PARIS'S POV

Ember found her way to my pack's land close to noon. I had been in front of the stables, considering a ride when I saw a woman in a white sundress walking toward me, her face set, and being tenderly kissed by the sun.


"took you long enough," I muttered as I waited for her to catch up with me. The flaming dragon had found its way to me.

"How dare you?!" she shouted as though she were not standing right in front of me,

"do what?" I asked. I didn’t know why I was doing what I was doing. But of course, I was not going to start this conversation by apologizing profusely.


She had something she was angry about, I wanted the words. Same way I would have wanted them if Jean had not given me the heads up.

"Who told you you could meddle in my private affairs? Uhn?" she asked, jutting out her chin and I pressed my lips together,


"Would you like to explain further what you actually mean by private affairs? What affairs? "

"What do you mean by partnering with Jean over my life? Who told you, I wanted you to do that?"

"Thank God you said it was me who was partnering with Jean. I wasn't aware that I needed your permission for such. Don't tell me Jean had to get permission from you to do what he felt was necessary?" I asked, trying to sound shocked and she glared at me,

"I bet you think you're incredibly intelligent, don't you? That I can't see right through you. I know he must have told you I didn't want this from the very start. Because that's just the man he is. But you, you couldn't even consider how I would regard this. "

"so he did take permission from you. And judging by how pissed you are, I suppose you didn't give it. Well, that's sucks. But I must remind you, that it's been a very long time since you tried to have a proper conversation with me. So I don't think I was in any position to discuss any of this with you. However, I'm not overly joyed that this little partnership was not to your liking. Even if, we did actually do it all for you."

"I didn't ask you to," she said, folding her wrist, and hitting me with the meanest of glares.

"you entitled little brat," I swore, suddenly irritated by her behavior and she looked taken aback by my words,

"What did you call me?"

"you heard me. I know you heard me quite clearly. Look at you, blowing fire because two men who care deeply about you enough to push every other thing aside and figure out how to keep you safe. Again and again. And your response, is to blow your top, simply because you don't like one of the men so much right now. Well, boo to the Hoo. Because we're not going to stop. Not until we find out what all of this is about. I don't care how that makes you feel."

"Useless! It makes me feel useless! Like I can't handle myself until the man who couldn't love me, and the man I didn't know how to love came together to save me. I can save myself! I don't need you partnering with Jean for that."

And I blew out a breath.

"you're taking it the wrong way, because no one is trying to make you feel useless, Em. I hope you understand that. And you can be pissed off with me. That's a normal occurrence. But it makes no sense to be pissed with Jean. He decided to do this with me, knowing full well that your relationship with him could be jeopardized. That's a man who cares, Em. Keep that in mind."

"I didn't come here for relationship advice." I sapped,

"I didn't know I was advising you for a relationship I was just saying." I said and shrugged, "Now if you're done blowing out all of your steam, I'd like to be on my way."

"you aren't even remorseful," she said angrily, and I shrugged again,

"I don't see why I need to be, seeing as I have done no wrong," I said,

"of course, you haven't. I don't even know why I came here today." she angrily replied,

"of course you do. You wanted to put me in my place for having the audacity to have any kind of collaboration with Jean. But perhaps somewhere along the line you might have seen the light and concluded that we only had your best interests at heart. Hopefully. Although, I believe you already gave Jean a piece of your mind."

She seemed to consider my words, before simply rolling her eyes at me,

"that's none of your business," she said and I nodded,

"it really isn't. so well, if you're done with me, best I be on my way, " I said and began to walk into the stables, stopped, and turned back to her, "however, if you are interested in joining in our next meeting, perhaps you wouldn't mind an invite?" I asked and she narrowed her eyes at me,

"I don't even know why I even bother with you," she said and turned her back on me. Walked away.

I watched her as went, smiling to myself. If I could, I would pat myself on the back, for successfully encountering and somewhat averting the wrath of the angry dragon.

~~~~

"48 hours are nearly up," I said to Kate when I saw her in the living room after my ride. She looked dressed, so I was inclined to believe she was on her jolly good way.

She rose when she saw me, and had tears in her eyes, "please, Paris. I really have no place to go."

"this again," I said, entirely too tired to indulge, but she grabbed my hand when I began to turn away,

"yes, this again, because it is the truth. I only have you and your mum. This house. If you throw me out, I'll be on the streets. Anyone who sees me and has bad intent will do as they wish with me. So what can I say, or do to make you change your mind? I'll do anything."

I raised my brow at her plea, "anything?" I asked and she nodded hopefully.

I thought about Ember's Visit, and how angry she was. Would she maybe calm down a bit if she received an apology?

Not from me, definitely. She was not getting one from me. Because I had no business apologizing for wanting to keep her safe.

But what if she got an apology from the one who endangered her life again and again?

"anything?" I questioned, and sat down,

"of course. Just say the word," she said hopefully, and I nodded.

"you're the one who needs to say the words. A couple of words really."

"okay.. I'm all ears." She waited while I thought about my next couple of words carefully and smiled when I had it

"an apology... You owe Ember an apology."

She seemed to freeze for a moment before slowly coming out of it and blinking in confusion, "an apology? You want me to apologize to Ember?"

"I do." I said and tilted, "Or do you not believe she deserves one?" I asked, and she seemed to think about it for a moment,

"Okay." she said and I sighed, "I owe her one, and I'll give her one. Is that all I have to do to make you change your mind?" she asked, and I rose again before giving her a response,

"I'll let you know if something comes up. But get that done first, as soon as possible, might I add." I said and began to walk away, "I should warn you though, the woman is in a foul mood."