Forbidden Hope: A Werewolf Wars Prequel Novella by Bethany Shaw Page B

her. Emily dressed in record speed.
    “I didn’t see or hear anything, but ugh, I can smell sex in the air. Really?” he turned to Marcus. “She’s my baby sister.”
    “Baby sister by three minutes,” she reminded. “Besides,” she snorted, “you sleep with any girl who has a pulse. I don’t see where you have room to talk.”
    “Hey,” he said, his hand flying to his chest in feigned hurt. “I have standards.”
    “You do?” Marcus retorted.
    Vincent rolled his eyes playfully.
    “I should shift,” Emily said, retreating from them.
    Vincent held up a bag. “I have your spare clothes. You’d better hurry.”
    Emily nodded and dashed out of their sight before stripping again and transitioning.
    ***
    M arcus looked up as Emily entered the kitchen. Her eyes met his briefly before flitting away. She headed straight to the kitchen counter and began putting her plate together.
    “Hey, Em,” Vincent started, sauntering over to her. “We rented Teen Wolf if you’re interested.”
    Emily glanced around the room. Marcus knew without asking that she was looking for Emmett.
    “He’s not here,” Vincent mumbled in a barely audible whisper.
    Emily bit her lip.
    “Dev and I will both be in the room too,” Vincent explained.
    “Okay.”
    Claire grunted behind them, and Marcus turned to the alpha female.
    “I don’t know what you think you’re doing, but whatever it is, you’re only going to make things worse.”
    Emily snorted. “I’m already in a nightmare. The least you could do is let me enjoy my last few weeks of freedom—well what freedom I’m allowed.”
    “I’m trying to keep your best interests in mind,” Claire replied.
    “If that were true, then you wouldn’t let dad send me to New Mexico,” she snapped.
    Claire simply shook her head. She finished filling her plate and then walked out of the room.
    “What is wrong with her?” Emily wondered aloud.
    “She’s just antsy because we caught three wolves on the backend of our property earlier. Dad and Daniel are interrogating them,” Vincent spoke up.
    “Again?” Emily asked worriedly. She glanced from her brother to Marcus.
    “Come on, Em. Shake it off, let’s go watch our movie,” Marcus said, stepping forward.
    ***
    E mily finished cleaning up the living room. As much as she enjoyed spending time with the guys, they were slobs. Vincent was by far the worst; his room was so horrendous, she refused to even cross the threshold.
    “You’re up late,” her father’s gruff voice said from the doorway.
    Emily stiffened; her heart lurched up into her throat. She turned slowly. “I was watching movies with Dev, Vincent, and Marcus.”
    “Marcus?” Emmett’s brow lifted in question.
    “He’s kind of a package deal with Dev and Vincent. Unless, of course, you intend to forbid me from seeing my brother’s too,” she snapped.
    “Don’t get lippy with me, young lady,” Emmett snarled.
    “Or what?” she hissed. “I haven’t broken your rules.” Liar—he doesn’t know that.
    “I’m watching you, Emily,” he warned.
    “I don’t doubt it.” She knew she really should shut up, but she didn’t care anymore. If he was going to force her into a life she would hate, then she didn’t care about respecting him anymore. Respect was earned, and he’d lost her respect the minute he’d put his hand on her and forced her into this nightmare.
    “What is wrong with you, girl?” Emmett yelled. He grasped her shoulders tightly and shoved her forcefully against the wall.
    “Me? What is wrong with you? Do you even realize what you are doing to your family?”
    Emily knew exactly what was coming the second she saw his hand lift up. She cringed away from his palm, but it was not enough to avoid the sting of skin-on-skin contact. Her head snapped to the right, and she blinked back the tears that filled her eyes.
    “You will get your attitude in check before Fernando Juarez returns. This deal is important to our pack. Stop being so