chapter 4

Chapter 4

Christine

The moment I stepped back into the Kingsley Pack mansion, I realized something painful.

I wasn’t coming home because home was supposed to be the place where you felt safe.

Where you were loved.

Where someone waited for your return.

This place was never my home.

It was a prison disguised as a palace.

A beautiful cage where I had spent four years slowly losing myself.

The car stopped in front of the massive mansion gates.

For a few seconds, I just sat there.

My fingers rested on the door handle, but I couldn’t move.

My eyes stared at the building in front of me.

The place where I had laughed.

The place where I had dreamed.

The place where I had cried more tears than I could count.

Memories attacked me one after another.

The first day I arrived here as Zack’s mate.

The day he held my hand and promised me before the Moon Goddess that I would always be his only Luna.

The day I believed I had finally found my forever.

How foolish I was.

My lips curved into a bitter smile.

Forever.

What a beautiful lie.

“Luna Christine?” The driver’s voice pulled me back.

“Yes?” I blinked.

“Are you sure you want to go inside?”

His question surprised me.

Maybe because he noticed.

Maybe because he saw what everyone else ignored.

The emptiness in my eyes.

I looked at the mansion again. Then I opened the door.

“Yes.” My voice was quiet. “But not for the reason you think.”

I stepped out.

The cold wind touched my face.

My body was still weak.

The doctor had warned me that I needed more rest.

But I couldn’t stay away forever.

Not anymore.

I had to face them.

I had to see the people who watched me suffer.

The people who chose to believe I was lying.

The people who destroyed my life.

My wolf, Lyra, stirred inside me.

Are you ready?

I paused.

No.

I wasn’t.

How could I be?

How could anyone be ready to stand in front of the man who abandoned them?

But something inside me had changed.

Before, I entered this mansion hoping to be loved.

Today…

I entered knowing I deserved better.

“Yes,” I whispered.

“I’m ready.”

The moment I opened the front door, familiar voices reached my ears.

Laughter. Happiness. Warmth.

My steps slowed.

For a moment, I wondered if I had entered the wrong house.

At

Because this was the same place where I had been mourning alone.

Yet inside….They were celebrating.

I walked into the living room. And there they were.

Zack.

Vivienne.

Alpha Robert Kingsley.

Olivia.

And Eva.

A perfect family.

A beautiful picture.

A picture that stabbed my heart.

Zack was sitting on the couch with Eva beside him.

She was laughing as he helped her arrange something on a tablet.

His face softened when he looked at her.

That expression.

That warmth.

I knew it.

Because I spent years begging for it.

Once, I would have given anything to see Zack look at me that way.

Now?

Now it only made me feel empty.

The room suddenly became quiet.

Zack noticed me first.

His eyes widened.

For a second, genuine shock crossed his face.

“Christine?” He stood up slowly. His gaze moved over me.

My pale face. My tired eyes. My thinner body.

The way I walked carefully because my body still carried the pain of losing my child.

Something flickered in his eyes.

Concern?

Guilt?

I almost believed it.

Almost.

Then Olivia spoke. “Christine.” Her voice sounded surprised.

But her eyes were different. Cold and calculating.

“I didn’t know you were coming back today.”

Of course she didn’t.

Why would she care?

I ignored her.

My eyes remained on Zack.

Waiting.

Waiting for him to say something.

Anything.

Maybe: Are you okay?

Maybe: I’m sorry.

Maybe: I was wrong.

But the words never came. Instead, the first thing he said was: “Where have you been?”

My heart sank.

Not: Are you hurt?

Not: How are you feeling?

Not: I’m sorry about our child.

Just: Where have you been?

I stared at him. For years, I thought I knew this man. But I was wrong. I didn’t know him at all.

“I was in the hospital.” My voice was calm.

Everyone froze.

Zack’s expression changed slightly.

“The hospital?”

“Yes.” I nodded.

Silence.

Heavy silence.

Then I continued. “The hospital where I was taken after the fire.”

His face tightened.

I watched him carefully. Waiting for guilt. Waiting for regret.

But before he could say anything, Vivienne scoffed.

“Don’t start this again.”

My eyes moved to her.

Again?

I almost laughed.

She called my pain a performance.

Again.

“You disappeared without informing anyone,” she continued. “You caused chaos during an important event, and now you return acting like a victim.”

My fingers curled.

I felt Lyra growl.

She hurt us.

Yes.

She did.

But I wasn’t ready to unleash my anger yet. Not completely.

I looked back at Zack.

“I was five months pregnant.”

The room froze. Even Olivia’s smile disappeared for a second.

“What?” Zack stared at me.

My throat tightened. “I was pregnant.”

His face changed. Shock. Confusion. Fear. Everything appeared at once.

“I was carrying your child.”

The words echoed through the room. Nobody spoke.

“I was bleeding on the floor.” My voice shook. “I called your name.” A tear slipped down my cheek. “I begged you to save me.”

“Christine…” Zack’s breathing became uneven.

“But you left.” Silence. “You heard me.” My voice broke. “You saw me.”

I stepped closer. “You looked at me, Zack.” His face became pale. “You knew I was dying.” My tears fell harder. “And you still chose to leave.”

Nobody moved.

Nobody breathed.

For the first time… I saw Zack uncomfortable. Because maybe... Maybe he finally understood what he had done.

But then, “She’s lying.” Olivia said.

My heart sank.

Of course.

She stepped forward. Her expression was full of fake sadness.

“Zack, don’t listen to her.” My eyes slowly turned toward her. “She has always wanted your attention.”

My hands shook. “Attention?” I repeated softly.

She nodded.

“She probably hurt herself to make you feel guilty.”

My mouth opened slightly.

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.

I looked at Zack. “Do you believe her?” The question came out quietly.

Painfully quietly.

For a moment… I saw hesitation. But then his expression hardened.

“Christine…”

I already knew.

I already knew the answer.

“You don’t believe me.”

It wasn’t a question. It was a realization.

His silence confirmed it.

Something inside me died.

Not painfully this time but quietly. Like a candle finally losing its flame.

I laughed softly.

A broken laugh.

“I see.”

Zack looked away.

“Christine, you are emotional. You lost a child, and I understand you are hurting...”

“Don’t.” My voice cut through his words. Everyone looked at me. “Don’t pretend you understand my pain.”

My eyes burned. “You don’t.”

I took a deep breath.

Then I said the words that changed everything.

“Alpha Zack Kingsley…” The room became silent. “I want a divorce.”

No one moved.

No one spoke.

Zack looked at me like I had just declared war.

Because maybe I had.

The woman he thought would always stay… Is about to finally walk away.