Chapter 3

When we walked in, I saw Nora sitting in the corner. She was holding her slightly swollen belly, looking unwell. A few women from the Pack sat around her. One gave her water. Another asked how she was feeling.

When she saw Theron, she lowered her head and spoke softly. “Theron, I am sorry to bother you again. I should not have come. But the baby…”

“Do not say that,” Theron said. He let go of my hand and walked toward her. “How can you be alone?”

He took the cup from her and poured her some warm water. The women around them murmured among themselves. They said Nora had been through so much. They said this child was the last blood of the brother. They said Theron was a good man for stepping up.

No one looked at me.

I stood at the door, like a person who did not belong here.

Nora never looked up at me. She did not need to. She just had to sit there, holding her belly, saying the word baby, and everyone would take her side.

I turned and went to the restroom. I splashed cold water on my face. I was about to leave when Nora walked in. The weakness was gone from her face. All of it had been put away like a mask hung on a hook. In their place was something cold and sharp.

“Did you see that?” she said, looking at me. “This child is already the acknowledged heir of the Pack. You are a human. What do you have to compete with me?”

“So what if Theron chose you as his future Luna? He marked me, Elara. Not you. My child is already the rightful heir of this Pack. Your child will never be anything.”

She stepped closer, her voice dropping to a whisper.

“Do you know why? Because you are human. Any child you have with Theron would be a half blood. Not a purebred wolf. The Pack would never accept him. No inheritance. No status. Nothing. Your bloodline ends with you.”

“How long do you think you can stay by his side? Ten years? Twenty? He does not kick you out now because he feels bad for you. Because he remembers that he used to love you, a little, once. But that memory is fading. And when it is gone, you will not even have the right to stand here.”

“Do yourself a favor. Leave. Leave while you still can. While leaving is still your choice.”

I did not say anything. Then she suddenly fell to the floor. Her voice became sharp and high pitched. “Elara, what are you doing? I am carrying a child!”

“Nora!” The door burst open. Theron rushed in.

He shoved me aside and bent down to help Nora up. I lost my balance and hit my back against the sink. The pain made my face go white.

“Theron, do not blame her.” Nora leaned against his chest, her eyes red, her whole body trembling. “I said something wrong. I should not have come here. I just wanted her to understand that the child needs a father. She got angry. It is my fault.”

“I did not touch her,” I said.

Theron looked up at me. His eyes were full of disappointment.

“Elara, Nora is carrying my brother’s child. That child is the only thing he left behind. Why can you not try to understand?”

“I did not touch her,” I said again.

“Then tell me why she is on the floor?”

I looked at Theron. He stood beside Nora, one hand supporting her back, the other holding her wrist.

“I understand,” I said. “The baby is more important. Take her to the hospital first.”

I watched through the window as Theron help Nora into the car. He opened the door for her. He buckled her seatbelt. He did it the way you do for someone you have chosen to protect. I stood in the parking lot and watched them drive away.

Not once did he look back. Not once.

I walked out of the restroom, took out my phone, and changed my flight to an earlier departure.

On the way to the airport, my phone buzzed. It was a message from Theron.

“Elara, Nora got scared. Let me handle things here first. I will come find you. Do not do anything rash.”

I took the SIM card out of my phone and threw it into a trash can by the road.

The boarding announcement came over the speakers. I picked up my bag and walked toward the plane.

Theron. Goodbye forever.