Emmett's POV

My phone started ringing, waking me up as usual. I should have put the damn thing on silent but then again I told myself that every morning I woke up to it.

Groaning, still half asleep as it just continued to ring, I nuzzled into... hair? My eyes snapped open as I woke up fully. Sam’s back was pressed against my chest, our legs tangled together as I held him around his waist to keep his lower body against mine. I hurried to turn my upper body to silence my phone before he woke up but he was still heavily asleep on my other arm as he hold it against his front body. 

His scent covered my whole bed now, making me want to rub against it all day and let my wolf roll in his scent. I slept so peacefully because of it. A sweet and beautiful scent that calmed every part of my body.

Damn, he was so cute as he snuggled against my arm even more with a soft snore. I just wanted to hold him against me like this all day long but looking at the time I needed to go and get things done before someone came to get me like last night.

Now having a pretty good idea of what the hunters could be after, I had a lot of work to do in keeping the safety of my family and pack intact. There were hundreds of us all working and living in this city, making us the largest pack in records but we were also the oldest pack to hold this territory. They all felt safe here and I mean to keep it that way. I would never let the hunters come here with an army and declare my city a danger to the humans to start attacking us.

I held Sam tightly but gently not to wake him for a few minutes longer before softly kissing his cheek and carefully untangled my arm and legs to get out of bed. He quickly rolled around and grabbed the pillow I was laying my head on and squeezed it against him to snuggle with, making me chuckle at how adorably clingy he was in his sleep before walking to the bathroom and getting ready for the day.

After that, I wrote him a note telling him I would be in my office just down the elevator if he needed anything but I would be back later with Viv so he could see the rest of the pack house with her as promised. 

Maybe I could handle a few things quickly and try to sneak back into bed with him if he was still sleeping. I already missed his warmth against me as I took the elevator down one floor and walked down the hall into my office. 

Sighing deeply to my own pitiful state before I texted Luke and told him to get up here as I sat down at my desk and started the work that I was supposed to get done last night.

"Good morning Alpha," Steph said as she walked into my office. She was one of my secretaries who helped me stay organized with the businesses we owned around the city. I honestly don't know what I would do without her by my side. Even though I try my hardest to sneak past her daily because she always has a ton of work for me. "You have a 2 o'clock meeting with the Woo family about trading overseas and the Wright's need your approval about some kind of addition they would like to make to their bakery. I guess business has significantly picked up for them in the past few weeks and they need something bigger with more help. Also, you need to read and sign these as soon as possible."

I leaned back in my chair as she set down the stack of papers. "Whatever the Wrights need just give it to them within reason. I knew they would be successful. Have you had Mel's bread? I would kill for it. Oh! You know what, order me a pound of her banana bread while we’re talking about it please." I smiled big wondering if Sam had ever had banana bread before and if he would like it.

"Yes, Alpha. Would that be all?" She asked as I started looking through the papers she gave me.

"I have Luke coming up. Send him in as soon as he gets here. That will be all for now. Hold my calls until after he leaves." 

"Yes my alpha," she said with a slight bow of her head and left as I started my work. 

It was almost an hour later that I finally got the call that he was on his way up the stairs and by this point, I was about to lose my shit over how long he took to get here. I stopped what I was working on and waited for him to walk into my office. 

"Alpha," he said, walking in, a little nervous. His blonde hair was a mess and I could smell his mate’s heat on him. If I wasn't so angry at him right now, I would have congratulated him because 9 out of 10 times means his mate is now pregnant. But this wasn't a time of joy.

"Where were you?" I asked him in my alpha tone.

"I was with my Mar-,"

"I'm talking about yesterday. I called Mason to see me for one minute, leaving you fully in charge of keeping an eye on Sam, and yet you and your scouts were nowhere to be found when the Spider made a move or even when the hunters attacked us. So, I'll ask one more time. Where were you, yesterday?"

"I was watching him Alpha but with the rain we- we lost him in the crowds. I was looking all over the city for him." 

