C02
Finally, I said the words I’d been rehearsing for days, “Alpha, as you wish I’m going to sever–I’m leaving.”
I almost slipped, almost blurted out that I wanted to sever our bond. But I held back. After all, we only had a rushed mateship
ceremony. We weren’t even officially married–just the ceremony to honor our bond, and nothing more. There was no love, no commitment beyond the bare minimum. Just a hollow connection, one that had never truly been forged in the first place,
The Alpha didn’t even look up, his focus still on Ophelia, as if I was a nuisance disrupting his perfect world. “What? Changing your tactics now?” His voice was cold, dismissive. “You think you can’t threaten me with your son anymore, so now you’re using yourself as leverage?”
His words hit me like a slap to the face. A year ago, Kylo had fallen ill with an untreatable disease. His weak heart, his lack of
healing abilities–everything pointed to a grim future. He was just a child, too fragile to shift, too weak to connect with his wolf. His life hung by a thread, and I had watched in helpless agony as he slipped further away, longing for a glimpse of his father that never came.
Caspian had never visited him, never showed an ounce of concern. To him, I was using Kylo, our son, to gain sympathy, to
manipulate him. After a decade of life together, this was how little he thought of me, of our family
I wiped away the tears that threatened to fall, forcing myself to stay strong “Think what you want, Alpha. I’m leaving.”
I turned, ready to drag my luggage out the door, but Ophelia’s voice suddenly sounded. “Alpha, didn’t you plan to take Kylo to the
ocean? You didn’t cancel that for the mountain trip with me, did you? Claire is upset….
Caspian’s soothing response was like salt in a fresh wound. “Don’t worry, I know my priorities. We can go to the ocean anytime, but
once the snow melts in the mountains, it’ll be a long time before we can see it again”
I scoffed coldly, the sound bitter and filled with years of pent–up resentment. How could he be so blind, so oblivious to the pain
he’d caused? He didn’t know–he couldn’t know–that there was no next time, no next month for Kylo.
Ignoring them both, I dragged my suitcase out, each step heavier than the last. But Caspian wasn’t done with me. He rushed
forward and grabbed my hand, his frustration palpable. “It’s the middle of the night, Claire. You really think this is necessary? Missing
trip to the ocean–Kylo can wait. Why are you crying over something so trivial?”
His words were like knives twisting in my heart. He didn’t understand. He couldn’t. He saw my swollen eyes and finally, a flicker of pity crossed his gaze. “Let me clear my schedule next month, and I’ll take Kylo then, okay?”
Next month? How ridiculous. What next month did Kylo have? If only he cared enough about our son, he wouldn’t be saying such
foolish things.
I pulled my hand away, my voice trembling with barely restrained fury. “No need!”
At that moment, Caspian stared at his empty palm, stunned. He had never expected the woman who once clung to him, who had
once loved him so desperately, would now avoid him as if he were a plague. He snapped back to reality and tried to follow, but Ophelia.
always the center of his universe, grabbed his arm.
“Alpha, it’s all my fault,” she said, her voice dripping with false remorse. “Even though I knew Kylo was faking his illness, I shouldn’t
have competed with a child for your attention. Now it’s made Claire angry at me.”
Faking… faking his illness?
My mind went blank, the world tilting on its axis. By the time I regained my senses, I had already slapped Ophelia across the fax
My sister stumbled back, her hand flying to her cheek, eyes wide with shock. But I didn’t care. My hand still tingled from the
impact, but it wasn’t enough–not nearly enough to ease the raging storm inside me
3.05 PM c d
