At first, I told myself it was for the better. That Ivy leaving was a blessing in disguise, that maybe we had grown apart, or maybe I’d ne really loved her the way a husband and an alpha should. I had Farah now–sweet, giggling, still–flat bellied Farah, carrying my child She needed me, and that should’ve been enough.
But as the days crawled by, imitation became my shadow.
Everything felt… off. My wolf stirred restlessly beneath my skin, pacing and growling at the wrong times Even the wind outside my off window seemed to whisper her name–lvy
“Tell my Luna to check the papers on the land grant,” I said absentmindedly to one of the omegas this morning.
The young she–wolf stiffened, her eyes wide as if I’d said something forbidden. Her voice was barely a whisper. “Alpha the Luna in que remember?”
Silence fell between us, heavy and cold. My fingers clenched on the edge of my desk, and I waved her off sharply. “Get out She scurried away like prey sensing a predator.
As soon as the door shut behind her, I sank into my chair and pressed my fingertips to my temples. Damn it. Why did I say that?
I tried to shake it off, focusing on the endless papers in front of me. Deeds. Patrol reports. Trade deals. Nothing held my attention
My gaze kept drifting to the empty comer where Ivy used to place the lunch basket she made for me. Sometimes it was soup, sometimes her spicy rabbit stew, other times it was just tea and cornbread–but it always came with a note.l
I ran a hand down my face. Her scent had faded from this room, but my memories were stubborn.!!
Back then, Ivy would walk in without knocking, sit on the edge of my desk, and tell me straight if I was making a bad decision. She had opinions, Smart ones. I never said it out loud, but I respected her counsel more than half the damn elders.X
A soft knock pulled me from my thoughts.
It was Farah. She slipped in with a pout, arms crossed under her swollen belly. “Ethan, I’m hungry.”
I blinked at her. The kitchen staff-”
“I don’t want food from them,” she interrupted, her voice whiny. “I want something you cook. Remember when you that one time? That was so good. Make that again?”
you made eggs and bacon
the toast but said
but said the effort was sweet. Still, I
My jaw tensed. I’d only made it once, and it was a disaster. Ivy had teased me for burning the sighed and got up. “Fine. For the baby.” Farah followed me to the kitchen, humming like she’d won a prize, I cracked a few eggs into the pan and tried to ignore the ail popping unto my wrist. The scent of sizzling bacon filled the air, but instead of comforting me, it made my chest tighten.
Ivy used to cook bacon with honey glaze. Said it reminded her of the first time her parents took her to the wet market. She’d made breakfast for the entire pack house one morning–just because. She’d laughed as pups ran around the table, stealing sausage from each other’s plates.!.
When we sat down at the table, I pushed the plate toward Farah.
She grinned. “Thanks, Alpha, You’re getting better at this. She took a big bite and moaned exaggeratedly. “Mmm. So much better thar what Ivy used to make, right?”
I didn’t answer. I couldn’t.
Farah kept talking, completely unaware of the way my hand clenched around my fork.
“Can you believe she’s just gone? Poof. Out of our lives. I heard from the omega that she didn’t even say goodbye to anyone. Good riddance, I say. Now it’s just us. Me, you, and the baby. We’ll be a real family now!
I chewed slowly, staring at the eggs like they might give me an escape. I couldn’t even taste the food. My stomach was churning. But I didn’t say anything.
I just stayed quiet. Like a coward.!!
After breakfast, Farah went to rest, and I found myself standing outside the Luna quarters again. The room was empty, the scent erased, the closet bare But the trash bins outside.. they told a different story.
I crouched down beside them.
There it was. The gifts I gave her. All of it discarded–neatly, almost respectfully–but it was still trash now.
My wolf whimpered. I wanted to snap at him, but I couldn’t. Because I felt it too. That tightness in the chest. That ache behind my eyes li She was really gone.
And l’hadn’t even noticed when she started slipping through my fingers.
My fists curled.
