Chapter 6

I pause at the door when I hear my name. “Neither,” I hear Kirill groan.

“I thought you liked her,” Baxter says. “Had me thinking you’d make her our Luna.”

“Did you see how proud my father looked when he congratulated her?” He sneers. “Hanging out with her will show him I’m exactly the heir he needs, and when he convinces the council to vote in my favour? I'll reject her.”

“Kirill would never settle for a weak runt. Life isn’t a Cinderella story, Bax.” I hear Kimora say. Every word they say sends a stabbing pain to my chest. “Why would he settle for that trailer trash when he can literally have any girl he wants?”

“She’s nothing special,” Kirill says. “Let’s not talk about her anymore. I’m getting a headache just thinking about her.”

I’ve always known I wasn’t lucky in life, but it was a little unclear to what extent. Until now.

I can’t believe this.

I was so stupid. I let my desperation to be loved cloud my judgment.

His friends take turns speaking ill of me, and when he laughs with them, I can’t take it. I don’t know where I find strength, but I do, and I make a run for the girls’ bathroom. Ruelle catches me at the door. “I’ve been looking for you,” she says, her smile falling when she sees the tears in my eyes. “Althea, what’s wrong?”

“I hate him,” I hiccup, breaking into loud, heavy, uncontrollable sobs that make my knees buckle.

Ruelle sits on the floor with me. “What happened? Who?”

“Kirill,” I cry out, the butterflies I was getting when I said his name now feel like bee stings. “He-he-he—I can’t—why?”

“Calm down,” Ruelle sighs, rubbing her hand over my back. “I can barely understand a word you say. Deep breaths, Thea.”

“He was using me. He said he would keep me until the council made him Alpha and then reject me.”

Ruelle closes her eyes. “That asshole,” she hisses. “He went back to Kimora the moment you weren’t around. I wasn’t going to say anything, but last night, I heard Aston telling my brother that Kirill slept with Kim at the seniors’ last bash.”

“What?” I blink. At Nevan’s house? The very night that he slept with me, he went back to her. He didn’t smell like her, so it was after I left. That’s why he ghosted me. That’s why he hasn’t been around my house lately, because he was with her, his actual choice, and not the mistake that fate forced upon him. “I was falling for him, Rue,” I sniff.

I was truly and wholly giving us a chance despite everything that he’s done to me in the past, and he turned me into another statistic. I let him turn me into just another pregnant shewolf with no future. Maybe if I’d stayed home, I’d never have gotten pregnant, and protection would likely have been involved. I hate that I’m considering having been assaulted by a stranger rather than having sex with my mate. That would’ve hurt less.

God, I hate him. I hate Kirill Volkov.

He said he gave me his heart, and I fell for that line. I reach for the pendant around my neck, and with trembling fingers, I unclasp it. “I’m done,” I sniff, wiping my tears on my sleeve. “Give this back to him.” I hand the necklace to her. “I never want to come face to face with that asshole again.”

“I know you’re upset, Thea, but he isn’t worth it,” she says, a heavy, unspoken ‘I told you so’ audible in her tone. “Why don’t you come with me to lunch, and we can talk about this, okay? We can—”

“No,” I shake my head. “I have been embarrassed enough, Rue. I’m not going to sit here and watch his love story unfold. I won’t be taunted by his cruelty. I have to get out.” I swallow, rising from the floor. Ruelle follows instantly.

“Of what?” She frowns, her eyes searching mine.

“This pack,” I swallow. “I’m leaving,” I tell her. “I have enough money from the awards and congratulatory cheques from Atherton. I can get out.”

“Althea, you're hurt. You need to go home, think this through and then call me, okay? No rushed, angry decisions.”

I nod. “Okay.” I almost whisper, but my choice is already made. I’m packing my bags the moment I get home. I was going to start over at Clawsten Medical University again, but that’s not for another three months. Three months that I don’t have to waste, not when I have another life depending on me.