Elara
"What are you doing here?" I stared at him coldly.
"Lisa told me you're leaving?" Zack stopped six feet away from me. His voice sounded calm, but I could tell he was holding back strong feelings. "And she said you got married?"
"That's none of your business anymore."
"None of my business?" His voice got louder. A dangerous look flashed in his eyes. "Elara, you're my mate! Even if I can't marry you, you can't just run off and marry some random guy!"
I turned away and laughed coldly. "Are you serious right now? Alpha Zack, you were the one who told everyone Selina Vance would be your future Luna."
"I know I hurt you, but..." He stepped forward and tried to grab my arm. "But that doesn't mean I don't care about you! You can't just have some angry rebound wedding and..."
"An angry rebound?" I pulled my arm back. My look was sharp as a knife. "Zack Blackwood, do you really think the world goes around you? Who I marry and where I go. None of that needs your permission!"
His jaw got tight. Waves of Alpha power came off him. "You think some nobody can protect you? You think he can give you things I can't?"
"Why don't you ask him yourself?" I looked right at him. My wolf was getting angry under my skin. "Damian Wolfe. My family set up this marriage. I heard Selina personally helped pick him for me."
Zack went quiet when he heard Selina was involved. His face went pale.
After a few seconds, he tried again. "Did you forget the promise I made you? After I finish the mating ceremony and take over the pack, I'll make you my second Luna too. I'll still protect you."
I felt sick. How could he say something so shameless?
"Oh? Make me your second Luna?" My voice was full of bitter mockery. "Zack Blackwood, listen to yourself. You want me as your side piece? Your backup plan when you get tired of Selina?"
"It's not like that. I meant..."
"You meant what?" I cut him off. My voice got sharper. "You meant I should wait nicely until after you marry my purebred stepsister? Then take whatever tiny bits of attention you throw my way?"
Zack's face got dark. "Elara, you know how pack politics work..."
"Politics?" My laugh got even harsher. "Then let's talk about pack rules. Rejecting your mate goes against everything werewolves believe, right? An Alpha should protect his mate, not embarrass her, right?"
"You dare talk about pack rules to me now? You have the nerve to bring up our sacred bonds?"
I walked toward him step by step. His face got paler with each thing I said.
"I... that's because..."
"Because what? Because I'm mixed blood?" My smile turned mean. "Well, my bloodline is still not pure, so why are you looking for me now?"
Zack couldn't speak. He could only stammer. "I... I really do care about you..."
"Care for me?" I laughed loud and sharp. "Zack Blackwood, do you even know what caring means? Caring would have been telling everyone I was yours. Caring would have been telling the pack council to go to hell. Caring would have been fighting both our families for me."
My words completely broke him down.
His face went white as paper.
"And Zack, do you think you're so amazing? Do you think I can't live without you?" I shook my head with a cold smile. "Here's the truth. I'm doing better now than I ever did before. Without you, I sleep better, laugh for real, and don't have to tip toe around a coward."
"So, get out of here. Go back to your precious Selina. Go back to your perfect life. And never bother me again."
Zack's face went red then pale. My words completely crushed him. He opened his mouth to say something but stayed quiet.
Before getting in his car, he looked back at me one last time. His eyes were full of defeat and anger.
But I felt no pity for him.
I just watched him coldly until his car disappeared.
Our relationship ended exactly like it should have. Badly. Zack didn't have the guts to fight two wolf packs. He definitely didn't have the guts to face what I was saying.
I felt my wolf under my skin finally calm down. She felt closure too.
After Zack left, I stood there for a moment. I let the cool evening air wash over me.
My phone buzzed in my pocket.
A text from my husband said "Everything okay?"
I stared at those two simple words. I was surprisingly touched that he somehow knew I was upset.
"Just threw out some garbage," I texted back. A small smile came to my lips despite everything. "Coming home now."
The driver helped put my suitcase in the trunk.
As we drove away from the apartment building, I didn't look back once.
