Chapter 005

Ember's POV

"You can't live without me, Ember!" Alpha Thane declared, his voice echoing in the cold, empty space between us.

I clenched my fists, my heart racing in my chest, but I wouldn’t let him see me weak again. I met his eyes, and in a voice steadier than I felt, I shot back, "Watch me."

Without waiting for his response, I turned and stormed out of the house. My footsteps were loud on the wooden floors, but all I could hear was my heartbeat pounding in my ears.

I had just made the man I thought I loved—the man I’d given everything to—reject me. The pain should have been unbearable, but right now, I felt nothing but anger.

As I slammed the door behind me, the cool night air hit my face. I walked quickly, trying to outrun my thoughts, but they followed me like shadows.

I hate him. I hate him, I told myself. I had to hate him now. But deep down, something ached. Thane wasn’t just my Alpha. He had been my husband, my partner, my everything.

But now, I guess that was over. That life was gone.

My feet hit the dirt path that led to Doctor Caleb’s home, the only place I felt safe now. But then, as if the Moon Goddess herself shared my misery, the rain began to fall.

It wasn’t a soft drizzle but a heavy downpour, soaking me instantly. I kept walking, though. The rain was cold, almost biting, but it felt right. It matched the storm inside me.

With each step, the memories of him came flooding back. Thane and I used to walk this same path together.

We’d laugh, talk about our future after he became the Alpha of the Claw Bane pack, and dream of the family we’d build together. But where were all those wishes? Those desires?

“Darn it!” I stopped for a moment, my breath catching as a sob escaped me.

I swore I wouldn’t cry over him. Not after what he did to me. I’d promised myself I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction. But I couldn’t stop the tears.

I remembered our wedding day in the pack—how he held me in his arms and whispered that he’d always be there, that nothing could ever break us apart, even though we were an arranged couple.

We were supposed to grow old together, raise our child together. But that dream died the day he chose Zara over our unborn baby.

My hand instinctively went to my stomach, the emptiness inside me almost suffocating. He had killed our child for selfish reasons.

Trying to ignore the pain, I began to walk faster, the rain mixing with my tears as I cried harder, my body shaking with the force of it.

By the time I reached Caleb’s door, I was drenched, my clothes clinging to me, my hair plastered to my face.

I wiped my tears, forcing myself to pull it together. Loak couldn’t see me like this. I had to be strong for him.

I knocked softly on the door, hoping Caleb wouldn’t ask too many questions.

But when the door opened, Caleb stood there, his eyes wide with shock. "Ember?" His voice was low, but I could hear the concern in it. "What are you doing here at such an hour?"

I forced a smile, stepping inside as the warmth of the house hit me. "I... I just needed to get out of there," I mumbled, wiping my face again, hoping he wouldn’t notice how swollen my eyes were from crying.

Before Caleb could say anything else, I heard the sound of small footsteps racing toward me. "Mommy!" Loak’s voice was full of excitement, and my heart both soared and sank at the same time. My sweet boy. He shouldn’t have to deal with any of this.

I knelt down as he rushed into my arms. “Hey, buddy,” I whispered, holding him tight, not caring that I was still soaking wet.

I pulled back a little, forcing another smile. “What did I tell you about running so hard, Loak? You just left the hospital, you know…” I asked, trying to keep my voice light. “You’ve got to take care of yourself like an Alpha would.”

“I’m fine, Mommy,” Loak said, smiling up at me, his eyes bright despite everything. “I missed you.”

Those three words hit me like a punch to the gut. I swallowed the lump in my throat and brushed the wet hair from his forehead. “I missed you too,” I said softly, my voice barely above a whisper.

Caleb cleared his throat and nodded toward the hallway. “I’ll put him to bed,” he said quietly, giving me a look that told me he knew something was wrong, but he wasn’t going to push. Not yet.

I watched as Caleb led Loak down the hall, my heart feeling heavier than ever. I didn’t deserve my son—not after everything that had happened.

Both with his biological father and me.

A few minutes later, Caleb returned, his eyes full of questions. “What happened?” he asked gently, sitting down across from me. His tone wasn’t demanding, just... worried.

I took a deep breath, knowing there was no point in hiding it anymore. “I forced him to reject me,” I said, my voice breaking just a little. “Thane... it’s over. We broke the bond.”

Caleb’s face softened with sympathy, but I didn’t want his pity. “I had to do it,” I continued, shaking my head. “After all, he killed our baby... for her. For Zara.” The name felt like poison in my mouth.

“I’m sorry,” Caleb said softly, but I shook my head again, harder this time.

“No,” I said, my voice firm. “It’s better this way. I’m glad. I’m...” My voice trailed off as I stared at the floor, knowing that wasn’t entirely true.

Caleb hesitated, then asked, “What are you going to do now?”

I straightened up, forcing myself to be strong. “I’m leaving,” I said. “Tomorrow morning. I’ll be gone before anyone wakes up.”

Caleb looked shocked. “Leaving? Where will you go?”

“I have to go back,” I said, my voice hollow. “To the Scar Moon pack.”

His eyebrows shot up. “The Scar Moon pack? But you hate it there.”

“I do,” I admitted. “But if I want to protect Loak, I don’t have a choice. Now that I’m not Luna anymore, I need to head back... but I need you to help me take care of Loak until I come get him,” I begged softly.

“You…” Caleb opened his mouth to ask more, but I stood up before he could.

I didn’t want to talk about it anymore. “I’m going to change and sleep with Loak,” I said quietly. “I don’t want to be late tomorrow.”

Without waiting for his response, I walked away, leaving the conversation—and everything else—behind.