I took it without a word, but instead of putting it on, I walked over to the fireplace. Without hesitation, I tossed the fake pendant into the flames, watching it burn until it turned black.
"What are you doing?" Clara gasped, stepping closer. "That's—"
"It's garbage," I interrupted coldly. "Just like everything else in this house."
Her face twisted in fury. "How dare you destroy something meant for your mother!"
"You destroyed my real pendant," I shot back. "That piece of junk means nothing to me."
Before I could stop her, Clara lunged toward the fireplace, reaching out as if to grab the burning pendant from the flames.
"Don't! Are you insane? You'll burn yourself!" I grabbed her arm to pull her back.
She struggled against me. "Let go of me! It's my fault—it's my fault your stupid pendant got broken in the first place!"
"No, it's not!" I snapped, pushing her away gently but firmly. "Stop acting like you care about my mom or her memory!"
In the struggle, we both lost our balance. Clara fell backward, dragging me with her.
We crashed onto the hard floor, the edge of the fireplace slicing into my side. Blood pooled below me, soaking through my shirt.
Lucas rushed over immediately, his eyes darting between us. Without hesitation, he rushed to Clara's side, completely ignoring the blood staining the floor around me.
"Why did you push her? What is wrong with you?"
"She was about to stick her hand in the fire! The little I could do was stop her from her stupidity!"
Lucas ignored my explanation. "Are you alright? Did she hurt you?"
Clara whimpered dramatically, cradling her wrist. "I just wanted to help her save her stupid pendant, but she pushed me instead."
"You're pathetic," I muttered under my breath, shaking my head in disbelief.
Lucas spun around. "What did you say?"
"I said she's pathetic! You think she cares about anyone but herself? She destroyed my mom's locket, and now she's playing victim because I stopped her from burning herself alive."
"She wouldn't have gone near the fire if you hadn't provoked her. Why can't you leave her alone? She was only trying to help you."
"Help me?" I laughed bitterly. "By giving me that excuse for a pendant? Please, Lucas. Even now, you refuse to see how cruel she is."
Clara interrupted with a sharp gasp, clutching her stomach suddenly. "Oh no… our baby…"
Both Lucas and I froze. My heart sank as realization dawned on me.
"Your baby? You mean… you're pregnant?" I whispered.
Lucas immediately dropped to his knees beside Clara. "What happened? Is something wrong with my baby?"
Clara sobbed loudly, leaning into Lucas for support. "It hurts… oh god, our baby…"
Lucas glared at me. "Because of your behavior, something might happen to my baby. If anything goes wrong, consider yourself dead."
His words cut deeper than any blade ever could. "Both of you deserve each other."
"That's rich coming from someone who destroyed everything meaningful to me. Maya would never have acted so selfishly. At least Clara cares enough to protect what matters," he spat out.
Hearing him compare me to Maya again felt like salt in an open wound. "Fine. Be happy with your perfect little family. I'm done wasting my life here."
I didn't need to hear another word from them as he carried her out in bridal style.
Grabbing my suitcase, I packed the rest of my belongings quickly, my hands trembling with anger and heartbreak.
Five long years of giving up everything for Lucas and the pack.
I abandoned my dreams, severed ties with my family and endured humiliation after humiliation, all because I thought I could build a future with him.
But what did I have to show for it? A broken heart, shattered memories and scars that would never heal.
As I zipped up the last bag, my phone buzzed with a message from Lucas.
"I'm so sorry for reacting that way. I'll buy you the most expensive pendant if you don't like what Clara gave you. Also, make a nice dinner tomorrow, it's our sixth anniversary."
I stared at the screen in disbelief. After everything that had just happened, he thought a material gift and an apology would fix things.
With a bitter laugh, I removed the SIM card from my phone and blocked his number permanently. Enough was enough.
By the time I reached the airport, another message came through, a text from Clara this time.
"You should see how attentive Lucas is being right now. Doctor says I need complete bed rest because of the stress YOU caused. Don't worry though, he said he doesn't need you around while he takes care of his REAL priority. "
I deleted the message without responding and boarded the plane, determined to leave every painful memory behind.
For years, I'd let others control my life, bending myself into shapes I didn't recognize just to fit their expectations. But no more.
As the plane took off, I closed my eyes and whispered softly through our mindlink, "Lucas Walker, I reject our mate bond. Forever."
Now, it was time to take control of my life.
