Protecting Emma

by ML Michaels

  “If anything happens, you need to run,” he whispered as they started walking back.

  She shook her head, not wanting to argue in the woods, which had suddenly become so quiet. Too quiet.

  His breath was steady and even, which she knew from her mother’s nursing books was a good thing. The blood wasn’t gushing, which was also good. His smell – a deep, earthen smell – was the same. The memories of the night he’d first spoken to her, that night, came rushing back, and she almost gasped with how her chest clenched.

  “You okay?” he asked.

  Emma nodded, not meeting his eyes. If she did, she was sure he’d know what she was thinking. She wondered if he remembered that night like she did. It hurt her to think it might not have marked him as it did her. Part of her wondered if he remembered it at all.

  ***

  When they finally got close enough that she could see the cabin, she realized how fast the walk was. She hadn’t been far. She started toward the stairs that led up to the Blackthorn cabin, but Jake resisted.

  “Please. My uncle isn’t there, but if he comes back, I don’t want him to see me like this.”

  Emma shivered, and then jerked her head to her stairs.

  “We’ll get you cleaned up at my place,” she said, and helped him up the stairs.

  She was glad she left the fire burning embers as she helped him sit down by the fire. The fire quickly came back to life when she threw another log on it. She brought several pillows off the couch and set them behind him, motioning for him to lie back.

  “I’ll ruin them,” he said, gesturing to the blood.

  “No one will be back here for seven months. I have plenty of time to replace them,” Emma laughed.

  “I will replace them,” Jake shot back.

  “We will argue about that later,” Emma countered before running to the bathroom and grabbing the first aid kit. When she came back, she found Jake peeling his shirt off, wincing slightly as he balled the fabric up in front of him. He was still chiseled, with swells of thick muscle rippling over his shoulders and down his chest. Her heart sputtered, and she fought to keep her eyes down as she knelt in front of him and pulled gauze and hydrogen peroxide out of the kit.

  She could feel his eyes on her, and she hated that he could probably see her blush.

  When she finally did look up, it was to study the gashes cut into his lean torso. There were four of them, and her breath caught in her throat. They were claw marks, no doubt.

  “Jake. What did this?” she asked, looking up into his eyes.

  He didn’t answer, but instead reached for peroxide. He gasped through his teeth as he poured the liquid over the cuts, which bubbled and foamed. He reached for the gauze, but Emma pushed him away and rested it against the cut herself.

  She pushed him back, and he reclined slightly against the pillows. His hands closed over hers, holding them to his chest as she came up onto her knees.

  “Emma. What are you doing here?” he whispered, and she met his eyes.

  Everything came back. It was amazing how quickly the feelings could invade her chest, like that.

  Three summers earlier, between her junior and senior year of college, she and Evelyn were back at the cabin together for the first time since they’d both been in college. Between internships and summer courses, it was hard to coordinate schedules. But from the minute that Emma set foot back on that mountain, she remembered why she hadn’t missed it. Evelyn and Kevin were the same, with all their friends drinking on the boat and having bonfires until three in the morning. Emma, no matter how hard she tried, never fit in. It was the summer of forcing herself to drink rancid-tasting beer and talk to boys who spent more time staring at her chest than looking her in the eyes. By the Summers End Festival, she felt like doing anything but partying. While Evelyn, Kevin and the rest of the group made their way to the lakeshore to watch the fireworks, Emma slipped back into the trees. She found a fallen log and sat down, letting the tears flow for the first time that summer.

  The footsteps were so soft she’d barely heard them. She gasped and stood, taking three startled steps back as Jake came out from between the trees. He held his hands up.

  “Did he hurt you?” he asked lowly.

  Emma brushed the tears away with the back of her hand.

  “Who?” she asked, confused. She’d only ever seen Jake Blackthorn in passing, and talked to him maybe once or twice. There, in the dim light of the summer night, with the fireworks cracking in the distance throwing his dark expression into hues of blue and pink, she thought she was surely dreaming.

