Chapter 4

“I wanna study arts,” Myla smiled at him.

Alphonse abruptly stood up.

“Did Noah put you up to this?” he asked, his voice booming like thunder.

Myla blinked; this was the first time he had raised his voice in her presence.

‘Is he mad at me?’ she wondered.

“I’m sorry, my daughter. It’s just so sudden. What’s the actual reason you’re leaving?” Alphonse inquired, his tone now patient and understanding.

‘I swear if he interrupts us one more time, I’ll -’

“I know you got your wolf very early today; is your wolf begging for liberation?” Alphonse interrupted her thought process yet again.

She couldn’t explain it, but she felt like she had to hold her wolf back from yelling her mind at her father. So it was her wolf that made her fight back!

“Alex is my mate, but he’s seeing my enemy, and he’s mean, and I hate him,” Myla nearly broke down, but she held herself high in front of Alex’s father.

The man gasped. He was disappointed in his son. The boy had just fumbled one of the best things that could happen in his life. But there was nothing he could do. He couldn’t keep her against her will.

“I’ll get you a ticket in the next few days,” he sighed.

“Thank you, Daddy,” Myla said and hugged him.

Alphonse smiled brokenly. This was the first time she was calling him that. It warmed his heart and also broke it. The little girl he had grown to love was leaving him.

 Alphonse sat down in wait for his son. The boy got home looking angry and lost.

“What’s wrong, Al?” Alphonse asked.

“Why wasn’t Myla in school today?” Alex growled, his frustration evident.

Alphonse struggled to contain his anger, resisting the urge to lash at the wall or confront his son directly.

“She’s leaving Moon Stone,” he stated flatly, dropping the bombshell.

Alex’s disbelief was palpable. “What!?” he exclaimed, shocked by the revelation.

“SHES. LEAVING. MOON STONE! Because of you! Her mate is going around town with other women,” Alphonse emphasized, frustrated by his son’s actions.

“What?”

Alphonse realized he needed to teach his son better vocabulary to handle such situations. He knew Alex had feelings for Myla, but he couldn’t comprehend where the sudden hatred came from.

Alex was grappling with the news. He realized he had gone too far in seeking Myla’s attention. He had her attention now, but at what cost? He was determined to make amends.

“Father, I’ll make her stay,” Alex growled, his resolve firm. Alphonse furrowed his brows, unsure of Alex’s intentions.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, I’m very sure. Can you call her down? I’m ready to lay my heart down for her to see,” Alex softened, showing his determination to make things right.

Alphonse couldn’t resist such a heartfelt conviction. He sighed and headed upstairs to talk to Myla, knowing he needed to mediate the situation.

‘New York would be so cool; we might even see Noah,’ Myla thought as she lay on her bed, excited about the possibilities.

‘Aren’t we going to study?’ her wolf playfully teased.

‘Excuse me, the study of handsome men is just as if not even more importa-’

Her thoughts were interrupted again by her father’s voice from outside her room.

“Come downstairs soon, Myla. Someone wants to wish you a happy birthday,” Alphonse announced.

Well, at least he didn’t barge in. Curious, Myla wondered who it could be.

Meanwhile, Alex was getting ready to confess his feelings. He had kept them hidden for so long, but he couldn’t let her leave without letting her know.

Suddenly, the atmosphere felt different. He felt suspicious as Hailey entered the scene, and his fury was ignited.

She was the reason he almost lost Myla. Determined to ignore her, he rehearsed what he would say to Myla.

Seeing Alex’s reaction, Hailey started making strange snapping sounds with her fingers, trying to get his attention.

Ignoring her, he kept his focus. Then, she began chanting, and his wolf reacted, leaving him feeling helpless, no longer in control of his body.

Hailey smirked, benefiting from her mixed witch lineage. She heard Myla’s footsteps approaching, and the timing couldn’t be better. She raised her influence and kissed him, determined to ensure Myla lost everything.

Myla stepped downstairs, her curiosity piqued by the surprise. Who could it be?

She spotted Alex and Hailey in a liplock as she approached the clearing. AGAIN?!!! She felt insulted; was this what Alphonse wanted her to witness?

Alphonse descended the stairs, intending to assist his son with his confession, but he was met with the sight of Alex with the same person Myla had complained about.

Roaring in anger, Alphonse was baffled by Alex’s obliviousness. What was wrong with this boy?

