Chapter 0003
ZAIA.
Once back home, everywhere I look I see him, see the life we built together here.
Crippling pain consumes me at what I’m leaving behind, but I won’t allow him to
take more from me.
I won’t let him hurt the life growing inside me. These babies are as much mine as
they are his and I will do my best for them.
I begin packing, taking only the bare essentials, and dumping them into a
suitcase.
The quicker I am out of here, the better.
I write a quick note to Emma, thanking her for her services.
Picking up the divorce agreement, I sit down at the dining table. The silence in
the
house is deafening.
Emma must have finished her work by now and left. With shaking hands, I sign
the
papers and close the file and with it, the door to that chapter of my life.
Plucking up my phone, I stare at my mother’s number. I haven’t called her in a
while. … Although she and my father are separated, she too had been against
me marrying
Sebastian.
However, I know she’ll understand me better than anyone… After all, my father
left.
her for none other than Annalise’s mother.
My parents were destined mates, but my father had an affair with another
woman,
hence Annalise was born, mere days apart from me.
My stepmother didn’t only take away my Mom’s mate, she took my dad from me
too.
When I was little, we were close, but my stepmother didn’t like it and always
instigated him against me and tried to cause a rift between us. In the end, she
succeeded.
Even though I was raised with luxuries and given the best education, our
relationship simply became a formality to him. A responsibility he no longer
wanted.
As I grew up, my father kept in contact. Of course, he’d even drop by on my
birthdays, but the moment I refused to give up Sebastian for Annalise, he had
disowned me too.
1 will go to Mom’s home and ask if I can stay there for a few days. Just long
enough for me to sort things out with myself.
Tears trek down my face as I slip my wedding band from my finger and place it
on top of the divorce file. Grabbing the handle of my suitcase, I pull it along,telling
Ethan to bring the car.
With a last, lingering glance down the hall, I take my leave.
His betrayal from last night still echoes in my ears. The anger in his voice still
haunts me. The memory of him and Annalise in the office still stings.
I thought this pregnancy might save our bond, but I was a fool to think so. I
should have known he would never believe me over her, when once again he
accused me of lying to him.
Stepping outside, I see the rain has stopped, a rainbow spreads across the sky,
welcoming me with open arms, but I can’t appreciate its beauty, not today. The
weight on my shoulders is heavy, the pain already beginning to claw at my
insides.
A sharp pang in my chest almost brings me to my knees, my vision blurring. A
soft whimper escapes my lips before I can contain it.
The sound of a car door banging shut makes me look up.
Bastien?
“Luna! Are you alright?”
Ethan…
I nod, trying to remain strong. “Yes. Please take me to my Mother’s home.”
“Yes, of course, come
Luna…” He assists me into the car, placing my suitcase in the
bag and gets in the driver’s seat.
+15 BONUS
“She lives on Oak Mill Drive.” I say weakly. I’m no longer able to hold back my
tears. as I stare at my home that now disappears from view.
“Yes, Luna, I will take you there immediately.” He murmurs, his tone surprisingly.
gentle. His eyes meet mine in the rearview mirror, filled with a concern that is
foreign to me.
I rest my head on the window as we drive through town, the passing cars and
people.
a blur.
We reach my Mother’s street after a good twenty—minute drive and I point out her
pale green door. The paint is peeling, and it looks more worn than I remember it,
but it brings back a surge of nostalgia from my childhood.
When was the last time I visited her here?”
It’s been far too long.
Ethan opens the door for me, before he quickly goes to grab my suitcase and
carries
it to the front door for me. When he places my suitcase down, I pass him an
envelope. He looks at me, surprised.
“What is this, Ma’am?”
“Just a token of my gratitude for all you have done.”
“Luna…”
“Goodbye, Ethan.” I say. He hesitates but nods and takes his leave.
I see the curtains twitch in a few of the windows. In this small winding street,
everyone is always curious when an unfamiliar face shows up, especially when
it’s
in a luxury car which doesn’t fit here.
I wait for him to drive away before taking a deep breath and knock on the door.
My nerves are playing up and I’m beginning to doubt my decision. Maybe I
should
just check into a hotel. I shouldn’t have come here..
I’m about to grab my suitcase and run, when the door is pulled open and I find
myself staring into my Mom’s grey eyes.