  “Kevin. Any of his friends,” Jake spat. “I’ve seen you all around town.”

  Emma stopped, running a hand through her long hair. “No,” she said. She crossed her arms over her chest, aware for the first time that she was wearing a sheer cover over her bikini top.

  Jake’s expression relaxed, and then he narrowed his eyes as he stepped toward her.

  “Why are you crying?” he asked.

  Emma thought about lying. She thought about telling him to mind his own damn business, to leave her alone. Somehow, she couldn’t. His jet hair was tucked behind one ear, his icy eyes piercing into hers.

  “Do you ever feel like you just don’t fit?” she whispered.

  Jake smiled. It was the first time she’d ever seen it, and her chest tightened at the sight. It was beautiful.

  “I’m a Blackthorn. Of course I do.”

  Emma looked down. The Blackthorns was the one legacy that didn’t quite fit on Stonewall Mountain, but they’d been there for as long as Emma could remember. They never really went to the barbeques or the festivals. She never saw them around town. In fact, the only she’d ever seen was Edward, and that was only when she took the chance to talk to him when he wheeled the trash can down the driveway.

  Emma’s phone rang in her pocket.

  She closed her eyes, hating that he could hear the pop-song ringtone, hating even more that the moment had been ruined.

  It was a text from Evelyn. Where r u? Meet me by the cotton candy stand – I need you to tell me if you can see this hickey.

  Emma rolled her eyes and shoved the phone back in her pocket.

  “I…um. I have to go. My sister is looking for me.”

  Jake nodded, though he didn’t look away, and she didn’t move.

  “You’re too good for them, Emma. That’s why you feel that way.”

  Emma stopped, shocked. “You don’t even know me,” she whispered when she finally found her voice.

  Jake took another step forward. “If it were up to me, I would.”

  Emma felt her pocket vibrate again, but reached in and switched her phone to silent. Evelyn could wait.

  The fireworks crashed, sending a crack so loud that Emma nearly jumped out of her skin. She took a step into Jake, who caught her against his chest. It was broad, warm, and just what Emma had imagined it would feel like. He wrapped one arm around her waist as the other reached up to cup her neck. Her blood boiled as she turned her face up to his. She met his eyes and felt herself come completely undone. She reached up and wrapped her hand against the back of his neck, bringing his lips down to hers.

  Explosions went off in her mind as his mouth opened against hers. She parted her lips, loving the taste of him. The kiss was innocent and searching, and Emma wanted more. She twisted her hand in his hair and pulled him to her harder, surprised at her own boldness. Jake didn’t need much encouragement, but picked her up with ease. She wrapped her legs around his waist and he tangled his hands in her long hair.

  The kiss deepened, spurned by a hunger Emma didn’t even know was there until Jake unleashed it.

  After what felt like forever and not long enough, Jake pulled back.

  “Emma,” he breathed against her lips.

  Emma’s phone went off again, and she shut her eyes. Evelyn would come looking for her.

  Emma brushed her lips against his. “Meet me he
re tomorrow,” she breathed. He nodded, and put his head against hers. He kissed her once more as he set her down. She ran off back to the lakeshore, turning back once to smile at him. The rest of the night, she tried to keep her secret smile from Evelyn. Emma fell asleep that night with the taste of Jake still on her lips.

  When he didn’t show the next day, she was shattered.

  She saw him in town later that week. When she approached him, he blew her off. It was a stupid, impulsive mistake, Emma, he’d said.

  She’d spent the rest of that summer trying to learn to hate him, though she never quite succeeded.

  Now, as she looked into his eyes and found him asking once more what’s wrong, she had to fight the urge to laugh.

  “Forgive me if I don’t spill my guts to you again, Jake. That turned out so well for me last time.”

  Jake’s eyes widened, and he leaned back.

  “Emma. You have no idea how much I wanted to talk to you after that.”

  Emma sat down, pulling more gauze out of the bag and unwrapping it.

