Emma (Prequel to A Werelion for Cat)

This book is the Prequel to A Werelion for Cat

(Warning this entire book contains content that may be very sensitive to some readers)

If this book gets too difficult to read, you can skip chapters and still get the idea of what's going on. This is not how the books in the werelion series are written. This book is only used as a reference or sequence of events to describe the relationships of some of the main characters in A Werelion for Cat. I promise the content and outcomes in the werelion series are very different than this book's flow.

The cool fall breeze flowed through the air, rustling the leaves and making some of them fall on the mourners below. It was a beautiful morning for such a sad day.

Emma was two years old and didn't know what a funeral was, but she could feel the sadness radiating off her mother. Paula held on to Emma as she cried over the loss of her husband.

Craig Cox was coming home from work just like any other day when a drunk driver hit him, killing him instantly. That day was the worst day of Paula's life. Not only did she lose her husband, but she was a young mother with no family and no resources. They had no money saved and no one to help them. Emma and Paula were on their own unless she figured something out.

Emma started crying as her mother's sadness began weighing on her. Paula looked at her young daughter with her pale blonde hair and blue eyes that resembled her own. She told herself she had to stay strong for Emma.

Paula watched as her husband of five years was laid to rest, and she said her final goodbyes. When she took Emma home, she began making a plan. After feeding her daughter and putting her down for a nap, she went to her bedroom. Paula knew she had no time to mourn her husband properly; she had to move on quickly so she and Emma wouldn't be on the street.

Paula decided the best thing to do was find a man that would take care of them. She knew it wasn't the most ethical option, but it was the only one she could think of that had the quickest resolution. Paula didn't need the man to love her; the love of her life was already gone. She just needed him to provide for her and Emma.

She looked at herself in the mirror and saw the lines around her eyes. Paula was still pretty at twenty-five, but the stress of life was showing on her face. Her blonde hair was once pale blonde like Emma's, but it had gotten darker over time. Her blue eyes still had some life in them, and her figure was still petite. Paula decided the first thing she needed was to get her hair done to give herself a fresh new look.

She looked down at her wedding ring and felt the tears welling up in her eyes. Paula and Craig had been high-school sweethearts. They had a whole life planned out for themselves and Emma. She would always love and miss him, but now she had to think of her daughter. She slowly took off her wedding ring and felt her heart break as she put it in her jewelry box.

A couple of hours later, when Emma woke up, Paula drove to a salon. Emma sat in the chair next to her mothers and watched her get her hair cut and highlighted. Paula looked in the mirror when she was done and couldn't believe it. Just a few minor changes made her look years younger.

They went to the grocery store after they left the salon, and Paula tried to think of the best way to meet a good man. Craig was the only one she had been with, so she didn't know the first thing about attracting men. It couldn't be just any man either. She needed someone she trusted around Emma who made enough money so Paula wouldn't have to work.

"Momma." Emma pointed to the animal crackers on the shelf that were her favorite snack. Paula smiled and handed her the small box before heading to the checkout line.

When they got home, Paula prepared their dinner and gave Emma a bath. She laid down with her in her toddler bed and read her a book while rubbing her head until she fell asleep. Paula silently promised her little girl that she would always take care of her.

A few weeks after Craig's funeral, Paula hadn't had any luck attracting any men. She knew it was because she didn't have a clue what she was doing. Who wanted a woman with a small child and no skills? She had no one to watch Emma, so everywhere she went, her daughter was with her.

Paula and Emma were in the park across the street from their house when a man approached them. At first, she thought he was just walking by, but she noticed he was staring at her. She felt a little uneasy by his intense gaze, but she shook it off.

The first thing she noticed about the man was that he was very tall and well built. Being only five foot four herself, she estimated that he was around six foot two. He was very handsome with thick black hair and dark brown eyes. Paula smiled shyly up at him as he came over and sat on the bench next to her.

"Hello. My name is Martin. I've noticed you here a few times before. Do you live close by?" He looked from Paula to Emma, who wasn't paying them any attention as she played in a sandbox.

"My name is Paula, and we don't live far." She didn't want to disclose too much information to a man she had just met.

"I've never seen you with anyone besides your daughter, and I don't see a wedding ring. Are you a single mother?" Martin gave her a kind smile, and Paula felt herself smiling back. He seemed like a nice man, but she wasn't going to move too fast until she knew more.

