4

Kiara

Jake’s call came as soon as I expected.

“I’ll be waiting for you at my house at 10 a.m. to end this bond. We’ll do it in front of the pack.”

I didn’t want to go. I didn’t want to face the humiliation of my ex-husband, but I had to. My flight was leaving that afternoon. I needed to get away from this city. There was nothing left for me here.

Hanna, my older sister, was waiting for me at her home in Connecticut and had offered me a place to stay.

I had savings.”I’d worked for Jake’s company when we were married and earned my salary month by month. After the divorce, I was left without a husband, without a home, and without a job. Jake hadn’t taken those things from me, but I didn’t want to remain part of that world. Not anymore.

In Connecticut, I would have to start over. A new life, far from the luxuries I had been used to.

I took a taxi to Jake’s house because I no longer had my driver. He was on Jake’s payroll, and Jake was no longer going to pay him for me.

When I arrived, the huge house felt strange, yet somehow familiar. There were so many memories there, but it no longer felt like mine.

To my misfortune, Irina was the one who opened the door when I knocked.

“We were expecting you,” she smiled, stepping aside to let me in.

“You must be enjoying this, Irina,” I glared at her. “But one day your little show will be over, and he’ll find out the truth about you.”

She only smiled. My words didn’t affect her.

Jake came out of his office. My heart felt as if a dagger had pierced through it. Irina walked toward him, took his hand, and kissed his cheek. Jake turned his back on me and walked toward the backyard.

“This way, Kiara,” he said.

With a knot in my stomach and nausea threatening again, I dragged my heels toward the yard. The whole pack was there, watching me. I swallowed hard.

“Let’s make this quick,” I said.

“I, Jake Dallas, reject you, Kiara Wells, as my Luna. I renounce our bond forever.”

Jake spoke without hesitation. I had to do the same.

“I, Kiara Wells, accept to renounce our bond forever,” I replied.

Jake parted his lips slightly, staring at me coldly. But there was something different in his eyes this time. He looked surprised.

“Did you really expect me to beg for you or refuse to end the bond?” I said in front of everyone and turned around.

I wasn’t planning to stay there a second longer. I walked back into the house. A sharp headache hit me. The rejection was beginning to trigger its unpleasant and painful symptoms. I closed my eyes, feeling my vision blur.

I went home devastated, packed my suitcases, and headed for the airport. I didn’t know if I would ever return to California, but I hoped I wouldn’t have to. There was nothing left for me there. Everything that mattered was gone.

Thomas took me to the airport that afternoon. He was kind enough to accompany me to catch the plane.

“Promise me you won’t tell anyone, please,” I asked again. “My plan is never to come back. I don’t want Jake to know. I already told you.”

“Yeah, Kiara, but this isn’t right. Your kids will ask about their father someday. What will you tell them?”

“I don’t know yet,” I said, looking away.

“Think about it for a second,” he urged. “Jake might have acted like an idiot, but he would never leave you alone with two kids.”

“I won’t raise my children with his help while my sister is their stepmother.”

Was I being selfish?

To be honest, Thomas was right. What would I tell my children when they asked about their father?

“At least tell me how the pregnancy is going. I’m their uncle. I want to know how they’re doing.”

“It’s better if we don’t talk anymore,” I decided, looking him in the eyes.

Thomas stared at me, confused. He didn’t understand my decision or want to accept it, but he said nothing more.

My flight announcement echoed through the airport. I picked up my suitcase.

“The plane’s boarding. I have to go, Thomas.”

“I’ll travel with you to take care of you,” he offered.

I looked at him like he’d lost his mind.

“Are you crazy? No.”

“I can’t let you go alone and pregnant. My conscience won’t let me. After everything my brother did to you, I feel responsible and want to be there for you. At least during the pregnancy.”

“That’s insane.”

“I have money. I can do it. One of the family’s companies is in Connecticut. I don’t want to overwhelm you, but I care about what’s happening.”

Traveling with me was madness —something I couldn’t allow— but Thomas seemed determined. Before I even realized it, he had already bought a plane ticket.

A new destination that promised nothing. Moving away didn’t guarantee everything would be fine. But running away was my best option. Staying far from Jake was the only way to keep him from finding out about our children.

I took the secret with me, along with my bleeding heart.