Chosen by the Alpha

Chapter 11: The Ultimatum

Emma stood in the clearing, her heart pounding as she watched Jace and Leo, their faces set in stone, each radiating the power and authority of an alpha. The air between them was thick with tension, a storm waiting to break. For weeks, they had danced around this moment, but now it was clear—there was no escaping it. The request was here.

Jace was the first to speak, his voice low but firm. “Emma, I need an answer. You can’t keep standing in the middle, torn between us. It’s time to choose.” His blue eyes, usually so calm, were blazing with intensity, the weight of his pack's future pressing down on him. He had always been the steady, protective one, but tonight, there was a hint of desperation in his gaze, a fear he was trying to mask behind his confident words.

Standing a few feet away, Leo clenched his fists, his dark eyes narrowing. “He’s right, Emma. We can’t keep going on like this. If you choose me, I can promise strength, protection, and a place by my side where no one will ever dare challenge you. But if you keep hesitating, if you keep holding back…” He didn’t finish the sentence, but the threat was clear, lingering in the cold night air.

Emma’s chest tightened. She knew what they were asking of her, but she also knew that this decision was not just about choosing between two men. It was about choosing between two packs, two destinies, and potentially sparking a conflict that could destroy everything. The prophecy echoed in her mind, the words she had found carved into the ancient stone deep within the forest: "The one who binds the two shall decide the fate of all."

She had hoped that learning more about the prophecy would give her answers, but it had only brought her more questions. What did it mean to bind them? Could she truly bring peace by choosing one over the other, or was there another way to fulfill her role without sparking a war? Her thoughts spiraled as she looked from Jace to Leo, both of whom were waiting, their bodies taut, as if ready to spring into action at any moment.

“I can’t…” Emma began, her voice barely above a whisper. She swallowed, forcing herself to speak louder. “I can’t decide this right now. There’s too much at stake. You’re asking me to choose between you, but it’s not just about us. It’s about your packs, families, and everything built for generations.”

Jace took a step closer, his expression softening slightly. “Emma, I understand that. But delaying this will only make things worse. The longer you wait, the more tension there is, and it’s starting to tear both packs apart. We need you to decide.”

Emma’s heart ached at the truth of his words. She had seen the signs—the whispered conversations, the suspicious glances, the unease that had settled over both territories like a dark cloud. Neither pack wanted to be seen as the weaker side, and if this stalemate continued, it wouldn’t be long before someone took matters into their own hands. She thinks back to the rogue attack when both Jace and Leo fight side by side to protect her. It had been a glimpse of what could be a moment of unity in a sea of division.

But that moment had passed, and now they were back to the same old rivalry, with her caught in the middle.

Leo’s voice cut through her thoughts, sharp and demanding. “Emma, if you can’t choose, then I will.” He stepped forward, closing the distance between them. “I will claim you, here and now, and that will be the end of it.”

Emma’s eyes widened, her pulse racing. “You can’t do that,” she said, stepping back. “I’m not a prize to be won, and I won’t be forced into a decision like this.”

Leo’s eyes softened, but there was a flicker of something darker beneath the surface. “Then help me understand, Emma. Why won’t you choose? Is it because you love him?” He glanced at Jace, his lips curling into a mocking smile. “Or are you afraid of what will happen if you pick me?”

Jace growled, his wolf instincts rising to the surface. “Back off, Leo. This isn’t helping.” He turned to Emma, his voice softer. “Emma, please. I know this is hard, but you need to trust your heart. If you choose me, I’ll do everything I can to make sure there’s peace, to make sure no one has to fight.”

The sincerity in Jace’s eyes tugged at Emma, but she also knew that Leo wasn’t entirely wrong. A part of her was terrified of making the wrong choice, of tipping the scales in favor of one side only to see the other retaliate. She had tried so hard to understand the prophecy and find a way to navigate this mess without causing more harm, but it seemed like no matter what she did, the outcome was the same. Someone would lose, and the consequences would be devastating.

As the tension between the two alphas grew, Emma took a deep breath and stepped forward, positioning herself between them. “No,” she said, her voice steady, even though her hands were shaking. “I won’t let this turn into a war. I don’t know what the prophecy means, but if we keep fighting like this, we’ll destroy everything we’re trying to protect. There has to be another way.”

Jace and Leo exchanged a wary glance, and for a moment, it looked like they might listen. But then a howl echoed through the night, distant but unmistakable—a call to arms. It was a warning, a signal that something was about to happen.

Emma’s heart sank as she realized what it meant. The packs were mobilizing, preparing for battle. Whatever fragile peace had existed was crumbling, and unless she acted fast, there would be no stopping it.

Desperation clawed at her as she looked back at Jace and Leo. “Please,” she said, her voice breaking. “If you care about me at all, if you care about your packs, then help me find another way. Don’t let this end in bloodshed.”

For a moment, everything was silent, and then, slowly, Jace nodded. “Alright,” he said. “I’ll follow your lead, Emma. But it would help if you were honest with us. What do you want?”

Leo’s gaze was still stern, but there was a flicker of hope there, too. “If there’s another way, we’ll find it. Together.”

Emma’s breath hitched as she realized that maybe, just maybe, there was a chance to change everything. But it would require trust and sacrifice—things she wasn’t sure either of them was ready to give. But she had to try if there was even a sliver of hope.

“I want to stop the fighting,” she said, trembling but resolute. “I want to understand the prophecy and find a way to unite the packs without forcing anyone to lose. But I can’t do it alone.”

The alphas looked at her, and for the first time, she saw something she hadn’t seen before—an understanding that went beyond rivalry, a shared goal bigger than their desires. It was a small step, but it gave her hope.

“Then we’ll do it,” Jace said, his voice firm. “We’ll figure it out. Together.”

Leo nodded a reluctant but sincere agreement. “For now.”

Emma closed her eyes, relief washing over her. It wasn’t a solution, not yet, but it was a start. And a start was more than she could have hoped for in a world as unpredictable and dangerous as theirs.