The Lost Beta 7 - The Choice that Divides

Under the moon, the river swirled, cold and black. Emily felt the cold water on her face as she looked from Lucien to Alexander. One man looked at her with the rage of a parent who had been betrayed, and the other with the love of a man who would do everything for her.

"Emily," Alexander shouted over the sound of the rushing river. His voice became weak. "Please, I beg you."

She was speechless. Lucien edged closer, his cloak flowing around him and his eyes glittered like fire.

"You've made your choice," he yelled. "If you cross that water, you are no daughter of mine."

Her heart cracked. For so long, she’d yearned for a place she belonged. Now it felt like belonging would cost her everything she loved.

Behind Lucien, the rogues shifted restlessly. She could see their unease, the way their loyalty was starting to splinter. If she fled, some would follow, others would turn on her. She would ignite a war no one could control.

But when she looked across the river at Alexander, she saw a future. A fragile, terrifying hope she couldn’t let go.

---

As she walked toward the bank, time slowed down. The icy, relentless water splashed against her boots, testing her strength.

Lucien’s hand darted forward, seizing her arm. She sensed the anguish underneath it though his grip was harsh. "Please fight this," he murmured, the anger laced with a deeper emotion. “I lost your mother to their lies. Must I lose you too?”

Her vision became hazy. There was a part of her that wanted to return to his hug and act as if nothing ever happened. That she might be the weapon he thought she could become and the daughter he needed.

But she wasn’t.

“I refuse to be that which I am not,” Emily said softly, the words cutting deeper than she expected. “And I’m not yours to use.”

His eyes shuttered, and for one heartbeat she thought she saw regret. Then it was gone, replaced by the iron mask of the warlord.

“If you cross, you are my enemy,” he said.

She freed her arm in an instant. As she waded to the other side, the water numbingly engulfed her feet.

---

The current caught her midway and pulled her beneath. For a while she was unable to breathe. She struggled back up, gasping with arms burnt.

"Emily!" Alexander shouted as he leaped in after her and caught her by the waist. Even with the cold river, his hands stayed warm.

As soon as their eyes locked, the world melted away, leaving behind no legacy she didn't want, no rebel armies, and no old grudges. Only the man who still loved her after seeing her when she was nothing.

She held him tight through the final stretch as he pulled her and shortly, her boots finally touched the riverbed.

"You came for me," she stated. 

Water droplets ran down his face while his forehead creased. "I'd always come get you."

Shouts came from the rogues behind them. Rigged and angry, Lucien's voice broke through the confusion.

“Seize them!”

---

They scrambled onto the muddy shore. Alexander heaved his chest and put an arm over her. Weapons flashing, dozens of rogues streamed out of the forest.

Alexander drew his dagger, his body shielding hers. “Run.”

“No,” she said, grabbing his hand. “I'll be by your side .”

He glanced over his shoulder, desperation in his gaze. “If they take you back”

“Then we fight.”

Her words made him hesitate and together, they faced the approaching rogues with all their might.

The first rogue lunged, blade raised. Emily ducked beneath the swing, her instincts sharper now than they were before. The ancient strength stirred within her, and she felt the rhythm of her lineage.

She no longer felt weak after striking out. She felt like every stolen memory, every buried truth, had become a weapon she could wield.

---

They fought side by side, their movements in sync. Alexander parried blow after blow, never letting her out of reach. She struck with her borrowed dagger, her fear drowned beneath something fierce and determined.

A rogue lunged for Alexander’s back, and Emily screamed his name. She flung herself in the path of the blade, feeling the shock of impact across her shoulder.

Pain exploded in her vision. She staggered, gasping.

Alexander caught her before she fell, his eyes wide with horror. “Emily no.”

Despite the warm blood seeping through her tunic, she lied and said, "I'm fine" and then clenched her teeth.

He shook his head and put his palm to the wound. “We have to get you out.”

More rogues crashed through the underbrush. Their faces were grim, determined. Lucien must have promised them everything if they brought her back.

“Emily,” Alexander whispered, voice breaking, “I love you. No matter what happens.”

Tears clouded her vision. She had anticipated hearing those words for a long time & finally he had said it.

---

From the shadows came a sudden roar, loud enough to still every blade.

A massive gray wolf burst into the clearing of an elder she had seen only in half-remembered stories. One of Lucien’s oldest allies, the war-chieftain, but he wasn’t charging her. He stood between her and the rogues, snarling.

The other fighters stumbled, they seemed confused.

Breathing became difficult as she tried stopping the bleeding. She applied pressure on her injury and it was painful. "Why aren't you trying to attack us?" She inquired while in pain.

Alexander didn’t answer. He pulled her close, using the moment to guide her toward the treeline.

The old wolf lunged at the nearest rogue, sending them sprawling. In the chaos, Alexander lifted Emily into his arms and ran.

Branches tore at them, darkness swallowing their path. Lucien shouted her name behind them, his voice was a blend of both anger and sorrow. 

With each heartbeat echoing the understanding that nothing would change back, Emily clung tightly to Alexander's neck.

---

Alexander placed her under a leaning pine when they eventually came to a stop, miles away from the river. She couldn't make herself feel concerned that her injury hurt with every breath. 

He knelt beside her and ripped pieces from his tunic to dress the injury. As he worked, his hands shook.

“Emily,” he said hoarsely, “you could have died.”

Her chest tightened. “I couldn’t leave you. I won’t.”

His gaze lifted to hers, raw and unguarded. “You don’t understand. If Lucien doesn’t find you, he’ll burn everything to the ground.”

She swallowed, her mouth dry. “Then we end this before he can.”

Alexander froze. “You mean.”

She nodded. “We find proof of what he did. We show the rogues he’s not their savior.”

He looked at her with something between pride and dread. “That’s a war.”

Her voice was steady. “Then it’s one worth fighting.”

---

Emily moved a little as she felt something press against her ribs. She reached inside her tunic and took out the small silver disc that Lucien had given her. The crest of her mother’s line.

Alexander stared at it, his breath catching. “That’s…Emily, that’s the seal of the First Alpha Queen.”

She looked down at the worn sigil, her pulse fluttering. “It belonged to my mother. Lucien said it was my birthright.”

“But if the rogues see that,” Alexander trailed off, realization dawning. “They won’t follow him. They’ll follow you.”

Emily traced her thumb over the crest. So much of her life had been stolen. But this…this was hers to claim.

She looked up at him, her resolve hardening. “Then let them come. I won’t hide anymore.”

Far behind them, a horn split the night Lucien’s hunting call. Closer than she’d feared.

---

Alexander pulled Emily to her feet and she clasped her fingers around the crest. The first cry of pursuit echoed over the valley as torches flashed through the woods in the distance.