"Do you have any idea what could have happened?" I yelled, feeling my anger start to boil as I pictured my mate covered in his own blood, scared as hell, and broken. I smacked my hands on the desk, standing up in rage. 

Sam's POV

I woke up to an empty bed. Last night came back to me immediately as I covered my face, feeling it turn red from embarrassment. I couldn't believe I broke down like that in front of him. But he was so comforting that I couldn’t hold back and he just let me cry it out without saying anything but comforting words to me. I don't even remember falling back asleep. 

I jumped up into a sitting position. "Did he sleep in bed with me all night?" My face started burning even more as I looked down to find the other side of the bed unmade and messy. He did! 

I looked around the room but didn't see or hear him anywhere before finding a note on the nightstand next to me. 

"Good morning Sam. I hope you slept well. I'll be back shortly with Viv so you could see the rest of the packhouse. If you need me for anything before then, I'll be in my office just down the elevator. Please feel free to make yourself at home until I get back. -Emmett"

I groaned at myself and flopped back down on the bed holding the note still as I closed my eyes. This guy was making me crazy but I really wanted to see him. I missed him already. Was that weird? I felt like it was weird. I've never felt this way about anyone before but I just feel this pull towards him and it's even worse now after we kissed. Ugh. That was stupid. I barely even knew the guy and I was all over him like that. Touching him, feeling so needed like that, there was truly something wrong with me.

Suddenly, I thought about my dream again. The yellow-eyed wolf from yesterday was there with 4 other wolves that looked just like him. They were attacking me, biting me but I fought them. I opened the door after I heard Emmett's voice. I knew I did. I felt it move even though the wolves were pulling me away, trying desperately to keep me away from it.

I rolled out of bed shaking the thoughts of that crazy dream away. It's not like I saw what was behind the door, I just felt it move a little. 

I used the bathroom before brushing my teeth and fixing my crazy bed hair then walked over to the elevator hitting the button. I felt butterflies as the doors opened but I needed to see him again. I couldn’t wait.

Was this really okay? Maybe I should just wait for him to come back up. What if he was busy? I'd just be in his way if he was busy. I mean it's not like I needed anything or it was really important. What if he wasn't even there right now?

I told myself all this and yet found myself still riding the elevator down to the next floor anyway. Still trying to talk myself into going back up and just waiting.

Walking into the hallway, I didn't know which one was his office. I walked down the hall nervously until I saw a cracked door. Maybe that was it? They all looked the same. Won't hurt to check. 

Poking my head in, I could see a small table and chairs with a whiteboard in front. Looked like a small meeting room, fit for only maybe 4 or 5 people at the table. I walked over to the next door that was cracked open slightly and was about to peek inside when I heard a loud thud that startled me back a step. 

"We almost failed to find them in time because of you!" I heard Emmett yell in anger. "Do you have any idea what would've happened if we didn't find them and killed him in time?"

"I- I told you, it- it wasn't my fault," a man said, with fear in his voice. "I had my men all watching the thief as you wanted but with the rain and- and the crowds they- they lost him. If he hadn't lost the trackers we had on him I- I would have been able to find him faster, Alpha. I- I don't understand why you're so mad. It worked, didn’t it? We found who the thief was working for an- and who the Spider was working for too."

I felt my heart drop as he said all that and covered my mouth to stop them from hearing my gasp. I felt so used and betrayed. That's all I was to them, to him, a thief, some bait. That's why he let me go. That's why he was being so nice to me and- and kissed me. Was that because of some kind of guilt thing?

"Yes it worked but that's not-,"

I walked into the office, unable to hear anymore and they both looked over at me, cutting Emmett's words off. Emmett had the man pinned against a bookshelf with a few books now laying at their feet. The blond-haired man looked at me with wide and confused eyes, even from where I stood I could see him still shaking in fear.

“Wh- what is he…” he mumbled in shock but his words faded from me.

I ignored him and looked back at Emmett. "You- you used me?" I asked, feeling my heart completely shatter.