Chapter 6
Lexi
Last night was exactly what I needed. It took my mind off everything, and I just got to laugh and smile with my best friend.
Then the sun went down, and reality came creeping in. With every passing day, my feelings for Emmett grow.
I want to tell him how I feel, but I’m so damn afraid. Not that he would reject me, but of how our lives would change. It thrills me to think of being his, kissing him, holding him, having him in every way I want him.
But it also terrifies me because I hate not knowing what's going to happen in the future.
That's why I’ve built my life the way it is. Kept my friend group small, the same job, the same house, everything has been consistent and reliable. No surprises.
Then Emmett has to go and say what he said after I asked him that question. Asked him to never leave my life.
Now I know I’m in love with this man, and it terrifies me.
To go from years of living alone in Widows Peak, happy and content, to meeting someone who quickly became my whole life.
I’ve never allowed myself to think about a future with another person or to be in a relationship, because that would require trust and feeling safe with that person.
Emmett is the only person, apart from my sister, that I’ve felt completely comfortable and safe around. The idea of being this way with someone else doesn't even cross my mind.
But maybe, just maybe, I can have the future I never allowed myself to dream of. I don’t need Alphas. I’d have Emmett, and he’s more than enough.
It’s not just me I have to think about, though. He’s still so young; he has his whole life ahead of him.
I can’t help but feel like I’m holding him back. Maybe if his life wasn’t so tightly entwined with mine, he’d allow himself to want for more.
He could have it all. A pack, a life where he can see the world, and be happy.
I can’t offer him that. I’m too fucked up from my past to even leave Widows Peak. The furthest I’ve been is to a town an hour away. Otherwise, I haven’t been anywhere else apart from Gideon’s hellhole since I was eighteen.
Would I like to see the world? Sure. But I won’t allow myself that because the world is a scary place and I’d rather stay here, where I know I’m safe.
Maybe that’s irrational or over-the-top, but when you’ve lived the life I have, being snatched away in the middle of the night and held against your will for three years? Only to be prepped to be the perfect sex slave for fucked up Alphas? Yeah, it’s not so easy to overcome.
I admire the other girls and even Silva for how strong they are, but that's not me. I didn’t even think I’d live this long.
To think I could have a sliver of something more has me afraid that once I have it, it could all be taken away. I’ve seen how cruel life can be. I know it’s possible.
My head spins as I sit up in bed. It takes me a moment to remember I’m not home, but at the cabin.
Emmett’s familiar maple scent surrounds me, and I smile, biting my lower lip as I bring the blankets up and inhale like a creeper.
“You’re up.” His voice makes me jump. I fling the blanket like it’s on fire and stare up at him with wide eyes. He just chuckles, amused.
“Yeah, just woke up.” My heart races as I rub at my eyes, trying to ignore the fact that I was caught sniffing his damn blanket.
“You want pancakes or eggs and toast?"
My stomach growls, but as I get to my feet, I’m hit with a nauseous feeling.
“Are you okay?” Emmett puts his hand on my arm, holding me steady.
“Just got up too fast. I’m fine.” The smile I give him isn’t one he’s buying. “Emmett,” I warn, knowing that look in his eyes. “Don’t you pick me up again. I can walk, damn it.”
“Fine,” he huffs.
“Just let me find my hoodie.” I’m not wearing a bra, and I know for a fact my nipples have hardened into peaks. Whether it’s because of the cold morning air or the Omega standing next to me is yet to be determined.
Searching around, I spot the hoodie sticking out from under the blanket. Pulling it free, I stare at it, confused because this wasn’t the hoodie I was wearing last night. Actually, I haven’t seen this hoodie in months.
“How did this get here?” I hold up the hoodie to show Emmett.
His lips part. “Uhhh.” He snatches it out of my hand and throws it to the side. “Don’t worry about it.” He grabs my hand, pulling me from the room.
“Wait, my hoodie,” I stammer in confusion as he pulls me into the kitchen.
“Here.” He pulls off the hoodie he has on and shoves it over my head. “You can wear mine.”
His scent surrounds me, and the fight in me dies off. I sigh contentedly and burrow into the fabric.
“So, pancakes or bacon and eggs?”
“Neither,” I tell him, my stomach still feeling gross.
“Lexi, you need to eat.”
“Okay, Mom,” I snort, and he narrows his eyes. “Fine, I’ll have one of the muffins you brought.”
He sighs, but doesn’t fight me on it, grabbing one from the tin and handing it to me.
“Thanks.”
He nods. “So, what do you want to do today?”
