8#08

8

The silvery glow of the moon seeped into the woodland estate through gaps in the wooden shutters, casting an eerie light across the chamber. I sat in the dimly lit office, with only the soft rustling of foliage outside breaking the silence. My talons had torn the paper I'd been clutching—a note from Lila, her caustic words searing into my thoughts.

"You were merely convenient, Freya. A temporary solution while Kade sought his genuine partner."

Each phrase was like a sharp splinter, digging deeper into my soul. I had offered Kade my allegiance, my affection, and my very essence—joined to him through the hallowed moon ceremony. Yet now, it appeared I was nothing more than a stopgap while Lila, the alpha council's preferred choice, seized the position I believed was mine.

The following dawn, sunbeams flooded the lodge, bright and soothing, but I felt none of their warmth. Kade had already departed—once more. The vacant mattress, the faint trace of his scent fading from the space, were harsh reminders of the widening gap between us.

In the den, a pile of attire was strewn across the sofa—rosy silks and velvets. Lila's aroma clung to them like a noxious scent. My inner beast bristled. Pink had once been my cherished hue, a symbol of comfort and devotion. Now, it taunted me, a facade concealing treachery.

"He's constructing our future, Freya. You were never part of his intentions," her voice reverberated in my mind, echoing the words from her visit the day before.

My grasp tightened on the coffee cup in my hand, fissures spreading through the pottery. I had stood by Kade's side when he battled to claim the Silver Fang pack's leadership, backed him through the merciless trials, shed blood for him when adversaries sought his demise. And now, Lila, with her flawless lineage and council connections, reaped the benefits.

Midmorning brought an unwelcome interruption. The doorbell chimed, the sharp sound jolting me from my downward spiral of thoughts. When I swung the door open, a youthful courier stood there, his scent neutral but tinged with discomfort.

"This is for you, Luna," he stated, handing over a sleek, obsidian envelope embossed with the Silver Fang emblem.

I tore it open, dread coiling in my gut. Inside was a deed—a property certificate. But my name wasn't on it. Instead, it bore Lila's. My chest constricted as I scanned the address: the newly constructed pack penthouse Kade had once mentioned, a place he'd claimed would be ours.

Then, her message arrived:

"Kade has made his decision, Freya. He's providing for me and our offspring. The penthouse is just the beginning. Soon, you'll have your independence. Isn't that what you desired?"

My inner beast howled, claws scraping against the fragile barrier of restraint I struggled to maintain. My independence? As if that could ever make up for the betrayal, the rejection.

I forced down the lump in my throat, compelling myself to remain composed. Destroying things would only satisfy my beast's fury momentarily. I needed lucidity. A strategy.

Kade returned that evening. His presence filled the room, his commanding aura as alpha undeniable, but his scent—a mixture of pine and rain—no longer brought me solace.

"How was your day?" he inquired, his voice rough.

I observed him, searching for any hint of guilt. His amber eyes avoided mine. "Fine," I answered, my tone curt.

He nodded absent-mindedly and occupied himself with his phone, the tension between us thick as a thundercloud. My inner beast snarled, demanding confrontation, but I quieted her. Not yet.

As I turned to exit the room, I paused. "Kade," I said softly, my voice unwavering.

He looked up, surprised.

"I'll be departing in a week," I said, as I watched his face carefully.

His brows knitted together, and for the first time in ages, I saw genuine alarm cross his features. "A journey? Where would you go?"

I allowed a bitter smile to curve my lips. "Precisely what I said. Seven days. That's all the time you have left to explain yourself."

His hands clenched into fists, his inner beast rippling beneath the surface. "Freya, what do —"

But I was already walking away, my heart heavy yet determined. I had endured enough. The time for silence was over. Seven days. That was all the time I had given myself to reclaim my destiny.

As the door closed behind me, chilly air swept through the room, and the shadows deepened. In the distance, a wolf's sorrowful howl pierced the night, as if warning about the tempest to come.