Chosen by the Alpha

Untitled Episode

Chapter 15: The Prophecy’s Price

Emma sat alone in the forest clearing, the moonlight filtering through the trees, casting shadows around her. The words of the ancient seer, Elara, echoed in her mind, haunting and relentless. “The prophecy will demand a great sacrifice, Emma. To unite the packs and bring peace, you must give up something precious and irreplaceable.” Those words had been vague, but she had felt their weight, a foreboding that had settled deep within her chest. As the events unfolded, she began to understand precisely what that sacrifice would mean.

The packs were on the brink of war. Despite the revelation of the traitor and Marcus's misguided attempt to force a resolution, tensions had only escalated. Too many old wounds, distrust, and the dark force lurking behind the scenes seemed to feed on their division, growing stronger each day. Emma knew that time was running out. If she didn’t find a way to unite Jace and Leo’s packs, everything she had fought for would be lost.

She closed her eyes, letting herself remember the past few weeks—the moments of closeness she had shared with both Jace and Leo, the way they had each, in their way, showing her what it meant to lead, to care, and to fight for something greater than themselves. The bond she had with them was unlike anything she had ever experienced, but it was also the source of her most significant pain. Because she knew that the prophecy wasn’t just about bringing the packs together; it was about making an impossible choice.

A rustling sound brought her back to the present. She looked up to see Jace approaching, his expression grim but softened by concern. “Emma,” he said quietly, sitting down beside her. “I know you’ve been carrying this burden alone, but you don’t have to. Whatever the prophecy demands, we’ll face it together.”

She smiled weakly, wishing she could share his optimism. “I wish it were that simple, Jace. But I don’t think you understand what it’s asking of me.” She hesitated, then decided to tell him the truth. “Elara said that to fulfill the prophecy, I would have to sacrifice—something that would cost me dearly. I’m starting to think it means choosing between you and Leo.”

Jace’s jaw tightened, and he looked away, his hands clenching into fists. “No,” he said, his voice rough with emotion. “That can’t be right. It would help if you didn’t have to choose. There has to be another way.”

Emma’s heart ached as she reached out, placing a hand over his. “I don’t want to choose either. But if that’s the only way to stop this war, to save both of your packs, then maybe that’s what I must do.”

Jace looked at her, his eyes burning with anger and desperation. “No. You mean too much to both of us. To me.” He paused, struggling to find the right words. “Emma, I don’t care what the prophecy says. I won’t let you be the one to pay the price for this. We’ll find another way, I swear it.”

Before she could respond, a voice called out from the shadows. “And what if there isn’t another way?”

Emma turned to see Leo stepping out of the darkness, his expression unreadable. He had been listening, she realized, and the pain of it was evident in his eyes. “Emma, I don’t want to lose you any more than Jace does,” Leo said, his voice calm but heavy with emotion. “But I also can’t stand the thought of you sacrificing your happiness for the sake of a prophecy. If this is about choosing between us, then maybe the real sacrifice is not choosing at all.”

Emma felt her throat tighten. “What do you mean?”

Leo stepped closer, his gaze intense. “The prophecy says you’re meant to unite the packs, but maybe that doesn’t mean you must choose between us. Maybe it means we must find a way to work together, to let go of this rivalry and fight for something bigger than our desires.”

Jace frowned, clearly skeptical. “You’re saying we should... what, share her? That’s impossible. The packs would never accept it.”

“Not if we don’t give them a choice,” Leo countered. “Emma is the key to all of this, and if we can prove that our alliance is stronger than their hatred, then maybe we can change how they see things. But it’s going to take all of us to do it.”

Emma’s heart raced as she listened to them, torn between hope and fear. She wanted to believe that there was a way to make this work, that she didn’t have to lose either of them. But deep down, she knew it wasn’t just about what she wanted. It was about what the packs needed and what the prophecy demanded.

“Elara warned me that the dark force thrives on discord,” she said softly. “If we can’t find a way to unite, then everything we’ve worked for will be for nothing. But if we try this and bring the packs together without me choosing one of you... it might not be enough. And if it fails, the consequences could be worse than we can imagine.”

Leo’s eyes softened, and he reached out to take her hand. “Then we make sure it doesn’t fail. We show them that there’s a different path, one where we stand together instead of tearing each other apart.”

Jace was silent for a long moment, his expression conflicted. Then, finally, he nodded. “Alright. We’ll try it your way, Leo. But if it doesn’t work, I won’t stop and watch everything fall apart. We need a backup plan.”

Emma’s chest tightened with a mix of relief and anxiety. “There is a backup plan,” she said, her voice barely more than a whisper. “Elara told me that if all else fails, there’s a ritual—a way to bind the packs together by force. But it requires a sacrifice... a life.”

The air seemed to grow colder, and she could see the shock on their faces. “A life?” Jace repeated, his voice shaking. “Whose life?”

Emma looked down, unable to meet their eyes. “Mine.”

The silence that followed was suffocating. She could feel the weight of their stares, the disbelief and fear mingling with a dawning realization. “No,” Leo said firmly, breaking the silence. “Not. We’ll find another way.”

Jace stepped forward, his expression fierce. “You’re not sacrificing yourself, Emma. I don’t care what the prophecy says. There’s no way I’m letting that happen.”

Emma’s heart ached as she looked at them, knowing how much they meant to her and how much she wanted to stay with them. But she also knew that if it came down to it, she was willing to pay that price to save them and their world. “I don’t want it to come to that either,” she said, trembling. “But if it’s the only way to bring peace, then I’m willing to do it.”

Jace and Leo exchanged a look, and for once, there was no rivalry in their eyes, only a shared determination. “Then we’ll just have to make sure it doesn’t come to that,” Jace said, his voice solid and unwavering. “We’ll fight together and find a way to fulfill this prophecy without losing you. I promise.”

Leo nodded, stepping closer and placing a hand on her shoulder. “We’re in this together, Emma. No matter what.”

Emma felt a surge of hope, fragile but bright. She didn’t know what the future would hold or if they would be able to change the course of destiny. But for now, she had Jace and Leo by her side, which was enough. Together, they would face whatever came next and do everything in their power to find a way to bring peace to their world without the prophecy’s terrible cost.

Emma silently vowed to herself as the moon rose above them, casting its silver light over the forest. She would fight for this future, for a world where the packs could stand united, and she would do everything she could to protect the ones she loved, even if it meant defying destiny itself.