Elena's POV

It was a huge surprise to see Pierson. I knew I would likely run into him at some point, but not within the twenty minutes I arrived at the pack house.

When I saw him it was like seeing him that first time I walked into Anatomy all those years back. He looks a little different now. His hair is cut shorter on the sides, but longer on the top and is neatly styled. He grew out his beard and mustasche a little giving him some scruff and he's gotten more muscular. He looks so much hotter now. I truly thought the bond would have faded especially when he claimed Rachel as his mate, but it still felt weirdly strong.

I don't understand.

"Earth to Elena," Noah calls.

He pulls me out of my trance and I realize I wasn't paying any attention to him.

"Are you ok? You've been circling your fork on your plate for like five minutes now," he teases.

I smile at him. "Sorry I was just thinking about Em. I told her I would call her as soon as I got into town and I completely forgot," I lie easily.

"Oh well you should definitely call her. I'm surprised she's not blowing up your phone right now," he chuckles.

I laugh and look at my phone and my eyes widen. I just turned it on a few minutes ago. I had turned it off during the plane ride so I could get some rest. Nine missed calls and twenty one texts all from Em.

Beep! Twenty two.

"I think I'm just going to go over to her house and visit for a bit. Is it ok if I meet you at the pack house later?"

"Yeah sure, sure. I need to handle a few things myself and when you arrive back I'll show you around the medical wing," he replies.

"Ok I'll see you later then." I grab my wallet and put down some money for the both of us and run out laughing.

He stops drinking mid sip and holds up the money. "Elena I got this," he yells after me, but it's too late I'm already out the door.

When I arrive at Em's house I make my way down the straight stone path that leads to the door of her large suburban home. I ring the doorbell once and wait.

I can hear four little footsteps running to the door. They swing it open and I'm faced with two identical, smiling girl's faces.

"Aunt El!" They both scream and launch themselves into my awaiting arms.

"Harper, Avery," I yell their names like they did mine just a few seconds ago.

"Girls what did I tell you about opening the door by yourselves?" Em yells and when she sees me she looks startled, but then her eyes turn murderous.

Her hands moves to her hips. "I called and texted you a million times Elena. I asked you for one thing. To call me when you landed," her voice is eerily calm. It's her mom voice.

The girls snicker beside me, but when their mom gives them a 'what's funny' look their laughter stops and they scamper off to their room.

"I know I completely forgot to turn on my phone and thought I'd surprise you instead...Surprise!" I look at her sheepishly.

She shakes her head, but beckons for me to come in anyway.

"Do you want something to drink?"

"Yes, I'll take a glass of water please."

I take a seat on the couch in the living room waiting for her to return.

"Where's Grayson?" I ask when she hands me the glass.

"They had a meeting at the pack house today and he hasn't returned yet," she answers.

Grayson is Em's mate. They found each other when she went off to a University in London. In the beginning he didn't really want anything to do with her. He's been alone all his life because he didn't belong to a pack. His parents were murdered at a young age and he ran away and traveled the world. Em wouldn't believe he didn't want her. Like I said she fights for what she wants and she got the guy. They fell in love marked and mated each other and now have two beautiful twin girls. They moved back here to the location of her pack where he is now a part of. He's now one of the pack's most skilled fighters and trainers.

"I saw Pierson," I blurt out.

She freezes. "What? Did he say anything? Did you say anything?"

"He asked if we could talk," I say nonchalantly.

"And you said?" She asks intrigued.

"I told him Noah and I were going to lunch and if he could take a raincheck." I shrug my shoulders. Her eyes light up in amusement.

"Ahhh! I'm so proud of you E. I mean I know you're not the same girl who got her heart broken, but when it comes to him I get so worried about you. You were so messed up all those years ago."

I know I remember. After that day Pierson told me he didn't want me I skipped graduation the following week and ran away. I found this cheap ratty motel and a little job to get me by until it was time to go to Africa. I couldn't bear to be in the same town as him and I knew my father wouldn't care if I left, so I did what was best for me. Of course, I told Em and she offered to tag along, but she had a family that loved her. I couldn't do that to them or her. It's in the past now and I don't want to think about those awful times.

I was a naive little girl and now I'm the doctor I was always meant to be and don't take crap from anybody. I'm a new person and I don't care if I felt the bond with Pierson still. He's with Rachel and I came to terms with that a long time ago.

"I know you are, but I'm not hung up over him anymore," I say with my head held high.

"That's my girl. Besides you're after that hot piece of meat doctor," she laughs. She's met Noah many times. She knows him from the pack and whenever she came to visit me he was sometimes around.

My cheeks start to burn. "I am not," I squeak.

That makes her laugh even harder. I swear she still acts like a teenager sometimes.

"Ok. Ok," she raises her hand in a surrender position. "He sure is after you though," she adds.

"No he's not he's just a great friend is all."

"Sure he is. Anybody with eyes can tell he's into you," she says.

No he's not. I mean he's one of the nicest guys I have ever met. And I'm not gonna lie he is very handsome.

"He lost his mate," I tell Em.

"Yeah years ago. I know you don't want to believe me E, but that guy has the hots for you."

I've never noticed. I thought he was like that to everybody. I mean he does get a little touchy sometimes, but I thought that's just how he is.

"If he ever asks you out you better say yes," Em adds before one of the girls calls for her and she goes to see what they need.

No, there's no way he's into me. That's just his personality. Yeah that's it. He treats everybody like that. Right?

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