Turning to his left, he noticed that Myla had already retreated to her room. She was probably preparing to leave, packing up her things. There was nothing he could do now. His son had ruined everything, and frankly, given Alex’s behavior, Alphonse wasn’t inclined to support him.

He let out a sigh and began ascending the stairs again. Opening the door to Myla’s room, he expected to find her in tears.

To his surprise, he saw a determination in her eyes. Yes, her eyes were red from crying, but she had the fierce look of a warrior prepared to face battles in her eyes. He lingered at the door, admiring the woman she had become, far from the little girl he once knew.

Her wolf seemed calm too. It must have been torture for her, watching her mate bond crack until it was held by a single thread that the wind could blow away.

He booked a ticket for her, a small gesture for all she had been through. Walking into her room, he discussed the move and everything else with his daughter.

This was her moment. She was rising like a dragon, embracing her true identity.

On the day of her flight, Myla felt extremely nervous. She had only seen New York through the lenses of I*******m and novels that portrayed the city as paradise.

She wasn’t naive; she knew it wouldn’t be exactly as she saw in her books. She understood that the I*******m pictures were edited, but it was still infinitely better than the place where she couldn’t breathe, where she couldn’t live life as she truly wanted to, always looking out for others at the expense of herself.

Someone else would take the reins; it was time for her to live as Myla Reigns.

Most people might have expected her to adopt her foster father’s last name, but she honored her birth father by retaining his name. Though they were gone, their memory remained, shaping her journey ahead.

Alphonse had to fight back tears as he bid his only daughter farewell. He accompanied her to the airport, sharing a touching moment just before her plane was set to take off.

She had never been on a plane before. Would she enjoy the experience? Or would she hate it? She was about to find out.

Boarding the plane, she said her goodbyes, reflecting on the memories—though most were bittersweet, they were still better than nothing.

Farewell to the only one friend she had, a guy who preferred to be called “creampuff.” Despite his quirks, she’d miss him a little.

Goodbye to those early morning wake-up calls. She wouldn’t miss those for a second. Those mornings felt like they were taking years off her life.

Farewell to Alphonse, at least for a while, because he’d undoubtedly make sure to keep an eye on her, being the overprotective parent he was.

As for Alex, she had nothing to say about him. Thinking about him was too painful; she feared she might break down.

The plane ride was awful; the altitude felt like a roller coaster wreaking havoc on her insides. She groaned, aware it was a gross description of her feelings.

She landed two hours later, and her first stop was Starbucks, a spot always hyped on I*******m. However, it didn’t seem as special as expected. The coffee she ground herself tasted far better, but the aesthetic of Starbucks was hard to resist.

Alphonse had booked a hotel for her, so she’d stay there until she found her bearings. She took several selfies and posted them on her somewhat inactive I*******m page, receiving a quick like from Alphonse.

Luggage-free, she wandered around, taking in the surroundings. She noticed people lounging about in their wolf forms, and the vampires were dressed in protective clothing, obviously trying to avoid burning in the sun.

Suddenly, a warm feeling washed over her for about three seconds, leaving her pleasantly puzzled.

‘What was that? It was so satisfying,’ she asked her wolf.

‘I know what you know, and you don’t know, so...’ her wolf trailed off, leaving her curious.

She caught the most delicious scent that had ever graced her nose and tried to follow it, weaving through the crowd without bumping into anyone. Unfortunately, the wind carried the scent away.

She sighed and retraced her steps, only to accidentally bump into someone, spilling their drink. A brown stain marred their shirt.

She immediately began apologizing profusely, knowing she had to make things right. The man before her exuded irrepressible alpha vibes, making her wary of looking directly at him.

He remained silent, likely seething with anger. Maybe he was too hot-headed to speak.

“I’m sorry, I... I didn’t look where I was going and spilled the drink on you. I... I can... buy it back?” She was stumbling over her words.

“It’s okay, pretty lady,” a deep, silky smooth voice reassured her.

Wait, did she hear right? Dare she raise her head? What if it wasn’t him? What if it was an angry alpha, and she was already making enemies in New York?

The Alpha chuckled, the sound like a cozy blanket on a cold day.

“I said, it’s okay, pretty lady.”

That confirmed it for her. She lifted her head, and there he was, unmistakably Noah!