Chapter 5: The Storm
Emily’s POV
The days that followed were a whirlwind of emotions. Alexander and I spent every moment we could together, stealing glances and secret touches whenever no one was looking. It felt like a dream, one I never wanted to wake up from. But dreams, no matter how beautiful, are fragile—and ours was no exception.
One evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink, Alexander and I sat by the lake, our fingers intertwined. The water reflected the fading light, and the world felt still, as if it were holding its breath.
“Emily,” Alexander said, breaking the comfortable silence. “I need to tell you something.”
My heart skipped a beat. The seriousness in his voice made my stomach twist. “What is it?”
He hesitated, his thumb brushing over the back of my hand. “My father… he’s arranged a meeting with Lila’s family. He wants me to consider her as my chosen mate.”
The words hit me like a punch to the gut. I pulled my hand away, my chest tightening. “What does that mean for us?”
Alexander’s jaw tightened, and he looked out over the water. “It means I have to make a choice. My father is the Alpha, and his word carries weight. But Emily, I don’t want Lila. I want you.”
Tears welled up in my eyes, but I blinked them away. “Alexander, if you choose me, you’ll be going against your father. Against the pack. Are you ready for that?”
He turned to me, his blue eyes blazing with determination. “I don’t care about the pack’s expectations. I care about you. You’re my mate, Emily. That’s all that matters.”
His words were like a balm to my aching heart, but the reality of the situation loomed over us like a storm cloud. “What if your father doesn’t accept me? What if the pack turns against you?”
Alexander reached for my hand again, his grip firm. “Then we’ll face it together. I’m not losing you, Emily. Not now, not ever.”
I wanted to believe him, to trust that everything would work out. But the fear of what was to come gnawed at me.
The next morning, the storm broke.
I was in the training yard, practicing my combat skills, when I felt a presence behind me. I turned to see Lila standing there, her arms crossed and a cold smile on her lips.
“Emily,” she said, her voice dripping with false sweetness. “I heard you’ve been spending a lot of time with Alexander.”
I straightened, wiping the sweat from my brow. “What’s it to you?”
Her smile faltered for a moment, but she quickly recovered. “I just think it’s important to remind you of your place. Alexander is the future Alpha. He needs a Luna who can stand by his side, someone strong and respected. Not a… liability.”
Her words stung, but I refused to let her see it. “Alexander can make his own choices, Lila. And if he chooses me, that’s his decision.”
Lila’s eyes narrowed, and she took a step closer. “You really think you’re good enough for him? A she-wolf who couldn’t even shift on her 18th birthday? The pack will never accept you as Luna.”
Her words cut deep, but I held my ground. “Maybe not. But Alexander does. And that’s all that matters to me.”
Lila scoffed, shaking her head. “You’re delusional. Alexander will see the truth soon enough. And when he does, you’ll be nothing but a distant memory.”
With that, she turned on her heel and walked away, leaving me standing there, my hands trembling.
That evening, I found Alexander in the packhouse garden. He looked up as I approached, his expression softening when he saw me.
“Emily,” he said, pulling me into his arms. “I’ve been looking for you.”
I buried my face in his chest, breathing in his scent. “Alexander, I’m scared.”
He pulled back slightly, his hands cupping my face. “What’s wrong?”
“Lila came to see me today,” I said, my voice trembling. “She made it clear that the pack will never accept me as your mate.”
Alexander’s eyes darkened, and his grip on me tightened. “Lila doesn’t get to decide who I choose as my mate. That’s my decision, and mine alone.”
“But what if she’s right?” I whispered. “What if the pack turns against you because of me?”
Alexander leaned down, pressing his forehead against mine. “Emily, I don’t care about the pack’s opinion. I care about you. You’re my mate, and nothing will change that.”
His words were a lifeline, pulling me back from the edge of despair. But as I looked into his eyes, I couldn’t shake the feeling that the storm was far from over.
The next day, Alpha Cole called a pack meeting.
The entire pack gathered in the main hall, the air thick with tension. I stood at the back, my heart pounding as Alpha Cole stepped forward, his presence commanding the room.
“Pack members,” he began, his voice booming. “As you know, my son Alexander has returned from Alpha training. It is time for him to take his place as the future Alpha—and to choose a Luna who will stand by his side.”
My stomach churned as Alpha Cole’s gaze swept over the crowd, landing on Lila. She stood tall, a smug smile on her lips.
“After careful consideration,” Alpha Cole continued, “I have decided that Lila will be Alexander’s chosen mate.”
The room erupted in cheers, but I felt like the ground had been ripped out from under me. My eyes found Alexander’s, and the pain in his gaze mirrored my own.
“Father,” Alexander said, stepping forward. “I can’t accept this.”
The room fell silent, all eyes turning to Alexander. Alpha Cole’s expression darkened. “What do you mean, you can’t accept this?”
Alexander straightened, his voice steady despite the tension in the room. “I’ve found my mate. And it’s not Lila.”
The silence that followed was deafening. Alpha Cole’s eyes narrowed, and his voice was low and dangerous. “And who, pray tell, is this mate of yours?”
Alexander turned to me, his gaze unwavering. “Emily.”
The room erupted in gasps and whispers, and I felt like I was drowning in the weight of their stares. Alpha Cole’s face turned red with anger, and he took a step toward Alexander.
“You would defy me? Defy the pack?” he roared.
Alexander stood his ground, his voice firm. “I’m not defying anyone. I’m choosing my mate. And I choose Emily.”
The room was in chaos, the pack members shouting and arguing. I felt like the walls were closing in, the weight of their judgment crushing me.
And then, Alpha Cole’s voice cut through the noise.
“Enough!” he bellowed. “Alexander, if you choose Emily, you will no longer be my son. You will no longer be the future Alpha of this pack.”
The words hung in the air like a death sentence. My heart shattered as I looked at Alexander, tears streaming down my face.
“Alexander,” I whispered, my voice breaking. “Don’t do this. Don’t give up everything for me.”
He turned to me, his eyes filled with love and determination. “Emily, you are everything to me. I won’t lose you.”
But as I looked into his eyes, I knew what I had to do.
I couldn’t let him give up his future for me.