Nathan ran, his breath ragged and shallow as he sprinted through the dense forest surrounding the packhouse. The cool night air burned his lungs, but he didn’t stop. He couldn’t. The guilt gnawed at him like a relentless beast, threatening to consume him whole.
The moment Arielle had spoken those final, devastating words replayed in his mind on an endless loop:
“Even if you never marked or mated me, at least you married me. After tonight, that bond will break.”
Her voice had been eerily calm, devoid of anger or hatred, but it was that very composure that cut him the deepest.
Nathan had always prided himself on being untouchable, unshakable. Yet now, his heart felt like it was splintering into pieces, each beat sending sharp, unbearable pain through his chest. His wolf howled in agony, clawing at him from within. It wasn’t just Arielle’s words that haunted him—it was her expression.
The resignation in her eyes. The finality in her tone. The quiet dignity with which she had walked away from him.
He hadn’t expected this. He had thought Arielle would endure, just as she always had. She was strong, wasn’t she? He had dismissed her pain time and time again, convincing himself that she could take it.
But now he realized how wrong he had been. Deadly wrong.
He stumbled to a stop near a clearing, clutching his chest as the weight of his guilt threatened to bring him to his knees. His wolf howled again, a mournful sound that echoed through the forest.
“I’ve lost her,” Nathan whispered hoarsely, his voice barely audible over the pounding of his heart.
When he finally returned to the packhouse the next day, the sight that greeted him was a celebration. Music blared, voices filled the air, and laughter echoed through the halls.
His pack. His people.
Nathan’s jaw clenched as he took in the scene. Jennifer stood in the center of the room, her arm around the boy she claimed was his son. Pack members swarmed her, congratulating her and fawning over the child.
They are all celebrating Arielle's departure.
The realization hit him like a punch to the gut. How could they celebrate when their Luna had just walked away? How could they act as though nothing had happened?
Then it struck him—this was his doing. The way his pack treated Arielle was a reflection of how he had treated her. For years, he had dismissed her, belittled her, and pushed her aside. It was no wonder the pack had followed suit.
They had all failed her.
Nathan stood frozen in the doorway, his fists clenched at his sides. Anger bubbled within him—not at the pack, not even at Jennifer, but at himself. He had let this happen. He had created this environment where Arielle, his wife, was nothing more than a shadow in her own home.
Jennifer caught sight of him and smiled, waving him over. She was radiant, her beauty undeniable, but all Nathan felt was a hollow ache.
He didn’t move.
The boy—Jared—looked up at him expectantly, but Nathan couldn’t bring himself to acknowledge him. He didn’t even know if the child was truly his, and right now, he couldn’t find the strength to care.
Without a word, Nathan turned and climbed the stairs to his office, ignoring the voices that called after him. Jennifer’s smile faltered, but he didn’t look back.
---
Once inside his office, Nathan shut the door and locked it. The silence was deafening, but he welcomed it.
He sank into the chair behind his desk, burying his face in his hands. His mind raced with memories of Arielle—how she had smiled at him on their wedding day, her eyes filled with hope despite the circumstances.
He remembered how she had always tried to bridge the gap between them, her kindness and patience unwavering even as he pushed her away.
And now she was gone.
Nathan’s wolf stirred within him, restless and agitated. The bond they shared with Arielle, weak though it had been, was unraveling. The loss was like a physical wound, deep and bleeding, and no matter how much he tried to ignore it, the pain wouldn’t subside.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered into the empty room, though he knew it was too late.
For the first time in years, Nathan felt utterly powerless. He had been so consumed by his own bitterness, his own heartbreak, that he had failed to see the treasure he had in Arielle.
She had been everything he needed but never realized he wanted.
His wolf growled lowly, a sound filled with regret and despair. Nathan clenched his jaw, his nails digging into the desk.
He had always thought of himself as a strong Alpha, a leader who could handle anything. But now, sitting alone in his office, he felt like nothing more than a broken man.
---
Morning came, but Nathan didn’t move from his chair. The celebration downstairs had died down, and the house was eerily quiet.
A knock at the door broke the silence, but Nathan didn’t answer. The knock came again, more insistent this time.
“Nathan,” Jennifer’s voice called out. “We need to talk.”
He ignored her.
After a moment, she sighed and walked away, her footsteps fading down the hall.
Nathan leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling. The weight of his actions pressed down on him, suffocating and unrelenting.
He had always thought he could live without Arielle. He had believed she was just another obligation, a promise he had fulfilled for his mother’s sake.
But now he realized the truth.
He needed her.
And he had driven her away.
