Chapter 14
The second I stepped outside, the cold night air hit me, and everything from my past life came
crashing in like a rogue wave.
It was all still there, buried deep in my bones-
the memories, the bitterness, the unbearable
ache of loving someone who never once looked back.
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In my last life, I’d married Alpha Floyd in a business arrangement between the packs. I gave him a son, a daughter, and every piece of my heart, right up until the day I died at sixty–five.
But happiness? That was never part of the deal.
Because Floyd Jenkins, Alpha of the
Shadowborn Pack and cold–hearted king of the werewolf elite, had already given his heart away–to Monica, his fated mate.
She left him once. Went overseas. I remember
the week she disappeared–he drank until his
wolf went feral and had to be sedated. But
pride runs deep in Alphas, especially one like
Floyd. He never chased her. Never begged. Just agreed to the mating alliance his family arranged.
That was me.
I had been stupidly thrilled. My teenage self had practically worshipped Floyd from afar. The unattainable god of Transylvania’s high–born wolves. Every she–wolf with a drop of noble blood dreamed of being Luna to the
Shadowborn Pack.
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And when the mating bond never clicked between us, I convinced myself love would be enough.
So I gave everything–my time, my energy, my
affection. I baked his favorite meals even when
he never touched them. I waited for him on late nights, only to fall asleep on the cold side of the
bed.
When Monica returned years later, it was like my entire existence flickered out of hist peripheral vision.
He didn’t ask for a divorce. He didn’t even
argue. He just… stopped seeing me.
Worse, the pups started to cling to her, feel the pull of the true mate bond even if she wasn’t
their mother.
And in the end, when my mind started slipping and the doctor muttered the word Alzheimer’s,
Floyd moved me to the old house on the edge of the territory “to rest.”
On my last birthday, I’d dialed their numbers with shaking hands. My mate, my children.
They were on vacation in Red River Pack–with
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Monica.
I tried to bake myself a strawberry cupcake -something sweet to soften the loneliness. I forgot to turn off the stove.
The fire spread fast. I still remember the heat, the smoke, the way the flames licked up the old curtains. But mostly, I remember the way Floyd looked at me the day we were mated -cold, detached, as he slid that cursed ring. onto my finger like it was just another business. transaction.
As the blaze swallowed me whole, all I could
think was:
If I ever get another life, Moon Goddess, please don’t let me waste it on him again.
By the time I got back to the villa, the sun had. dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in
blood and smoke.
I didn’t stop to rest.
Instead, I rolled up my sleeves and started
packing.
Floyd’s designer suits, the ones that always
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smelled like expensive cologne and cold nights?
Into the box.
The pups‘ toys–half chewed, scattered across the floor like afterthoughts? Packed.
Our “family” photos? Every last one tossed into
a crate with shaking hands.
I was halfway through the living room when his voice landed behind me, sharp as a whip.
“What are you doing?”
I turned. There he was–Floyd, standing in the doorway, the pups at his side. Yolanda looked furious. Leon? Disgusted.
“Why are you throwing our stuff away?” Yolanda demanded, her little voice sharp. Her cheeks were flushed red, and she ran over to snatch her teddy bear out of the box.
Leon crossed his arms, his glare sharper than any five–year–old had a right to wield. “We were just playing with Aunt Monica. Why are you freaking out?”
And then Floyd spoke, in that low, cool voice that always carried more frost than concern.
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“The kids like being around Monica. Are you really going to throw a tantrum over this?”
I didn’t raise my voice. Didn’t even let my wolf push through.
“I’m not angry,” I said simply.
“Liar!” Yolanda shrieked, pointing at me like I was some monster from a bedtime story. “You’re just jealous of Aunt Monica! That’s why you threw away my teddy bear! You’re a bad
mom!”
“When I grow up, I’m going to live with Aunt Monica,” Leon added, grabbing his sister’s hand like they were forming a united front. “I’ll never
come back to see you!”
I flinched. I won’t lie–I flinched hard. My wolf let out a long, mournful howl deep inside me.
And Floyd? He didn’t say a word to them. Didn’t
scold. Didn’t blink.
He just sighed and adjusted the cuff of his white.
shirt.
“Enough,” he finally said, glancing at me. “I have a board meeting. Do whatever you want.
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Just don’t cause a commotion.”
The door clicked shut behind him.
That’s when I broke.
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Not with a scream. Not with a shift. Not with
flames or fury.
Just quiet tears, hot and heavy, slipping down my cheeks as I stood there surrounded by
boxes and broken dreams.
Each breath felt like it cut through my lungs. The pain in my chest bloomed like fire, and the taste of blood was sharp on my tongue.
But then, just as suddenly–I laughed.
Short. Bitter. Hysterical.
Don’t worry, Floyd.
You won’t have to deal with my “tantrums” again.
From this moment on, I won’t disturb your
perfect little world–not ever again.