  “You really don’t have to explain,” she said, and Jake reached for her hand. She pulled back. “Just tell me what happened in the woods, because we’re going to have to call the humane society and find this animal.”

  “Emma, that night–”

  “Answer the question, Jake. There’s no point in reliving all this old stuff. We were young and stupid and it doesn’t matter, okay?”

  Jake sat up, putting his hands behind him. He was as beautiful as Emma remembered him.

  “I wanted to see you again,” he said, and Emma lifted her hands. “This is about the scratch, Emma. There’s a lot to explain,” Jake said, raising his voice to cut Emma off before she could talk.

  She handed him gauze, and he rested it on the scratch. It was hardly bleeding anymore.

  He took a deep breath, like he wasn’t quite sure where to begin.

  “Did you parents ever explain to you why they don’t come back once summer is over?” he asked.

  She shook her head.

  “They want to stay out of this,” Jake explained. “It gets bad once fall sets in.”

  “What?” Emma asked.

  “The feud. The one between the families on this mountain that’s been going on for decades.”

  Emma rolled her eyes. “I mean, I know we don’t all like each other that much but feud? That seems a bit much, Jake. Humans have disputes, it’s part of our nature.”

  Jake looked up at her, a careful expression on his face. “But we’re not human,” he started.

  Emma froze, and then sat back. “Okay, so. You hit your head, Jake. That’s the problem, here.”

  Jake grabbed Emma’s arm. “I didn’t hit my head, Emma. Why do you think that your parents never come up here during the winter? The Kincaides bowed out of the war a long time ago. They want nothing to do with it. I doubt they even shift, anymore.”

  “Shift?”

  “Into wolves. They’re werewolves, Emma. We all are. The Blackthorns, the Blueveins, even the Stonewalls themselves. And your family.”

  “Okay,” Emma said, sitting back. Maybe she just needed to humor him until his uncle came home. He could talk some sense into him. He’s been traumatized, Emma thought. She looked at the door over Jake’s shoulder. He was injured – she could probably outrun him. Get to the highway, at least.

  Jake ran a hand down his face. “I know I sound insane, Emma. I’m aware. But every winter, around the first snowfall, we pick the reigning family for the next year.”

  “How?” Emma asked. She needed to keep him busy enough to form her own escape plan.

  “By blood. Whoever spills the most wins. Hence,” he gestured down at his torso. “I think it was one of the Bluevein boys. I shifted back when I heard you coming. I was going to yell to warn you when he did this.”

  Emma stared down at the gash. It had stopped bleeding.

  “That’s why I couldn’t meet you, Emma. That’s why I couldn’t even talk to you. The Kincaides are allied with the Blueveins. They have been since we were both children. If anyone knew that we’d kissed… it would be war.”

  Emma stopped for a moment, and then stood. She took a deep breath and looked down at Jake. It was too much.

  “I will say that that is one of the best excuses I’ve ever been given for being stood up,” Emma said, clenching her fists at her side and taking a step back.

  Jake pushed himself up even further. “Emma, please. You have to believe me.”

  “Believe that my family is a family of werewolves? Guess what, Jake? I’ve been in my body for about twenty-three years and it’s never turned into a wolf.”

  “The curse might have skipped you. It’s happened before,” he said, pushing himself to his feet while pushing the gauze against the wound.

  “That’s convenient. And my sister? She’s a werewolf, too?”

  Jake looked at her with sorrow in his eyes. “I didn’t want you to find out like this, Emma. That’s why I told you to stay inside.”

  “You’re insane,” Emma spat.

  Jake’s shoulders dropped, and the gauze fell off his wound.

  Emma looked at his torso, and then blinked.

  The gash was gone.

  Healed.

  She looked up, her eyes wide as terror ripped through her limbs.

  “What the hell?” she asked, taking a step toward the door.

  Jake held his hands up. “Emma, you don’t need to panic. I’m not going to hurt you.”

  “I saw it. It was almost deep enough to need stitches.”

