Page 22 of Bound to the EMT

CHAPTER 9

EMMELINE

The girls from school mill about the room, paying absolutely no attention to me, but that doesn’t surprise me one bit. I’m honestly not even sure why they’re here. We aren’t friends. We’re barely even acquaintances.

From what I understand, I’m supposed to be surrounded by friends and family. As it is, I feel more alone than ever before. Taking care not to crinkle my dress, I sit down in the corner and watch as the others look at dresses and talk about what it would be like for their own wedding.

With my makeup done, I do my best to keep the tears at bay, but it’s a struggle. Though it’s one I’m used to, it’s still a struggle, nonetheless. Off to the side, a beta helper shuffles over, her wide smile looking a touch false.

“It’s almost time, Miss Emmeline. I suggest you pick out a ring now.”

That’s when the others pay attention to me. Their eyes narrow as I make my way over to the case, watching as I look over the rings. How can I choose something like this? I don’t even know who I’m going to be marrying. What if they don’t like it?

“There’s no wrong choice, Miss. But you do need to make a decision.” Her voice shatters the silence, as if I asked these questions out loud.

Closing my eyes, I take in a deep breath. It’s not as if I have anything to go on. Just the one Alpha who ever dared touched me inappropriately. When I open my eyes again, I study the rings, looking for one that might fit him. There, in the center, sits a dark band with what looks like a steely blue inlay—a perfect match for his eyes.

If anyone asks, I’ll just say I like the color. It’s not a lie. Not really.

As the woman gets it out of the case and hands it to me, a flurry of movement catches my eye. My mother storms in, her face red as she pushes past the helpers and strides over to me. For a moment, I flinch, terrified by the stench of rage swirling around her.

“You are not matched with the right person. I don’t know what idiot put you with some blue-collar, low-born alpha, but I will not stand for it.” She snatches my arms and hauls me toward her, ignoring my pained yelp as her fingers dig into my sensitive skin.

“Please,” I whimper, a few errant tears sliding down my face to ruin my perfect makeup. “You’re hurting me.”

“I’ll do more than that if you mess up my plans for you. You are to rebuff him at every turn. It’s only for six months. Do not let that barbarian take away the one thing that makes you precious. That makes you valuable. At the end of six months, you will reject the marriage, and I’ll see to it you find someone proper. Someone fit to merge with the house of Astencourt. Do you understand me?”

“Y- yes, Mother.”

Off to the side, my classmates snicker behind their hands, making no show of hiding their delight in my agony. I long to lash out at them, to tell them off, something, anything. But then, what can I do? No doubt it will just make things worse for me in the end.

Besides, if I lash out, it will be my fault.

It’s always my fault.

Hanging my head, I take the bouquet from the attendant and make my way down the long hallway, following the two classmates. For a moment, the attendant holds me back, her gaze sympathetic as she dabs at my eyes. But it’s no use. I don’t even have to look in a mirror to know it’s no use.

I don’t even have the energy to hold my head up high as I near the doors, waiting behind them as the two take their spots at the altar. This should be a happy time, the dawning of my freedom. Instead, I feel even more trapped than ever before.

If I mess this up, if I allow myself to give in to whoever is waiting down there for me, she’ll know. Unless my new husband can protect me from her, it will be hell on earth until I can get matched again. And who knows how long that will be?

I can’t go back to that jail of a house, especially not with her enraged to the point where she might do just about anything to me. Turning back, I notice the door to the bridal floor is closed, leaving me alone. Unable to help myself, I slide down to the floor in a heap, not caring at all what it does to my dress.

Sobs wrack my body as my heart breaks in two. Why couldn’t they have paired me with someone my mother found acceptable? I would have been in a different prison, but one where I might grow to love my jailer. Deep inside, I worry there will never be anything I can do for my mother to love me.

Father is no help. He just seems apathetic the whole time, a shell of a man who only cares about business and money. He won’t keep my mother in check. He won’t care.

No one cares.

No one.

Alone.

All alone.

The words flow through my brain in a spiral, never settling down. Though I’ve never had a panic attack before, well, except for the butt plug incident, it’s the only way I can fully describe what I’m feeling. I’m stuck, unable to move. I know I need to get up, to go meet my new husband, but I can’t. I just can’t.

The doors fly open as the scent of a man fills my nostrils. Not just any man. Peering up, I take in the face of the EMT who saw me at my most shameful moment. He looms over me, all Alpha, all male, and all undeniably sexy in his perfectly pressed tux.