Chapter 33: Part 33
My blood was running hot and then cold; my head was hurting from the tension seeping from my rigid back. I put on an innocent smile on the corner of my lips, blinking at my brother. "Sure...I guess."
My brother paused for effect, and I stopped short, momentarily forgetting the panic as my mind started reeling. Where was he going with this? I was aware that hiding about Abel and my living situation from him would come to bite me in the back but not so soon. Edward did not have to find out about it in this way.
"Why are you living here, Em?"
I twisted my mouth. "What do you mean by here?"
"You know where I am going with this..." He rubbed at his face, the line of his shoulders sagging for a few seconds. "When you told me that Allie is coming along, I thought you would find a hostel."
"Do you not know who Allie's father is, dear brother?" I deadpanned.
"Do not get smart with me on this!"
His voice was rising, cheeks starting to go red, composure slipping. "I am not in the mood. How are you paying for the rent?" On cue, Ed's eyes roamed around the room before they settled heavily on me. "Your living expenses? What about the groceries? I know you don't like to accept money from our father, and there have not been any withdrawals from our joint bank account, Em."
I bit down hard on my tongue, barely managing to stop from flinching visibly. My eyes burned into the carpet on the floor, hoping for a miracle as to not have this talk with my brother. Edward was only looking out for me, I know, but it did not make it easy.
I swiped a tongue across my bottom lip, hand gripping the cup placed in front of me. "Allie's father paid full front for this house...and as for my living expenses and the groceries, I recently took up a job at the cafe near my university. It's not much, but..."
Edward cursed under his breath, his hand raised in the air to slam on the table. He held back and instead raked it over his hair, tugging on them. This was not how it's supposed to go, I realised, with nausea settling in the pit of my belly.
"You are accepting help from her?!" He hissed, nostrils flaring. "Emma, you can't take favours from her anymore because she's nice to you. Come on! You are leaving. I will find a hostel closer to university."
"That's enough, you two!" A voice echoed from the other side of the room. I blinked through the hazy vision, my mouth gaping as I watched Allie stride toward us with purpose.
My brother froze in his seat; jaw clenched tight.
Allie limped her way, clutching her head, probably still hungover from the night before. She must have drank at least half a bottle. Dragging herself to the nearest chair, my friend plopped with an audible thump. "How much did I drink exactly?"
I winced, forwarding my cup towards her. "You don't want to know the answer to that."
"You are right!" She huffed. "I can hear you two arguing and..." Allie poked a hand in my brother's chest, almost startling him. He secured a hand over the edge of the table to steady himself. "You stop dictating to her on how to live life..."
"She's my sister!" He fumed.
"So? Emma knows what she is doing, and I begged her not to tell you anything because I know you would act this way." Allie motioned towards him, making his lips press in a tight line. "We grew up together; your mother fed me and looked after me more than my mother ever did. Consider this my way of giving back to Em."
Edward cleared his throat. "She can't possibly accept that...Tell me the amount your father paid, and I'll compensate for half of it."
"Why must you argue about everything?!"
"I am not! You are looking for a fight. I was only talking to Em."
"Which involves me!" Allie cut him with a glare, crossing her arms together as she sat upright. "She's not moving, not, Edward. We both planned on living together, and that's exactly how things will stay. And no, I won't accept your money."
I flickered my eyes between them, tension thick in the air, grating against my nerves. Should I intervene? I thought, teeth sinking on my bottom lip.
"That's not up to you!"
"I will tell my father the same thing."
"You are one stubborn..." Edward huffed under his breath, shaking his head.
"Finish that sentence; I dare you!" Allie countered at him.
My brother abruptly stood up, not caring about the chair scraping against the floor. He narrowed his eyes at her, shoulders rigid. "Are you challenging me now?"
I slid in between before it could turn sour, placing a hand on his chest and patting him. "Ed! I think it's better if you go."
"This is not over!" He warned while giving us one last look and shutting the door behind him.
As soon as he was gone, I felt two arms wrapped around the middle, a squeak slipping out of my mouth. I blinked at Allie, patting her closed palms, before slipping out of the embrace.
“I don’t want you to go.”
“I am not going.”
“I am serious, Em” She pinned me with a look as I sat down.
“Me too!”
“Good!”
Picking the cup, she gulped the entire content in one go, wincing at the after taste. “That’s too much sugar in there!”
“You picked the wrong cup.”
“I realised as soon as I smelled it!” She let out a sigh. “Your brother is crazy, by the way.”
“Allie!”
“Oh, come on! I am just saying he didn’t have to go all Alpha on you. I get that he’s worried and stuff, but still, it’s too much.” My friend made a face, eyeing the closed door with contempt. As if my brother could sense it from the other side.
I let out a tired sigh. “I know!”
***
Working at the cafe eased some of the burdens I carried from the morning. The classes were stale today, and I barely managed to pay attention. Avon and Naya had a seminar to attend, so they were gone for the day's rest.
My shift ended at six dots, but the cafe was crowded, so I volunteered to stay back. Anything was better than going home and facing my dear brother. He’s still pissed; I could tell by the lack of texts and phone calls.
“Do you want a ride back home, Em?” I heard one of the staff members yell as they slipped through the door.
“No, it’s fine. I’ll walk home.”
I waved before going into the dressing room and hastily untying the apron. A sigh slipped out of me as I picked up my bag and checked the time on the clock. It’s ten in the evening. Way past my shift, and I had half a dozen calls. Three of them are from Allie.
And the remaining three caught my eye. Professor Abel. Why would he call me? My cheeks grew hot as I recalled our previous thrilling encounter, toes curling.
Shaking my head, I messaged my friend and flatmate back, informing her about the delay.
It’s dark outside. The lamppost barely provided any light, especially in the narrow alleys as I walked. My breath hitched, feeling a presence behind a thick, unfamiliar scent.
“Are you lost, sweetie?” A male voice leered, the loud tone sending shivers down my back.
I kept quiet, increased my pace, and the stranger did the same. Panic settled in my stomach, the thought of finding a way out clouding the rest of my senses.
“Come on, sweetie. Don’t be like that. Give me a chance!”
Tears sprung to my eyes, vision going blurry as I started sprinting. My lungs burned, sweat breaking out as I skidded into the main road.
A sigh of relief rushed out when I saw Abel’s car parked there. My hands frantically waved at him, and he stepped out.
“Emma…” His brows furrowed. “W-Why are you—Abel cut himself off as he spotted an Alpha behind.
The rogue chuckled in disbelief, shaking his head as though the entire situation was ludicrous. His voice was haughty, and entirely degrading as he laughed, “Come on, bro! I found her first. Get going now.”
It happened so fast that the whole movement barely registered to me. Abel wrapped an arm around, tugging behind his back. As if in slow motion, I stood, watching his fist fly without any sort of previous inclination, nailing into the man's face with a repulsive sort of crack that drilled into my core.
Blood flooded down the Alpha’s shirt, his nose broken and knees wobbling until he landed on his back.
“Moons!” I cried, a hand flying up to cover my mouth in shock, eyes alighting on his quivering fist. He had punched the guy, just like that.
***