A Promise Made

Chapter 2

Three years ago. 

 Emily stared down from her balcony. Below her, hundreds of wolves were gathered for her sixteenth birthday. Her father, the Alpha, had decided to throw a bash, in the hopes of her finding her mate. There were tons of guys hoping to get a look at her and feel the mate bond. She turned from the sight, disgusted. She didn't want any of them, none of them would ever be her mate. She'd known that from the moment she could form coherent thoughts. She belonged with someone else, but this someone did not want her. Simile, her guard, she was always there for her, always with her. Simile was her shadow since she was little she knew she was safe, because no matter what or where she was, Simile was there. 

 Like now, Simile stood watching her, her yellow/gold eyes following every move Emily made. She had her white hair tied back loosely in her neck, a beautifully sculpted face with high cheekbones, and a small dent in her chin. When she smiled, dimples winked at Emily. She was dressed in black slacks and a white shirt, buttoned between the swell of her breasts and tucked in, and black boots. In all she was gorgeous, and she should be Emily's, but she refused to acknowledge their mate bond, her mind always a little shut off to Emily. Emily had learned to do the same, so she kept the part of her that wanted Simile so badly, locked behind a closed door. They were so close, their minds and, bodies, their very souls linked. But that's where Simile kept it. Emily knew that Simile knew they were mated, Simile knew that Emily knew. But after the night, when Emily was just ten and told Simile she loved her, and one day they would marry and have lots of babies and live in their own house with a dog and a fence, the dog was unrealistic, but still. After that night, something had changed between them, Simile had kept herself a little bit apart from Emily. Emily had known then, that Simile didn't want her. 

 So now she sat, hundreds of people waiting on her, to go down and smile, and dance and mingle, and all she wanted to do was sit here, look at Simile and miss something she never had. She was still a child to Simile, even though wolves aged differently, and she was an adult by wolf standards. Something always seemed to be in the way of Simile seeing her as the woman she was. Emily sighed and stood. Dropping the fluffy gown that she'd put on after her shower, she was naked underneath and had a small satisfaction, when she heard Simile's quick intake of breath. "Yes, you look at my body and the woman I am." Emily thought and walked unashamed to her cupboard to pull out loose white pants and a black blouse. She pulled on the clothes, without bothering with underwear, knowing Simile would know all night that she was naked under her clothes. She snuck a look at Simile and found her shifting from foot to foot, her eyes locked on Emily, the hunger she couldn't quite hide burning in her gaze. Emily smiled, feeling a jolt of triumph knowing she had gotten to the aloof guard. She pulled on white sandals and walked to the full-length mirror, turning and making sure she looked as good as she felt. She caught Simile's gaze in the mirror. 

 "Good?" 

 Simile swallowed before answering. Good was not the word she'd use, gorgeous, sexy, mind-blowingly hot, f*****g amazing. Those were better suited. She wanted to lock the door and keep Emily in her room, away from those bastards downstairs. She wanted to go to her, rip those clothes off and take what was hers. But Emily wasn't hers, for sixteen years now, she'd denied their bond, denied the mate she was given. Emily had grown up so fast, she was a woman now, full round breasts, flat tummy, black silky hair, and bluer than blue eyes. She kept her hair short, just touching her shoulders. Simile wanted to run her hands through the strands, tug her head back and kiss her, slow and deep at first, then hard and demanding. But she stood, swallowed again, and nodded. 

"Yes, perfect." Her voice was raspy she knew, gruff from arousal. Emily had known what she was doing, walking around naked, dressing without underwear, Simile was not going to be able to relax, or relieve herself before the night was over, and it was going to be a very long, uncomfortable night. She was swollen and wet, her s*x throbbing. But she pushed it down, tonight was not the night to walk around s*x starved for a woman that was never going to be hers. Emily's right eyebrow lifted, the scar she had just above her eye lifting too, it didn't take away from her beauty, but added to it. A soft face that reflected her feelings even when she was trying to hide them. 

