Chosen by the Alpha

Chapter 3: Pack Tensions

Emma sat in the corner of the crowded bar, her mind swirling with confusion and fear. The air around her buzzed with noise—chatter, laughter, clinking glasses—yet she felt distant as if watching everything from behind a thick pane of glass. Her thoughts were too loud, drowning out the world around her.

Jace and Leo. Fated mates. Two rival alphas bound to her by some ancient prophecy she barely understood. How could this be her life? How could she, an ordinary human, be responsible for something as massive as peace between two warring packs of werewolves?

As if sensing her turmoil, Jace appeared at her side, his hand resting lightly on her shoulder. His touch was warm, grounding her in the present moment. Emma glanced up at him, her heart skipping a beat at the sight of his intense gray eyes filled with concern.

"Are you okay?" he asked, his voice low enough that only she could hear over the noise.

Emma nodded, though the truth was far more complicated. "I'm just… trying to wrap my head around all this."

Jace's eyes softened. "I know it's a lot. But you don't have to go through it alone."

Before Emma could respond, the atmosphere in the bar shifted. A sudden tension filled the room, and the hair on the back of Emma's neck stood on end. She didn't need to look up to know who had just walked in.

Leo.

The energy between the two alphas was palpable, a clash of dominance that sent an unspoken ripple through the room. Even the patrons seemed to sense it, their conversations quieting as they looked between Jace and Leo as if expecting a confrontation at any moment.

Leo strode toward them, his golden eyes locking onto Emma’s as if she were the only person in the room. His presence was commanding, his aura just as powerful as Jace’s, but Leo carried an air of wild unpredictability where Jace was controlled and measured. He was the storm to Jace’s calm, and Emma couldn’t help but feel caught between the two.

"I see you’ve already started without me," Leo said, his voice smooth but with an edge that alerted Emma. He stopped beside her, his eyes flicking to Jace briefly before returning to her.

Jace’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t rise to the bait. Instead, he glanced down at Emma, his expression unreadable. "We were just talking."

Leo gave a noncommittal hum, his gaze lingering on Emma, making her feel flattered and unnerved. He reached for her hand, his fingers brushing hers with a gentleness that surprised her. "Emma, can we talk? Alone?"

The weight of the moment hit her. They both wanted her; that much was clear. But it wasn’t just desire that drove them—it was something deeper, something tied to the prophecy and the bond they were supposed to share. The choice she made wouldn’t just affect her; it would affect their entire world.

"I…" Emma hesitated, glancing between the two alphas. Jace’s gray eyes oversaw her, while Leo’s golden gaze was more demanding, burning with unspoken emotions. Both of them seemed to be waiting for her decision, for her to tip the scales in one direction or the other.

"Give her space, Leo," Jace said, his voice sharp but controlled. "She’s still processing everything. Don’t pressure her."

Leo’s jaw clenched, his gaze flickering with frustration. "I’m not pressuring her. I want to make sure she understands what’s at stake."

Emma’s head throbbed with the tension radiating between them. She stood abruptly, stepping away from both alphas. "I can’t do this right now," she exclaimed, her voice shaky. "I need… I need some air."

Emma hurried toward the exit without waiting for a response, her heart pounding. The cool night air hit her like a balm, soothing her nerves as she stepped outside. She leaned against the brick wall of the bar, taking deep breaths to calm herself.

This was too much. How was she supposed to choose between Jace and Leo when she barely understood the depths of what they were asking of her? It wasn’t just about picking a mate. It was about the prophecy, the fate of their packs, and potentially preventing a war.

She closed her eyes, her mind spinning with the enormity of the decision she faced. How could she choose one without hurting the other? And if she didn’t select… what would happen to the packs?

The door behind her opened, and Emma didn’t need to turn around to know who it was.

"Emma."

Leo’s voice was soft, almost tender. He stepped up beside her, his presence warm despite the chill in the air. "I didn’t mean to overwhelm you," he said.

Emma glanced at him, her heart tugging at the vulnerability in his expression. Despite his rough exterior, something about Leo made her want to comfort him, to understand the pain he carried beneath the surface.

"I just…" She hesitated, searching for the right words. "I don’t know how to handle all of this. It’s too much."

Leo sighed, leaning against the wall beside her. "I get it. But you must understand, Emma—this isn’t just about the bond. My pack… they’re expecting me to find my mate. If I don’t… if you don’t choose me, it will cause problems."

"Problems?" Emma frowned, turning to face him fully. "What kind of problems?"

Leo’s expression darkened. "My pack is already on edge. They know I’ve found my mate and expect me to claim you. If I don’t… some of them might see it as a sign of weakness. And that could lead to challenges."

"Challenges?" Emma’s stomach churned with unease. "You mean… like fighting?"

Leo nodded grimly. "Exactly. And with Jace’s pack involved, things could escalate quickly. Without resolution, we could be looking at an all-out war."

Emma’s heart sank. "I don’t want to be the reason for that."

Leo’s gaze softened. "I don’t want that either. But the reality is… we’re running out of time."

Emma opened her mouth to respond, but before she could, the door to the bar swung open again. Jace emerged, his expression tight as he entered the scene before him.

"Leo, back off," Jace said, his voice firm. "She’s not ready for this."

Leo straightened, his eyes narrowing at Jace. "You think I don’t know that? But the longer we wait, the more dangerous this situation becomes."

Emma stepped between them, her hands raised in a gesture of peace. "Stop. Both of you." Her voice trembled, but she forced herself to stay calm. "I can’t make this decision right now. I need time to think."

Jace’s expression softened as he looked at her, his hand gently brushing her arm. "We’ll give you time, Emma. But know this—no matter what happens, I won’t pressure you. I want what’s best for you."

Leo huffed, clearly frustrated, but he nodded. "Fine. Take your time, Emma. But don’t wait too long. Our packs… they won’t wait forever."

With that, Leo turned and walked away, disappearing into the night. Jace watched him go, his eyes dark with worry.

When they were alone, Jace turned to Emma, his expression filled with a tenderness that made her heartache. "I’m sorry, Emma. This is all happening so fast, and I hate that you’re being put in the middle of it."

Emma’s chest tightened. "It’s not your fault, Jace. I just… I don’t know what to do."

He stepped closer, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "Whatever you decide, I’ll stand by it. Just promise me one thing."

Emma looked up at him, her breath catching his gaze's intensity. "What?"

"Promise me you’ll stay safe. No matter what happens between our packs, your safety comes first."

Emma swallowed hard, nodding. "I promise."

Jace’s lips curved into a small, sad smile. "Good." He leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. "I’ll give you time, Emma. But know that I’m not giving up on us."

With that, he turned and disappeared into the night, leaving Emma alone with her thoughts.

As Emma stood there, staring after the two alphas, she couldn’t shake the feeling that her life was spiraling out of control. The weight of the prophecy, the packs, and the potential war loomed over her like a dark cloud.

She wanted to run. She tried to escape the chaos and return to her everyday life. But deep down, she knew there was no going back. The bond had already started to form, and no matter how much she wished otherwise, her fate was now tied to Jace and Leo.

The question was, how long could she keep both packs from tearing each other apart?

To be continued...