Page 40 of The Finder

“Yes, I am,” she said stubbornly.

“Emma,” he said in warning.

“Garrett,” she responded right back to him.

“Hey, Emma, let’s figure this out. Will you give us a chance to at least talk things out?” Liam asked from behind her. Some of Emma’s fight went out of her at his calm, kind tone. She didn’t want to be a jerk to everyone when they had been so kind to her. He came up to stand beside her. “Come on. Let’s at least talk and figure out a plan. It’s too late to go somewhere tonight anyway,” he said. He put out his hand; Emma hesitated for a second. When she heard Garrett’s angry rumbling she put her hand in Liam's out of spite. Suddenly, the bright light was back. This time, Emma couldn’t drop Liam’s hand. He had a tight hold on her hand. The bright light cleared and Emma got a flash of trees, a parking lot, and a flash of hair. Suddenly, the vision was gone. Emma was yanked backwards. She stumbled before somebody righted her.

She was shocked to see Liam come towards her in anger, until she realized he wasn’t looking at her. He was looking at Garrett. “Don’t touch her again,” Garrett ground out in anger.

“I felt something,” Liam said in anger. “There’s something to her. I just need to figure out...”

“No,” Garrett growled out again.

Emma was once again in the middle of something but had no idea what. She was so confused.

“It’s not likethat,”Liam said. “I’m not trying to do anything; I'm just trying to figure out what’s happening.”

Emma was confused. Her shoulders suddenly drooped. She felt so tired all of a sudden. Her really good day had gotten flushed tonight. Her emotions were all over the place, and she felt tired enough to cry. She felt large hands on her shoulders turning her around. She looked at Garrett. “Get some sleep; you’re exhausted,” he said quietly. His face was still angry, but his eyes had softened slightly.

Emma nodded. She was too tired to deal with all this tonight, let alone find somewhere to sleep. Without a word, she turned around and trudged up to her room. She didn’t bother unpacking her bag; she would need it tomorrow. She grabbed a pair of flannel pants and another long-sleeve shirt and threw them on. She quickly washed her face and brushed her teeth before collapsing into bed. Her heart was a confusing mess, and her mind was too tired to deal with any of it. Thankfully, her body let her fall right to sleep.

The nightmare hit her hard and fast.

She was running through the forest trying to get away, but no matter how hard she ran, she never seemed to get anywhere. “Help me,” she cried out. “Please, someone help me.”

She heard the angry sounds of the wolves behind her. She screamed and ran, but she knew she wouldn’t get away in time. She came to a stop when she saw an angry, growling wolf in front of her. His lips were pulled back, and he was snarling at her. She saw the huge fangs, and fear gutted her. In the next instant, he leaped towards her, and Emma screamed. Then she felt searing pain in her thigh. She couldn’t get away from the agonizing, searing pain. She screamed again.

“Emma, Emma!”

Chapter 23

She yelled and kicked her feet. “Emma, stop,” she heard the order. She instantly stilled.

“Garrett?” she asked, her voice trembling.

“Yes,” came his low, gravelly voice. “Are you okay?”

Emma was anything but okay, but she wasn’t about to let him know that. She nodded. She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. “It was just a bad dream; I’m sorry to bother you.”

“What was it about?” he asked immediately.

“Just my past,” Emma rumbled. She wasn’t in the mood to delve into her dream with him.

She felt the bed move as he sat down at the edge. “Are you okay now?” she heard him ask in a much gentler tone than she’d ever heard him use with her.

“Yes,” Emma said quietly. “I'm sorry for waking you up.”

“You didn’t,” he said. They were both quiet for a moment. “Was it about when you were attacked?” he asked in a soothing voice.

“Yes,” Emma whispered. She was still trying to push away the fear that she had experience in her dream.

“You’re safe here, Emma. Nothing and no one can touch you,” Garrett said.

Emma laughed a humorless laugh but said nothing.

“Why did you laugh?” Garrett asked.

Emma shook her head. “You obviously don’t know my brother and his friends.”

---