Forbidden Hope: A Werewolf Wars Prequel Novella by Bethany Shaw

signs of movement before she took off toward their meeting spot.
    A light breeze blew, causing the leaves to flutter in the air. The soft whisper of the wind was a sharp contrast to the pounding of her heart. Emily balled her fists at her side, still unsure of what she should tell Marcus. They were always honest with each other. And she couldn’t stand the thought of breaking his heart. Tears welled in her eyes as she headed prepared herself to face him.
    She stepped over a log and veered off the trail, toward the small clearing a few paces away.
    “I was beginning to worry about you,” Marcus said, pulling her flush against him as he placed a tender kiss to her head.
    “I got held up,” she murmured, pulling back. She met his blue-grey eyes briefly before she spun away.
    “Em?”
    “My dad knows,” she blurted.
    A twig cracked beneath Marcus’ foot as he approached her from behind. His hands rested on her shoulders, giving her a soft squeeze.
    “He told me to end things.” I can’t lie to him. I might as well tell the truth. “He’s formed an alliance with the Gulf Packs. I’m going to New Mexico.” He doesn’t need to know the whole truth though either, she reasoned. No one needs to know the horror that I face. Keeping it from him will help him let go.
    Marcus was quiet for a long moment. His breath tickled her neck and she closed her eyes, enjoying his closeness. “Is that what you want?”
    Emily swallowed. “It doesn’t matter. My father—my alpha has ordered me to go. There isn’t another choice.”
    “Em,” Marcus said, coming to stand in front of her. “I’ll talk to him. I love you. If I make a declaration-”
    “No,” Emily gasped, her eyes snapping open. She grasped his hands in hers. Her heart thundered in her chest as panic filled her. If he spoke to her father, Emmett would kill Marcus. She would rather live in this nightmare than live without him on this Earth. Knowing Marcus he would go anyway. She had to give him a reason not to go to Emmett. “I don’t want you to talk to him, because I’ve already agreed to go.”
    Marcus’ eyes widened and he looked away from her, hurt evident on his features.
    Emily clasped his hands tighter, hating the way his face crumpled with pain. She gulped, saying a silent prayer that her voice wouldn’t betray her. “There isn’t anything you can say to him. I told him how we feel about each other and he doesn’t care. Trying to reason with him would only infuriate him further. Besides, I can’t go back on my word now. I have to do what is best for our pack. We both knew this was a possibility,” her voice broke and tears welled in her eyes.
    Oh god! I’m going to lose it.
    “I’m not scared of his wrath.” Marcus lifted his olive-toned hand up to her cheek and brushed a stray strand of hair from her face.
    I should have lied. He’s not going to let this go. On one hand she was thrilled he wanted to fight for her, on the other, she knew how the fight would end.
    As if on cue, the leaves rustled a few feet in front of her. Emily gritted her teeth as two wolves came into view. She shuddered, realizing her father had sent them to watch their exchange. One of the wolves curled its lip up into a snarl as the other hunched down, wriggling its hind end, preparing to pounce.
    They were going to attack if she didn’t do something. Even a skilled fighter would stand little chance against two wolves while in human form, especially when they were striking from behind. Fear gripped her, watching Marcus die was not an option. Think Emily! Say something to make him stop. Now! “I don’t want you to fight for me,” she snarled, surprising even herself at the ferociousness of her voice.
    “Why?”
    Emily pulled back meeting his blue-grey eyes. “It’s my duty to follow my alpha’s orders.”
    “Regardless of your feelings?” Marcus frowned.
    “Yes! The pack always comes first,” she said repeating her father’s words.
    “This isn’t like