us there with our friends. Since I never really got to hang out with Brandon we went for a run today which is why we were later.

The party was in full swing by the time we got there. Emmry was hanging out with her cousin and Savannah was already at least 4 drinks in. She came over smiling at us. “You are late brothers.” She gave us a wink and then pulled Brandon off to get a drink. Alcohol didn’t effect us nearly as much as a normal human but after enough or if you added something into it then it would become more potent.

I bit my lip and just watched Emmry. Savannah walked over to where she was and started to talking to her. I sent her a warning through the mind link. Shortly after Savannah walked away and Brandon came over to me with a cup in his hand. “You’re being too nice brother.” He laughed and offered me a cup. I shook my head. “Not tonight.” I didn’t want to do anything stupid. I knew if I had any alcohol I was going to do something to screw up any potential I had. Even though currently that potential was at zero.

I watched Emmry go towards the water. She was by herself, maybe this was going to be my chance. “I’ll be back.” I said to Brandon who had found a shifter from the pack to get comfortable with. I rolled my eyes at him and walked behind Emmry. “Beautiful.” I said…and she was. She was always beautiful but seeing her with the sun surrounding her made her glow.

“Yes it is.” She said not turning around to look at me.

“I…I’m sorry for how everything went down.” I wanted her to know that I really felt bad for everything.

“I know but that doesn’t change the fact you are lying to me and if you aren’t here to tell me what you’re not telling me then you should just walk away.”She still couldn’t look at me and it was frustrating. She wouldn’t even turn to look at me.

“You don’t understand what…I just I want things to go back to how they were.” Why wouldn’t she listen to me I was started to sound desperate.

“Then tell me why you were avoiding me.” She said with force.

“It doesn’t matter Emmry. What matters is I am your friend and I want to be your friend.”

“Emmry…” I dropped my hands and took a deep breath. This was really starting to get on my nerves. If only she would just let me explain…but not explain.  

“Unless you’re going to tell me what’s going on you need to go away.” She turned away from me again. This was getting rather annoying. I’m going to try one more time.

“I’m not doing this.” She pulled completely away from me and headed towards the woods.

“Emmry!” I called after her starting to follow when my brother stopped me.

“Colton you’ve done enough.” He said giving me a look. “Come on and drink with me.” He nodded towards the other end of the beach. “She needs to calm down anyway.” He was right.

Going after her now was only going to piss her off even more. I sighed and followed Brandon over to the fire. At first I couldn’t stop looking at the tree line waiting for her to come back.

I drank more than I had in a long time. I was actually starting to feel it’s effects. Most of party goers had passed out at this point. It was pretty dark outside. I had lost track of time. Had Emmry come back yet?

I got up from my spot in the sand and started walking towards her tent. I was halfway there when I saw my sister giving me a look and gesturing to come over. I looked between where Emmry’s tent was and my sister before stumbling over to her.

“What Sav?” I asked plopping down next to her. She laughed and helped me sit up straight.

“How is you waking her up on her birthday drunk going to help you win her over?” She asked me holding me down barely since I couldn’t really do a good job at controlling myself.

“She needs to know we’re mates. I can’t keep it from her anymore.” I sighed and looked up at my sister. She knew why I was acting this way. At first she wanted me to keep it a complete secret from Emmry but lately she had been encouraging me to talk to her about it. I wasn’t sure what the right thing to do was.

“Well on her birthday drunk that you might ruin is not the best time. Tomorrow..when you’re not..messed up okay?” Savannah laughed and me and gave my head a pat. I guess she was right. I leaned against her and closed my eyes. I really hope she could forgive me.

I was nearly asleep when I heard a scream like I’d never heard before. I jumped up and immediately regretted it I fell right back down. Even though I had been resting my eyes I was still partially drunk. My instincts were telling me that it was Emmry’s voice. I had the worst pain in the pit of my stomach and it was growing. “Emmry!” I shouted out trying to get up again.

I saw Hope come out of her own tent and run towards her cousin’s tent. I once again tried to stand and this time Savannah held me up so I didn’t fall again.

“Hope!” I yelled out at her. She turned and looked at me. “No…” Emmry’s tent was empty. The scream came again but this time sounded further away. I had to go look for her I had to help her. Savannah looked at me giving me a death glare. “You’re no help to anyone stay here.” She commanded and dropped me in the sand. Everyone was starting to come out of their tents. The pack security members had already run into the woods. Hope and Aaron weren’t far behind them..even Savannah ran off and here I was stuck in the sand. I had to go help.

I closed my eyes and forced myself to stand. Okay I can stand…perfect. I started making my way to the tree line when I was picked up by one of the pack security.

“Colton…you can’t go like this.” I started fighting him trying to get away and go after Emmry. Something wasn’t right. I sure drank a lot but not enough to cause me to be this out of it. I had enough time that it should be mostly out of my system by now. Something was not right. “I can’t…” I started struggling more trying to get out of their hold.

“Colton stop or we’re going to have to sedate you!” They called out to me but I just couldn’t let it go. I had to be there for her. She was in danger. I had to save her. She didn’t even know how I felt about her. I took one free step before everything went black.