Chapter 465
Four hundred and sixty seven
Emma POV
Being in the same room as Alexander without touching him tested my patience.
My hormones were all over the place. My wolf wanted her mate, and I wanted his arms around me, his skin against mine, and his familiar scent. But we had to wait until the dark magic was fully-untangled. The doctors and Root Daughters had warned us that physical strain or a strong magical bond could trigger a relapse.
Still, watching him regain his strength over the past few days made me happy.
He was walking again.
He stood in the center of the cabin, leaning on a wooden cane. His right leg wobbled as he shifted his weight, but he kept moving, determined to regain his strength.
Lucas leaned against the doorframe with a grin, while Cherry clapped her hands together, her eyes bright with tears.
“Look at him,” Lucas drawled. “The great giant, shuffling around like an old man hunting for his reading glasses p>
Alexander shot him a deadpan look. “Did you actually think I was going to stay down? Or were you already planning to measure yourself for my chair p>
Lucas burst out laughing.
We were staying at the rogue camp. My mother had thrown a fit when I first mentioned coming here. She insisted that Alexander needed to return to proper pack society, but the final tribunal hearings were still pending. Until the regional council cleared his name and returned Iron Wells to its rightful heir, we remained caught between being outlaws and reclaiming our place in the pack.
The rogues treated me differently now. Instead of glaring at me or keeping their distance, they greeted me whenever I stepped outside the cabin.
My pregnancy was beginning to show. A small bump had appeared beneath my waistline, though my sweaters still concealed it.
Alexander, however, told everyone about the baby. He proudly announced that he was going to be a father and that he was the luckiest man alive to have me as his mate.
Two older women who had worked as midwives for years regularly visited the cabin to check on me. They brought fresh broth and herbal teas that were safe for pregnancy. They checked on my health, answered my questions, and made sure I had what I needed.
Later that afternoon, after a round of physical therapy exercises with Alexander, I fell asleep on the couch.
When I opened my eyes, the late afternoon sun streamed through the window. Alexander stood near the edge of the rug, leaning against the wall. His cane rested nearby as he watched me with a smile.
I stretched my arms over my head. “You’re being creepy, standing there staring at me p>
“I’m enjoying the view,” he said, lowering his voice. He looked me up and down, his gaze lingering on my stomach. “You have
no idea how hard it is to stand across the room from you, Emma p>
My cheeks flushed.
hist
“Tonight,” he said, holding my gaze. “The moment they give us the green light, I am not letting you out of my sight. Or out of my bed p>
“Alexander,” I said, laughing. “You are unhinged p>
“I’m a starving man,” he replied. “And my mate is far too gorgeous for her own good p>
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The front door swung open.
Cherry stumbled inside, giggling as she clung to Lucas’s arm. Her cheeks were flushed, and the smell of fruit wine clung to her. Lucas held her by the waist, laughing as they staggered through the doorway.
The moment Lucas saw Alexander leaning against the wall, he stopped laughing and immediately took his hands off Cherry.
Cherry swayed without his support, caught her balance, and grinned at her brother. Then she hurried down the hallway toward her bedroom, giggling as she went.
Lucas cleared his throat, puffed out his chest, and bowed.
“My Lord,” he said, pretending to address a royal court. “I shall take my leave to consult with my grandmother in the kitchen p>
Alexander frowned as he watched Lucas disappear into the kitchen.
I sat up, amused by Alexander’s protective behavior toward his sister.
“You know Cherry and Lucas are good for each other, right p>
“Lucas is a hothead,” Alexander grumbled.
I stood and took a step toward him. We kept two inches between us, but I leaned close enough to catch his eye.
“That hothead is loyal to you, Alexander. And he would protect Cherry with his life. You know that p>
Alexander glanced away, then back at me.
“They’re adults. When the time comes, you’re going to have to give them your blessing p>
He muttered under his breath, but his frown eased. His eyes dropped to my lips, and he stared at them for several seconds before meeting my gaze again.
I smiled. “Soon p>
The next morning, we traveled into town for his official checkup.
