Chapter 8 Goodbye, Alpha Damon.

Elara’s POV

I lost my baby.

The doctor told me as gently as he could, but there was no gentle way to hear those words.

Despite everything they'd done to save my pregnancy, my baby was gone. For a long time, I lay in the hospital bed staring at the ceiling, unable to speak.

When I finally returned to the estate, I took the tiny sweater I'd bought for my baby out of the drawer.

I sat on the edge of the bed, holding the sweater against my chest. I'd cried so much at the hospital that I thought I had nothing left. Yet somehow, the tears kept coming.

This was the fourth child I'd lost. And Damon didn't even know we'd been expecting another.

I wondered what he would have done if I'd told him. Would he have come home? Would he have held my hand through those terrible hours? Or would he have stayed with Vanessa and the two healthy children she'd given him?

I didn't want to know the answer.

For the next two days, I barely left my bedroom.

The maids brought food, but I couldn't stomach more than a few bites. I drank water only when someone reminded me. Most of the time, I lay curled beneath the blankets, clutching that little sweater.

On the third afternoon, I heard voices outside my door.

“Ma’am, I'm worried about Luna Elara,” one of the maids said. “Luna Elara hasn't eaten properly since she came home. The doctor said she needs rest and proper meals after losing the baby. Shouldn't we tell Alpha Damon?”

Helena's response was sharp.

“Absolutely not. How many miscarriages has Elara had by now? There's no need to make such a big deal out of it.”

My fingers tightened around the sweater.

“Alpha Damon is spending time with Vanessa and the children,” Helena continued. “They're finally enjoying themselves as a family. I'm not having their trip ruined by news of another miscarriage.”

The maid fell silent.

“And if Damon calls asking about Elara,” Helena added, “tell him she's busy preparing for the pack's upcoming festival. Is that understood?”

“Yes, Ma’am.”

Their footsteps faded down the hallway. I hadn't moved from the bed.

For five years, I’d tried to be the daughter-in-law Helena wanted. Now I knew exactly what I meant to her.

My baby had died, and all she cared about was making sure Damon could enjoy his holiday with his other family.

Two tears slipped down my cheeks and soaked into the little sweater. I pressed it against my lips.

“I'm sorry, honey,” I whispered. “Mommy tried. I really did.”

For the next three days, Helena made sure her orders were followed.

I had no appetite, and most of the food the servants brought me went untouched. I spent hours lying in bed, staring at the ceiling, too exhausted to cry anymore.

But no one came to check on me. No one even bothered to ask why their Luna had suddenly stopped coming downstairs.

Damon hadn't called either. Sometimes, I caught myself staring at my phone, though I couldn't have said what I was waiting for.

Then, one morning, a flight reminder popped up on my screen. I stared at the notification for a moment before realizing it was our fifth bonding anniversary—the day I would disappear from Damon’s life forever.

Five years ago, I'd woken before sunrise, too excited to sleep. I'd spent hours getting ready, wondering whether Damon would think I looked beautiful in my wedding dress.

Now, I could barely find the strength to lift my head from the pillow.

My body was still recovering from the miscarriage. I felt weak whenever I stood too quickly, and there was a dull ache low in my abdomen that hadn't completely gone away.

But I got dressed anyway.

Maya was waiting downstairs. The moment she saw me, her expression changed.

“Elara, you look awful.I'm serious.” She hurried over and took my arm. “You can barely stand. Are you sure you can leave on your own?”

“I'll be sitting on a plane, Maya. I'll manage.”

She didn't look convinced. During the drive to the private airfield, she kept glancing at me, as though she expected me to change my mind.

She'd arranged everything with the witch, including the two aircraft and the false evidence that would convince the world I'd died in a plane crash.

One plane would take off under the identity I was leaving behind. It would explode over a remote stretch of wilderness, leaving behind the evidence of my supposed death. The other would carry me north under my new name.

By the time anyone learned about the crash, I would already be far away.

At the airfield, the wind was fierce enough to whip my hair across my face. I pulled my coat tighter, but it did little to keep out the cold.

Maya caught my elbow when I stumbled.

Her eyes filled with tears. “Elara, you just lost your baby. You don't have to do this today. We can wait until you've recovered.”

I looked toward the aircraft waiting on the runway.

If I stayed, Damon would come home. He'd apologize for being away so long, give me an anniversary present, and kiss me as though nothing had changed.

I’m sure that was not what I wanted.

“Maya, I've made up my mind.” I said with a firm tone.

She studied my face. “Are you absolutely sure? Once you leave, there's no coming back.”

“I know.”

“And Damon?”

“I never want to see him again,” I said quietly. “Not in this lifetime.”

Maya pulled me into her arms. I held her tightly, grateful that at least one person in my life had chosen me.

Then my phone rang. It was Damon Blackwood.

For a moment, I considered letting it ring. Instead, I answered.

“Sweetheart!” Damon sounded relieved. “I've been trying to reach you. Where are you?”

“Why?”

“I just got back. I'm sorry I was away longer than I promised. The negotiations were a nightmare.”

“Anyway, I'm home now,” he continued. “And I brought you something special for our anniversary. Where are you? I'll come get you.”

“I'm at the airport.” I glanced at the plane. “Remember Maya's honeymoon trip? I'm going with them. We're about to board.”

There was a brief silence.

“Elara, you're actually going?”

“Yes.”

“But it's our anniversary.” He sounded genuinely surprised. “Why didn't you tell me you were leaving today?”

He had the nerve to remind me it was our anniversary when he couldn't even be bothered to come home a day early. And now he was upset that I hadn't stayed home waiting for him.

“Damon. You were busy.” I reminded him.

“Sweetheart, wait. Let me come with you.” His voice softened. “I can be there in an hour. Besides, why would you want to tag along on someone else's honeymoon? You'll just be the third wheel.”

A faint smile touched my lips.

Five years ago, I would have given anything to hear him say he wanted to come with me. Today, all I wanted was for him to let me go.

“No, thank you, Alpha.”

He went quiet.

“Elara? Why are you calling me that?”

I looked down at my left hand, at the bare finger where my bonding ring had once rested.

“Goodbye, Alpha Damon.”

“Wait, sweetheart, what do you—”

I ended the call. Then I removed the SIM card from my phone and dropped it into the airport trash bin and turning toward the plane.

Behind me lay five years of marriage, and a man I'd once believed I would love forever. Ahead of me was a life I knew nothing about.

That uncertainty didn't frighten me.

I climbed the stairs without looking back.

Goodbye, Alpha Damon Blackwood.

This time, I meant forever.