Decisions

~ DAHLIA

Dawn came, steadily and peacefully.

Zayden ignored me as he came back into the room to have his bath and get dressed up, but I didn't care about him or his attitude.

I had a plan in mind now, and I had to carry it out to perfection.

As soon as he left the house to wherever he was going to —probably the company — I quickly took my bath and dressed up too.

With my heart pounding with a mixture of excitement and anticipation, maybe a little bit of fear too, I locked the door behind me and left.

The call I had with Derek a few hours ago was still buzzing in my mind, and as I hailed a cab, I thumbed through my phone for the number of the agent I would be meeting with.

I had spoken to the woman after calling Derek, and she agreed to meet me today. I gave the cab driver the direction of the restaurant where we were supposed to meet, and as he drove, I had to twist my fingers together to avoid them from shaking.

A few days to go. Then I would walk out of the Pack house, away from Zayden and Edda, and the Luna title. A few days until my freedom. I could almost taste my impending independence on the air, and my eyes pricked with tears at the thought of going back to my children.

Within a few minutes, the cab driver stopped before a small, cozy restaurant. I paid him and got out of the car, taking a deep breath before I walked into the restaurant.

I didn't recognise the agent, but since I was early, I knew she wasn't here yet. So I grabbed a table, ordered a cup of coffee, and waited for her.

I recognised her the instant she walked in. Maybe it was because she carried herself with so much grace and fluidity, or maybe it was because her eyes immediately started roving around the room as soon as she walked in.

Either way, as soon as I confirmed that she was the agent, we got down to business.

The agent passed me a tab, showing me pictures after pictures of houses. The more I looked though, the more I was convinced of what I wanted for my kids. Something low-key, that would not draw too much attention. Seeing as the house would not be far from Zayden’s pack house, I had to make sure that no one would look too long at whatever house I ended up buying for my kids.

After three cups of coffee and a long look at the agent's house catalogue, I eventually chose a house. It was beautiful, looked comfortable, and had a garden right behind it.

“Do you have enough time to go and look at the house right now? It's actually just a few blocks from here,” the agent suggested.

I glanced at the time, relieved to see that it was just past noon. Zayden wouldn't be back home yet.

“Sure. I would like that very much.”

We made our way out of the restaurant, and walked down to the house. It was even more beautiful in reality, and a wide smile spread across my face as I looked around.

My kids were going to like it.

Without wasting time, I paid for the house, and thanked the agent. As soon as she left, my cell phone rang.

It was Derek.

“Hey, Dee. What's up? Are you guys on your way to the airport?” I asked.

Derek was not happy about the fact that I insisted they fly in today, but I would make it up to him. He only had to stay long enough for me to find a nanny, and he would be free to fly back and take care of his loose ends.

“Come on, Dahlia. Our plane isn't until tonight. It's not even close yet.”

I let out an anxious laugh.

“Sorry. I just can't wait to see you guys.”

“Have you gotten an apartment yet?” he asked.

I looked around at the house before I responded. “Yeah. Came fully furnished too. I think you guys are going to like it.”

“I hope so too,” he said, paused for a while and then said, “You sure about this, Dahlia?”

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes.

“I am. I have never been more sure about anything.”

The call ended. It was time to go back home. As I left the apartment, I patted myself on the back mentally.

This was the right decision to make.

***

~ZAYDEN

To say I was pissed was an understatement.

I was in a fucking shitty mood. The fight I had with Dahlia circled around in my brain, and no matter how much I tried to shut down the thoughts, I was unable to.

How could she? How could Dahlia want to reject me?

We were mates. It took a lot out of my pride to make her get married to me, and she just wanted to ruin my hard work at keeping the marriage together by leaving?

Was that how much she hated me?

The thought rankled me more than I wanted it to. I needed to find a way to stop her. A way to let her know that I was never letting her go. Never.

My phone buzzed, and I glanced at it irritatedly before picking it up. Edda was calling me, and for the first time in a while, I wasn't willing to talk to my best friend.

I picked the call though.

“Hey.”

“Hey, baby. How're you?” she crooned. I felt a surge of irritation in my blood at her words.

“I'm busy, Edda. Why are you calling me?” I quipped.

“You’re at the company, right? I was just wondering if you would like to have lunch with me,” she stated.

I pinched the bridge of my nose.

“I am busy, Edda. Maybe another time.”

“But…I miss you and you've been ignoring my…” Without waiting for her to finish the sentence, I hung up. I wasn't in the mood to deal with her, not when all I could think about was my wife.

The day passed in a blur, and all of a sudden it was time for me to go home. My nerves were slightly jittery at the thought of going back home to meet Dahlia, but a part of me also could not wait.

Maybe she would have forgotten about the fight. Maybe she wouldn't remember the condition I gave her.

She ought to have let it all go, right?

I held that thought close to my chest as I drove home, and by the time I opened the front door, I had managed to convince myself that Dahlia would have conveniently forgotten about everything.

But as soon as I closed the door behind me, I came face to face with my mate. She stood up to face me, and there was a slight smile on her face as she spoke.

“I have invited the elders to the pack house tomorrow, the rejection would be done just the way you want it.”

My jaw dropped open, and surprise slammed into me like a wave.

She really was going to go through with the divorce?