(A little shorter than usual, but I will make up for it in the next few chapters. Thank you for reading!)
Eight.
She was full of panic and rage. A heavy shackle wrapped round one of the bed's poles ran to her ankle, with a large leather strap keeping it up. Why the hell was she chained to the bed? She looked to Blue, trying to get a decent, logical answer to what was going on, but she just looked very uneasy.
"Emma, I... I'm sorry, I couldn't stop him."
"Blue, don't tell me this was Killian's idea."
Her silence was more than eloquent for Emma, but she didn't want to believe her. Was he crazy? Why would he chain her up like a dog?! She tried pulling with some force, but of course, it wouldn't come off. He couldn't do this to her! Emma lifted from the bed, only to see that the chain was about ten foot long, just enough to allow her to use the bathroom. She took her head into her hands, unable to believe what was happening.
"Emma, are you okay?"
"No, I'm not, Blue! How could he do this? I'm chained to a damn bed!" She looked really sorry, exchanging glances with her sister.
"I swear I tried to stop him, Emma, but he wouldn't listen! He said he doesn't want you to go out until they catch that guy, Jekyll."
Oh Moon Goddess, was it because of what she'd told him? Did he freak out because she told him the details of Jekyll's assault on her? She remembered his last words before she fell asleep. He really meant it. He wouldn't let her out until they caught him. But that didn't give him the right to chain her to the bed like some animal! She tried pulling it again, but Blue intervened trying to stop her.
"Stop, stop, Emma! You're worrying me! You shouldn't be moving around so much after your collapse-"
"I don't care, Blue! I don't want to be chained! Not by Killian, not by anyone! Where is he?!"
"He's not here, he had to go to work. He left about a half hour ago."
"Call him." She looked straight at Blue, making it clear she wasn't going to stop until she could actually talk to him. Blue sighed, taking out her phone. Emma was fuming, so much that she was almost shaking. Blue gave her the phone, and within a few seconds Killian was on the line.
"What is it?"
"Killian, you can't chain me to a damn bed!"
"I'm in a meeting right now."
"I don't care! You can't do this! Come undo it right now! I can not believe you have done something this crazy to me."
"You are safe where you are, Emma. I'm not risking you sneaking out on Blue and Ruby again, getting yourself in trouble."
"Killian, I promised I wouldn't do that again without telling you! I promise, I swear. But you can't force me like this. You can't chain me to a bed like a damn dog!"
"No."
"Killian!" He hung up before letting her finish. She let out a scream of frustration. How could he do this? She knew she shouldn't have snook out, but that didn't give him the right to ever do something like this to her. Blue was nervously playing with one of her braids, visibly feeling incredibly sorry about the situation.
"Do you have a key for this thing? Answer me honestly."
"No, honey, I swear I don't. The boss knew how against this I was, and didn't trust us with a spare key."
"Ruby, can you break this bed?"
Ruby let out a grown and shuck her head. She couldn't blame her. The thing was obviously far to big, but she had to ask. Emma let out a sigh, she couldn't believe it.
She needed a clear head. She grabbed some fresh clothes and headed into the bathroom. The chain was just long enough to allow her to get into the shower, but she had to leave the screen door open slightly due to the horrendous thing stuck round her ankle. She took her time in the bathroom, washing her hair and body with cold water, trying to think. She was far to angry to make any good decisions.
While under the spraying water, she kept thinking about what to do. She couldn't let Killian do this. Emma knew how stubborn he was, but she wasn't going to let him win. She understood she went to far, but it didn't feel like he was doing it for security, more like a punishment.
Stepping out the shower, she dried off and began to get dressed. She'd picked up a random set of black lace lingerie, but quickly realised the shackle was a bloody nightmare stopping her from even putting panties on. She managed to pull them through the small gap left around her ankle, but she wasn't going to be able to wear any sort of jeans or trousers with it on. By chance, Emma had picked up a sweater dress that she could put on with no difficulties, but that didn't stop her from being mad.
