Chapter 449
Four hundred and fifty one
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Four hundred and fifty one
Emma POV
It felt cruel that public opinion was finally shifting while Alexander lay unconscious on a hospital bed, completely unaware of it.
The media circus surrounding his trial had erupted into a full-blown obsession across the territory. Online forums and local news networks talked about nothing else.
Zachary’s people still clung to their hatred, insisting that his coma was karma for murdering Alpha Edward. Others debated the what-ifs, dissected Charlie’s testimony, and wondered if Alexander had been framed all along.
Alexander wasn’t awake to defend himself or to see a single person take his side.
I was back in the hospital hallway when Haley stepped out of Veronica’s room. She looked exhausted but happy.
“How is she doing?” I asked, after exchanging pleasantries.
“She’s awake, thankfully,” Haley said, leaning her back against the wall. “She isn’t talking yet, though. The doctors think she’s still in shock from everything Zachary put her through. She just stares at the ceiling p>
My heart ached for Veronica. Being locked away, force-fed poison, and abused by the man who was supposed to protect her was a horror I couldn’t even imagine.
“How are you holding up, Emma?” Haley asked softly, turning her gaze toward me.
I shrugged. “Hanging in there. One hour at a time p>
Trying to lighten the mood between us, I smiled. “Look at the bright side. Now that your sister has been found, your parents won’t have any reason to push you into a forced marriage. You and Anita don’t have to keep hiding
forever p>
Haley’s wistful smile came and went.
“Don’t let your parents make those massive life decisions for you,” I said. “Look at me. I feared being paired with Alexander, and now here I am, fighting for his life and his freedom with everything I’ve got. Your situation is mild compared to mine p>
“You’re right. I hope Alexander wakes up soon, Emma. You both deserve peace after this mess p>
That day, my parents walked in alongside Uncle Cameron and Luna Lisa. Seeing all four of them show up together to check on Alexander brought me to tears. They genuinely wanted him to live.
Luna Lisa wrapped her arm around my shoulder and guided me toward the seating area.
“Please, Luna Lisa, you can see for yourself that he’s dying. We need the Daughters’ help p>
She gave me a sad smile and a light squeeze of the hand.
“Cassidy did what she could, but this goes far beyond a basic extraction. The Daughters of the Moon have strict ranks,” Luna Lisa explained gently. “I am just a Petal, an ordinary member. Cassidy is a Thorn. Thorns are the messengers who handle sacrifices and basic Meridian extractions. But what Alexander has inside him is a Root spell. It’s designed to kill, not just control p>
“So what do we do?” I pressed.
“When someone ties a deadly spell to their own death, they sometimes take the cure to the grave with them p>
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Luna Lisa said. “They swallow an anchor or hide a charm before they die. The only ones who can deal with spirits and buried dark magic are the Roots, the highest rank of our order p>
Hope flared in my chest. “Are you saying that if we find Zachary’s mother’s grave, we might find a way to break the spell?” 19
“It looks like we might be heading in that direction, but we aren’t sure,” Luna Lisa warned. “And even if that’s the answer, Elizabeth is buried on Iron Wells pack land, and Zachary is under house arrest there. Getting onto that property without his consent will be almost impossible. If we sneak in, he’ll accuse us of trespassing and dark magic p>
“Why does everything have to be so hard for Alexander?” I cried, my voice cracking as tears finally spilled over ” Why does he have to suffer through every single step of his life p>
My mother pulled me into her arms and held me tightly while I sobbed into her shoulder.
“We have to wait for the next general meeting of the Daughters,” Luna Lisa added. “It’s in five or six nights. That’s when the Roots will gather, and we can request their approval to proceed p>
Five or six nights felt like an eternity when Alexander was hooked up to a machine.
They took me home. I was having dinner when Lucas called and asked if I could come out to the rogue camp the following evening.
“The pack wants to honor Alexander,” Lucas said, his voice grave.
“He isn’t dead! Stop talking like he’s already gone p>
“People are losing hope. They just need to gather and feel connected to him right now p>
After much reluctance, I agreed to go.
Anita, Wesley, and Haley drove out with me to the camp in a supply van. We loaded the back with relief materials. When we pulled into the clearing, the sight made my breath catch in my throat. Dozens of rogues were standing together in the evening light, all dressed in black.
We unloaded the relief supplies first. The people gathered around us, but nobody rushed for the food. Their faces were heavy with sorrow.
One by one, different rogues stepped forward to speak about Alexander.
An old woman with silver hair stepped up first. “When my only surviving child died of winter fever, Alexander gave me his own rations for a week so I wouldn’t starve while I grieved p>
A young mother holding a toddler spoke next, tears streaming down her face. “He fought off a pack of wild rogues to protect me when my husband left me for dead. He never rested until I was safe p>
“No matter how bad things get, he makes sure every child in this camp has a full plate,” the nursery keeper said. Hearing them talk about his kindness broke my heart all over again. They loved him so deeply.
Wesley stepped forward to speak. It was usually impossible for an alpha as powerful as he was to be among the rogues, but Alexander’s people were too consumed by grief to care.
Wesley looked across the sea of grieving faces. “I survived Meridian poison. I carried that darkness in my blood for years, and look at me now, standing here completely free. Do not give up on your alpha p>
thom locked their eyes onto Wesley and clung to his every word.
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“If we can find the source of this attack before time runs out, Alexander will survive,” Wesley continued firmly.” He will come back, and he will take his place as your Lord. Hold onto that p>
A collective murmur of hope rippled through the crowd. The relief washed over them as they absorbed Wesley’s confidence.
Wesley turned to Lucas and placed a hand on his shoulder.
“Take care of your people. Be strong for them right row. That’s what Alexander needs from his second-in- command. If this camp needs anything else, reach out to Emma or me directly p>
Lucas nodded and wiped a stray tear from his cheek. For someone so rash, it stunned me to see that he was capable of tearing up.
“Thank you, Alpha Wesley p>
I looked out over the camp as the sun dipped completely below the horizon. I knew I would do anything to see Alexander walk back through that road to his people, and even more importantly, to me and our baby.
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