Chapter 13 - Breathe

(Paradise POV)

Ughhh, I feel so horrible right now. Yesterday was a very long day and to top it off Emrick hasn't stopped rambling about Leviticus and Angeline.

"Can you believe it, like come on now? How could he be so reckless and slip away with her? She could've killed him, you know that." Emrick said as he rolled over and wrapped his arm around my waist while pulling me closer to him. I ran my hands through my hair and sighed.

"Yes Emrick, I can't believe it." I rolled over to face him and rolled my eyes and then rolled back over.

"What was that for Paradise?" He grabbed me and flipped us over so that I was on top of him. Again, I ran my hands through my hair and looked away from him. I could tell by the way he was holding my hips that I wasn't going anywhere.

"I mean, all you've been talking about is Angeline. Ever since she came here that's all you've been talking about." I mumbled everything to him but I knew he heard every word. Emrick held my body tight and sat straight up and then leaned on the headboard.

Once he was comfortable he positioned me on his lap better and then he gently grabbed my chin.

"I'm sorry, baby girl, I didn't realize how it was affecting you. It's just that I'm worried about my brother. They are mates and all and I just want to be sure she's not trying to trick him just to get closer to you." He moved his hand from my chin to my cheek and rubbed his thumb against it.

"I know baby, I know that's your brother, but you need to understand that he can take care of himself. You have to let him grow up and learn things on his own. Just be there for him and support him okay. As a brother, you can look from a distance but stop imposing, and stop bringing that mess into what we have here."

I leaned down and kissed him with so much passion.

"Okay? Now let me go so I can get ready for school. You need to do the same, Emrick."

I patted his chest and climbed off of him and walked towards the bathroom. I took off my shirt and panties while turning on the hot water, and then I stepped in.

"Let's shower together," Emrick whispered, I felt his warm breath run down the side of my neck causing me to shiver.

"What are you doing here? You nearly gave me a heart attack." I whispered as I tilted my head to the side. Emrick blew on my neck, kissed it, and started to caress my body. The way my body reacted to him was just unimaginable and I liked it.

"Turn around," Emrick whispered, and I did what I was told.

Now that I was facing him I was able to get a glance at the way he reacted to me too. I looked up into his eyes and saw how his eyes were darker than usual and very glossy.

His full lips were calling out my name and I had no other choice but to answer to them. I raised my arm and wrapped it around his neck, I gently tugged and pulled him forward while stepping on my toes and leaning up.

Emrick caught my drift and finished what I started by pulling me closer and connecting our lips. Everything that I wanted to do with him poured out of me through my lips, but the kiss didn't last long.

Emrick reached his hand behind me and grabbed my parts amour body wash and squeezed some onto my rag. He lathered me from head to toe twice and then I did the same to him with his body wash.

We kissed again, soap still on our bodies mixing fragrances with each other. Somehow through our kissing fit, I ended up at the back of the shower. I watched Emrick as he rinsed the soap off of his body.

Each lather of soap slowly traced his body and dripped lifelessly through the drain. After he finished rinsing himself off, he gently pushed me against the wall of the shower and leaned in to kiss my still soapy body.

"Emmmriiiiccckkk !!" Emerald yelled, causing Emrick to hop out the shower before he could kiss me.

He gently closed the door behind him and left. To say I was mad would be the least of it because I was furious. What could be so important that this moment had to be ruined? I pouted for a while and then rinsed my body off and got out of the shower. While putting my clothes on I overheard Emrick and Emerald talking.

"Leviticus marked her Emrick." I sucked in a breathe and threw on the rest of my clothes.

"He did what !" Emrick growled. I crossed my arms and shook my head, I don't understand why he's so mad.

His brother can handle himself but for some reason, Emrick couldn't seem to fathom that.

I eased my way to the door when I heard a new voice replace Emeralds.

"Hey, there stud. Herd ya talking about me." I knew that voice had to be that of Angeline which made me even more curious.

I gently cracked the door open and looked across the hall to meet the eyes of Angeline herself. Instead of informing Emrick she just acted like she didn't see me and continued her conversation with him.

"Yeah, my sister informed me about the new marking on your neck. Still sleeping with guys on the first day, huh ?"

I saw Emrick lean on the wall and smirk at Angeline but for some reason, she had an even bigger smirk. Angeline walked right up to him and whispered real low "You didn't mind."

I walked off with a little bounce, but not before she pushed the door I was standing at all the way open "Oops" she said as she continued to walk off. Emrick turned around with an unreadable expression on his face.

"You slept with her?" I whispered as I held my chest. It felt like a ton of knives had just stabbed me all at once.

"Bab-" Before he could finish I lifted my hand gesturing for him to be silent.

"When Emrick?" I demanded an answer and the defiance in my voice was powerful.

"Let's go talk about this somewhere else. I will explain everything, I promise."