"You seem a bit flushed, are you okay?" The question floated through her mind, they hardly ever spoke out loud, both preferring the privacy of their minds. A habit also, that they picked up before Emily could speak. 

 "I'm fine Em, but we should get going, your father will be upset if we keep them waiting much longer." Simile shifted again, trying to let up on the pressure between her legs. Emily shot her a knowing smile, still keeping eye contact in the mirror. 

"We could just stay up here, hide from the masses." Her smile faded and she broke eye contact. "You and I both know my mate is not down there." 

"Don't start this again, Em, please." Emily looked up at the desperate note in Simile's voice. She turned and walked to her, stopping mere inches from her, just out of reach, the way Simile always was. 

"You know, maybe you're right, maybe I'm not your mate." She stabbed a finger into Simile's chest. "You're too much of a coward to be my mate, I'm an Alpha's daughter, my mate will be brave and unafraid." She forced the tears down, ignored the hurt that flashed in Simile's eyes. "Let's go, I have a mate to find." Emily spun on her heel ripped open the door just as her mom was about to knock. 

"Ah, there you are, your father is getting restless, you should hurry." Kris looked from one to the other, a frown on her face. "What's going on?" 

"Nothing mom. Right, Sim?" She didn't turn her head to look at Simile but felt her retreat, body, and mind. 

 "Yes, everything's good here." She walked to the door. "Let's go." Simile felt Kris's eyes boring into her as they walked ahead of her, Emily, furiously stalking ahead of them. With a subtle shake of her head, she followed closely, the way she'd been doing for sixteen years. Close, but not too close, just out of reach. 

 When they got to the huge double doors that lead out to the garden, the Alpha stood waiting, a smile taking the place of the scowl he'd worn. As Kris had said, he was not a patient man. "There she is, finally. You look beautiful, Emily." He pulled her into a hug, Emily falling against her father's chest. Holding him tightly. "Come on, kid, this is all for you, you're a woman now, and this is a celebration of your birthday." 

 Emily pulled back, forcing a smile to her face. "Just a birthday bash?" 

"Well, if your potential mate is out there, then that's just an extra bonus." He said, looking a bit guilty. 

"It's okay dad. I'm ready." She shot a look over her shoulder and met Simile's eyes. It was on the tip of her tongue to tell her dad, she'd already found her mate, but Simile's tortured gaze stopped her. Did her father's approval of Simile, really mean more to her than the mate bond she shared with Emily? Deciding that must be the case, she turned back to her father, kissed his cheek. "Let's do this." 

 Torture, pure and utter torture. Three hours later, Simile stood, her back to the wall, her eyes on Emily, following her around the garden, she'd taken up a spot, not too far but not too close to Emily, so she could have some sense of freedom, roaming her party. But it was torture watching her mingle and flirt with boys and girls. Because that was what they were, children, none of them good enough for Emily. She shook her head, that was not fair. It was her wolf talking, but her wolf had no right to Em, she'd denied her all these years and had no right to her. And still, when one of them touched her arm, or took her to the dance floor and pulled her too close, she wanted to tear through the room of wolves and rip Emily from their arms. She'd take her away, so far away from all the prying eyes and hands. Simile's hands balled into fists, her wolf ripping at her skin, too close to the surface. But she had nowhere to go, she would only be able to leave once Emily was safely back in her room, and the house's outer doors locked and the night guards on duty. 

"Breath." The quiet voice in her ear made her jump. Simile turned to find Kris leaning against the wall next to her, her champagne glass in front of her mouth. "You need to breath." 

"Luna?" Simile asked. "You're about to shift, and you're making it hard for her to relax." She gestured with her glass. 

"Look." Simile watched as Emily danced stiffly with a boy, man, whatever. Her shoulders tense and her smile forced. "She feels your call, she feels your wolf." Kris, met her eyes, understanding shone from her blue eyes. Almost the same as Emily's but not as brilliant. "Why do you deny what you two are to each other?" She shook her head before Simile could answer. "Never mind. Drake is a good man, but he has standards, stupid ones, I admit, but still, he is our Alpha." She sighed again. My daughter can't find happiness while you are here." 

