Emma's Pov

　　Two weeks, and I still can't believe I'm engaged to someone. The almost surreal fact makes me smile to myself.

　　"You're engaged to Alpha Matthew, girl. Not just anyone," Eldra retorts with humor, her tone reminding me of what we're living, something extraordinary. Indeed, I wasn't engaged to just anyone but to Matthew Anderson. The man who believed in my story when no one else did.

　　I get up from the bench and head towards the barbecue with my plate still holding some salad, to get my lamb ribs. I walk through a few other tables where my werewolves and Matthew's sit together and chat animatedly. The sound of laughter and conversations creates a symphony of joy and camaraderie that fills me with pride and happiness.

　　I even wave to Gaya and Thalia, who are at a table next to ours. As I approach the barbecue, my eyes water slightly from the smoke, but the smell is divine. The heat from the charcoal mingles with the heat from the sun above us, in a sky with few clouds, creating the sensation of a perfect summer.

　　"Here you go, Alpha Emma, just as you asked, medium rare," Brunno announces proudly, taking the ribs off the grill and placing them on my plate. Brunno's expression is one of satisfaction and dedication as he prepares the meat. "We have other meats too, do you want some?"

　　I look at the grill, indeed loaded with varieties of meat that make me even more hungry, but I shake my head. The lamb ribs will be enough for now.

　　"Thank you, Brunno. Judging by the looks, this is going to be divine," I praise and thank with a smile, appreciating the simple moment.

　　On the short way back to the table, I hear the distant sound of a car approaching the entrance of my territory. Faylen seems to have heard it too, as she immediately turns her face to me, raising an eyebrow.

　　"Do you want me to check, Alpha Emma?" she asks through the mindlink, and I nod.

　　Faylen gets up and quickly leaves the yard, heading towards the front of the house. I sit back down next to Matthew, who promptly gives me an enthusiastic kiss on my cheek, making me laugh with the sudden display of affection.

　　Moments later, through the mindlink, Faylen says, "Your parents are here, Alpha Emma, and they don't look happy at all."

　　My eyes widen in surprise at Faylen's revelation, and my whole body tenses.

　　"Emma? What's wrong?" Matthew asks worriedly, noticing my sudden change in posture.

　　"My parents are here," I announce softly, and now even my fiancé is tense beside me.

　　"Well, let's see what they want, shall we?" he suggests in a calm and sweet voice.

　　I agree with a nod and stand up with his help. Our steps are almost synchronized, and Matthew holds my hand with care and firmness. When we reach the front of the house, I immediately see my parents standing at the gate, with Faylen in front of them, arms crossed.

　　"Thank you, Beta Faylen, you can return to the party," I kindly ask my beta, who looks sternly at my parents.

　　My father, on the other hand, has an expression of disgust and disapproval, which doesn't surprise me but irritates me. Who does he think he is to look at my beta like that?

　　Faylen obeys with a nod and moves away from us.

　　Matthew and I don't let go of each other's hands, and I can see how much this bothers my parents.

　　"What brings you here?" I ask with curiosity.

　　"This abomination brings us here, Emma. This shame that your mother and I didn't want to believe was true," Robert points to the hands held between Matthew and me.

　　I raise an eyebrow at the insults, trying to understand exactly what my father is trying to say.

　　"What abomination are you talking about?" I ask with irritation in my voice, squeezing my fiancé's hand more firmly.

　　"This engagement of yours with our enemy. How dare you disrespect your family like this? Planning to marry this man?" Robert accuses aggressively, and Matthew takes a few steps towards my father.

　　However, my fiancé stops in his tracks upon hearing my mocking and derisive laughter at my father's absurd words.

　　"Have you gone mad, father? Who do you think you are to talk to me like that?" I question authoritatively, disengaging my hand from Matthew's and pointing at him. "You came to MY wolf pack, DISRESPECTING me and my fiancé!" I shout with anger, my alpha tone resonating, pushing my father hard.

　　Robert and my mother look at me with fear, and that's what I want them to feel.

　　"I am an alpha now, I am no longer part of the stupid and pathetic Moonshadow Pack. And I certainly don't owe you anything, after what you did to me!" I respond, feeling my Lycan powers emerging and my fangs protruding.

　　"Emma… you, you don't," Robert stammers, and I roar in his direction with my alpha power.

　　"YOU WILL NEVER TELL ME WHAT I CAN OR CANNOT DO AGAIN! I AM THE ALPHA!" I shout in his direction.

　　The windows of my father's car shatter with my roar and even the ground trembles. It was the first time I confronted my parents, and I felt fulfilled by it.

　　"You and my mother will never come here again. You and James are forbidden from setting foot in any part of my territory, and if you ever go against this order, don't think I won't hunt you down and punish you," I command.

　　"Emma, we are your family, my daughter," Meg, my mother, says with a voice full of remorse and fear.

　　I take a few steps back and hold Matthew's hand again, "No. You are not my family. In fact, you never were. Matthew Anderson and the Stonehaven Pack are my family," I announce proudly.