Chapter 4: The Choice
Emily’s POV
The next morning, I woke up with a heavy heart. The events of the previous night played on a loop in my mind—Alexander’s words, his touch, the way he’d looked at me. But then there was Lila, her presence a stark reminder that Alexander’s world was far more complicated than I’d imagined.
I dragged myself out of bed, my body aching from the emotional turmoil. Mila had stayed over, and I could hear her humming in the kitchen, the smell of coffee and pancakes wafting through the air.
“Morning,” she said cheerfully as I walked in. “How are you feeling?”
“Like I got hit by a truck,” I muttered, slumping into a chair.
Mila placed a plate of pancakes in front of me and sat down across the table. “Talk to me, Emily. What’s going on?”
I sighed, picking at my food. “Alexander said he thinks I might be his mate.”
Mila’s eyes widened. “What? That’s amazing!”
“Is it?” I asked, my voice tinged with doubt. “He also said his father wants him to meet someone. And then there’s Lila. She’s beautiful, confident, and everything a Luna should be. I’m just… me.”
Mila reached across the table, taking my hand. “Emily, you’re more than enough. If Alexander sees that, then that’s all that matters.”
I wanted to believe her, but the doubts gnawed at me. “What if he changes his mind? What if he realizes I’m not what he needs?”
“Then he’s an idiot,” Mila said firmly. “But you won’t know unless you give him a chance.”
I nodded, though my heart still felt heavy. “I just don’t want to get hurt again.”
Mila squeezed my hand. “I know. But sometimes, you have to take a risk to find something worth having.”
After breakfast, I decided to go for a run to clear my head. The forest was peaceful, the morning sun filtering through the trees. As I ran, I tried to focus on the rhythm of my footsteps, the sound of the birds, anything to distract me from my thoughts.
But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t shake the image of Alexander’s face, the way he’d looked at me last night.
I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn’t notice the figure standing in my path until I almost ran into him.
“Emily,” Alexander said, his voice soft but firm.
I skidded to a stop, my heart racing. “Alexander. What are you doing here?”
“I needed to see you,” he said, his eyes searching mine. “We didn’t get to finish our conversation last night.”
I took a step back, my emotions swirling. “Alexander, I don’t know if this is a good idea.”
“Why not?” he asked, his voice tinged with frustration. “Emily, I meant what I said. I think you’re my mate. I can’t ignore this feeling.”
“But what about your father? What about Lila?” I asked, my voice trembling.
Alexander sighed, running a hand through his hair. “My father wants me to find a mate who fits his idea of a perfect Luna. But that’s not what I want. I want someone who’s real, someone who challenges me, someone who makes me feel alive. That’s you, Emily.”
Tears welled up in my eyes. “Alexander, I’m not strong or beautiful or confident like Lila. I’m just… me.”
He stepped closer, his hand reaching up to cup my cheek. “You’re more than enough, Emily. You’re everything I never knew I needed.”
His words broke through the walls I’d built around my heart, and I felt a surge of hope. Maybe, just maybe, this could work.
“Alexander,” I whispered, my voice barely audible.
He leaned in, his lips brushing against mine in a soft, tender kiss. This time, I didn’t pull away. I melted into him, my heart soaring as I finally let myself believe that maybe, just maybe, I could be enough.
When we finally pulled apart, Alexander rested his forehead against mine. “Emily, I don’t care what anyone else thinks. You’re my mate, and I’m not letting you go.”
Tears streamed down my face as I nodded. “Okay.”
For the first time in years, I felt a glimmer of hope. Maybe, just maybe, I could have the love I’d always dreamed of.
But as we stood there, wrapped in each other’s arms, I couldn’t shake the feeling that our journey was just beginning. The road ahead would be fraught with challenges, but for the first time, I felt ready to face them.