Carol's face lit up with excitement as she read the message from Emma. She quickly typed a response, and they made plans to meet up in her live-in vehicle in the evening.
She called Emma before leaving the house and she opened the door to the vehicle for her when she arrived.
Emma's curly brown hair was packed in a messy bun and the space looked a bit messy. She opened her arms wide and Carol rushed over to hug her with excitement.
"Oh my, I have missed you a lot," she grumbled softly and then pulled away, catching up on the details of Emma's trip for the next hour.
Emma stood up to prepare a cup of drink for Carol and set it down in front of her, and the room felt silent.
"I'm so sorry about Lockhart, I heard the news as I arrived last night," Emma said, reaching out to take Carol's hand.
"I know how much he meant to you after you lost your mother."
Carol nodded, wiping the tears that had already gathered in her eyes and nodded slowly.
"I can't believe I couldn't save him too, I really feel useless," she said but Emma stopped her.
His injuries seemed to heal but he still died.
"You can't blame yourself for his death. You did everything you could to save him," she consoled, but Carol shook her head, feeling a lump form in her throat.
"I know. It's just...I couldn't save him, just like I couldn't save my mom."
Emma heaved, knowing she must have been blaming herself for the past three weeks and squeezed Carol's hand.
"You are not responsible for their deaths, Carol. You have to stop beating yourself up over this."
"Also, have you tried using your healing ability since then?" she queried.
"No, I don't ever want to," Carol answered, the ability is already so useless to her.
"Okay, let's forget about things that will make us sad and talk about something exciting," Emma said and changed the topic.
Her eyes suddenly sparkled with excitement and Carol could guess what she wanted to talk about.
"So, tell me how it feels to be the Alpha of a big pack like Moonlight pack?" Emma asked, her eyes full of excitement.
Carol chuckled in between her tears and wiped them off.
"I don't know," she said shaking her head, and Emma pouted her lips disappointed by her response.
"Really? Don't you have some things that have changed like having everyone bow and respect you?"
"Hmm," Carol answered, nodding her head and Emma laughed.
"It's actually complicated. I'm still getting used to it but I have to admit, it's kind of exhilarating. It doesn't feel real yet," she explained.
Emma grinned,
"I bet you are going to make an amazing Alpha. And hey, now that you are in charge, I can finally become a member of your pack without having to follow the complicated procedure."
"I would love to..." Carol said hesitantly and Emma stared at her.
"Actually, according to Lockhart's orders, I don't have full control over the pack until I find a mate and get married. Until then, Noah pretty much has the power to give such orders in the pack," Carol explained.
"Noah?"
Emma's eyes widened in surprise, she completely forgot about him.
"As in, Noah-the pack's most-feared warrior and your stepbrother?"
Carol nodded, and Emma let out a low whistle.
"Wow, you are really in deep, aren't you?"
Carol rolled her eyes.
"You have no idea."
She usually told Emma about everything since she is the only friend she has and she knows clearly the issue between her and Noah.
"I think Lockhart did this to protect you from him," Emma said and Carol nodded in agreement.
She couldn't think of any other reason why he would do that although she thinks it's extreme.
"Carol," Emma called, her expression turning serious and Carol looked at her.
"So, have you and Noah ever mentioned what happened between you two in the past?"
Carol's heart skipped a beat as she felt a flush rise to her cheeks. "Why would you bring that up now?" she said, a little loudly and heaved.
"Why are you so defensive? It's been almost four years since the night you two...you know," Emma replied.
"It was three years and five months ago, Emma, and there is no way we will ever talk about something like that," Carol breathed as her face grew hotter.
She couldn't believe Emma would refer to her one-night stand with Noah so casually.
"Wow, you are really exact with the timeline, seems like you haven't forgotten about it," she teased and Carol shrugged, trying to play it cool.
"I just like to be certain with things, that's all."
Emma leaned in, a mischievous glint in her eye.
"Do you still think about it?"
Carol felt her heart skip as she met Emma's gaze. She didn't respond, but Emma's knowing smile told her she already knew the answer.
Emma suddenly jumped up from her seat seeing the horrified look on Carol's face.
"You know what? Forget about the past. Let's go to the club tonight and erase the ugly memories," Emma said and Carol laughed, feeling a reason to go there and get rid of her stress and worries.
"You are on," she agreed.
Emma opened a big bag where she stashed all her clubbing outfits and they both changed their dresses, and headed out in a cab.
As they arrived at the club, Emma and Carol grabbed a glass of cocktail each and moved their bodies to the rhythm of the music, laughing and joking as they sipped on the cocktails.
Carol finished the drink in her hand quickly and made her way to the bar to order another round when she bumped into someone and jolted with surprise.
Ian Griffin, Alpha of the Red Oak pack, stood in front of her with an equally surprised smile resting on his face.
"Ian," Carol said, trying to sound casual despite the surprise.
She was trying to get away from her concerns and didn't expect to run into the author of that problem.
Of all places to run into her ex-boyfriend.
"What are you doing here?" she asked.
Ian's eyes locked onto hers, and for a moment, Carol felt like she was transported back in time.
They were together for a year, and Carol had thought they were the perfect match for each other until the day she turned eighteen and nothing happened.
They were not bonded by the moon goddess as mates and he broke up with her. That led to her meeting Noah at the bar and acting reckless with him.
"I could ask you the same thing," Ian said, his voice low and smooth like Carol remembered.
"I didn't know you were into clubbing."
Carol shrugged, trying to play it cool.
"I'm just trying something new," she told him.
Ian's eyes narrowed slightly, and Carol could tell he was trying to read her like before.
"Ah, I came together with Emma. Remember her?" she said, letting a smile cover her face.
"Emma," she called out and Emma came to join her, and she seemed more shocked to see Ian.
"Carol, let's leave. I'm getting tired," Emma said, pulling her along but Ian placed a hand over her to stop them.
Emma's eyes flicked to Ian and for a moment, Carol thought she saw a flash of annoyance. But then, the look disappeared.
"We can get one more drink together, can't we?" he said, not minding the looks from Emma and Carol nodded slowly.
