Chapter 7

On the third evening, Kael came back with the two children.

As soon as he walked in, he unusually took the initiative to explain. "Sage has been sensitive to pain since she was little. That's why we took her to the hospital first."

River mumbled quietly, "Yeah, Mom, you're way tougher than Aunt Sage. You don't need us..."

Stone nodded. "Aunt Sage is an Omega. She's too fragile and needs our protection."

"Enough." I cut them off. "You don't need to explain."

I understood too well.

All their explanations boiled down to one thing—they loved Sage, not me.

Once, this realization would have destroyed me. But not anymore.

Because I... didn't love them anymore either.

Seeing how calm I was, Kael felt a strange flutter of panic. He seemed to want to make up for something and spoke again. "There's a meteor shower tonight. I'll take you to the mountaintop to watch it."

"No need."

"Don't be stubborn." Kael glanced at the two children. "Help your mom get changed."

River and Stone immediately grabbed my arms from both sides. "Come on, Mom!"

I was forcibly stuffed into the car, only to discover Sage was there too.

"Don't mind me, Aria," Sage said softly. "I've been afraid of the dark since I was little. Kael didn't want to leave me alone at home..."

Kael immediately chimed in. "Sage has night blindness. She gets scared being alone at night."

The two children also chattered supportively. "Poor Aunt Sage!"

I closed my eyes wearily, not wanting to hear another word.

Throughout the drive, Kael and the two children fussed over Sage.

Adjusting her seat, handing her blankets, feeding her fruit—terrified she might be even slightly uncomfortable.

Sage kept glancing at me, trying to catch jealousy or anger on my face, but found me just quietly looking out the window as if none of this concerned me.

Halfway up the mountain, everyone got out to walk.

Suddenly, Sage slipped and cried out, grabbing my wrist—

We both tumbled down the slope together!

"Aria! Sage!"

Kael and the two children rushed down frantically, only to see that Sage had just scraped her palm and was pitifully holding back tears.

Meanwhile, I had hit a rock. My calf was sliced open by a sharp stone, blood instantly soaking through my pants, and my face was ghostly pale.

"I'll take Sage back first." Kael made a quick decision. "Aria, hang in there a bit longer. I'll call the pack warriors to rescue you."

After saying this, he scooped up Sage and left without looking back.

River and Stone hesitated, looking at my bleeding leg, then at Sage in their father's arms, before ultimately following them.

I lay on the cold mountainside, watching their figures disappear into the night.

I waited all night.

No one came back.

At dawn, I gritted my teeth and dragged my injured leg, crawling bit by bit up to the road.

I flagged down a car, went to the hospital to bandage my wound myself, then headed straight to the Alpha Council.

When the mate bond severance certificate was handed to me, I looked at the gold lettering and actually felt relieved.

When I returned to the mansion, it was empty. Kael and the others were still at the hospital with Sage for her "comprehensive examination."

I placed Kael's copy of the severance certificate on the coffee table, next to a note:

【I'm gone. Don't bother looking for me. I don't want any of you anymore.】

Then I picked up my pre-packed suitcase and left without looking back—escaping the cage that had trapped me for five years.

Behind me, the morning sun was rising, and ahead of me—

Was a brand new life without Kael, River, or Stone.