2

Beta Hayes was practically bouncing with excitement on the other end of the line.

"Miss Sage, did I hear that right? After six years away, you're really coming home? You're not messing with me, are you?"

My hand rested gently on my slightly rounded belly. I smiled bitterly.

"I'm not messing with you. This time I'm really going back."

I hung up and decided to head to the Alpha Council to handle dissolving the mate bond.

But on my way there, a group of rogue wolves surrounded me. I recognized them immediately - they were Marcus's enemies. The new treaty had squeezed their resources and territory, and they wanted to use me to get back at him.

They knew I was finally pregnant. Their attacks aimed straight for my stomach.

But I'd given up my Alpha wolf to conceive. I couldn't fight them off.

I immediately curled into a ball, wrapping my arms around my belly. My back was exposed to their claws and fangs. I could feel their talons tearing through my skin, their teeth sinking into bone.

I felt my child slipping away from me. That helplessness hurt more than any physical pain.

In my agony and desperation, I reached out through the mindlink to Marcus. Once, twice, ten times. Nothing but dead silence. He'd cut our connection.

Even when the patrol finally arrived and subdued the rogues, he never showed up.

I lay on the cold medical bed, clinging to my last shred of hope as I tried reaching him again. The call connected, then immediately hung up.

The healer shook his head and told the nurse to prep for surgery. When it came time to sign the papers, he automatically looked behind me.

"Where's your Alpha? Pack law requires his signature in situations like this."

I smiled bitterly. "Pack business keeps him too busy. I'll take full responsibility myself."

Dr. Thompson looked up at me in shock. His eyes filled with sympathy.

The surgery was over. I lay in the recovery room, but the emptiness in my heart hurt far worse than any physical wound.

That's when my phone buzzed with a message.

From Marcus.

"Council meeting tonight. I'll be home late."

The timestamp showed it was sent two hours ago.

I didn't reply. Just as I was about to close my phone, it buzzed twice more.

Messages from Ivy. The photo showed two hands wearing matching couple rings, but the man's finger still had my familiar mating ring on it. I could even recognize the shirt Marcus had worn this morning. But the background was clearly the pack's shopping district.

I barely glimpsed it before the message was deleted.

Immediately, Ivy called. Her voice was sickeningly sweet with fake tears.

"Luna, I meant to send that photo to my boyfriend but sent it to you by mistake. You don't mind, do you?"

"It's all my fault for working 22 hours straight with the Alpha today. I got so exhausted I sent it to the wrong person..."

I laughed coldly.

Twenty-two hours of work. So while I was being attacked by rogues and losing our child, Marcus was out shopping with his omega.

"It's fine. Just focus on doing your job properly. But don't forget your place as an omega."

I hung up without listening to any more of her act.

Then I deleted her contact.

Before leaving the medical center, I asked Dr. Thompson for the tiny embryo.

It hadn't fully formed yet, but I could barely make out the shape of a small pup.

I clutched the glass vial against my chest, my eyes burning with tears.

I'm sorry, baby.

I'd made such enormous sacrifices to have this pup, only to lose everything.

I understood now. I was completely done loving Marcus.

I took a deep breath. Since I'd decided to leave, I shouldn't have to bear this pain alone.

Before I went, I wanted to give Marcus one final gift.

I returned to the house I'd lived in for six years. It was cold and empty.

No surprise there. Marcus's personal omega was probably giving him her very personal attention right about now.

I had no appetite for dinner. The wounds from the attack and my abdomen were throbbing with pain. I lay down on the edge of the bed.

I stared out at the pitch-black sky. My heart felt like the churning storm clouds outside.

I was starting to regret every sacrifice I'd made for him. I drifted off to sleep without realizing it.

Thunder crashed outside, jolting me awake.

The room was completely dark. I'd always hated being alone during storms like this. Marcus used to stay by my side on nights like these.

I listened to the rain pattering against the windows and fell into deep thought.

These past three years, I'd done everything possible to get pregnant. Marcus started coming home later and later.

Sometimes he wouldn't come home at all.

At first, I thought he was working hard for the pack's development.

Until I started noticing how inappropriately close he and Ivy were becoming.

And some of my jewelry had started disappearing.

I didn't pay much attention at first.

Not until Ivy became more and more brazen.

Every few days she'd post my stolen jewelry on social media, showing off Marcus's "gifts."

"Luna, did you know the Alpha's been taking such good care of me lately?"

And then there were her direct challenges to me.

I was sick of it all now.

Through countless difficult nights, I'd learned how to face loneliness on my own.

I remembered the last time I'd asked Marcus to come with me to the medical center. I'd eaten something that made me violently ill and could barely stand. I called him asking when he'd be home.

He said he had an emergency council meeting and couldn't get away.

I had to drag myself to the medical center and lie on that bed alone until he finally showed up.

Later I found out there was no emergency meeting. He'd been out shopping with Ivy.

These memories flashed through my mind quickly.

I closed my eyes and thought about what to pack tomorrow. The early flight meant I couldn't afford any delays.

The next day, I woke up two hours early.

I looked around the entire bedroom. Almost everything here had been chosen and bought by Marcus and me together, piece by piece.

But aside from a few of my own clothes, nothing else was worth taking.

I randomly threw some changes of clothes into my suitcase when my phone rang. It was the airline.

"Is this Miss Sage Thornfield?"

"Due to today's thunderstorm, your flight has been delayed and rescheduled for three days from now. Do you accept this change?"

I looked out at the torrential rain and sighed.

Just my luck. Even trying to leave, I was blocked by a thunderstorm.

I called Beta Hayes back.

"It’s OK. Be at the airport on time to pick me up. See you in three days."