“I don’t know.” I shrug. “Something outside, though. I want to be in the fresh air.” Maybe it will help me feel better.
“How about a hike? To that place not far from here, with the waterfall.”
I smile. The waterfall is one of my favorite places. “Sounds good to me.”
By the time we reach the waterfall, I’m regretting my decision. All I want to do is go back to the cabin and curl up in Emmett’s nest.
I feel awful, my stomach is in knots. Between the temperature and walking up here, I feel overheated and out of breath.
“I’ll never get over how beautiful it is here,” Emmett says, standing on the path along the edge of the water at the base of the waterfall.
Sitting on a rock, I take a few big swigs of my water in hopes it will cool me down. The waterfall crashes down on the rocks below, creating a nice cooling mist.
“I love it.” I smile as I slowly take in the space around me. If anyone knew about this spot, I know this place would be packed all summer long.
Thankfully, this is on private property. My property.
Emmett owns the cabin, but I made sure to buy up all the land around it. Okay, not buy, but stake my claim. It’s kind of the same thing around here.
There’s only one road in and out of this area, and it’s behind my house. You’d have to go on my property to get here, so it’s pretty much the same thing.
“Want to go swimming?” Emmett asks, looking at me over his shoulder.
“I didn’t bring a swimsuit.”
“Who needs suits?” He chuckles, pulling his shirt off. I really like it when he does that. He takes it a step further and takes his shorts off.
My mouth goes dry at the sight of his nearly naked body. This is more of Emmett than I’ve ever seen before. Yes, I’ve seen him in sleep pants and shorts, but never his boxers.
They hug him like a glove, perfectly shaping his ass. His nice, toned ass. And when he turns around, I nearly cream my pants.
I’m gawking at his dick, because holy shit, that thing is huge.
“Lexi?”
“Huh,” I breathe, eyes still locked on his junk.
“Eyes up here.”
That snaps my gaze up, and my face bursts into flames.
“Sorry,” I croak, a knowing heat growing in my belly.
“I’m not complaining,” he chuckles, giving me one of those killer, boyish smiles. “You joining me?” he asks, heading toward the edge down to the small rocky beach.
“Why not.” I’m burning up for a whole new reason now. Some cold water might be just what I need to snap me out of it.
Taking off my t-shirt and shorts, I place them on the rock, then turn to follow after, but I come to a stop when I find Emmett watching me.
My breath catches at the look in his eyes.
He’s lowered himself into the water all the way up to his chin, his gaze drinking me in.
The heat inside me kicks up a notch, making me very aware of the fact that I’m in a bra and panties in front of him. They do little to hide my naughty bits because the panties are lace and stop halfway up my ass cheeks, showing the skin over my mound.
The same goes for my bra. I know the lace means he can see my nipples pressing against the fabric.
I join him in the water with shaky legs and a coiled stomach, trying to steady my breathing and praying the water masks my scent.
We don’t say anything for a while, the sound of the water crashing against the rocks filling the silence between us as I take my time making my way to him.
His gaze never leaves me, and with each passing second, I can feel the tension grow.
“Better?” His voice is a low rasp. The water cloaks my heated body, hiding a shiver.
“So much better.” My eyes flutter closed as I let out a low moan.
“Lexi?” Emmett says, his voice changing.
“Mhhmm?” I hum, lying back to float in the water.
“Are you okay?”
“Perfect. Feels so good.”
The water splashes as he moves closer. My eyes are still closed, but I can feel him next to me.
He doesn’t say anything, just staying close to me.
I’m not sure how long I float before I start to fall asleep, my body jolting in shock.
“I got you.” His voice is close.
My eyes flutter open, heart racing in my chest.
He’s looking down at me with a pinched brow.
“What?” I blink up at him.
He lifts his hand, water droplets falling as he brings it to my forehead. “Shit, Lex, you’re burning up.”
The feeling of his cool hand against my forehead has me moaning in relief. “That feels nice.”
“Lexi. We should get you back to the cabin.”
“No,” I whine, reaching up to hold his hand, keeping it against my skin. “Too hot. Don’t want to leave.”
“You have a fever. You’re sick. Let’s get you back to the cabin, or even back to your place.”
My body is too weak to protest, so I don't fight him when he picks me up and carries me out of the water.
“Mhhm. You smell so good.” My voice comes off almost loopy as I giggle, nuzzling my face against his neck.
When his hand shifts closer towards my ass, a moan slips free, and a gush of slick coats my thighs. “Emmett,” I whimper.
He curses, his body going rigid. “Fuck,” he hisses.