Page 56 of Unwrapping Ember

Ember

For the first time since I've been here, I wake up in bed with someone. And not just anyone... all three of them. I sit up, reaching my arms toward the ceiling, and stretch my body, exhaling in satisfaction. Looking out the window, I see the snow still falling, thick, beautiful flakes cascading from the sky. Only a few more days until Christmas break is over and I have to go back to college. There's been some talk about me staying here, but nothing is definite yet.

I glance back at the three sleeping figures next to me, feeling a sense of contentment and warmth in my heart. The idea of staying here, in this moment, with these people feels more and more appealing as the days pass. I quietly slip out of bed and tiptoe out of the room, making my way downstairs to start the coffee brewing.

As I stand in the kitchen, staring out at the winter wonderland that surrounds the house, I find myself lost in thought. The idea of going back to college suddenly feels daunting and unappealing. I’ve made so many memories here with these people, and the thought of leaving them feels like a weight on my chest.

I decideto go for a walk in the snow, letting the chilly air and the peaceful silence of the winter landscape wash over me. Maybe staying here is the right choice after all. Maybe this is where I truly belong. And as I make my way back to the house, I can't help but feel that my heart has made its decision.

Walking inside the house, I stomp my boots, letting the snow fall onto the mat. I close the door and take my coat off, coming face to face with Koda, a sleepy, sexy smirk on his face.

"What were you doing?" He asks, pulling me into his arms to warm me up.

"I needed some fresh air. It's beautiful outside in the snow."

"Are you alright?"

"Yeah..." I start, pausing when I notice the look in his eye. "I just keep struggling with the whole Shawn thing."

His brows pinch in slight confusion, and a flicker of hesitation is quite evident in his eyes. "What do you mean?"

"I want to know what happened, like what Ev and Baine did, but at the same time, I don't want to know."

"Well, I was going to watch the recording, so if you want to, you can watch it with me."

Sucking in a greedy breath as my heart thunders wildly inside my chest, I look up at Koda through my long lashes as we sway back and forth to an imaginary beat.

"Is he alive?" I brace myself for his answer, holding my breath for the worst.

"Barely, but he'll survive."

"Wh...what did they do?"

"I don't know. I have to watch it."

"Fine, I'll come with you." Koda takes my hand and guides me to the game room, plopping onto the couch and pulling me onto his lap. With his laptop on the table in front of us, he opens the screen and finds a file, looking at me before he hits play. "You sure?"

"Yeah, I'm sure.”

The screen flickers to life, and my heart begins to race as the video starts playing. I feel Koda's arms tighten around me in support as we watch the horrifying scene unfold. The fear and anger rise in my chest, and I clench my jaw, unable to tear my eyes away from the screen.

Watching through horror-filled eyes, I notice the video is taking place in a room, in what looks to be some kind of club. Right away, I hold onto Koda for support. I see Shawn right away, and my stomach sinks; bile rises in my throat as I take in the surroundings. They're in the frat house—in the same room Shawn took me in.

"Are you okay?" Koda asks, soothingly rubbing circles on the small of my back to try and relax my tight shoulders.

"For now, yeah,” I admit, holding my breath and preparing for the worst.

A girl walks into the room—or what looks like a girl—but as she enters the frame, Koda snickers, making me think there's more that meets the eye. As the two of them engage in foreplay, I close my eyes, not wanting to see it. But the "girl's" sudden deep voice makes them fling open.

"What the fuck are you doing?" He asks, clearly a man.

"Just shut up and turn the fuck around," Shawn says in the same tone he talked to me with.

I look at the screen and see Shawn trying to force the man to his knees, but the man overpowers Shawn, forcing him on his stomach on the bed. Suddenly, Everest and Baine enter the room, Shawn's eyes widen, and I can see fear entering them—the same fear he instilled in me that night.

"What the fuck is this?" He asks, trying to frighten them with the tone of his voice but it doesn't work.

"You like raping girls, motherfucker? Do you not know what no or stop mean?" Ev says, his hand around Shawn's throat as the man behind him rips his pants down, getting in between his legs.