Emily’s POV
I waited for the impact to come. I waited for the sensation of Xavier’s claws tearing through my body, taking me with them.
My last cry would come from that. The only scream that would ever be heard in this horrifying room.
The vile, lethal expression in Xavier’s wolf’s eyes briefly caught my attention. My soul was deeply pierced by the coldness that resided within him.
That was it!
My final moments.
The last seconds of my life on Earth!
At least I had my mom with me.
My life abruptly flashed before my eyes in those milliseconds.
Do we go to a better place after we die?
I regret things so much now.
I should never have left the pack after I discovered Alexander to be my mate. If I had stayed and spent more time with him, it would have been better. Life is so short. He will make a wonderful father to Lex.
My heart ached thinking of my unborn pup. There was no way he could be hanging on this long. My body was not strong enough, and the agony was too much.
I looked up at the ceiling, pleading and begging within.
“If I survive this,” I prayed in silence. “I swear I will do better. I will strive to be a better mate to my fated love. I swear never to leave him again and to love and cherish him forever. I promise to stick by his side and take his lead. I promise that I will be a better, more devoted mother. I pledge to love, care for, and provide my pups with the life they deserve.”
At last, the walls that had been preventing me from crying gave way, and warm tears started to flow down my cheeks.
I didn’t care. If this is my weakness, so be it!
I sobbed, my heart exploding into a million tiny pieces as I realized all the things I had not done, all the loved ones, family, and friends I was leaving behind.
“I wish I could say goodbye to you,” I muttered between the tears. “You were one of the best parts of my life, and you mean so much to me. I miss you, Willow.”
The seconds dragged on far too long, and my gaze strayed to the hideous creatures Xavier had created.
His avarice and hatred are the only reasons why any of this happened.
I suddenly felt exhausted to the pit of my soul. I feel like my entire life is evaporating.
Was this it?
Was Xavier successful?
There was a roar, and then I heard wolves growling and fighting.
“Get her out of here!” I could hear my father’s gravelly, deep voice echoing in my ears.
I pried open my heavy eyelids to see that a shadow the color of black smoke was blocking Xavier off.
Is that my father?
He came for me.
“What is he doing?” I trailed off as I muttered.
“Getting even,” my mother whispered angrily.
My father looks even more irate than my mother does.
The smoke had surrounded Xavier and forced him to shift back. It was as if some unseen force held him there, unable to move.
“Brother, let go of me!” Xavier roared, struggling to break free of my father’s hold.
I shuddered when I heard Xavier’s icy words.
“Is he my uncle?” I looked up, muttering in shock. “He is family?”
My mom let out a sigh and went back to fiddling with the shackles. It looks like she located the key.
“To us, he is nothing,” she answered. “Not anymore. He is just a lost and avaricious soul.”
“Never!” my irate father hissed. “I ought to have k*lled you long ago.”
“You didn’t have the balls to do it,” Xavier spat. “You deserve no better than to be called a despicable weakling and not king!”
With his claws outstretched, my father caught Xavier by the shoulders and yanked him toward him.
“The title is not the only thing that makes you a king, brother,” my father spit out with such venom that I could taste the hatred in the air.
Little white spots appeared in my vision, and my body went limp. All of a sudden, I was bone-cold.
Goddess, please, no! Not right now! I want to see Xavier’s end! Yet, I was surprised that my body held on so long.
Then everything became hazy and darkness crept in.
“Hold on, Emily,” my mother’s soft and soothing voice echoed in my ears. “I’ll have you down in a second. Just hold on. Don’t give up!”
I suddenly felt weightless, as if the wind were supporting my weight and cradling me in her arms to keep me where I was. I did not even winch when I heard the unexpected sounds of the silver chains falling to the ground. They have shared in my grueling journey through this room, and now I am bidding them farewell as well.
I was drawn in closer by cold, soft hands that held my lifeless, worn-out body on the ground.
“Emily,” my mother sobbed in my ear while petting my hair. “Everything is going to be okay. Stay with us! You still have a great deal to live for.”
“She will never survive.” Xavier roared, interrupting my mother and swatting at my father’s grasp. “The damage is already done! She only has moments left to live.”
Xavier’s lips then formed a vile and frigid smile. “Her soul will be mine soon.”
My nostrils were filled with the aroma of herbs and wildflowers, and I found myself looking in the direction of the door.
“Not if I could help it,” Basilia said in a cold demeanor.
“Mother!” Xavier choked out. “What an unexpected surprise! Aren’t you supposed to be dead?”
He glanced back at Basilia, startled.
Did he also attempt to get rid of her?
Basilia’s expression darkened, and her eyes conveyed a look of disappointment. She moved closer to me while ignoring Xavier, as if he were not even there.
With a smile on her face, Basilia knelt down and gently cupped my cheek.
“It’s not your time, Emily,” she whispered. Her eyes are soft and warm. “Never forget that you are loved and desired.”
With a glowing feeling on the side of my cheek, Basilia withdrew her hand and stood up.
“Get her to her mate,” Basilia ordered.
Following instructions, my mother carried me through the door.
After that, things got blurry; the lights in the hallway flew by me, and I could hear gentle, almost silent footsteps.
“We are almost there, baby girl,” my mother said. “Please hold on for a moment longer.”
Abruptly, a roar reverberated through the hallway, causing my mother to slow down and glance over her shoulder. Her heart pounded harder in her chest as her body tensed.
“Sh*t!” She swore, the distress audible in her voice. She turned around and began to sprint down the hallway.
With each step my mother took, the sound of the wolves fighting got louder, and before long, she arrived at the exit.
When she got to the door, she huffed and hesitated.
“Hold on, baby girl,” she said, pulling me to her chest before taking off running and bursting through the door.
My nostrils were filled with the salty and rusty smell of fresh blood, and there were growls and snarls of rage all around us.
I managed to lift my heavy eyelids just enough to see the sea of red that was painted all around me.
“Alpha Alexander!” Above all the commotion, my mother’s voice roared, bringing the war to a halt. All the wolves turned their attention to us, startled.
After the rogues’ group had a chance to process what they were seeing, they quickly turned their attack toward us.
“Oh, Goddess!” Mother let out a gasp. She didn’t think her call would draw any attention.
A howl sounded off in the distance, so beautiful and strong that it made my heart skip a beat.
“Mate,” Willow muttered tiredly.
****