Renwick carried Valea out of the healer hall. Valea forced herself not to think about Davinia’s newly revealed pregnancy.
Renwick drove her back to the manor. The journey was silent. No words passed between them. Renwick glanced at her several times, uneasy at her quietness.
"Are you still in pain?"
"No," Valea answered calmly.
"Then why are you so quiet?"
"I was just thinking. It has been a long time since I returned to my family lands," Valea said.
Renwick’s expression softened. "If you wish to see them, I will arrange it. I will go with you."
"You don’t need to come. I can go alone."
"I won’t allow that. I will accompany you."
Valea looked at him without warmth, knowing his words were empty.
"I thought you wouldn’t leave Davinia and Arion behind. You cannot stay away from them even for a single day."
Renwick’s face stiffened.
"Don’t speak like that. I will arrange a journey to the Frosthall territory tomorrow and go with you. It has been long since I visited your family. I miss the Frosthall vineyards."
He gave a faint smile. "Do you remember when we first met? You were hiding from your lessons and secretly eating grapes in the garden. You looked so small then."
Valea closed her eyes as memories rose within her.
They had first met when the Valloren Pack visited the Frosthall territory to arrange their bond.
"You were crying because you wanted the grapes on a high branch, but you couldn’t reach them. You ran to me and asked me to help you," Renwick said with a soft laugh.
From that moment, their fates became tied. They grew together and later became mates.
Valea once believed she was the only one in his heart. Until Davinia appeared and shattered that illusion.
She shut her eyes, pushing the memory away.
At that moment, her crystal device chimed. She looked at it and saw a message from Zorven.
[Luna, the bond severance was approved today. I will send the documents.]
A small smile appeared on her lips. Renwick noticed and leaned closer.
"Did you receive good news?"
Valea quickly dimmed the screen and smiled as if nothing had happened.
"Yes. A friend of mine finally left her mate."
"Your friend left her mate, yet you’re happy?"
"She suffered for a long time. Her mate betrayed her and even had a pup with another woman. Do you think such a male should be kept?" Valea looked at him with meaning.
Renwick gave a cold laugh. "Not only should he be left, he should be ruined. Such men are a disgrace."
Valea sneered inwardly but only smiled outwardly.
Soon, he would realize that the person she spoke of was herself.
Tomorrow, he planned to take her to her homeland. Valea smiled faintly. She would not let that happen.
She sent a voice record to Davinia.
"You’re only a hidden mate. Look. Tomorrowm he will return to my homeland with me to meet my family."
***
The next day, their sky journey was set for the late afternoon.
Before leaving, Valea entered her old chamber. She placed the bond severance papers, the report of her lost pup and all the intimate images and recordings Davinia had sent into Renwick’s hidden safe.
At the sky port, as they waited, Renwick’s crystal rang. Valea saw Davinia’s name appear.
Renwick stepped aside to answer, then returned shortly.
"Valea, I am sorry. I cannot go with you to the Frosthall territory. The elders of the Valloren Pack have called an urgent council. I must attend." His face showed regret.
"It’s fine. I already said I can go alone." Valea smiled calmly.
She knew the truth. Davinia had already told her that the elder matriarch was holding a gathering to acknowledge Arion as Renwick’s true son and the pup in Davinia’s womb.
"Call me when you arrive. I will come later. The guards will escort you safely."
Renwick leaned closer, wanting to kiss her forehead, but Valea turned away with clear rejection.
He paused, frowning, then left in a hurry. Several guards followed him, while a few remained with Valea.
Valea crossed her legs and looked at them.
"You don’t need to follow me. Members of the Frosthall Pack will come for me."
They hesitated, then obeyed and left her alone.
Moments later, her crystal chimed again. It was Davinia.
[You said he would go with you. And now? He left you because of one call from me.
Moonshade Inn. Come. I will prove that Arion is Renwick’s blood and that the entire Valloren Pack will accept me.]
Davinia believed she had won, not knowing she had given Valea exactly what she needed. Only when Renwick was not beside her could she truly disappear.
Valea stared at the message for a moment, then calmly closed it and stood.
She looked around one last time. A soft smile formed on her lips. For the first time, she felt free.
Valea tore the sky journey token Renwick had given her.
"Goodbye, Renwick Valloren. We will never meet again."
She turned and walked away without looking back.
She would never look back. And she would never return to him again.
