CHAPTER 656: 656-SHE LOOKS PURE

Helanie:

"Do you remember us?" Norman asked, looking around the room. Emmet ran his fingers through his wet hair before quickly grabbing a chair and placing it in front of me, gently tapping on it while looking at me.

I didn’t take it and turned my attention to Azura. Standing in the room with his lost love, I felt small. This was the same reason he had forgotten about me when I needed him the most. So he didn’t have to act like he now remembered me.

"I never forget the people I call family," she said. Her voice was so soft and raspy that even I got goosebumps.

"Honey, sit here," Maximus grabbed another chair and placed it next to me, whispering in my ear. I gave him a nod and sat down while Norman took the seat Emmet had placed for me.

"I see a new face too. I don’t think we’ve met before," she smiled, looking right at me, and I felt a chill run down my spine.

"She’s my mate," the voice came from behind me. Emmet introduced me and wiped the smile off her face.

"You found your fated mate?" she asked him, sounding really sad.

"Yeah," Emmet replied. The awkward silence lasted for a few minutes before Emmet added, "and she’s also a North Queen. And a bit of an attitude queen."

Norman and Maximus laughed and nodded, like they agreed, but I felt like Azura didn’t enjoy hearing Emmet talk about me.

"So you two are together now?" she asked, her face looking a little pale.

"No," Emmet replied again, "but I’m working on it. One step at a time. I’ll probably win her heart back." I was shocked that he was talking about me with her like that.

I thought he would wish I had disappeared so he could enjoy his moment with his true love.

"He’ll have to take big steps or jump because she’s married to Norman." I don’t know what kind of bug bites Maximus sometimes, but he does some really questionable things. The moment he said that, Azura seemed to relax a bit, but also looked confused. Meanwhile, Norman and Emmet both stared at Maximus, who was smirking just a little. He leaned over to me and whispered, "Watch them argue after this."

I rolled my eyes at Maximus before sliding to the edge of my seat.

"Azura! I heard you died. Can you tell us anything about what happened?" I noticed her expression had changed after my introduction. She wasn’t trying to give a weak smile anymore, she was trying to hold back tears.

"I don’t know why I’m alive either. I remember being swallowed by darkness and then waking up in the middle of the woods, like someone had brought me back. I don’t remember much, just a faint memory of someone whispering in my ear," she spoke softly, her eyes fixed on the wall and her brows furrowed as she tried hard to recall the details of her awakening.

"What whisper?" Maximus asked.

"That I’ve been given a second chance at life. That someone sacrificed a lot to bring me back," she looked slightly confused, even though she glanced at Emmet a few times.

Her response made both Maximus and Norman look over at Emmet, who stood still with his hands on his hips. Maybe it was the sacrifice of his tears? He had mourned her for years.

"Are there any other details about the voice you can share?" Maximus broke the awkward silence.

"It felt very pure, but very divine," she said, tilting her head.

"Maybe a moon goddess?" She didn’t sound sure, but she could be right. The moon goddess had once helped me too.

"Okay, well, that’s nothing helpful," Maximus muttered and stood up, turning his back to her and signaling for me to leave with him.

"You should rest then. We’ll see you at dinner. But in the meantime, if you remember more, do let us know," Norman said, not sounding very excited to see her again. I wondered if they didn’t like her before.

As we walked out, I heard Emmet call after us.

"Guys, can you please ask the maid to prepare a guest room for her? I want her to have her own space and feel comfortable too," Emmet said, making us exchange a quick look. Then Maximus said what we were both thinking.

"She’s your girlfriend, Emmet. Why isn’t she staying in your room?"

Emmet shook his head, slipped one hand into his pocket, and gave me a quick glance. Then he said firmly, "That was before she died. Things are different now. I have a mate, and I don’t want to do anything that would create distance between me and her."

Emmet didn’t say my name, but we all knew who he meant. And when I say we were all shocked, I mean it. Even his brothers looked surprised that he was putting me above her.

"You don’t have to do all that to prove anything. I know how much you love her," I said as I folded my arms across my chest.

"You don’t know my heart then," Emmet replied.

"Right. Well, next time don’t leave clothes scattered around if you’re going to act like you two aren’t dating anymore," I snapped, throwing out a quick jab, which nearly made Maximus burst out laughing.

But Emmet looked a bit confused. His eyes narrowed at me before he let out a sigh and shook his head. "Helanie, that’s not what happened. I was out of my room and came back to find her grabbing my clothes. I told her I had new ones for her. I didn’t want her wearing mine because I knew what you’d think if you saw her in my shirt. She left my clothes on the floor while she went to shower, then came out and dropped hers too. I’m not going to sleep with someone after I’ve kissed you."

His words made my whole body tense, and Maximus’s eyes went wide.

I knew he’d ask me a million questions now. But at the same time, I knew Emmet wasn’t lying. He never lies, and somehow, that gave me so much peace.