Emrick said as he slowly made his way over to me with his hands up.

I nodded and walked past him before he could touch me.

"I'll be waiting in the car," I said with a disgusted look on my face, I didn't bother to look back I just kept walking while ignoring everything and everyone.

I yanked his car door open and slammed it extra hard when I closed it because I knew he could hear it.

(Emricks POV)

As soon as I heard Paradise slam my car door I punched the wall. How the fuck could I have let this happen. I should've been more careful when speaking to Angeline because of something like this.

That bitch knew she was standing right there and yet she continued to say what she said. I ran my fingers through my hair and slammed my door shut. I swear if I lose my mate over this I will kill Angeline myself. I sped down the stairs and out the door before anyone could see me.

Thank God Leviticus wasn't out there because he probably would've tried to kill me. I opened my car door and turned towards Paradise.

"Baby, please talk to me." I tried to touch her arm but she smacked my hand away and scooted closer to the door.

" You either drive somewhere so we can talk or I leave."

With that, she said nothing else. I nodded and sped off to our destination, I had a feeling Paradise would forgive me when I took her to our destination.

So instead of imposing like I normally did I turned on some music and drove. When we finally reached our destination I parked and turned my head to look at Paradise.

I saw the sparkle in her eyes as she stared at the waterfall before us. I tried to reach out to her again, but she quickly opened the door and walked over to the water.

I got out of the car and leaned against the door and watched Paradise kick off her shoes and kick at the water. I couldn't help but admire the way the sun's rays danced along her brown skin and how her legs gracefully kicked the water.

After a few minutes, I walked over to the water and joined Paradise. We sat there in silence for a while watching the birds and other animals that came along to enjoy the water.

"You should've told me." She said as she continued to watch the animals.

"I would've reacted differently if you would've told me."

She shook her head and laughed, "I knew there was something up between you two." She turned her head to look at me.

"Why didn't you tell me?" She watched me and waited for a reply. I tried to reach for her again but she turned her head back to the animals.

"You don't have to touch me to explain your deception." She smiled and closed her eyes as the wind danced through her hair.

"I didn't sleep with her Paradise," I said as her body stopped moving. It was almost like she stopped breathing.

I knew I was taking a big risk and I knew that I should've told the truth, but right now I was thinking about not losing my mate.

I heard her take a big breathe and laugh as she grabbed her chest, "Are you lying to me?" She turned around to face me with her watery brown eyes.

"I'm not lying Paradise, think about it, she did that because she wants to break us up." I had to sound convincing and this lie was the way to get her back.

"You're right Emrick, gosh I'm so so sorry." She jumped in my arms causing me to land on my back.

She planted a passionate kiss on my lips as tears ran down her face, "I'm sorry Emrick, please forgive me."

Paradise said as she placed her head in the crook of my neck. I ran my hands through her hair and kissed her,

"I forgive you, baby girl," I said as I wrapped my arms around her.

After we hung out for a little more and played in the water we headed back home. Since it was late we decided to skip school and hang out at the house.

The others were gone to class so we tried to enjoy the little time we had together alone. We watched movies, ate snacks, and talked about our past lives until Paradise fell asleep.

I rolled over and got up off the bed gently when I heard the others downstairs. I gently closed the door and headed downstairs to see what was all the yelling and squealing about.

"What's going on down here?" I asked as I ruffled my already messy hair. My mother turned around and puffed out her chest with profoundness.

"Your brother marked his mate." She said as she raised her hands and clasped them in front of her face.

I looked over to see Leviticus laying down on the couch with his head in Angeline's lap. She was staring at me with a smirk on her face while she played in my brother's hair.

I rolled my eyes and responded back to my mother, "Yes, mother, I am aware of that."

I ruffled my hair again while she smiled at me, "Now the only thing you have to do is mark your mate and then we can start planning for the ball."

I stopped ruffling my hair and stared at her with big eyes, "Why do I have to mark my mate right now? Can I at least have more time?"

I sat down on the middle step that leads to the living room.

"Emrick it has been over a year, you know she should've been marked." My mother said as she crossed her arms over her chest and shook her head.

"I know mother, but I want to take my time with her." I interlocked my fingers and laid my head down in between my hands.

"It's been over a year, haven't you had enough time. At this point, I'm starting to question if she's your real mate or not brother." Leviticus said as he got up and walked over to me slowly.

"I mean think about it brother I marked my mate the next day after I found out who she was. You, on the other hand, have yet to mark what's supposed to be yours." He said as he walked up to the stairs and stopped once he was in front of my face.

"Tell me brother, what's the hold-up? Why wait so long?" Leviticus was so close that I was able to feel his breath on my face. I just stared at him instead of replying back to his smart ass comments.

