Page 25 of Betrayed Alpha Mate
But what’s even more striking is that I can feel what Emily is feeling; her frustration that her powers won’t unleash further than a dying spark on her fingertips, and her determination to do whatever she can to let it out.
I know she’s insisting on her training because she’s stubborn, and maintaining her distance from me because she hates me. Rightfully so, but it doesn’t help her cause when the powers she needs won’t come out without me.
“You’re right,” I tell Hunter with a firm nod, ignoring his suspicions and dealing with the problem at hand.
I want to find a solution to the problem Emily is facing. I want to be the solution she needs. And right now, she’s struggling, and it hurts me to see her in this condition.
I step out onto the patio with Hunter close behind me, and fold my arms as we watch Emily attempt to hit an empty bottle with magic from her palms. Her brows are furrowed, eyes pointed at the bottle in frustration, her palms directed at it while tiny flickers of golden light spark at her fingertips. She has her tongue pressed into her cheek as she concentrates, and out of nowhere, a burst of golden, translucent light shoots out from her palms and knocks the bottle over.
“Oh, my Goddess!” she exclaims, turning to Arianna and Delilah and celebrating with a loud cheer.
It might have looked like something small, but it was more than she’s been able to wield ever since she started training.
I glance over at Hunter, who tosses me a proud wink. But then the cheering cuts off abruptly, and I turn to find Emily scowling at me.
“That was really good, Em!” I praise her, applauding lightly as a proud smirk grows on my face.
Emily narrows her eyes vindictively, while Delilah steps up beside her and slinks an arm across her shoulders.
“It really was!” Delilah agrees with me, grinning as she glances at Emily. “I think we missed an important part about uncovering your magic. You need Sean around.”
“I don’t need him,” Emily chuckles as she rolls her eyes, a smile on her face only for the sake of the others.
“Let’s test the theory,” Arianna suggests. “You’ve been trying to unlock your magic for two days, and it appeared the moment he walked out and breathed the same air as you.”
The smile slips off Emily’s face. “H-how do you wanna test the theory?”
“Well, we already know that the binding spell means your magic is linked to him, so maybe it’ll be stronger with him around.”
“So, must he just stand there?”
Arianna giggles, turning to me and waving me over. “Maybe if he comes a little closer, it’ll help.”
Emily gulps hard, while my heart flutters, eager to be of service in any way. Grinning, I step down from the stairs and join them in the garden.
I can feel the way Emily tenses without even touching her, and realize how hyper-aware I’ve become of her emotions. What startles me is that I can feel the hatred she feels for me rolling off her in waves, like an invisible, protective dome that’s meant to block me out.
It doesn’t work, because the closer I am to her, the easier it becomes for her to wield her magic. Small bursts, but it’s a start when she knocks down the bottle again.
“I think we need something bigger,” Arianna says when Emily knocks the bottle over a fourth time.
Emily glances at Delilah and doesn’t look my way at all.
“More motivation,” Delilah agrees, tapping Hunter’s arm. As if they’d communicated through the mind link that only they share, Hunter nods and walks into the garden, picking up a large boulder without flinching.
“You want me to move that?!” Emily exclaims in disbelief.
Delilah chuckles. “I mean…you can try.”
Emily huffs as she turns forward, taking a deep breath as she wiggles out her fingers and cracks her neck to either side.
“Fine. I’ll give it a try.”
“You can do this, Em!” Delilah cheers her on.
“We believe in you!” Arianna adds.
I keep my lips pursed, not wanting to break her concentration as I stand off to the side. Emily is hyper-focused as she directs her palms at the rock, her breath turning to a strained groan as she tries sending energy toward it.
