She was clearly at Town Hall and in front of her building—but why? How? She had many questions, but no one to answer them.
"How did he know where I lived?" Anyway, that wasn't her problem now as she stomped into her house. Her gates were left wide open, and music was streaming out as if it were a madhouse.
Laughter and the clinking of glasses filled the atmosphere, making her feel even more nauseous. She ignored everyone and slipped into her room, trying to find her house, company, and other documents before Alexander could claim everything for himself.
"Are you looking for this?"
A voice startled her from behind.
"Damn you, Alex!" she said as she turned to face him. "How do you have those with you?"
"Why wouldn't I, Emma? They are mine. All your companies, all your houses—they're all mine, including your best friend, Janet."
He chuckled darkly.
Emma felt pained by his words, but she had had enough.
"Well, you can have her for all I care, but my properties and companies? Hell no!"
"There's nothing you can do about this, Emma," he said as he neared her. "Emma, trust me, I would've liked to have you. I bet you do too. We would have consummated our union by now—or still be in the process of it. I love you, Emma. I love your body. I love your scent," he whispered, drawing her closer to him. "But I love money more."
He laughed out loud.
Janet entered the scene immediately. "Hi, hun! I've been looking for you everywhere."
"Why, dear? You know I'm always with you."
"How did she get in here?" Janet asked, eyeing Emma.
"I knew she would come. That's why I instructed the servants to leave the gates open—at least for her to pay tribute to her house one last time."
"Oh wow, that's very thoughtful of you, Alex," Janet said.
"Well, I guess she's done here. My insides crave you," Janet added teasely, swaying her waist on Alex.
"Mine too," Alex replied with a cocky smile.
He pulled at Janet's clothing right in front of Emma and was actually undressing her as he pecked at her bare body.
Emma couldn't stand the sight anymore. Tears rolled down her eyes, but she didn't have the strength to leave the room. She slumped to the ground and watched as Janet and Alexander continued with their business.
They went on as if she wasn't even there. Emma tried as much as possible not to blink as she watched them.
***
Indeed, she's my mate, Raymond thought.
"I have searched all the earth for her, and now that I have found her, she is heartbroken. I couldn't control myself around her. I wish I had placed her in the other cars."
I want her, but I don't think I can have her.
I know I might have scared her with all my transformations. Well, I had everything under control—until earlier tonight, Raymond thought as he swept his hands through his silvery hair.
Emma had forgotten her divorce papers in the car, and he went through them.
"That bastard," he cursed, muttering under his breath.
Raymond had read Emma's mind, though he didn't want to, but he never knew it was this extreme.
"Is everything okay, My Lord?"
"Yes, Derick," he replied.
"Alpha Raymond, I thought she was the one. Why did you send her out? Your eyes even lit up."
"It's complicated, Derick."
"Where to now?"
"Home," he replied.
"Which home, Alpha?" Derick asked.
"Where are we now?"
"We are on Earth… Los Angeles. Pardon my manners, Alpha, but I don't know which home you meant."
Raymond sighed, and Derick drove off, clearly reading between the lines.
Raymond had come here after searching the world for his destined mate. He had already given up, but when he saw her run out of the church, he felt something.
He didn't want to, but he traced her scent to where she was.
She was hiding under a cover in a wedding dress, looking like a mummy—except this mummy was beautiful.
He was mesmerized by her bold hairstyle, soft facial features, and lips that were fuller than normal. They were colored red instead of the usual pink—was it lipstick? He wondered to himself.
He felt excited when she approached him. He thought he was going to get kicked for staring too long, but he guessed she had just noticed him.
"But I don't understand," Raymond thought out loud.
"How can someone be accused of infidelity and pregnancy on their wedding day… and then get divorce papers signed the same day?"
"Where was she now? How was she doing?" All these questions filled his mind with no one to provide answers to.
Ever since he came to this city, he had been growing paler, and it was even worse now that he had found her.
He stopped abruptly and tried to mind-link Emma, but it wasn't working.
"Damn," he cursed, closing his eyes as he tried to trace her himself.
What… She's still in that house? Has that ex-husband of hers claimed her for himself?
No, it can't be possible, he thought to himself, then teleported to where Emma was.
He arrived in split seconds and found Emma lying on the ground.
He also spotted two people lying naked on the bed.
"Don't tell me… Emma watched them make love?" he asked himself.
A loud sigh left his lips as he crouched beside Emma. Immediately, he could feel the pain she felt.
He tried to access her memories, but he couldn't.
That's strange, he said to himself, standing up.
"Maybe because she's sleeping?" he thought to himself.
Raymond spotted scattered documents near the bare couple. He used his mind to bring them to him.
They were all company and property documents—now signed under the name Alexander.
"Whoa."
Raymond neared him.
"So, you are Alexander—the man who caused my mate's tears?"
His eyes blazed green as he traced through Alexander's hair. He split it into two and burned the remaining portion of him.
Emma stirred and slowly woke up.
She turned and noticed his presence in the room.
"What are you doing here?" she asked.
Raymond raced to her, staring into her eyes motionlessly. She fell asleep almost instantly.
He caught her before she could hit the ground.
Damn, she saw me. How am I going to explain myself to her, now? Will she believe me when I tell her who I am… and what I want?
He sighed as he traced her fingers.
"You will be the end of me."
He turned back to Alex, Emma in his arms. His rage threatened to set him and the woman beside him ablaze.
She must be Janet—the woman Emma thought about in his car.
Though she was naked, he didn't find her appealing.
"I would love to claim both your lives now… but that would be selfish of me."
"I will let my mate decide the kind of death she wants to serve you both."