+15 BONUS
“Mom…”
“Zaia?” She replies, shocked. Her eyes fall on the suitcase before she looks
searchingly into my eyes. “Is everything alright?”
suitcase I’m unable to reply, my eyes welling with tears. She picks up my glances
around the street and beckons me inside, closing the door on the prying eyes
that may be watching us and pulls me into a comforting hug, and I finally break
down. Sobbing my heart out at my broken marriage and the loss of my mate.
Ten minutes later, I am sitting on the worn-out settee in the small living room.
Blowing my nose on a tissue as I sniffle.
“Does he know you are pregnant?” Mom asks as she rubs my back, her lips
pursed,
frowning deeply.
I shake my head, “No, there’s no point, Mom. He is completely smitten with
Annalise now that she’s back. I don’t think I should use these babies to trap him
in a marriage
he clearly wants no part in.” a
Mom sighs and nods her head.
“If you don’t want him to know, then we’ll keep it secret. Babies are never the way
to keep a man. He once dropped Annalise for you, even if he remains with you.
temporarily because of the children. He will drop you one day, just as he has
done.
now.” 1
“Mom, we were destined mates. You know how important that is. I did not think
he’d do this.” I protest. It’s not like I stole anything that did not belong to me!
She sighs, patting my arm. “Yes dear, I do, but only relying on the mate bond is
not enough to keep a couple together. You knew this, but you had fallen in love
with him and chose to ignore that. But he clearly didn’t care enough.”
“I know…” I murmur, feeling saddened that she still thinks that, after all,
Sebastian had treated me well… up until now, anyway.
“Has he rejected you yet?” Mom asks when I’m a little calmer.
I shake my head. “Not yet, but I’m sure he will soon.”
+15 BONUS
“Will his rejection harm the babies?”
I shake my head. “No, I did ask Valerie, but she said I will probably not be able to
have any more children after this.”
“Goddess! Zaia, we can’t let him reject you then. It will ruin your chances of being
a
mother!*:
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“ .
Mom! I still have them, these two
precious babies that are growing
inside of me. They are more than
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enough. Besides, I don’t think I can
=a 5 hy
ever love again.” I say quietly, placing
wp,
a hand on my stomach. “I’ve made up
my mind. I will let him go. I hope you
can support this decision and keep it
secret. Visit Novelxo.org to read
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Reaching out, I hold her hand tightly in mine. Her hands are colder and feel more
wrinkled than the last time I held them. I give them a squeeze, hoping shell
understand.
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I ) .
Very well… I don’t think you need
him. Tomorrow go and be over and
done with him. Then you can focus
on yourself and your children. You
are still young Zaia, you will find
Wa
someone better.” Visit
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chapter of this novel
“Will I? Then tell me, Mom, why haven’t you moved on?”
She stands up, my words clearly upsetting her. “My situation was… different.”
“I’m sorry Mom.” I say getting up. She turns back to me and smiles sadly as she
shakes her head.
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” cea § ) ”
No Zaia, it’s alright, we’ll be ok.” She
says before pulling me into a warm
«
embrace, one that I truly need. “You
have me, your children have me, we
will move away from this pack,
somewhere on the outskirts of the
city or further away. Somewhere he
will never be able to find you, or try to
take your children. I promise you, I
will keep Visit Novelxo.org to
read the latest chapter of this novel
you safe.” 1
I nod and Mom takes her leave, saying she’ll go prepare my bedroom for me,
leaving
me alone in that ornate living room.
After a few moments, as I listen to the floorboards creaking under her weight as
she
moves around upstairs, I take my phone from my bag.
+15 BONUS
Taking a deep steadying breath, I dial Sebastian’s number, it only rings once
before.
he picks it up.
“Hello?”
“I want to let you know that I’ve signed the papers, and I have left.” I say, trying to
keep my voice steady.
He’s silent for a moment. “Good to know. We will hold the rejection tomorrow
morning. Come to my office at 9 o’clock sharp.”
Like it’s just another business appointment.
“That’s fine, I will be at the pack hall on time.” I reply quietly.
“OK”
I hang up, my heart pounding against my ribs, matching the rhythm of the clock
that hangs ominously on the wall. He doesn’t even regret his decision, not even
one bit.