"I am not standing in her way, I've taken myself out of that equation." Simile protested. 

"If you believe that, then you are a stupid woman, and I know you, you are not that." She smiled and put a comforting hand on Simile's shoulder. "This is the hardest thing I will ever do." She put her glass on a tray as a waiter passed then turned to Simile. "If you will not take her as your mate I want to ask you to leave." 

 "I can't leave the party, Luna, not until she is safe in her room." Simile looked back to Emily, she stood talking to two kids, men, f**k. "I am fine, I'll do better to hide my discomfort." She didn't try and talk her way out of what Kris was saying. It would be impossible. 

"Not the party, Simile, the pack," Kris said quietly. 

"What?" Simile was taken aback, she knew her shock had reached Emily because she turned and looked to where they stood. Simile plastered a smile on her face and shook her head, Emily probably still angry at her, frowned and went back to her conversation. "I, you want me to leave the pack?" 

"For Emily's sake, yes." She now looked pained, her eyes full of tears. "Or go to her now, take her away from those i***t kids and claim her." Kris smiled sadly, knowing Simile wouldn't do it. "She'll always be waiting for you to come to your senses, she'll never let herself fall in love with someone else. And yes, she will not mate again, but she could find happiness. A man, or woman to love her, as she deserves to be loved." Kris turned to where Emily was now once again dancing with a girl. "Go to her, or leave." She said finally and disappeared as quietly as she had come. 

 Go to her or leave. The words bounced around in Simile's mind. Go to her or leave. Could she really leave Emily? Could she go to her and claim her? Her feet moved of their own accord, carrying her to Emily. She tapped the girl, woman, she sighed, the woman on her shoulder and gestured she wanted to step in. The woman frowned at her, annoyed about the interruption but stepped aside to avoid a scene. Emily fit perfectly in her arms. They melded together, their bodies in sync, just as Simile knew it would be. She bent her head and took in Emily's scent, drew her into her lungs, into her memory. Then Simile bent her head lower and spoke into Emily's ear. 

"You are an amazing, beautiful woman, talented and important to this pack and the future of our kind. You have been the light in my heart from the moment you were born and you will stay there for the rest of my days." She felt Emily stumble but caught her. "Be happy, Em, find love and be happy." Simile kissed her just below the ear, a soft, remember me, kiss. 

Emily watched her go, the crowd swallowing her up, she was about to follow, ask her what the f**k she was on about, but another woman stepped into her path and she had to dance. Why did it feel like Simile just said goodbye to her? What was going on? She searched for her mother in the crowd finding her, she was arguing with Emily's dad, both of them saw her watching and quickly smiled reassuringly. She felt anything but, reassured. She scanned the crowd for Simile and felt panic rise when she didn't see her. 

"Where are you?" She asked her mind searching too. There was no answer, she could still feel Simile, but it was like a block had gone up, a wall breaking their communication. "Simile?" She broke the hold the woman had on her and rushed to Andy. "Where is she?" She asked. 

"She's gone, Em," Andy said, sadness and anger in her voice. "Your mom gave her a choice, and she chose wrong." 

"My mom?" Emily turned, her mother rushing through the crowd to her. "What...?" 

"Oh god, Em, I'm so sorry." Her mom gushed. "I thought it was the push she needed to finally realize you belonged together. I never thought she'd..." Emily didn't hear the rest, she shoved past all of them, and ran. She nearly tripped and fell as she rushed up the stairs to Simile's room. Shoving open the door she stumbled inside and fell to her knees. She was gone. The dresser where the unicorn teddy bear Emily had given her sat, was empty, the only thing Simile would never leave behind. Sobs racked her body as she finally realized what was going on. 

 Simile was gone