Kaela’s POV
The faint scent of lavender mingled with the dust in my room—a fragrance that should have felt comforting, but now only reminded me that this place no longer belonged to me.
The sun had barely crested the horizon when I began packing. I folded dresses that once made me feel radiant, pressed down coats that still carried traces of Evander’s scent, and stacked my life here into careful, fragile piles. Every movement was deliberate, mechanical, a shield against the rising tide of emotion.
Seven days. That’s all I had before I walked away from Valecrest Pack forever.
As I crouched by the bottom drawer, something caught my eye: a corner of paper peeking out. I reached for it, frowning. And then another, and another, until I realized it wasn’t a single sheet but a small stack of crumpled, colorful drawings.
I sank to the floor, knees tucked to my chest, and carefully unfolded the first.
It was Mira’s.
The stick figures were crooked, cheerful splashes of color. There was me, in a blue dress, and Evander, taller, with messy brown hair and a wide smile. Between us, a small girl with golden hair held our hands—Mira had drawn herself connecting our family.
The title scrawled at the top read: My Family.
My vision blurred as I reached for another. This one showed the three of us under a glowing moon, surrounded by wolves. In her careful handwriting were the words: Our Pack Will Always Be Together.
I pressed the papers to my chest, a sob tearing from my throat. “Oh, my sweet girl…” My voice cracked.
Tears slid down my cheeks as I gathered every drawing, holding them close. Each sheet a fragment of her imagination, her dreams, her love. Every crayon stroke a heartbeat of the daughter I had lost.
Except she wasn’t lost.
Her heart still beat—inside the woman who had destroyed me. My chest tightened painfully.
I didn’t notice the door opening until a deep voice shattered the silence.
“Kaela?”
I stiffened, hastily wiping my tears. Evander stood there, tall and composed, his scent filling the room—the familiar mix of pine and smoke that once made me feel safe. Now it made me ill.
His eyes swept over the open suitcases and scattered drawings. “What’s all this? Why is everything out?”
I forced a calm smile. “Just… rearranging my closet.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Rearranging? It looks like you’re moving out.”
“If I were,” I said quietly, folding another garment, “would it matter?”
Before he could respond, another scent invaded the room—sweet, floral, nauseatingly familiar.
Maribel.
I froze. My fists clenched as she stepped in behind him, her belly small but proud, her presence radiating arrogance. The mate bond between Evander and me throbbed painfully, a cruel reminder of the betrayal standing beside him.
Every instinct screamed to strike, to tear her apart, to reclaim my daughter’s stolen heart. But I didn’t move. I couldn’t.
Instead, I met her gaze, voice icy. “Why are you here?”
Evander shifted, clearing his throat. “She’ll be staying with us for a while.”
The words made no sense. My mind scrambled. “What?”
“She’s… pregnant,” he said carefully, as if measuring each word, waiting for my reaction.
I looked from him to her. Maribel’s lips curved into a smug, shy smile, hands resting lightly over her stomach.
My heart went cold. I said softly, almost under my breath, “And?”
Her smile faltered. “I thought… you’d be happy for me.”
I laughed bitterly, a short, sharp sound. “Happy?” I repeated, voice dripping with scorn. “Sure.”
Evander’s expression stiffened. “Kaela, that’s enough. Why are you acting like this? You should be happy for your best friend.”
“Are you certain that child isn’t yours, Alpha?” I countered, standing and locking eyes with him.
His presence flared, the weight of his Alpha aura pressing down on the room. “No. I don’t know what you’re implying. Maribel needs care, so I offered our home. That’s it. She’s carrying life, nothing more.”
I clenched my jaw. “And that’s supposed to make me accept this?”
His growl was low, frustrated. “I’m not cruel, Kaela. I won’t send her away just because of your bitterness.”
My laugh cut like a knife. “Bitterness? Is that what you call it?”
“You’re jealous,” he shot back. “Maribel’s expecting, and instead of being happy for her, you—”
“Instead of what?” I interrupted, voice sharp. What kind of man chooses a mistress over his own child? I wanted to ask, but held myself back.
For a long moment, the room froze around us.
His eyes darkened. “You’re stubborn, Kaela. Aren’t you supposed to be concerned? Don’t project your failings onto Maribel. She only wants the best for her baby.”
I swallowed hard, forcing my tone low and measured. “Never mind,” I muttered, turning away. “Let her rest. That’s what I said.”
My wolf stirred restlessly, warning me to tread carefully. He could never know I had overheard everything—not yet.
Maribel’s voice pierced the tension. “Luna, I didn’t mean—”
I turned slowly, eyes cold. “Do as you wish.” After all, it seemed I had no say here.
She opened her mouth but hesitated, glancing at Evander for support. He only sighed, stepping between us.
“Enough,” he said firmly. “Maribel will stay. That’s final. You will treat her with respect. She is family.”
Family. The word made bile rise in my throat.
I nodded stiffly. “Fine. Just as I said. If that’s what you want, Alpha.”
Evander frowned at the title, opening his mouth—but I cut him off.
“Now, if you’ll excuse me,” I said, bending to gather Mira’s drawings, “I need to finish… rearranging my closet.”
He paused, studying me, then finally turned and led Maribel out.
As the door clicked shut, I exhaled shakily.
Seven days. Seven days and I would be free. Free from this cursed pack. Free from the man who once made me believe in forever. Free from the woman who carried my daughter’s heart as her own.
