I hesitated, but then decided to spill everything—the miscarriage, Caleb’s distance, how lonely I felt. Jake listened, and for the first time in a while, I felt like someone really saw me.
“Caleb’s being an idiot!” Jake said, his tone low but firm. “You deserve someone who values you, not just as the Luna but as a person.”
“I know,” I admitted. “But it’s hard to let go. I keep hoping he’ll come back to me.”
“He’s not going to change unless he realizes what he’s losing,” Jake said. “You shouldn’t wait for him to figure it out. You deserve happiness, Sarah.”
His words stuck with me long after we parted ways. Maybe it was time to stop waiting for Caleb to wake up and start focusing on myself. I had connections in the pack—people who cared about me.
When I got home that night, I didn’t feel like pretending anymore. I took a shower, threw on my pajamas, and curled up on the couch with a book. When Caleb walked in, he glanced at me, confusion flickering in his eyes.
“Aren’t you going to make dinner?” he asked, his tone sharp.
I looked up from my book, surprised. “Nope. I figured you could handle it since you’re so busy.”
He scowled, and for a second, I felt a rush of satisfaction. I wasn’t going to let him control my happiness anymore. “I’m tired of being the only one putting in the effort. If you want dinner, you can figure it out.”
He crossed his arms, his irritation growing. “What’s your problem, Sarah? I’ve been busy with the company and the pack—”
“Oh, I get it. Pack duties!” I cut him off, my voice cold, every word sharp and pointed. “Does that include kissing Hannah too? Is that part of your responsibilities now? You couldn’t even look me in the eye after the kiss, but you sure as hell showed up for her.”
His face went pale, his lips parted as if to explain, but the words wouldn’t come. He stared at me for a moment, and I saw the guilt flicker in his eyes, but he didn’t speak.
Before I could say anything more, his phone rang. He glanced at the screen, his expression instantly changing to one of urgency. He let out a frustrated sigh. “I have to take this,” he muttered, already walking away. “It’s urgent. Something happened at the company.”
I wanted to scream. I wanted to ask him how long he planned to keep hiding behind work, how long he would avoid the truth. But the words got stuck in my throat. The anger—oh, it was there, but so was the pain. I watched him, helpless, as he quickly dialed his secretary, his focus now completely on the call.
"Yeah, I’ll be there right away," he said before walking toward the door, not even sparing me another glance.
And just like that, he was gone. Left me standing there in the silence of our empty home, the weight of everything crushing down on me.
I sank back onto the couch, the tears finally spilling over. I didn’t care anymore. I was so tired of pretending, so tired of being the one who always gave. And I hated him for doing this to me.
The door slammed behind him, and I was left with nothing but my own shattered heart and a room full of unanswered questions.
***
The days blurred together, and the tension between Caleb and me just seemed to grow. Every little thing turned into a fight, and I found myself snapping back more than ever before. Gone were the days when I’d just stay quiet and let him vent his frustrations. Now, I was ready to stand my ground.
One evening, while I was washing the dishes, Caleb walked in, phone glued to his ear. He was pacing back and forth, talking about pack business. I could hear the irritation in his voice, and it only added to my frustration.
“Can you believe this? I swear, they’re all idiots,” he said, shaking his head. “It’s like they don’t even think! Ugh!”
I rolled my eyes, not even trying to hide it. “Well, maybe they wouldn’t be idiots if you actually listened to them instead of barking orders all the time.”
He turned to me, surprise flashing across his face. “What did you just say?”
“I said maybe if you were a little less of a dictator, they wouldn’t screw up!” I snapped back, not backing down. “I know how dumb you are!”
