The Alpha's forbidden omega mate - Chapter 248: Chapter 248

Emma POV:
"Brock? Brock, wake up!"
My voice was a choked whisper, swallowed by the silence of the ruined palace.
I stared at him, my heart freezing as I saw the blood on his shirt, the emptiness in his eyes, the stillness of his body.
A bone-chilling fear spread through me, and grief threatened to drown me.
He was gone.
He’s dead, Emma.
A cold voice whispered in my head, reminding me of the dangerous world we were in, a world where magic and monsters were real, a world where love could be deadly.
I scrambled back, my hand flying to my mouth to stifle a scream, a sob of despair.
The battle raged around me – wolves snarling, magic crackling – but all I could see was Brock, lying still and lifeless.
I’d believed, with all my heart, that I could help, that we could save them, that love would win in the end. But I was wrong. My hope had been foolish, naive.
You were wrong, Emma. You were wrong to bring him here. You… you killed him.
Guilt squeezed my heart like a serpent, stealing my breath.
It’s your fault, Emma. His blood… it’s on your hands.
I stared at my hands, trembling and clammy. Numbness crept through me, a way to escape the pain and guilt of knowing that I had led Brock to his death.
He died for your fault to bring him here, Emma. He died… for Catrina.
The weight of his sacrifice crushed me. He’d given his human life for a world he didn’t belong in, for a love he’d never truly known.
I felt myself falling apart, the darkness threatening to consume me.
He’s gone, Emma. And you’re next.
“Emma!”
Maggie’s sharp, urgent voice was like a lifeline pulling me back from the abyss of despair.
She knelt beside me, taking my hand in hers.
Her warm, strong grip contrasted sharply with the icy coldness that had seeped into my bones. Her lavender eyes were filled with a sadness that mirrored my own.
We both understood the depth of this loss.
“Emma, look at me,” she said softly but firmly.
It was a command, a plea, a reminder of the strength and courage I needed to find again.
“It’s okay. You’re safe now. We’re here. We’ll protect you.”
But her words couldn’t erase the fear that gnawed at me, the knowledge that none of us were truly safe.
Damien’s power, his dark magic, had reached out from the spirit realm and touched our world, claiming a human life.
“He’s too strong, Maggie. We can’t fight him,”
Love wasn't enough. Not in this world. Not against this kind of darkness.
“We have to… we have to get out of here, Maggie,” I whispered, my eyes darting around the ruined palace, terrified by the dancing shadows and eerie whispers.
The air was heavy with the scent of blood and magic and primal fear.
“He’s… he’s going to kill us all, Maggie. He’s going to…”
I couldn't finish the sentence. The horrifying image of Brock’s lifeless body choked my words, stole my breath.
“We’re next, Maggie. We’re… we’re going to die.”
“No, Emma,” Maggie said, her voice strong and steady, her lavender scent a comforting presence.
“We’re not going to die. We’re going to fight. For Catrina. For Rowan. For… Brock.”
She squeezed my hand, her gaze holding mine with fierce determination.
Her strength sparked a glimmer of hope within me, a warmth that fought back against the cold numbness.
“But… how, Maggie?” I asked, my voice shaking.
My gaze went from the chaos of the battle – the clashing wolves, the crackling magic – to the ancient book clutched in my hands. The strange symbols and cryptic words seemed to mock me with their secrets, a power I didn't understand.
“What can we do? I’m just…a human.”
“We have to disrupt Damien’s magic, Emma,” she said urgently, her eyes focused on Rowan, his silver fur shining, his amber eyes blazing with a fury that both scared and strangely thrilled me.
“We have to… weaken his hold on Catrina. Give Rowan a chance to fight back.”
“But… how?” Despair crept back into my voice.
I felt the weight of the book in my hands, the knowledge that it held the key to saving them, a responsibility that felt too heavy to bear.
“I… I don’t know how to… use this magic, Maggie. I… I’m just… a human.”
“You’re more than that, Emma,” a soft voice whispered.
A warmth spread through me, accompanied by a familiar scent of lavender and vanilla. It was a scent that spoke of a love that defied death, a promise that echoed through time.
Vivian.
Rowan’s mother. Her presence, a faint shimmer in the darkness, was a comforting beacon.
“You have… courage, Emma,” she continued, her voice gentle and kind, her gaze a reflection of Rowan’s amber eyes, but softer, filled with a love that made my heart ache, a connection I couldn't explain.
“You have… love. And… you have… the power… to make a difference.”
She placed her ghostly hand on mine, a cool touch sending shivers down my spine.
It was a connection to a world beyond my understanding, a power that called to me.
“Let me help you, Emma,” she whispered, her voice a plea, a promise. “Let me… show you… the way.”
Looking at her, at the spirit of this strong she-wolf who had defied a king and challenged a sorcerer, who had sacrificed everything for love, I felt a surge of hope.
Warmth spread through me, and a power pulsed within, awakening a magic I never knew existed.
“I’m… I’m ready, Vivian,” I whispered, my voice trembling with fear and excitement.
It was a surrender to the unknown, a leap of faith, a trust in a power I didn’t understand, a love I couldn't ignore.
We turned our attention to the ancient book, its pages filled with strange symbols and cryptic words.
With Vivian’s guidance, the language started to make sense, unlocking a knowledge within me. Power surged, magic crackled in the air, and my heart pounded.