She glared at her reflection in the mirror, her wild blonde curls all over her shoulders. She looked like an angry lioness, and her scar seemed somewhat broader since she was pissed. As she stared, she noticed her eye colour had slightly changed. From a natural grass green, her wolfs recent awakening had given them a nightly shining shade, like two emeralds. Even if she liked the change, it didn't minimise her anger one bit.
She wasn't going to go along with these changes, but what could she do?
(3 days later)
Killian's pov-
"Emma, please."
She was sitting across the bed from him, but she still ignored him. Her eyes were fixed on the sunset outside. It had already been three days, he couldn't take anymore.
"Emma, I don't mind if you give me the silent treatment, but you have to eat. Please."
She was already so thin. Why did she have to go on a hunger-strike now? She'd fainted just three days ago! Blue had told him that Emma only left her bed to use the bathroom or to change clothes. Killian looked at the chain on her ankle, and something indescribable pierced him.
He knew.
He knew Emma was angry at him for doing this to her. She was furious on the phone, but since then she hadn't spoke a single word to him. She only spoke to the siblings, that was it. Ruby was lying behind her, acting as a large cushion to support Emma as she sat there. Killian had to tame his wolf, he should be the one supporting her, but instead he was the one being ignored. He supposed he deserved it, but he was only trying to protect, Emma, as usual. They all were. She looked so fragile, like she could break at any moment. Yet, nowadays, she had a fierce look in her eyes, her inner wolf made them shine with a gorgeous green.
He wished she could understand.
How much he just wanted to protect her. How unbearably precious she was to him. He wanted to shield her, protect her, hide her away from the rest of the world where no one could ever harm her. He'd lost her once, and for fourteen years he had to endure the pain of not being able to protect her.
How did she endure it all? Killian's wolf went mad every single time something happened to Emma, it was infuriating. Knowing she was in pain, suffering somewhere, and not being able to do anything. He had searched for her for so long. Now that she was finally with him, he was terrified with the thought of losing her again.
He wanted to slaughter them. Find every single person who ever dared to lay a hand on her and kill them with his own bare hands. She was to gentle for it, she didn't understand. How much he hated them, how hard it was for him to contain the violent part of himself. When she'd snook out... oh Moon Goddess, he could have ordered for that whole wretched clan to be destroyed within seconds, just for the sake of Emma coming back safely to him. She didn't know how much blood his hands were tainted with. She didn't know all that he had done to be where he stood now, yet, he couldn't regret a thing when she was right in front of him. Just looking at her made it all worth it.
But yet his mate was perishing because she hated what he'd done. But he was terrified with the thought of her being in danger again. He was furious with Peter. How could he have took her back to that place. If he wasn't Killian's brother, he... but she was back. She was right there, where he could see her, where he could protect her.
"Emma, look at me. Please."
She turned to face him, but he was taken aback by how much he felt for her. Her pale skin, her thin body. The way her fingers played with her long, curly blonde hair. The way she always blushed slightly whenever their eyes met. Her thin lips.
He took a deep breath, trying to hold it in.
Killian took her hand, and surprisingly she didn't repel him. Her fingers were so thin and pale compared to his own, like a child's. He took them closer, and gentle kissed her palm. She gave him a gentle smile, and it was hard to remember that she was actually mad at him... wasn't she? He couldn't see the anger in her eyes. It was as if... she was just waiting for him. He breathed out a sigh.
He knew what she wanted, but it was hard. What if she left the apartment again? They were still on the hunt for that scum who dared to touch her. Oh, he couldn't wait for Peter to find him. Once he was found, he'd better be alive, because Killian wanted to kill him with his own hands.
He wouldn't let him get to her. Not him, or anyone. He'd protect her. He would protect Emma, whatever it took. No one would ever take her from him again. No matter what, he wasn't going to lose her. Never again. He was strong enough to do so. It was not like before. No one could stop him, and those who dared to try would regret it.
Emma was getting stronger too, he could feel it. Her wolf was fully awake and she was definitely getting fiercer. Graham told him he should trust her more... but he didn't want to expose her. Couldn't she just stay where she was and live peacefully? She hated it though, and he knew. He knew.
