Chapter 70

Emma’s body ached, her lungs burned, and sweat dripped down her forehead. She had already lost count of how many times Cedric had thrown her to the ground, but she refused to stay down.

She tightened her fists, pushing herself up once more.

Cedric smirked. “Give it up, omega. You’re embarrassing yourself.”

Emma wiped the blood from her lip, eyes burning with determination. “Not yet.”

She took a deep breath, adjusting her stance. She had been fighting defensively, trying to block his attacks, but that wasn’t working. If she wanted to win, she had to stop holding back.

The moment Cedric lunged at her again, she sidestepped swiftly, dodging his punch at the last second. Instead of retreating, she turned and drove her elbow into his ribs with full force.

He grunted in pain.

The crowd gasped.

But Emma didn’t stop.

Before Cedric could recover, she spun and kicked his knee, sending him stumbling. Using that momentum, she jumped, twisting midair, and delivered a powerful kick to his jaw.

A sickening crack echoed through the air as Cedric crashed onto the ground.

Silence.

No one moved.

Even Cedric, who had been so confident, lay there groaning, unable to stand.

Emma’s chest rose and fell with heavy breaths, but she remained standing.

She had won.

A moment of stunned silence passed before the training grounds erupted into cheers. Some pack members, who had once sneered at her, were now clapping and shouting her name.

The Alpha, who had been on the verge of leaving earlier, remained seated, watching her with an unreadable expression. But there was something different in his eyes now—something like pride.

Emma swallowed hard, still trying to catch her breath.

Then, without warning, Kale and Jayden rushed forward.

Before she could react, the twins threw their arms around her, hugging her tightly.

“You were amazing,” Kale whispered.

“We’re so proud of you,” Jayden added.

Emma’s eyes widened in shock, her heart pounding even harder than before. They had never hugged her like this—never openly shown their emotions for her.

But now?

They weren’t holding back.

Meanwhile, Lily and the Luna’s faces twisted in displeasure.

The Luna’s lips pressed into a thin line, but she didn’t say anything. Lily, on the other hand, looked ready to explode.

Emma didn’t have time to dwell on it because the Alpha finally stood, his deep voice cutting through the noise.

“Emma.”

She stiffened and turned to face him, bowing her head slightly out of habit.

The Alpha’s expression was serious, but when he spoke, his voice was different than before—softer, almost approving.

“You’ve impressed me today,” he said. “And I do not say that lightly.”

Emma’s breath caught in her throat.

The Alpha? Impressed by her?

He continued, “You have proven yourself time and time again. First, you endured the bullying of not only the pack but also the maids and warriors. You even endured mistreatment from me and Lily.”

Lily’s face darkened, but she didn’t dare interrupt.

“And yet,” the Alpha went on, “you never broke. You stood strong, fought back, and showed resilience beyond what anyone expected.”

His sharp gaze locked onto hers.

“I regret ever being harsh to you.”

Emma’s heart skipped a beat.

Was this really happening?

The Alpha took a step forward, his next words making the entire crowd freeze.

“As Alpha of this pack, I formally approve of you as my son’s mate.”

Emma’s world tilted.

Kale and Jayden stiffened beside her, completely stunned.

Lily’s chair screeched as she stood abruptly, her hands curling into fists.

The Luna finally spoke, “Alpha, you can’t be serious—”

“I have spoken,” the Alpha said, silencing her instantly.

Emma felt her throat go dry.

This… this was real.

After everything she had been through, after month of being treated like nothing she had finally been acknowledged.

Tyler’s Coldness

After the ceremony ended, Emma made her way back to her room, her mind still reeling.

But just as she reached the entrance, Tyler stepped in front of her.

Her breath caught at the sight of him.

Her heart dropped.

“Emma,” he called after her.

She stopped but didn’t turn around.

“Do you hate me now?” Tyler asked softly. “Now that the Alpha has praised you?”

His voice wavered, but he needed to know.

Emma’s jaw tightened. “It doesn’t matter.”

“Of course, it matters,” he said, stepping closer.

But before she could explain, Emma shook his head, storming off without another word.

Emma stood frozen, her chest aching.

She hadn’t expected him to be happy about tonight, but… this?

She turned on her heels and entered her room.

Emma took a deep breath, shaking off her emotions.

She couldn’t let Tyler’s behavior ruin this moment.

The Alpha had invited her to dinner, and she wasn’t about to show up looking weak.

She walked to her wardrobe and picked out something elegant but striking—a dress that hugged her figure just enough to catch attention without being overly revealing.

Then, she sat in front of the mirror.

Instead of her usual simple look, she applied a little more makeup, just enough to highlight her features. She styled her hair, letting it fall in soft waves around her shoulders.

By the time she was done, she barely recognized herself.

She looked different. Powerful. Beautiful.

Satisfied, she stood and left for dinner.

The moment Emma stepped into the dining hall, all eyes turned to her.

A mix of shock, admiration, and curiosity filled the room.

Even Kale and Jayden stared at her like they were seeing her for the first time.

The Alpha nodded in approval. “Emma, take a seat.”

She hesitated for a moment before moving toward the table, sitting beside the twins.

The Luna sat stiffly, clearly displeased. Lily, on the other hand, was glaring daggers at Emma, her hands trembling with suppressed rage.

But Emma didn’t shrink away. Not this time.

The Alpha turned to her. “Once again, you impressed me today.”

Emma lowered her gaze slightly, unsure how to respond.

He continued, “I regret my past actions toward you. I see now that you are far stronger than I ever gave you credit for.”

Lily’s nails dug into the table, but she remained silent.

The Alpha’s voice deepened. “That is why I have decided—you have won my heart in many ways.”

Emma stiffened.

“You have proven yourself, not just in battle, but in spirit. You have endured, you have grown, and now, you have my full approval as my son’s mate.”

Silence filled the room.

Emma felt Kale and Jayden eyes on her.