The younger Root Daughter met us at Metropolitan Hospital. Dr. Harry wanted to scan Alexander’s heart again, while the priestess examined the magical flow around his ribs.
Alexander sat on the examination table with his shirt off as the Daughter pressed her fingers against his right chest wall, checking the area around his ribs.
“Do you feel any pain when I press here?” she asked.
“No,” Alexander replied. “Just… a phantom touch sometimes p>
“That’s normal,” she said, pulling a small glass bottle from her shoulder bag. She poured some enchanted spring water into a paper cup and handed it to him. “Drink this. It will help clear the remaining magic. You might feel nauseated, but the phantom sensation should fade over the next few days p>
Alexander drank the water in one gulp.
“The pressure you felt came from the severed magical tether,” the Daughter explained. “The anchor at the grave reversed the curse, transferring the mass inside your chest to the living bloodline. It’s now lodged inside Zachary p>
My heart skipped a beat.
Zachary.
Charlie had sent over an update from the estate. Zachary had been asking to see Alexander and had even begged for a visit.
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Alexander refused.
I didn’t push him. Alexander had suffered for over a decade because of Elizabeth’s schemes. If he chose not to see Zachary, I would respect his decision.
The tribunal had also sealed the forensic files. The DNA test confirmed that Zachary was Alpha Desmond’s biological son, making his claim to Iron Wells null and void. The council would publicly exonerate Alexander by the following morning.
Alexander studied the scan on the screen. The mass threatening his heart had almost disappeared, leaving only dead tissue. Sensation had returned to his right arm and leg.
He was whole again.
“Give us a moment, please,” Alexander told Dr. Harry and the priestess.
The doctor stepped into the hallway. The younger Daughter packed her glass bottles into her bag, smiling as she glanced
between us.
“So,” Alexander said, looking directly at her. “Can I finally make love to my mate tonight p>
“Alexander!” I exclaimed, my face burning with embarrassment.
The Daughter laughed and shook her head. “My goodness. You are like a wild beast in a hurry, aren’t you p>
“I’ve been patient enough,” Alexander grumbled.
“You may hold each other,” the Daughter said. “You may kiss, embrace, and sleep in the same bed. But you must wait a little longer before making love. The phantom sensation needs to disappear first. The curse must finish transferring its remaining energy to Zachary before your body fully recovers p>
The thought unsettled me. We had to wait for Zachary’s condition to run its course before Alexander and I could resume our intimate life.
The Daughter left the room, closing the door behind her.
Alexander turned toward me.
“Hey,” he said. “Look at me, Emma p>
I met his eyes.
“This isn’t our fault. We didn’t set this trap. Elizabeth and Zachary dug their own grave years ago. We are just surviving the dirt they threw at us p>
“I know,” I whispered, taking a breath. “I know it’s not our fault. It’s just… so heavy p>
“Come here,” he said.
He shifted on the examination table and patted his lap.
I stepped forward and sat on his leg.
The moment I touched him, our mate bond flared. Alexander wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me against his chest. My hands gripped his shoulders as I felt him tremble. I buried my face in his neck and held him tightly.
For weeks, we had been unable to hold each other like this.
“Emma,” he murmured against my skin, his fingers resting against my back.
I lifted my head to look at him. He studied my face before leaning closer. His lips brushed mine, and he paused, watching my reaction.
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Heaned toward him and kissed him back.
He pulled away briefly, then kissed me again, holding me closer. I wrapped my arms around his neck and returned his kiss.
My wolf settled as I breathed in his familiar scent.
When he finally pulled away, he rested his forehead against mine. We were both breathing heavily.
“I’m going to see him,” Alexander said, brushing his fingers along my cheek.
I took a breath. “Are you sure p>
“I need to finish this,” Alexander replied. “Not because I’m happy he’s dying. It’s a waste of a life, destroyed by his mother’s sickness. But it’s time to put this behind us and move forward p>
I smiled. “Look at you, being merciful p>
Alexander chuckled, stroking my cheek with his thumb. “Don’t get used to it. I’m mostly doing it so the priestess clears me to take my mate to bed p>
I swatted his shoulder, but he caught my wrist and pulled me back for another kiss.
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