Chapter 4

The next morning, Mom was spreading jam on Leah's toast when she asked offhandedly if she should save me some dinner.

I said, "No need."

Dad reminded me to text when I arrived. Then, he lowered his head and went back to reading the news.

Nolan walked over and asked, "Where are you going?"

"Business trip," I said tersely.

He assumed I was still upset and didn't try to persuade me otherwise. He only told me to let him know when I got back.

As the taxi got onto the highway, Leah called. "Dad's hurt! He collapsed in the garage, and he won't respond no matter how much we call his name!"

Dad's distress signal came through immediately afterward. I gripped my seat belt as a dull ache spread through my chest. The driver slowed down and asked if I wanted to turn around.

I didn't answer. Instead, I asked Leah if she'd contacted a healer.

A brief pause followed, then the sound of a chair scraping across the floor.

A few seconds later, Dad said with a laugh, "Looks like she's finally getting smarter."

Leah couldn't hold back her laughter.

Nolan took the phone and said, "Erin, Mr. Holmes is fine. Come home already. Leah's agreed to apologize to you."

I said, "My flight isn't going to wait."

Leah's voice came through loud and clear from the side. "Can't she just change her flight? Does she want to get away from us that badly?"

Nolan didn't respond to her. He only called my name.

I hung up and instructed the driver, "Keep going."

...

The priest had already reviewed the results of my examination and was waiting for me in the shrine's reception room.

He explained one final time that the bond between blood kin was different from a mate bond. Severing the connection wouldn't cause anyone to lose their wolf, but I might feel fatigued for a short time.

After that, I couldn't use the connection to send distress signals, and my family couldn't summon me back through it.

I picked up the pen, but Leah's call came through again. A message popped up on my screen right afterward.

She wrote, "Nolan, should we try it on her one more time?"

She quickly deleted the message.

I signed my name and set my phone on the table, screen down.

The priest guided me through withdrawing the energy that connected me to my family. When the ritual ended, my hands were still a little cold. But for the first time, the ache in my chest had completely disappeared.

Mom started a video call. On the screen, Dad was holding a cup of coffee while Leah repeatedly rubbed the moonstone between her fingers.

"Did you block the connection?" Mom sounded displeased. "If you don't want to come home, just say so. Don't make your family worry about you."

I placed the record confirming the permanent severance of the connection into my bag. The moment Mom read the words on the document, her expression shifted dramatically.

At the same time, a notification popped up on Nolan's phone. He read the notice from the priest and jerked his head up.

He asked, "Erin, why was the mate bond ceremony canceled?"

Mom could no longer hear him. She called out to my wolf desperately, but got no response.

She urged, "Come home first. I can't feel you anymore."

I stood up and pulled my suitcase along. "And you never will again."

The car to the airport was waiting outside. I ended the call and walked out.