Chapter 11

Lucien came to see me in the fourth week after I left.He emailed me first to ask if I could spare him twenty minutes.I chose the cafe from across the bookstore.He came without any guards that day. He had on a dark gray coat, and he had grown so thin that there was a gap around his collar.When he saw me, he instinctively stood up.I stopped walking too.There was no greeting between us.I didn't feel any warmth from my mark, and I felt no emotions flooding into me from him. My wolf didn't even react.He seemed more uncomfortable than I was. His fingers pressed hard against the edge of the table. "Are you feeling better?""Still recovering," I said.He nodded and placed a folder on the table."I've sorted out your belongings from the house. Just tell me where you'd like them sent, and I'll arrange for someone to deliver them."I glanced at the inventory.He had even listed the notes I'd left on the refrigerator and the cups I'd used."You don't need to send the cups. Ju

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Chapter 12

Kayla came sooner than I'd expected.Three days later, she walked into the bookstore pushing a stroller. A caregiver followed her from behind.She seemed to have recovered well, but the moment she saw me, her eyes welled up with tears. "Can we talk, Erin?"I glanced at the sleeping Noah and gestured toward the seats by the window.The caregiver stayed on the other side and adjusted the blanket around Noah.Kayla placed her phone on the table. "Lucien won't answer my personal calls anymore. Mom and Dad have moved back home too. Now, whenever they mention you, they act as if everything is my fault."I closed the book in my hands. "So?""Could you tell them that you didn't leave because of me?"I looked at her.She tightened her grip on her bag strap and added, "At least Noah hasn't done anything wrong.""I've never said he did anything wrong."She pursed her lips. "But now they barely want to hold him. Mom cries whenever she hears his name, and Lucien even–""You can give him

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Chapter 13

Two days later, Mia showed me something on her phone.Someone had shared a long post Kayla had published on Silverpine Pack's social media page.She hadn't mentioned my name. She only wrote about a shewolf who had lost her mate and was now being treated as if even accepting help were a mistake.The accompanying photos showed Daniel's old coat and a pup's tiny hand.Some people offered her comfort. Others recognized the house in the background.Before long, the comments began mentioning me.Some accused me of being jealous of a newborn pup. Others claimed I couldn't accept my pup's death and was taking my anger out on everyone else.Kayla didn't correct any of them.She replied with a single sentence.[I hope my sister can move on soon.]I stared at those words and suddenly recalled all the countless nights before I left.Whenever I stayed silent, they took it upon themselves to interpret my thoughts.Whenever I cried or showed my grief, they said I hadn't gotten over the pa

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Chapter 14

Ella told me the results of her performance review two months later.The healer's den had investigated the emergency treatment that night and found no evidence that she'd delayed my care.However, she'd shared photos of my pregnancy journal with someone else without my permission and had advised me to suppress my grief based on an assessment she'd made without proper evaluation.Both were included in the corrective measures she was required to complete.She temporarily stepped away from her previous family care duties and began working under supervision.She sent me the full report without presenting the disciplinary measures as proof that she was making amends to me.She only asked at the end of her email whether I'd let her return an old photo album.I agreed to have her send it.The album contained pictures from our school days.We were both wearing faded uniforms, squeezed together outside the library, and each holding half a sandwich.We'd been poor back then, but neithe

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Chapter 15

When the first snow of winter fell, Lucien sent me a list.The things I'd asked him to keep in the house had all been packed away as requested.He asked whether I wanted to select the items myself or have a third party sort through them and send them to me.I chose the latter.Three days later, the boxes arrived at the bookstore.I waited until closing time to open them. Martha sat beside me and asked if I wanted her to stay.I said yes.Inside were tiny clothes, an old musical crib mobile, and the blueprint for the little house by the sea.The blueprint hadn't been on the list of things I'd asked him to send.I turned it over and found a note from Lucien on the back.[This blueprint belongs to you. The house won't be built according to my plans anymore. You don't have to come back for it.]His handwriting had always been steady, but several words in those few lines had been crossed out and rewritten.At the bottom, he asked whether he could add a bench next to Ian's tombst

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Chapter 16

A year after leaving Silverpine Pack, I took over the bookstore's weekend events and half of the book selection work.Martha began giving herself a few days off every month to take walks in nearby towns.When she handed me the spare key, she joked that if she didn't start taking breaks, people would think she'd hired me just to keep her company.I hung the key behind the counter and helped Mia move the chairs in the storytelling area.That afternoon, we were holding a reading session for pups in foster care.Not every pup wanted to hear stories about finding their biological parents.I chose a different book. It was one about a young fox who moved into a new apartment and gradually learned to get to know the neighbors.Halfway through the story, a little girl raised her hand. "If you're unhappy in your new home, can you leave again?"I closed the book and looked at her seriously. "You can start by telling the adults who take care of you what makes you unhappy. You don't have to

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Semua Bab No Longer His Luna After Midnight: Bab 11 - Bab 16

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16