Chapter 4：Goodbye

Corie POV:

The cab was just pulling up near Linda's place when I spotted her waiting in the distance.

"Corie, are you okay?"

The moment I stepped out, she rushed over and pulled me into a tight embrace.

"I'm fine. Don't make me out to be that fragile."

She drew back half a step, pressing her palm against my forehead.

"You're burning up."

I offered a pale smile. "Just a fever. Nothing to worry about."

The fever was merely a dull dizziness in my head.

It was the raw wounds on my feet—screaming in pain with every single step—that truly tormented me.

Her eyes drifted down to my duffel bag.

"You're leaving?"

"Yeah. Can I leave this bag with you for a bit?"

She took the heavy bag from my hands.

"Where will you go?"

"Not sure yet."

"Are you really ready to leave Kent behind?"

My grip on the strap tightened.

"He and I... are nothing to each other now."

Deep inside, Mia let out a low, mournful howl, and tears pricked the corners of my eyes.

Linda's eyes turned red, too.

"But you've never stepped a foot outside the pack."

I forced a small smile.

"There's a first time for everything. I have to try."

"When are you heading out?"

"Right now."

Linda's house sat on the outer edge of the territory, backing right up against the dense forest.

Word had it that if you cut straight through the woods and kept walking, you would reach neighboring territories or human settlements.

I had no clear destination in mind, only the fierce knowledge that I had to escape.

Taking a cab down the main road wasn't an option—Kent would track me down in minutes.

I couldn't face him again.

Never.

Every look at his face dragged up memories of the Kent who used to love me so fiercely.

Tears spilled down Linda's cheeks.

"But you're sick. Can't you at least wait until the fever breaks?"

I reached up, gently wiping away her tears.

"I don't want to spend another second in a place that doesn't want me."

Right then, her phone vibrated.

Linda's expression froze as she angled the screen toward me.

Kent.

She cleared her throat and turned on the speaker so I could hear.

"Linda, is Corie with you?"

"No, Alpha."

"Has she called you?"

"No."

Silence heavy with tension stretched across the line.

"Do you know the consequences of lying to me?" his voice cut through, ice-cold.

Linda's brow furrowed, her tone turning rigid.

"Alpha, Corie is her own person."

"She is still part of this pack."

A ripple of fear crossed Linda's face; she hesitated for a beat.

"If I hear from her, I'll let you know."

Kent maintained that same arrogant, condescending Alpha authority.

"You better."

The moment the call ended, Linda nearly slammed her phone onto the pavement in a rage.

"Bastard! He's a total, complete bastard!"

Before last night, Kent had treated Linda like a friend. He had never once spoken to her in that frigid, dictatorial tone.

I reached out and caught her trembling hands.

"Don't. He isn't worth your anger."

She choked back a sob. "How could he do this to you? You two were so good together..."

Yeah, we really were that good together once.

Three years ago, he broke his leg during field training and ended up at the Healer’s Center, where we first met.

Back then, Kent was the one who stood by my side when everyone else tore me down.

He was the one who whispered that I never needed to prove myself to anyone.

But last night drew a sharp, cruel line across our history.

Last night, I made the agonizing discovery—

The Kent I loved no longer existed.

I pulled Linda into a tight hug, tears welling in my eyes.

"Let it go. It’s all in the past now."

Deep down, though, I knew this was a scar neither of us could ever erase.

Linda wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. "Wait right here—"

She darted back inside, returning seconds later to press a small box into my palms.

"These are fever meds. If you really can't take it out there, come back. My door is always open for you."

She fought back her tears, forcing a fragile smile.

A heavy ache rose in my throat.

"Thank you, Linda. You're the only reason I care about leaving this place."

I squeezed her hands. "Don't worry about me. I can take care of myself."

She wiped her tears dry and gave me a gentle push.

"Go on, hurry. Before he tracks you down."

I took a few steps forward, then paused to glance back at her.

"Linda..." My throat was so tight I could barely squeeze out her name.

Inside my chest, Mia whined in pathetic grief.

Linda kept brushing away her tears. "Just go. As far as you can."

I turned away and headed toward the dense forest edge just ahead.

"Once you settle down, remember to let me know—"

With tears streaming down my face, I waved a hand over my shoulder, not daring to turn back.

I was terrified that if I looked, I’d lose control and throw myself into her arms, sobbing.

The suffocating grief trapped inside my chest swelled like a tidal wave.

In all my twenty years, I had never felt this utterly alone.

Goodbye, I whispered in my heart.

A goodbye meant strictly for Linda.