Chapter 16: I Want to Sever Our Mate Bond
Chapter 16: I Want to Sever Our Mate Bond
(Aria’s POV)
The sharp sting in my palm felt satisfying as I slapped Alexander for the third time. His amber eyes flashed dangerously, the wolf within him finally breaking through his composed exterior.
“Enough!” he snarled, lunging forward.
I braced myself for his reaction, but instead of feeling his grip on me, I watched as he whirled around to attack whoever was restraining him. His fist met nothing but air as Dominic easily sidestepped, maintaining his firm hold on Alexander’s wrist
“Control yourself,” Dominic said, his voice deadly calm. “This is a hospital, not your territory
ory to throw tantrums in.”
Alexander’s chest heaved with barely contained rage. “Release me now, Blackwood. This doesn’t concern you.”
“It became my concern when you abandoned your mate on your ceremony day,” Dominic replied coldly, his silver–gray eyes unflinching.
Elizabeth stepped forward, her face stricken. “Please, both of you–this isn’t the place.”
Alexander wrenched his arm free from Dominic’s grip, straightening his rumpled suit jacket with forced dignity. The red marks from my slaps stood out vividly against his skin.
“Aria, we need to talk privately,” he said, reaching for me.
I backed away, my wolf snarling protectively. “Don’t touch me
“You bastard!”
The shout echoed down the hospital corridor. My brother James came charging toward us, his face contorted with grief and fury Before he could reach Alexander, Lucas Bell appeared seemingly from nowhere, intercepting him with a swift movement.
“Let go of me!” James struggled against Lucas’s restraint. “He killed my mother! His selfish actions-
“Stop this immediately Elizabeth’s voice cut through the chaos. “My God, Emily just passed away Have some respect!”
Nurses had begun to gather at the commation, their faces showing a mix of concern and disapproval. One reached for a phone, presumably to call security.
“Get him out of here,” I said to Lucas, nodding toward my brother. “Please.”
Lucas nodded, steering James away despite his continued protests
Dominic stepped between Alexander and me, his tall frame creating a barrier. “I think it’s time for you to leave,” he told
Alexander. “Your Luna needs space.”
“You don’t speak for my mate,” Alexander growled, his Alpha authority filling his voice.
“No, but I speak for the hospital,” Dr. Nathan Lewis said, appearing beside us. “And I’m asking all of you to take this elsewhere.
We have patients who need rest,”
Without waiting for further argument, Dominic gripped Alexander’s arm and forcefully pulled him away. Elizabeth gave me one last pained look before following them, her shoulders slumped with the weight of everything that had happened.
The days after my mother’s death passed in a blur. I kept myself busy with funeral arrangements. The endless details –
choosing a casket, selecting flowers, receiving condolences – kept my mind occupied.
At night though, when everything went quiet, grief crushed me like a physical weight. My wolf paced restlessly inside me, mourning the loss of my mother and protecting our unborn pup.
The Storm Pack sent flowers and food. Pack members stopped by with awkward condolences. Alexander, mercifully, kept his
distance.
Each morning I woke up, surprised I had survived another night of grief. Each day I moved through tasks like a ghost. Olivia stayed by my side, handling what I couldn’t.
“You need to eat,” she would remind me, pushing plates of food I barely tasted.
James drifted in and out, his own grief making him unreachable. We orbited around each other, connected by loss but unable to comfort one another.
A week after my mother’s passing. Olivia drove me to Silvercrest Hospital. We went to collect my mother’s belongings. The staff had everything packed in a cardboard box.
“Her clothes, books, and toiletries, the nurse said gently. “We also cleared out her bedside drawer
I nodded, not trusting my voice. The box felt impossibly light for all it contained – the last physical traces of my mother’s life.
In the hospital corridor, I couldn’t wait any longer. I needed to touch something she had touched. I opened the box and began looking through its contents.
Under her neatly folded nightgown, I found something wrapped in tissue paper. I pulled it out, my hands trembling.
It was a tiny, half–finished baby hat. Yellow yarn, soft as clouds, with needles still attached. Beside it lay a ball of matching yarn. My breath caught painfully in my throat.
“She was knitting for the baby, I whispered, running my fingers over the delicate stitches
Olivia guided me to a nearby bench as my legs threatened to give way.
“She was so excited about becoming a grandmother,” I said, tears streaming down my face. “She kept talking about all the things she wanted to teach her grandchild.”
The yellow hat blurred through my tears. My mother had been making this while growing weaker each day. She poured her love into each stitch, racing against time.
“It’s my fault she’s gone, I choked out, crushing the tiny hat against my heart. “If I hadn’t lied about my relationship with Alexander… if I hadn’t pretended we were happy…”
“No,” Olivia said firmly, gripping my shoulders. “Your mother had a terminal illness, Aria. Nothing could have changed that.”
“But she died because of shock! Because she heard Claire’s voice on Alexander’s phone!” My voice rose with fresh rage and grief.
“The disease took her, not you,” Olivia insisted. “Never blame yourself.”
But I did blame myself. And Alexander. And Claire. The guilt and anger swirled inside me like a toxic storm.
I stared down at the yellow hat, thinking of the tiny life growing inside me. This child would forever connect me to Alexander. Every birthday, every school event, every decision would involve him.
I would never be free.
“I want to sever our mate bond,” I said suddenly.
The words hung in the air between us. Once spoken, they brought an unexpected rush of relief.
Olivia’s eyes widened. “Aria, that’s a serious decision. Severing a mate bond isn’t just filing divorce papers. It’s… painful. Dangerous sometimes.”
“I don’t care,” I replied, my voice stronger than it had been in days. “I can’t stay bound to him.”
“What about the baby?” Olivia asked quietly, her eyes dropping to my stomach.
I swallowed hard, the decision crystallizing in my mind. Im going to terminate the pregnancy.”
The words hurt to say. My wolf howled in protest, already fiercely protective of our pup…
“Are you sure?” Olivia’s voice was carefully neutral. “That’s not something you can take back.”
“I need a clean break,” I said, carefully rewrapping the tiny hat and placing it back in the box. This baby would tie me to Alexander forever. I can’t live like that.”
Olivia was silent for a long moment. Then she reached for my hand.
“If that’s what you truly want, I’ll support you,” she said gently. “I’ll go with you to the clinic. I’ll be there through everything.”
Fresh tears spilled down my cheeks, these from gratitude rather than grief. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“You’ll never have to find out,” she promised, pulling me into a tight hug.
Two days later, we drove to the Reed family home. I needed to collect some personal belongings and speak with Elizabeth. As Luna of the Storm Pack, I couldn’t just disappear.
My hands trembled as we pulled up to the imposing house. This place had never felt like home, despite my years living here as
Luna.
Elizabeth met us at t
us at the door. Her face showed genuine concern as she embraced me.
“Aria, dear. You look exhausted. Come in, come in.” She led us into the sitting room. “How are you holding up?”
Her kindness nearly broke my resolve. For a moment I just stood there, unable to speak. Then I straightened my shoulders and looked her directly in the eyes.
“I’ve come to tell you that I want to sever my mate bond with Alexander.”
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