another
woman “mom” and treated me like a stranger?
“This stopped being your home the moment you decided I wasn’t your mother,” I said coldly.
Rachel stepped forward, her face transforming into a mask of sympathy. “Olivia, please be reasonable. Oliver is injured. He needs
rest and proper care…”
“Don’t,” I raised my hand, cutting her off. “Don’t you dare use my son’s injury to manipulate me after you encouraged activities
that could have permanently damaged his wolf.”
Marcus shifted uncomfortably. “Dr. Winters, we need your final decision. Do you want these individuals removed from your
property?”
I looked at the three people standing before me–my mate who had betrayed me, the woman who had tried to steal my life, and
my son who had rejected me for her. For a brief moment, I hesitated.
Then I remembered the clothes thrown across the lawn. Rachel’s smug face at the window. My son saying he wanted her to be his
mother.
“Yes,” I said firmly. “Remove them immediately.”
Derek’s eyes widened in shock. “You can’t be serious! Where are we supposed to go?”
“That’s not my concern anymore,” I replied, crossing my arms.
The enforcement team moved forward, flanking Derek, Rachel, and Oliver. “You have fifteen minutes to collect essential items,”
Marcus announced. “After that, we’ll escort you off the property.”
1/3
Taking Back What’s Mine
“This is outrageous!” Rachel’s voice rose to a shriek. “You can’t just throw us out on the street!”
“Actually, I can,” I responded calmly. “And I am.”
+20 Bonus
They scrambled to gather what they could, Rachel crying dramatically the entire time. Derek kept shooting me desperate looks, but I remained unmoved. Oliver sat silently on the stairs, watching with tear–filled eyes.
Exactly fifteen minutes later, Marcus returned. “Time’s up.
I watched without emotion as they were escorted out of my house. Derek carried Oliver in his arms while Rachel struggled with two hastily packed suitcases.
When the door closed behind them, the house fell into blessed silence.
I immediately pulled out my phone and dialed. “Pacific Moving Company? I need a team here as soon as possible.”
Within an hour, burly movers were clearing out everything that belonged to Derek, Rachel, and Oliver. Furniture, clothing, electronics–all the physical evidence of my broken family.
“Ma’am, some of these items are quite valuable,” the foreman said, holding up one of Derek’s designer watches. “The designer
suits alone must be worth thousands.”
“I don’t care,” I cut him off. “It’s all trash to me. Take it all away.”
The movers exchanged glances but continued working. “What should we do with everything?” the foreman asked when they
finished.
“Donate what you can. Throw away the rest,” I replied. “Just make sure it’s gone.”
After they left, I walked through my now half–empty house. It looked hollowed out, just like my heart. But with each step, I felt a
small weight lift from my shoulders.
This place was mine again. No pretenders. No betrayals.
My stomach growled, reminding me I hadn’t eaten since morning. Rather than rummage through the kitchen where Rachel had likely rearranged everything, I decided to go out.
I drove to the Silver Moon Hotel, the most luxurious establishment in our pack territory. The maître d‘ recognized me
immediately.
“Dr. Winters! What a pleasure. Will you be dining alone tonight?”
For the first time in years, I felt myself genuinely smile. “Yes, just me.”
He led me to a private table overlooking the hotel’s stunning gardens. Crystal chandeliers sparkled above, casting a warm glow
over the white tablecloths.
“Our chef has prepared a special seven–course tasting menu tonight,” he informed me. “With wine pairings, it’s $2,000. Would that interest you?”
2/3
In the past, I would have balked at such an extravagant expense. But tonight, I simply nodded. “That sounds perfect.”
As each exquisite dish arrived–tender scallops with truffle foam, wagyu beef that melted on my tongue, chocolate soufflé with gold leaf–I savored every bite. For years, I had pinched pennies to support Derek’s failing business. Worked overtime to pay for Oliver’s special herbs and private school.
Now, for once, I was spending my money on myself. It felt glorious.
When the final course arrived, I raised my glass in a silent toast to my new beginning. No more supporting a mate who didn’t appreciate me. No more trying to win back a child who had chosen another mother.
I paid the bill without flinching at the total and made my way through the hotel lobby, feeling lighter than I had in years.
That’s when I saw them.
Derek stood at the front desk, his face flushed with frustration. Rachel hovered beside him, while Oliver sat slumped in a plush lobby chair, his injured leg propped up awkwardly.
“I’m telling you, there must be some mistake,” Derek was saying to the receptionist, his voice rising. “Try the card again!”
The wolf receptionist, a young female with immaculately styled hair, gave him a thin–lipped smile. “Sir, I’ve tried it three times.
Your card has been declined.”
She tapped her manicured nails on the counter. “Are you certain you can afford our rates? We are the most expensive hotel in the
pack at $1,000 per night.
11
Derek ran a hand through his hair, a gesture I knew meant he was panicking. “Just… try it one more time. Please.”
“Derek, what’s wrong?” Rachel asked, her earlier confidence completely gone. Her makeup was smudged from crying, and her
designer clothes looked rumpled.
Derek leaned closer to her, but I could still hear his stammering explanation. “I… I left in a hurry. I didn’t bring any other cards.”
Rachel’s perfect smile finally crumbled completely. “What do you mean? Where are we supposed to stay tonight?”
That’s when Derek spotted me across the lobby. His face lit up with desperate hope.
“Olivia!” he called out loudly, taking several steps toward me. “Thank the Moon Goddess! I knew you wouldn’t be so heartless as
to abandon me and
Oliver!”
P
