Lily’s wailing stopped abruptly as she stared at me in shock. I set her down, telling her not to be afraid. Then I turned to face the guards closing in.
Through the crowd, I glimpsed Ethan’s face transform from reluctant pity to shock. He had never expected that I, who seemed as weak as an Omega, could defeat the pack’s finest warriors.
Victoria still cowered in his arms, afraid of getting caught in the fight.
I moved instinctively, my body’s battle reflexes awakening. Each punch shattered a fragment of my memories.
Ethan climbing through my window five years ago, promising we’d be together forever. Ethan holding me four years ago, laughing joyfully. Ethan cradling Lily three years ago, saying his life was complete….
In my memory, it all crumbled to ashes.
Lily’s cries turned desperate. She pleaded with Ethan:
“Uncle Ethan, we were wrong, but my father died for the pack in the last territorial war. Please forgive us this once.”
Those words.
Both Ethan and I looked up in disbelief.
Ethan frowned, “Everyone stop!”
Then he stared at Lily in shock: “What did you say?”
The sobbing child seemed to age years in that moment. She looked at her father with red–rimmed eyes::
“Uncle Ethan, we’re not welcome here. My mother and I will leave now.”
“Thank you for your hospitality today.”
Lily took my hand and walked toward the exit, her tiny body suddenly filled with boundless strength.
I followed her step by step, my heart feeling like it had been crushed and twisted.
The bitterness was overwhelming. This lesson was too heavy for Lily to bear.
On our final day, Ethan still hadn’t returned.
He only sent two text messages:
I have matters to attend to, so I won’t be coming back for now. I’ll apologize to you both personally in a few da
[Don’t be angry, be good.]
I knew the “matters” he mentioned referred to his Valentine’s Day Mating Ceremony with Victoria.
The publicity surrounding it was everywhere, though he thought I didn’t know.
Or perhaps he didn’t care whether I knew or not.
I packed everything we had brought six months ago.
I burned everything in the villa that was connected to us, mother and child.
This relationship, which couldn’t even be called a marriage, was a complete mistake from start to finish.
Now, it was time to wake up.
Theld Lily’s hand firmly as we strode forward.
We boarded the plane back to Silver Crescent territory.
Before turning off my phone, I sent Ethan one final message:
I
[Lily and I are leaving. I wish you happiness. Let’s not meet again.]
15 Bonus
2/3
