A Month To Say Goodbye

ERYN

“Eryn…” Kael’s voice trailed off. I turned to look at him. I’d known Beta Kael long before I met Torren, and I understood that look in his eyes. Worry mixed with pity.

“Kael, I’m fine,” I said simply. Or as fine as I’d ever be. I pushed open the door.

“You’re here,” Torren muttered.

My eyes flicked to Saela and her sister, Annika, sitting nearby. Annika’s stare locked on me like I was something she’d scrape off her shoe.

“Where’s the agreement? I want to add something to that clause. You’ll be a good father to Niko until after his first shift,” I said, voice steady.

“You came. Such a pick-me,” Annika scoffed. “Look at you, clinging to the Alpha. Still pretending he loves you?”

I clenched my jaw as I spotted the divorce agreement on the table. She really thought I came here to beg him not to leave me.

Pathetic. I was done begging.

“You bitch! You’re just here to cling to the Alpha, like always,” Annika hissed, pointing at me as she stood up. “If it weren’t for you, Torren and my sister wouldn’t have all these misunderstandings.”

“That’s okay. It’s probably all my fault,” Saela murmured, tugging her sister back down. Her red-rimmed eyes looked like she was about to cry again.

Always the victim.

I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from saying something worse — or worse yet, crying.

“Alpha, don’t be fooled by those watery eyes. She’s a conniving bitch. I know she’s here to plead. Don’t let her fool you,” Annika snapped.

“Enough!” Torren finally barked, slamming his hand on the table. For a second, I almost thought he’d defend me.

“You’d better mean the divorce this time, Eryn. I won’t stop you from caring for Niko, but I need a timeline. How long until you’re gone?” he asked.

“No more than a month,” I said.

He nodded.

One month.

In one month, my son would be dead.

And yet here his father sat, talking about timelines. Like it was a meeting agenda.

I stepped forward, picked up the divorce agreement, and skimmed through it.

“Great.” I signed my name.

“Just so you know, the contract becomes void if you don’t go on that trip with Niko.”

He nodded and I walked out the door while the expression on their faces remained priceless.

I was through being a placeholder. If Torren no longer saw a wife in me, I’d stop acting like one. Technically, I wasn’t married anymore.

I was packing some of Niko’s things that night. My palms were sweaty. My chest ached in waves.

What if Torren didn’t show up tomorrow, like always?

“Mom, is Dad really coming with us tomorrow?” Niko asked. His blurry hazel eyes glistened in the moon light and I let out a tired sigh.

“Of course he will. You know he loves you. He’s just busy. But ever since I told him you’re going to shift soon, he’s thrilled. He wants to help you through it.”

“Okay, Mommy.” His eyes were so full of hope.

I bit back the tears threatening to fall. He didn’t need to see my pain.

“Mommy?” Niko called again, his little voice soft.

“If I’m sick, don’t tell Daddy. I just want him to enjoy our camping trip.”

I turned away, my back to him, my hands stuck in the middle of folding his blanket.

As soon as I heard him say that, the tears slipped down my face.

He was too good for this. Too sweet. Too soft. A heart that big… this world would just eat him alive.

“Mom?” he called again when I didn’t answer.

“All right,” I murmured under my breath.

He probably knew I was lying. But if what he wanted was hope, a happy family, I’d give him that.

Sunday morning came fast. When the doorbell finally rang, I let out a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding.

Niko ran to the door and swung it wide, smiling so big I almost believed this day could be perfect.

“Dad! You came!”

I couldn’t hold back the resentment bubbling up. Torren gave Niko so little — a father who shows up once a month? And now he was here just to tick a box?

I packed our things into the car without saying a word. Neither did Torren.

We got on the road.

“Dad, have some tacos. Mom makes the best ones,” Niko said, holding out his lunch pack from the back seat. I caught the way Torren’s eyes narrowed.

“No, you go ahead. I’m full.”

It had always been like this. He never let his guard down around me. Like I’d drug him if I had the chance.

He always thought our marriage was a trap.

I was done explaining.

We found a good spot in the forest and pitched the tent. Niko ran around squealing, chasing bugs, like this was the best day of his life.

I sat on a log and just watched him, trying to memorize every sound, every smile.

The sunlight in his hair, the way he giggled when he fell. I wanted to hold on to all of it.

“Mom, Dad… can I see your wolves?”

My heart stuttered.

Our wolves were so in love, unlike us.

I didn’t want to see that. I didn’t want to watch Nyx’s heart break, too.

“Please?”

I managed a smile. “All right.”

Torren and I stepped away behind the trees to shift. I started unbuttoning my coat.

He leaned in close. “I’m only doing this for the boy. Keep your wolf, Nyx, in check. Stop lying to Maddox that we’re mated.”

I almost laughed. After all these years, he still thought it was about him.

“I’ve never lied. And I’m done trying to make you see reason. If you don’t want Nyx to care for Maddox, then tell him to reject her properly. I’m not the only one holding on.”

I was divorced now. No longer his trophy. He could take his pride and choke on it.

I shifted. Bones cracked, joints moved.

Nyx emerged — midnight black with a white streak down her snout. Small, but proud.

Torren shifted too. Maddox stood tall beside her, regal ash-grey fur, stormy eyes. Calm. Steady. Watching everything. Especially me.

Nyx padded over and brushed her fur along his side. They touched noses.

They looked perfect together, lethal and beautiful.

We could’ve been something. If only we’d been in love.

Nyx licked his shoulder, then nudged Niko’s cheek.

Niko giggled, scratching an itch, then snuggled safely between the two wolves.

Maddox didn’t pull away. Like Torren, he was steady and warm.

Nyx pressed closer, purring in that low rumble wolves make when they find home.

Then Torren’s phone rang. Maddox froze, ears flicking, then he shifted back instantly — like all that connection never existed. He yanked on his clothes, voice clipped.

“You two carry on. I have somewhere to be.”

He was already grabbing his keys.

I watched in horror as Niko’s smile faded. The stick he’d been playing with fell from his hand into the dirt.

“But…” Niko’s tiny voice trailed off. He didn’t finish the question.