Chapter 7

Next were the gifts that Eric had given me over the past three years.

There were novel little trinkets and also valuable diamonds and other jewelry.

I picked out the valuables, intending to ask one of my friends, Emma Barker, to keep them for me for the time being. Once I'd left Northpine Woods, I'd ask her to return them to Eric on my behalf.

That way, we'd be even.

As for the less valuable trinkets and worthless items, I packed them all up without hesitation and threw them out.

There was also the wolf fang pendant that Eric casually gave me one day. I used to treasure it and guard it with my life. But now that I was getting rid of it, I realized that I didn't feel a ripple of emotion about it at all.

After I was done with everything, I carefully wrapped up Mom's photograph and placed it in a hidden compartment of my suitcase. Then, I left the pack I'd called my home for the past 20 years without another backward glance.

Eric happened to walk past me while I was crossing the border, but I didn't even spare him a glance. Yet, he suddenly stopped next to me and looked up, revealing his handsome, defined face.

My gaze swept over him indifferently, but I didn't stop.

"Avril."

He frowned a little. "Where are you going?"

I was already struggling to walk with my suitcase and things, so I wasn't in the mood to stop and chat with him. I ignored him and continued walking forward.

However, he suddenly got in front of me and stopped me.

"Want me to see you off?"

"No, thank you."

I avoided his outstretched hand and continued making my way forward.

Yet, he still grabbed me by my wrist and asked, "Why are you still being so stubborn, Avril? Maybe I'll soften and feel sorry for you if you'd just submit and cry or something."

I flung his hand off and looked at him calmly. "There's no need for that anymore, Eric Blackclaw."

I didn't need to cry anymore. I also didn't need him to feel sorry for me.

I had done it every single time in the past, and I was tired of it all.

"Fine. Do whatever you want."

Eric scoffed and sneered at me, his eyes filled with disbelief.

I knew why he didn't believe me. After all, no matter how hurt or upset I was in the past, I'd always been willing to wait for him to come back to me.

He was already used to that version of me. Even the pack members around him said that I could never bear to leave him for real, and he believed it with every fiber of his being.

I turned to leave.

Layla's gentle voice sounded then.

"Eric."

She ran up to him and hugged his arm tightly, almost burrowing herself into his embrace.

"Layla, are your allergies better now?" he asked, sweeping a few stray strands of hair from her head and giving her a once-over.

"I'm feeling a lot better now," she said with a wide smile on her face. "But please don't get mad at Avril for that."

As she spoke, she began gently swaying his arm, still hugging it.

"It's all my fault. If I weren't born with such a weak body, Dad would never have forced Avril to switch rooms with me, and then, she would've never gotten mad at me in the first place."

"How can you still pin the blame on yourself? Avril's the one who's being a petty, inconsiderate bitch."

Eric then glanced at me and deliberately pulled Layla fully into his arms.

"Let's go and get the cake from the bakery. It's my birthday today, so just tell me what you want. I'll give it to you."

"But isn't it your birthday today? Do I get a gift for myself too?"

"Of course."

I watched as they walked away with their arms wrapped around each other, but I didn't feel the slightest bit of emotion. I didn't even feel sad or upset about anything anymore.

If this had been before, I would have already prepared Eric's birthday gift a long time ago. By now, I would've been meticulously decorating the birthday celebration venue.

But this time, I didn't prepare anything for him. I wasn't going to celebrate his birthday with him anymore either.

…

At 5:00 pm, I was in a cab on the way to the airport. My phone wouldn't stop buzzing with text message notifications.

Dad had sent me a few messages.

"Why aren't you here yet? Velma, Layla, and I are already here."

"Learn to be more tolerant and generous, Avril. Eric will be part of our family very soon."

"What do you think the other wolves will think if you don't attend? They'd think that you and Layla don't get along."

I found it utterly ridiculous and didn't even bother replying. Instead, I blocked his number right afterward.

Just as I was about to board the plane, I suddenly received a mind-link request from Eric.

"Why aren't you here yet? We're all waiting for you."

I just smiled and didn't reply. I blocked his number and various social media before completely severing my mind-link with him.

Then, I walked through the boarding gate without another backward glance.