"That's what I thought." Leviticus let out a breath in my face and turned around to walk back down the steps. I watched him for a few seconds and then I kicked his back, flipped him over, and grabbed him by the neck.

"Don't cross your boundaries brother. You've grown an extra pair of balls because of that mate of yours, but I see that I have to remind you who's the oldest here."

I said with a low growl while baring my fangs.

Leviticus just smiled which pissed me off even more so I tightened my grip.

"I will sna-" Before I could finish my father came in the room.

"Put him down, Emrick." I turned to the right and stared at my father and tightened my grip on his neck.

"I'm tired of his shit father, really sick and tired." I turned back around and smiled at Leviticus.

"Son, everyone in this house is tired of his shit, let's go in my office and talk about it. Just let.him.go"

My dad said as he lifted his hands and walked closer to me. I gave his throat one last squeeze and dropped him on the floor.

"What's going on?" Paradise said, but right now I was too pissed.

"Emerald take her to your room and keep her company," I said as I headed straight for my dads' office without looking back.

"But I don't wan-" Paradise tried to argue but I wasn't having it.

"Go. Now. END Of DISCUSSION."

I heard her sigh and I closed the door to my fathers' office.

I laid down on the couch that was in the far right corner and threw my left arm over my forehead. I herd Leviticus and my dad approaching the door due to Leviticus coughing fit.

"What the hell is wrong with you two?" My dad said while slamming the door behind him.

"Have you both lost your damn minds? And in front of your mother?" He said while baring his fangs at the both of us, "And your mates." My dad shook his head and walked over to his seat.

"Emrick hasn't marked her yet," Leviticus said while holding his neck and leaning against the wall furthest away from me.

"Really? It's been over a year. She should've been marked."

My dad said while taking off his glasses and rubbing his forehead. I kicked my legs over the side of the couch and sat straight up.

"I am aware of this father and like I told mother, I need more time."

I leaned over and interlocked my fingers and placed my head between my hands.

"Just give me more time." I heard my father sigh.

"Very well then, you have three days to mark her." I looked up at my dad trying to fathom what he just said as he placed his glasses back on his face.

"Father, I need a little more time than that." I gave him a semi-smile.

"No, you had more than enough time, Three days Emrick. Now, Goodbye."

My father said as he looked at both of us and pointed to the door. Leviticus pushed himself off of the wall and whistled while he walked away.

"Great talk dad." He said as he continued his whistling while shutting the door behind him.

"Yeah, great talk dad," I said sarcastically as I turned around to leave.

"Three days Emrick."

My dad said, "Yeah, I herd yah the first time."

I said as I closed the door behind me.

(Paradise POV)

"What was going on downstairs Emm, Emrick seemed really pissed," I said as I stretched myself out over her bed.

Emerald flopped herself near me and sighed.

"Emrick hasn't marked you yet and it's been a year. So, Leviticus started taunting him about it and he got pissed off and choked him."

I just shook my head. "I wonder why he hasn't marked me yet? I mean we talked about it and he told me that we were going to mate and he was going to turn me, but that was like half a year ago."

I sighed and curled under Emeralds' covers.

"Maybe he has a reason," I said as I tried to find a comfortable spot on the bed.

"Yeah, maybe," Emerald said as we both sighed and turned our attention to the tv.

"One day in the future I hope to find my mate," Emerald said while staring at the tv screen.

"You will one day babe. You will." She turned around towards me and smiled.

"Thanks, Sis." I smiled and nodded at her.

"Hey chicks, mind if I join?" Angeline said as she closed the door behind her.

"It's rude to have girls get together and not invite all the girls." She said as she sat down on the chair closest to the door.

"Yeah, see the thing about this get together is, you weren't invited," I said as I turned around to look at her.

Angeline nodded her head and smirked. Before I could even give her the reaction I wanted too, she grabbed me by my throat. Emerald tried to get her off but Angeline managed to knock her out.

"Listen here you little bitch, the only reason that you're still alive is only because I have other plans. You should be grateful and thank me, instead of giving me these smart ass remarks you ungrateful witch."

She squeezed my neck tighter.

"Watch your mouth human, before I add your death to my plans. Do you understand?"

I couldn't nod or respond because I was losing everything.

My eyes were starting to roll to the back of my head, but she gave my neck one last squeeze and made me nod, only then would she let me go.

I fell to the ground while holding my neck. It felt like I was dying and I couldn't get the oxygen I needed to revive me.

"This is your warning Paradise. Be nice okay."

She smiled at me and blew me a kiss and walked out of the door. Before it could fully close she popped her head back in, "Oh yeah, this was fun. We should do this again sometime."

She cocked her head towards Emerald, "When your friend wakes up, tell her I said hey and to never interfere again."

With that, she walked out while letting the door close softly behind her. I tried to hold out as long as I could but I couldn't take it anymore so I let the darkness consume me.