Meet me in the Emerald Forest

Chapter 27 Clementine

"Will he be able to understand that the man who I just arrested was my high school sweetheart? Will he be able to help with the fact that I aborted our fetus when I was 17, just weeks after my parents were killed? Will he be able to control himself when I tell him that the fetus was a result of rape?" I vomited the words all over the place, mercilessly shouting at Lily even though she was just trying to help.

Lily stared at me with her mouth hanging open and her eyes wide. Her hands fell numbly to her side. I glanced behind her to see the four giant guard wolves blushing and avoiding eye contact, looking like they wanted to be just about anywhere else right now.

"Clementine...." She began but no words followed.

"I can tell you're holding back from going after him, so, tell me, how can I expect Lukas to contain his rage? How can I expect him not to try and kill Bennett when I tell him about the years of abuse and misery he put me through?" I continued my verbal assault.

"He's your mate. He'll do whatever is needed to be there for you, that's his duty. I'm your subject, my duty is to destroy anyone who poses a threat." Lily was speaking through clenched teeth and her eyes were the blackest I had ever seen them.

"I don't need to be avenged." I finally felt my anger subsiding.

"You never told anyone about this?" Lily asked gently, her face beginning to soften.

"My brother and my three best friends, Elle, Tara, and Beau, are the only four who know. Not even Bennett knew about the fetus." I replied.

"And you didn't report it?"

"No. I wanted to forget about it. Afterwards, I started my pursuit towards the FBI and left everything behind." I said with a straight and emotionless face, "I know you're judging me for that. Anyone would, Lukas will."

Lily quickly shook her head, her eyes wide as she grabbed my hands and squeezed them.

"I am not judging you and neither will Lukas. Anyone who would dare is disgusting. I'm just....I'm marveling at your strength." Her words rattled me a bit.

"My strength?" I laughed humorlessly, "I'm a coward."

"No, you're the strongest person, human or wolf, that I've ever met." Lily's face showed nothing but honesty, but I knew her words were false.

"I'm not." I shook my head.

Suddenly, Lily's arms were around me and she was hugging me so tightly I thought I would black out from the lack of oxygen.

"I love you so much." She said,

"Lily?" I asked after a minute of enjoying the hug. She pulled back,

"Yes?"

"Don't pity me, okay?" I begged and she nodded, smiling.

"Never."

"I think I actually do want to go home now." I confessed and Lily's face broke out into an earth shattering grin, "What?" I asked dumbly.

"You just called the pack home."

I shoved her to the side and she tripped over her feet, almost falling. We both started cracking up laughing and I felt a wave of relief wash over me. I needed that, I needed someone like Lily in my life so badly I didn't even know it.

"Come on, let's go home." Lily said, tossing her arm over my shoulder as we walked towards the car.

"Lily?" I said her name once we were seated in the back of the SUV.