Chapter 7: The Reunion
Emily’s POV
The tavern seemed to fade into the background as Alexander and I stood there, locked in a moment that felt both timeless and fleeting. His presence was overwhelming, and the intensity in his eyes made it impossible to look away.
“Emily,” he said again, his voice softer this time, almost pleading. “Please. Don’t run from me again.”
My heart ached at the raw emotion in his voice. Five years of pain, of longing, of trying to forget him—all of it came crashing down in an instant. But the fear was still there, lingering beneath the surface.
“Alexander,” I whispered, my voice trembling. “I left because I had to. I couldn’t let you give up everything for me.”
He took another step closer, his hand reaching out to brush against mine. “You don’t get to decide what I’m willing to give up, Emily. I’ve spent the last five years searching for you, and I’m not letting you go again.”
Tears spilled down my cheeks as I shook my head. “You don’t understand. I’m not the same person I was back then. I’ve changed.”
“So have I,” he said, his voice steady. “But one thing hasn’t changed. You’re still my mate. And I’m still yours.”
His words shattered the walls I’d built around my heart, and I felt myself crumbling under the weight of everything I’d been holding back.
“Alexander,” I choked out, my voice breaking. “I’m scared.”
He closed the distance between us, his arms wrapping around me in a tight embrace. “I’m here, Emily. I’m not going anywhere.”
I buried my face in his chest, breathing in his familiar scent. It was like coming home after a long, exhausting journey. For the first time in years, I felt safe.
But the moment was short-lived.
“Emily?”
I turned to see Liam standing a few feet away, his expression a mix of confusion and concern. “Who’s this?”
Alexander’s grip on me tightened, his eyes narrowing as he looked at Liam. “Who are you?”
“This is Liam,” I said quickly, stepping back from Alexander. “He’s my… friend.”
Liam raised an eyebrow, clearly sensing the tension. “Friend, huh? And who’s this?”
“Alexander,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. “He’s… from my old pack.”
Liam’s eyes widened in realization, and he nodded slowly. “Right. Well, I’ll leave you two to catch up.”
He gave me a meaningful look before walking away, leaving Alexander and me alone once more.
“Emily,” Alexander said, his voice low. “We need to talk.”
I nodded, my heart racing. “Not here. Let’s go somewhere private.”
We left the tavern and walked in silence, the tension between us palpable. When we reached a secluded spot by the river, Alexander turned to me, his expression serious.
“Tell me everything,” he said. “Why did you leave? Where have you been? What happened to you?”
I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. “I left because I couldn’t let you give up your pack, your family, your future. I thought if I disappeared, you’d move on. You’d accept Lila as your mate, and everything would be okay.”
Alexander’s jaw tightened, and he shook his head. “You were wrong, Emily. I never stopped looking for you. I never stopped believing that you were out there somewhere.”
Tears welled up in my eyes again. “I’m sorry, Alexander. I thought I was doing the right thing.”
“You were wrong,” he said, his voice firm but gentle. “The right thing is us being together. No matter what challenges we face, we face them together.”
I looked into his eyes, seeing the determination and love that had always been there. “What about your pack? Your father?”
Alexander sighed, running a hand through his hair. “My father and I… we’ve had our differences. But I’m not letting anyone dictate my life anymore. I’ve spent the last five years proving myself, building my own path. And now that I’ve found you, I’m not letting anything stand in our way.”
His words filled me with hope, but the fear was still there, lingering in the back of my mind. “Alexander, I’m not the same person I was back then. I’ve been through a lot. I’ve done things I’m not proud of.”
He reached out, gently cupping my face in his hands. “Emily, I don’t care about the past. All I care about is the future. Our future.”
Tears streamed down my face as I leaned into his touch. “I’ve missed you so much.”
“I’ve missed you too,” he said, his voice thick with emotion. “But I’m here now. And I’m not letting you go again.”
And as I looked into his eyes, I realized that maybe, just maybe, we could find our way back to each other.