"I'm a widow, actually. My husband was killed by a drunk driver a little over a month ago." Paula still felt the sting behind her eyes talking about Craig. She held back her tears, not wanting him to see her cry when they first met.

"I'm sorry to hear that, Paula. I'm a single parent as well. My wife died giving birth to my son six months ago." Paula felt her heart melt a little. They were in practically the same boat. Maybe this was meant to be.

"I'm sorry, Martin, that can't be easy raising a baby all on your own. What kind of work do you do?" Paula turned a little more toward him, and he smiled as he put his arm on the back of the bench, letting his fingers lightly touch her neck.

"I'm a defense attorney. I doubt it's easy for you either raising a young child by yourself. Do you work?" Paula looked down as she blushed.

"No, I've never worked anywhere. Craig always worked while I stayed at home. It's getting hard now because he left us a little money, but it won't last long. I don't know what we're going to do." Paula looked toward her daughter with sorrow-filled eyes. She would do anything to keep Emma safe and make sure she was provided for.

"Maybe we can help each other, Paula. Why don't you move in with my son and me? My house is plenty big where you can have your own space. You can be my live-in nanny to care for my son, and I will make sure you and your daughter have everything you need."

Martin looked at the pretty young woman in front of him. He knew she was naive because he'd watched her for a few weeks. Most women wouldn't dare even consider what he was offering after only meeting a strange man a few minutes ago. He could tell she was thinking about it, though, and that told him if she accepted, he could make her do whatever he wanted.

"I don't know. Why would you make an offer like that to someone you don't know?" Paula was being cautious, but she desperately wanted to say yes. This may be the best opportunity for her and Emma. It also helped that he said she would have her own space, so he wasn't expecting anything from her other than working for him.

"I have a good feeling about you, Paula. How about you and your daughter come to my house for dinner tonight so you can meet my son? Then you can make an informed decision and see if it's an arrangement you would be comfortable with." Martin hid his smirk. He let his fingers lightly touch her neck again.

"Okay, what time do you want us to be there?" Paula took down his address and phone number before collecting Emma and walking home.

Martin watched Paula leave the park. He had her right where he wanted her. If she accepted this proposition, she would be his, and he could do whatever he wanted to her.

Since his stupid wife died, he hadn't had anyone to control, and it was starting to get to him. He needed someone just like Paula, who was innocent and looking for someone to take care of her. Martin even preferred that she had a daughter; it gave him leverage to use against her. He left the park whistling.

Paula dressed her and Emma in the nicest dresses they had. She recognized Martin's address and knew it was in one of the most affluent suburbs of Indianapolis. When she drove up to the house, she almost turned and went home. She felt way out of her league.

The huge house was dark red brick with white trim and had the most oversized front door she'd ever seen. As Paula got out of the car, she thought there was no way Martin would let her and Emma stay there. They had nothing to offer to live in a house so nice. She carried Emma up to the door and rang the bell. A part of her hoped he didn't answer, but he did with a smile.

"I'm glad you made it, Paula; please come in." He opened the door wide for her, and she slowly walked in and looked around. There was an enormous entryway with a crystal chandelier. Everything was white and pristine, like making a mess would be a sin. She held on to Emma a little tighter, not wanting her to spill or break something.

"Your house is fantastic, Martin." Paula stood by the door awkwardly, unsure of what to do or say.

"I have dinner already on the table, and it's toddler friendly. What's your daughter's name?" Martin led Paula to a dining room that was big enough to seat ten people.

"Her name is Emma." Paula smiled when she saw what was on the table. It was meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and green beans. Indeed it was toddler approved. Her apprehension began to leave. If he was willing to make something that he knew Emma could eat, that was a positive sign in Paula's eyes.

Martin pulled out a chair for her, and she noticed the one beside her had a booster seat. Paula strapped Emma into the seat, and the little girl looked around with her big blue eyes.

"Thank you, Martin." Paula said softly.

"My pleasure. Let me go get my son so you can get acquainted." Martin left the room as Paula watched him.

Could she move in with this man she had just met? He only wanted her to be a live-in nanny for his son, meaning she was working for him. That would be better than any other options she had right now. Martin returned with a small baby boy with blonde hair and blue eyes not that much different than hers and Emma's.

"Paula, this is my son Leo."