He Chose Her for the Third Time, and I Walked Away のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 1 - チャプター 10

Serena’s POVToday was the third time Kael and I were supposed to complete our marking ceremony. This time, I only invited a few pack members, because I couldn’t bear another public humiliation.I had been nauseous and feverish since yesterday, but I refused to let it ruin today. This was the day of my mating ceremony, and afterward, I would finally tell Kael about the pup.I touched my stomach through the white ceremony dress and smiled despite the nausea.Elder Miriam was arranging the sacred herbs on the altar. My best friend, Claire, kept glancing around, watching for Kael. The few pack members I had invited sat quietly, waiting.It was almost thirty minutes to the ceremony, and I hadn’t seen Kael yet.My phone buzzed. Finally.But it wasn’t Kael. It was his beta, Derek.— Derek: Serena, Kael’s at the pack clinic with Lyra. She collapsed with a high fever. He said to start without him, he’ll be there soon.My hands trembled holding the phone. He wanted me to start without him, at o

Serena’s POVWhen I got back to the house, I immediately went to the bedroom and pulled out my bag from the closet.I didn’t have much to pack. Six years in this pack, and I had accumulated so little.I had given up everything for Kael. I had given up my title, my inheritance, my future, and somehow I had ended up with almost nothing to show for it.As I folded a sweater, my eyes caught the framed photograph sitting on the nightstand. It was from our first year together. Kael and I stood in front of the pack house, his arm around my waist, both of us smiling at the camera.I was wearing the Luna necklace in that picture.My hand instinctively moved to my bare throat, touching the empty space where the necklace should have been.My chest tightened painfully as the memory flashed through my mind.The second postponed ceremony was two years ago. After waiting for several hours, Kael had sent a message saying that Lyra was having a crisis. She had threatened to take her own life because sh

Serena’s POVThree days had passed since I had moved into the guest room. Three days of pretending I didn’t notice when Kael sneaked off at night to go meet Lyra in the master bedroom. Three days of pretending everything was fine.Three more days until I would be free.I was folding the last of my clothes when I heard a soft knock on the guest room door.“Serena? Can I come in?”It was Lyra’s voice.I hesitated, then called out, “It’s open.”The door opened, and Lyra stepped inside with one hand resting protectively on her belly. She smiled at me with that same fragile, helpless smile she always gave Kael.“I wanted to talk to you,” she said softly, closing the door behind her. “I feel like we haven’t had a chance to really connect, and with the pup coming, I thought maybe we could—”“What do you want, Lyra?” I interrupted, not bothering to look up from my packing.She was quiet for a moment, and when I finally glanced at her, I was startled by the change in her expression.The sweet,

Kael's POVI was standing in the clinic hallway, watching through the window as the healer ran another test on Lyra, when a strange feeling washed over me.It was unsettling, like something was wrong, but I couldn’t put my finger on what it was.I pulled out my phone to call Serena to let her know I was aware of the time and that I would definitely be there early today. I had promised her this ceremony would be different, and I meant it.But before I could dial, Lyra’s voice called out from the examination room.“Kael? Please come.” She pleaded.I hesitated, my thumb pausing over Serena’s contact name. The weird feeling in my chest intensified for a moment, like a warning.“Kael?” Lyra called again, her voice sounded more urgent this time.I sighed and pocketed my phone, walking back into the room. “What is it?”Lyra was sitting on the examination table, one hand on her belly. “I want to do one more ultrasound. Just to make sure everything is okay after... after what happened the other

Kael's POVClaire hesitated, then slowly turned her phone screen toward me.There was a message from Serena.My heart jumped as I grabbed the phone from Claire’s hand to read it properly.—-Claire, I’m so sorry I didn’t tell you sooner. I’ve left the pack. I’m done waiting. I’ll let you know where I am once I’m settled, and we can talk then. Please don’t worry about me. I'm fine.The words blurred in front of my eyes.“When did she send this?” I demanded.“Just now,” Claire replied quietly. “I tried calling her immediately, but her phone was already switched off.”I stared at the message, reading it again and again, as if the words would somehow change.I’m done waiting.I’ve left the pack.“No.” The word came out as barely a whisper. “No, that can’t be right.”I shoved the phone back at Claire and pulled out my own, dialing Serena’s number again with shaking fingers.I tried several times, but nothing.“Alpha Kael,” Elder Miriam’s voice cut through my panic. “What’s going on?”I could