He let out a sigh, his hands moving towards her shackle. Using all his strength, the leather tore within seconds, a annoying metallic sound filled the room as it dropped to the mattress.
"Thank you."
Moon Goddess, it was so good to hear her soft voice again. She was suddenly dangerously close to him, laying her hands on his face. He didn't know how much more he could bare before his wolf went crazy. They both wanted her badly, it was so hard to keep it in. But he didn't want it. He didn't want to hurt or frighten her. Somehow, Emma seemed to have accepted a mate like him, and he didn't want to loose that.
Boss, she needs to eat...
Leave us.
Blue and her sister both exited the room without discussion. Emma saw them leaving, but didn't say a word; she was focused on him. Her cold hands on his neck was enough to drive him crazy- how could she not realise that? She was sat facing him, and he was fighting his wolf every second to not push her down onto the bed and make her his mate for real. He wanted her. He wanted to her so, so bad.
Without knowing how cruel she was, she just smiled at him and whispered.
"Killian, I promise I won't leaving again without telling you. But you can't, ever, do this to me again. Don't restrain me. It's like I'm back in that basement all over again."
The basement. They had her locked in a fucking basement. When his brothers told him, he was so close to going there himself. If Graham hadn't told him he had a plan for them already, Killian would've gone down there and torn that scum alpha to shreds.
He nodded. Emma was right. If he locked her up, even if he'd persuaded himself it was for her own good, he was no better than them. He leaned towards her, gently laying a kiss on her forehead. He loved how she smelled, like summer rain and wildflowers.
"I promise you, but... don't do something like that again. Take Ruby and Blue with you, and tell me or Graham."
"So, you are okay with me going out again?" She asked, suddenly smiling brightly. He wanted to so no, he really did. He wanted her to stay right there, stay safe, where he could see her. Emma had no idea what a battle it was going to be for her once she stepped out there. She was yet to experience the dangerous world they live in. Couldn't she see he was only trying to protect her? No, she couldn't. Because she'd lived trapped forever, and now she had a wolf inside of her, urging her to go out there and take her stand. Emma had an alpha heritage, he realised. He could see it in her eyes, the way she doesn't avoid other gazes and how she spoke, asserting herself more and more. But now, she was just a soon to be twenty one year old girl, looking at him with joy and excitement.
"Yes, I am. But Emma, promise me you won't do such a reckless thing ever again." He said with a nod, still unsure of his decision.
"I won't, I swear! All I want is for you to trust me. Look."
She moved back, making a large space between the two of them, Killian watched her as she controlled her breathing and close her eyes. Within seconds, the sound of fabric tearing filled the room, and the most beautiful wolf Killian had ever seen sat before him. She was... breathtaking. A gorgeous white wolf, with piercing green eyes and a slender figure. She looked at him, and his wolf almost lost it all from seeing his counterpart for the first time. How could she be so heavenly? White wolves with green eyes were the rarest. Most werewolves eye colour changed when they shape shifted, so they match an actual wolfs eye colour like brown, grey, yellow and sometimes blue. But green was very rare, as it was the pups eye colour. Not only did Emma keep her beautiful green eyes, but she also had pure, spotless white fur. In their old legends, white wolves were said to be the most loved by Moon Goddess, her blessed children. And Emma was one.
"You're beautiful..." He whispered to her. The white wolf came closer and he gently caressed her head. Her paw was on the chain, pushing it towards him. That's when he understood. She could have escaped, days ago. In her wolf form her legs where thin enough to just step out of the shackle, it would have taken seconds. But she didn't. She stayed to prove she was just waiting for him to trust her, and free her himself. He let out a sigh. He was such an idiot.
Suddenly, he felt her shifting again. He closed his eyes, pulling off his T-shirt to give to her. When he looked again, Emma was blushing, looking unbearably cute as she wore his -way to oversized for her- top.
"Thank you," she said with a smile.
He couldn't take it anymore. He took her by the waist, drawing Emma in to a kiss he'd been waiting so long to give to her.
