Chapter 4 The Ex

He didn't respond right away, simply staring at Zenab with his forest-green eyes, as if he could see the pain wreaking havoc within her. He was tall—around six feet, perhaps taller—his midnight black hair thick and striking. Even in a suit, it was clear that he was fit, exuding an undeniable allure.

If only her heart could still be whole. It was irreparably shattered, never to beat for another. She had sworn off men for good.

"My son won't stop talking about you. I had to come see what all the fuss was about," he said, his voice deep and husky.

Zenab found herself speechless, simply staring at him, unsure of how to respond.

"I want to know your intentions toward him," he continued, stepping closer until she could feel his body heat radiating toward her. Red stirred momentarily before settling back into a restful slumber.

"Nothing bad. He's a good kid, and he comforted me when I was at my lowest," she murmured, tilting her head back to meet his gaze.

"That better be all, Red. If I find out you're using him as a tool for revenge against his mother, I will tear you apart. There will be nothing left of you to bury," he warned, his voice dropping to a dangerously low tone.

In that moment, Zenab could sense the beast that others had spoken of, lurking just beneath his hypnotizing, cold grey eyes. She should have felt fear, but strangely, she did not.

Just like with his son, something inexplicable drew her to him.

"I would never do that. I may despise Miles, but I would never use an innocent child to get back at her," she asserted.

He continued to stare at her in that unsettling way, as if he were searching her soul and uncovering all her secrets.

With one last warning, he turned and walked out, taking his commanding presence with him. The moment he was gone, the room immediately felt empty.

Zenab returned to her work, attempting to concentrate, though she knew it was an impossible task. Hours later, Dave stormed into her office, clearly furious and radiating anger.

"Stay the hell away from my parents!" he shouted, his voice dripping with hatred. "I don't know what you told them to make them hate Miles so much, but I won't allow you to sink your dirty claws into them!"

Zenab scoffed. "I doubt I have any influence over them. They despise Miles for what she did to you, not because of anything I've said."

He glared at her, his eyes filled with loathing. How had love transformed into hatred? She didn't understand how it had come to this.

"Sign the damn papers and leave my family alone! Better yet, just die— it would make my life easier," he spat.

His words shattered her further, leaving both her and Red feeling broken in ways she feared they might never recover from.

Just as he turned to leave, she called out to him. "Wait!" But her voice came out as a mere whimper. "Be honest with me. Did you ever truly love me? Over these ten years we've been together, was it real for you, or was it all just pretend?"

She was terrified of the answer, but she needed to know. Deep down, she hoped that at some point, he had loved her, that he had cared for her, that he had been happy with her. His response could be devastating, but she had to hear it.

He sighed before replying. "I don't think so. My heart never truly belonged to you; it was always Miles's. You were just holding it for her. It was never yours to begin with, so let's put an end to this sham of a mating. I need to be with the only woman I've ever loved. We're ten years overdue."

Without uttering another word, Dave walked out the door, leaving as though he were walking out of Zenab's life. She collapsed to her knees, her heart constricting with pain, her soul feeling as if it had been torn in two. He had never loved her—not even once. She realized he had only been using her.

The crushing weight of this knowledge was overwhelming.

"Please make it stop, Red. Just make the pain go away," she pleaded with her companion.

Red responded, equally heartbroken, "I wish I could."

Zenab had no idea how long she remained on the floor when she heard a familiar voice. "Zen?"

Looking up, she saw her best friend Jaymie standing in the doorway. Within moments, Jaymie was kneeling beside her.

"Oh, Zen, what has he done to you?"

That one question was all it took for her to crumble. Zenab threw herself into Jaymie's arms, finally breaking down as a sob erupted from the depths of her tortured soul. She released all the pain, anger, frustration, and hatred she had been suppressing.

The dam broke, and the tears she had been holding back flowed freely. She cried out to the moon goddess, lamenting the unfair hand she had been dealt, the pain allowed to invade her life, the brokenness she feared would never heal, and the damaged heart she carried.

By the time she was spent, she felt empty, as if a hole had formed where her soul used to reside.

"I'm sorry, Red, but we have to do this," she whispered, her determination fading.

"I understand. Do what you must to save what little is left of us," Red whimpered before retreating to the back of her mind.

Zenab turned to Jaymie, whispering the words that tore at her heart, "I'm done."

Jaymie didn't respond verbally, simply nodding as her tears fell. She held Zenab tightly in her arms, offering comfort in the silence.

..........

Zenab stared at her reflection in the mirror, struggling to recognize the woman looking back at her. She appeared tired and broken—dark circles under her eyes, her skin ashen, and her hair thinning. She had lost weight, and her clothes hung loosely on her frail frame. It was as if she were a mere shadow of her former self.

She closed her eyes, wishing that when she reopened them, clarity would return. But it didn't work. The pain lingered, still swirling beneath the surface, a constant reminder of her anguish.

Taking a deep breath, Zenab left the bathroom and entered the room she had been calling hers. It was remarkable how quickly things could change in just a few months, how drastically life could veer in the wrong direction.

She surveyed the room, ensuring she hadn't forgotten anything essential. Everything she owned was already packed. The belongings Dave had given her were either burned or donated, leaving no trace that she had ever lived there.

"Are you ready, Red?" she asked her wolf softly.

"Yeah. As ready as I can be," Red replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

Zenab could sense Red's pain; she was withdrawing further into herself with each passing day. Zenab couldn't let that happen—Red was the only thing keeping her sane.

She headed straight to the airport, her path already determined. The separation papers had been signed, and she had instructed her lawyer to draft custody papers, relinquishing full custody of Emerald to Dave.

It had shattered them to make such a decision, but they knew that Emerald would never willingly choose to stay with them. Forcing her would only deepen the resentment.

Zenab had no idea where they would go, but they needed to escape to a place far away, somewhere free from constant reminders of all they had lost. A place where they wouldn't have to witness Dave and Emerald happy while they stood by, feeling unwanted. They had to get away; each day felt like a step closer to being consumed by the darkness surrounding them.

"Red," Zenab called out, needing her for this next step.

"I'm here, love. Do it; let go," Red urged, providing the strength Zenab needed.

"I, Zenab Moore, sever all ties with Alpha Dave West and the Golden Dire Pack. I declare that I am now a lone wolf with no pack."

The moment Zenab finished speaking, she felt the pack link within her mind begin to shrivel. The constant buzz that had been there at the back of her consciousness went entirely silent.

A tear slipped down her cheek as the pack link completely faded away.

Zenab accepted that she had just cut the last connection she had to Dave and Emerald. She and Red were now truly lost their family.