Emily’s POV
“You are back!” I reached out to Willow in a tired whisper. “I thought you were gone.”
“I never left,” Willow said as she slowly made her way toward me from the depths of my mind. She looked terrible. Her fur was matted, her eyes had lost their brilliant spark, and she appeared to be in excruciating pain.
“I am happy you are here with me,” I said. “At least you will be by my side when we are dying.”
“Don’t even think about it! It’s not your time!” Willow growled, but it sounded more like a whimper than a growl, which made me laugh and cough.
“I am too weak,” I said. “It would be ineffective even if you attempted to heal me. I am aware of your state, and you are incapable of curing me. Xavier won. It’s over! I desire a peaceful death.”
The outside world quieted down to a murmur, and I felt peaceful for the first time in several days.
After stumbling over to my side, Willow rested her head on my chest. I reached over and started petting her behind her ears.
“He will not let us die,” Willow remarked. “He is going to save us. I do not doubt that he will.”
“And how is he going to do that?” I looked down at Willow, pleading with her not to give me any hope.
Willow fell silent.
“I am not sure,” she finally blurted out of exhaustion. Did she acknowledge our faith in death?
Even though my mother was shaking, and I could feel her crying, I was touched by her plea to stay with her. Her voice suddenly became strained and desperate.
Who was it she was talking to?
Did she manage to find Alex?
Is he here?
Strong arms yanked me from under my mother’s tender embrace, and my head rolled to land on something hard and warm. My nostrils were filled with the aroma of apple crumble, which immediately eased my physical pain.
“Heaven!” Willow mused. “This has to be what heaven feels like!”
“Yes, and I have missed him terribly!” I mumbled to myself.
I gasped for air, feeling my heart start beating more slowly.
It was nearly time. I had no idea how much longer I would be hanging on.
Alexander’s breathing was labored, like he was fighting against something.
Was he alright?
Was he injured?
Although the smell of blood was still all around me, I could not help but notice that Alex also had that same scent.
Was Alex injured?
“Emily, sweetheart. I came to find you. I am here!”
There was so much emotion in Alex’s deep voice that it stirred something inside, yet I couldn’t cry, I had no life left inside me.
“Do not leave me, please. Fight please!”
“Willow,” I said as I ran my fingers through her fur. “Did you hear that? He wants us to fight.”
“Look at me, Emily!” Alex cried out and roared at the same time. “You must stay with me! We just found each other! I want to spend my life with you! I love you!”
“I love you too!” I replied. “I love you with all of…!”
It was as if everything had stopped. Now it was just me, my heartbeat, and my breathing. My remaining time seemed to be ticking away, almost like a clock. A tick-a breath, a tock-a heartbeat. The next tick-tock would be my last moment, stopped by the clock.
It hurt that Alex was not holding me anymore, but in my final moments, I could still feel him screaming maniacally next to me.
“Hold me!” I wanted to shout to him my final request. “Let your arms hold me as I die. In these final moments of my life, let me feel loved.”
The most excruciating pain I have ever experienced forced something like an electric spark through my body as the clock reached its final tick-tock.
My eyes briefly met Alex’s, and then he violently tore away from me, sending me to the ground.
“Emily!” I was caught in a wind-blown bed when I heard my mother’s voice. “Don’t worry, sweetheart; I got you!”
“What happened to Alex?” I internally cried.
“Just relax, sweetie.” My mom sighed. “Beta Luke and Alpha Cole set out to find Alpha Alex. Everything is going to be okay. You just concentrate on getting better. If necessary, make use of your bond.”
Put the bond to use?
Make use of the one Alex and I shared.
Wouldn’t it be selfish to draw energy from it?
“No.” A voice that was so pure and lovely startled me, and I turned to hear it. “When using the bond, you will not act selfishly.”
For an instant, I believed that I had passed away and entered paradise when I discovered who was speaking.
“You are not dead,” she said, reading my mind. “But now is the moment to present your true self to King Xavier and all wolves. It is time you spread your wings and put an end to this madness.”
“I can’t,” I argued. “I am not strong enough. I have no strength left to fight.”
The goddess shook her head and grinned.
“Emily, you are many things.” She said, extending her hand to touch mine. “But you are not weak. This is both your and Alexander’s destiny. You two are the true royal couple, not him. Simply have faith in yourself. Just know that you are loved. Above all, have faith in the love that exists between you and Alpha Alexander. Reach out to him. He is part of you. You share something so special. There is not another pair like the two of you.”
As she vanished from view, her words continued to reverberate in my ears.
My nose suddenly filled with Alexander’s scent again, and I moaned quietly, hoping he would hear me.
I wanted him near me. I wanted to feel and smell him.
I heard my mother murmur something in my ear, and then I felt his comforting, powerful arms draw me up to his chest.
“Willow,” I whispered, and she slowly raised her head. “Please connect me to Alex!”
I smiled as an image of Alex materialized before me, realizing that stepping over to the other side of the bond was not as difficult as I had anticipated.
The next moment, a tremendous amount of energy surged inside of me, and flashes of memories appeared before my eyes.
“Alex,” I whispered, feeling the magic of our bond moving through my veins and assisting Willow in healing my physical ailments.
Alex’s gaze met mine, and he blinked a few times, motionless.
“Emily?” He uttered a disbelieving whisper. “Is that you?”
“It’s me!” I cried out. “It worked!”
Not letting another second go by, Alex ran to me, wrapped his arms around me, and planted a passionate, long-lasting kiss on me.
“I thought I had lost you,” he sobbed against my lips.
“I am still here,” I said, pulling apart.
Alex knitted his eyebrows together.
“You returned to take revenge and put an end to this?” His worried expression betrayed his feelings.
“No,” I replied, kissing him on the lips. “I returned because I cherish you and my people. A just and merciful king is what all wolves deserve.”
I entwined our fingers and raised them to my lips.
“Do you trust me?” I asked.
****