Chapter 21
15 Points
When I opened my eyes, the light was blinding. That cold, sterile white ceiling above me came. into focus as a sharp antiseptic smell hit my
nose. Somewhere nearby, a heart monitor beeped.
“She’s awake,” someone said.
A man leaned over me–white coat, salt–and–pepper beard, eyes full of sympathy. “Three broken ribs,” the doctor murmured, shining a light into my eyes. “You were lucky, Luna Jillian. If you’d arrived even ten minutes.
later…”
I didn’t respond. My mind was stuck in that elevator–stuck in the moment Floyd looked me in the eyes and chose her. The doors had crushed my legs, and my mate had walked away holding Monica in his arms like I was
nothing.
My chest ached, but it wasn’t just from the fractures. No tears came. Not anymore. I’d cried
all I could in this lifetime.
Three days passed in a blur of painkillers and
silence
Chapter 21
Then Floyd showed up.
5 Points
Alpha Floyd–perfectly pressed, impeccably cold–stood in the doorway like he hadn’t left me to die three floors beneath his feet. His eyes. scanned the bandages on my ribs, and for a brief second, I thought I saw something flicker across his face. Regret? Guilt?
But then he spoke.
“Monica still wants to dance,” he said flatly. “I couldn’t risk her legs getting hurt.”
I stared at him, unsure if I’d heard right.
“So you’ll have to bear with it,” he added, “You’re the housewife. You don’t need your legs.
for that.”
My wolf stirred beneath my skin, snarling softly.
I didn’t say anything. For the first time, I saw him clearly–the man I had loved for so many
years.
His features were still as handsome as a god,
but in those eyes of his, I had never existed.
“Cloud“! I earned my voice like candpaper “¡flI
Chapter 21
+ 5 Points
“Floyd,” I rasped, my voice like sandpaper, “if I had died that day… would you have cared?”
He didn’t answer.
Instead, he pulled a black card from his suit and dropped it on the bedside table. “Don’t ask
pointless questions. Here’s compensation. As long as you behave and raise the pups, you’ll
still be Shadowborn Pack’s Luna.”
That was the moment it snapped.
I smiled bitterly.
In my last life, I clung to that title like a lifeline.
Luna Jillian of Shadowborn Pack. I held it until I died–cold, alone, forgotten in the house I built.
Not this time. Done groveling, done being
anyone’s Luna in name only.
This time, I was letting go.
I opened my mouth. “Floyd, I-”
His phone rang.
He picked it up.
Chapter 21
+5 Points
“Floyd,” Monica’s honeyed voice came through. “The pups and I are waiting at the restaurant. We have a surprise for you!”
His whole expression softened. “I’ll be there soon,” he said gently.
Then the ice returned.
“I have to go,” he said, sliding his phone into his pocket. “The driver’s waiting.”
He didn’t look back when he left.
That was fine.
I wasn’t going to stop him.
Because he’d find out soon enough.
The divorce papers were finalized.
And this time, I wasn’t asking for anything–not custody, not a title, not even a goodbye.
I pressed the call button. “Ms Wilona,” I said calmly, “please send my luggage to the airport.”
Exactly one hour later, I sat by the plane.
window as the jet lifted into the sky.
Chapter 21
+ 5 Points
The clouds were dipped in molten gold. The sun kissed the horizon like it was bidding me
farewell.
I deleted Floyd’s number. Deleted every photo.
Every message.
The black card? I left it in the hospital drawer.
Let Monica have it.
Let her have the Alpha. Let her have the pups.
Let her have the curse that was once my life.
As the plane climbed higher, I rested my head against the window, eyes closed, a smile tugging at my lips.
This time, I wasn’t going to shrink myself for
someone else’s love.
This time, I was free.
And the world had better be ready for the
she–wolf I was about to become.
