I took the finished sword from the old wolf smith, his weathered hands shaping the blade that would carve my path forward. I made my way to the borders, glancing one last time at the bonfire still burning in the distance, its glow warm yet mocking.
It was a light that no longer belonged to me.
From this moment on, I was no longer part of this pack.
Without hesitation, I stepped into the darkness, unafraid of death. My only fear was failing to bring my daughter home.
Back at the bonfire, Eugene sat in silence despite the celebration around him. Laughter and howls of joy filled the night, but he barely heard them. His gaze drifted toward the way where I left as if looking for my shadow for reassurance.
Something wasn't right.
He clenched his jaw, fingers tapping against his knee. His wolf stirred inside him, restless and agitated, but he forced himself to remain still.
Sabrina noticed his unease and leaned closer, her soft hand curling around his forearm.
"You're tense," she murmured, her voice gentle. "Sarah just needs time, Eugene. She'll come back."
Eugene exhaled sharply, dragging a hand down his face.
"Did I do something wrong?" he muttered. "Will she leave me like this?"
Sabrina sighed, tilting her head. "She's stubborn. You know that better than anyone. But she'll come to her senses soon. You did the right thing."
"Did I?" His eyes darkened, flickering with doubt. "I told her we couldn't afford to start a war over this. But I know Sarah… she's not the type to sit back and accept reality."
Sabrina frowned slightly before softening her expression, her fingers tracing small circles against his skin.
"Eugene, listen to me. She's hurting right now, but that doesn't mean she'll do anything reckless. She's strong, but she's not foolish."
Eugene's shoulders remained tense. "You don't know that."
"I do," she insisted. "She'll cry it out, talk to her parents, maybe even ignore you for a few days. But she'll come back. She loves you, Eugene. You're her mate."
He didn't answer. Because deep down, something in him was whispering that she was wrong. Sabrina must have sensed his hesitation because she shifted even closer, pressing her body against his side.
"Don't let this ruin the night," she coaxed, her voice turning softer, sweeter. "We finally have our own place, our own land. You did what you had to do to protect our people."
Eugene remained silent, his eyes flickering toward the fire once more. He wanted to believe her words. He wanted to believe that I would come back, just as I always had.
But for the first time since he met me, doubt crept into his heart.
And it refused to leave.
By the time he returned home, the night had already fallen.
I wasn't there.
At first, he didn't worry. My things were still in place, my scent lingering in the air. Perhaps I was with my parents. Or with friends, trying to sort through my emotions. But as the hours dragged on, the silence of our den became unbearable. The space that once felt small was suddenly far too big, too empty without me.
Then, it happened.
A sharp, searing pain tore through his chest. He jolted awake, a strangled breath leaving his lips as he clutched his heart.
Something was wrong.
