Page 48 of Bound to the EMT

Unfortunately, the glow fades as soon as I see my parents walk up the stairs. It’s as if all oxygen is sucked out of the room, leaving me nearly gasping for air. Over three months since I’ve seen her.

Until now, I didn’t realize just how locked into flight or fight my body was. Now, I can feel the familiar sensations creep over my body. Thankfully, Branson is there through the bond, instructing me to breathe until he gets back.

“Ah, Emmeline, there you are. You never told me you were coming, so I assumed you refused my summons. Good. Now we can find you an Alpha suitable to match with for when your marriage ends-” Her words abruptly stop as her gaze lands on the claiming mark. “What have you done, you stupid, stupid girl? And to show it off for everyone to see in such a brazen way!” she shrieks, garnering curious glances from the others nearby.

“She didn’t do anything,” Branson growls, coming up behind them. “And I will advise you to never speak to my wife like that again. The only words out of your mouth should be, I’m sorry or forgive me.”

The moment she sees Branson, she sneers, hatred oozing from every pore. “The invite was for you only, Emmeline, not some hillbilly plus one.”

Fear infuses my limbs, leaving me frozen like a statue as her vitriol nearly smothers me. “Please,” I murmur. “He’s not-”

“Not what?” she spits out. “Not dirt poor. Not an unworthy Alpha. I warned you. I told you what would happen if you let this,” her eyes narrow as she looks Branson up and down. “This undesirable sully you. You can forget ever coming back home. You chose this barbarian over your own kind, so on your own head be it.”

“Oh,” I retort, drawing on the strength of the bond to finally stand up to this woman. “And that’s why you swapped my suppressants for fake ones?”

Father leans over and tugs at Mother’s arm. “We’re making a scene.”

She jerks away from him and stares at me in horror. “Those weren’t for you to take with you. They were only to make you more appealing to the Alphas we had visiting.” she mutters under her breath. “They were never meant for someone like him.”

Branson bristles next to me, his rage pouring from his body like acrid smoke. “You were content with the idea of another Alpha raping her than someone like me actually taking the time to know her and love her before rutting her?”

“Rape? Hardly. When one has as much money and class as them, there would be nothing so base as raping. And the fact that you stand here and say that shows just how much you’re a low-born, good-for-nothing piece of trash.”

“How dare you speak about our son that way,” Mr. Astorford booms from behind them.

Mrs. Astorford rushes to my side, followed closely by her other sons and daughter. Mother pales as she watches my mother-in-law grab my arm and clench it tightly.

“Y- your son?” she stammers. “But- but that’s not possible,” she stammers, taking a step back. Father, as usual, looks shell-shocked, but doesn’t interfere. “I- I was mistaken. I- But look. You gained such a wonderful daughter as a result.”

“We know,” Mrs. Astorford snaps. “She’s an absolutely delightful addition to our family. Too bad her parents are such loathsome creatures. And yes, as someone who’s significantly richer than you, it absolutely would be rape to allow your daughter to be forcibly mated to an Alpha, just because he’s rich. How utterly vile and criminal of you to do such a thing.”

Father turns and stares at Mother, his expression horrified. “Is this true? Did you really do that to your daughter?”

“Well, I-”

“I’ve stood by and watched you do many things, but never something as horrible as that. Have you no feelings? Do you not care? Hell, she’s not even my child, and I’d never do something like that. What sort of mother are you?”

“Please. You don’t-”

“Not my father?” My question hangs on the air as hurt and confusion thrums through my body.

Branson reaches over and pulls me into his arms, holding me close while my mother sneers.

“I should have gotten rid of you when I had the chance. I thought my life was set when I married him, but it seems as if you’ve managed to ruin something else.”

Mr. Astorford steps in, separating us. “That’s enough. You’ll not continue to harm this girl. Not while I have any say about it.”

“Please,” she snaps, turning into something more of a monster than the mother I remembered. “She’s the product of a junkie pimp Alpha. I was already pregnant with her before being matched with him. I always knew you’d turn out sour. Just like your actual father. Try to fit in with your new family. You’ll fail even more than your wretched attempt to keep pure for a better alpha.”

I push past my father-in-law, and stare down my mother, no longer inhibited by any respect I once had. “You forced me into a life of misery. They rescued me. As for your paltry attempt to force me into a heat for a ‘better Alpha,’ I asked Branson to mark me. I chose to have him claim me. I’d rather be claimed by someone I thought was common than to be chained to a rich man who despises me. He’s given me something that you never did.”

“And what is that? A poor omega’s existence?”

“Love.”

Again, she sneers and rolls her eyes. “Love means nothing.”

“It means everything to me. So fuck you, Mother. I’ve chosen my life, and you can’t do anything to take it away from me.”