  Her mind was racing, and panic caught in her throat.

  It’s gone. The cut is gone.

  Jake took another step toward her, and Emma sprinted out the back door.

  Snow was beginning to fall, and she almost slipped on the wooden stairs, but caught herself on the railing.

  Jake ran after her. “Emma!” he said. Emma didn’t turn around, but jumped the last three stairs and took off into the darkness. She knew she couldn’t outrun him, so she laced in and out of the trees as she bolted, hoping he would lose her. She heard him calling out to her, but didn’t even look over her shoulder.

  The cut was gone. There was no rational explanation for that. Unless he’s telling the truth, she thought. That thought only made her run faster.

  She spilled out near the highway, stopping and pressing herself against the base of a tree.

  “Emma!” Jake called. He was close behind, but it was clear from his frantic calls that he’d lost her.

  She waited with baited breath until she heard his footsteps receding.

  The wind howled, sending snow flurries over her bare skin. She hadn’t grabbed a jacket. She heard faint music, and squinted through the snow. She was near the Bluevein Manor.

  The First Snow Party was tonight.

  She started running. She’d be safe in the crowds, and she could probably find someone to drive her home. It was a flawed plan, and she knew it. But it was the only plan she had.

  ***

  Music and heat radiated through the back door as Emma stepped inside. The snowflakes melted off her skin as she pushed through the crowd of pulsing bodies.

  She recognized faces from summer, and they eyed her with interest as she slipped past them. If what Jake said was true, then she couldn’t trust anyone.

  But then again, if what Jake said was true, than the house of her ally would be better than the snowy dark with her sworn enemy.

  She pushed her way into the main room, where the built-in fire pit in the center of the floor lighted everything. Emma could see people lining the balcony of the second level, drink in their hands as they danced to a thumping beat. Emma stayed close to the wall before slipping up the stairwell. She passed a couple making out on the stairs and slipped into an empty bedroom. She’d been there several times with Evelyn, so she knew where the lights witch was. With a sigh, she closed the door behind her and pres
sed her back to it. It was a smaller room. There was a tree right outside the window that was perfect for sneaking in and out. Evelyn and Emma had waited for Kevin at the base of that tree many times. Emma pulled her cell phone out of her pocket and dialed her sister’s number.

  Evelyn picked up on the second ring. She was laughing, and the noise behind her was thick. She must be with her entire law firm at a bar.

  “Emma, darling,” she said, her voice lilting. “Shouldn’t you be studying for midterms, young lady?”

  Normally, Emma would’ve joked back, but she didn’t have time. “I’m not at school, Evelyn. I’m at the cabin.”

  “What?” Evelyn’s voice lost all humor. It sharpened. “Emma, what do you mean you’re at the cabin?”

  “I needed to get away. I just…needed some time. I came up here, and–”

  “Emma, get in the car right now and get out of there.”

  Something about the panic in her voice chilled Emma’s blood.

  “Why, Ev?”

  “It’s not safe, Emma. Don’t move. I’m coming to get you.”

  A knock sounded on the door behind Emma’s head.

  “Hurry,” Emma whispered. She wanted to sound strong, to tell Evelyn that she didn’t need her help. But she did.

  The knock sounded again, and she opened the door.

  Kevin stepped inside, closing the door behind him. “Emma? You okay?”

  Emma stepped back, covering her hand with her mouth. She pressed her back against the wall by the window. Tears pricked the back of her eyes, but she shook them away. “It’s been a weird day, Kevin,” she whispered when she brought her hand from her mouth. “A really weird day.”

  Kevin stepped further into the room, setting his beer on the dresser before crossing and sitting on the bed. “Can I do anything to help?”

  “Can I stay here until Ev comes to get me?” she asked.

  “Ev’s coming up here?” Kevin asked, running his knuckles against the scruff of his chin.

  Emma nodded, and Kevin looked down at his lap.

  “Yeah. You can stay here, Em. In fact…”