I forced myself to stand, packing only a few clothes and the small keepsakes my mother had left behind.
As I turned to leave, Leon entered the room. His gaze dropped to the bundle in my arms, and his brows knit together.
“Where are you going?” he asked.
“I’m leaving,” I said firmly.
He scoffed. “Leaving? And where exactly do you think you’ll go? You’re a rejected wolf with no bloodline. What future do you imagine awaits you out there?
“Do you want to become a rogue? Or be caught by another pack and sold as a slave?”
“That’s not your concern,” I replied, trying to pass him.
He grabbed my arm. “Pauline, stop this. Don’t be childish.”
His voice softened slightly. “I know this hurts, but the situation is complicated. Mia is the true Alpha’s daughter. I have to be with her, just for the pack.”
He looked at me like I should understand.
“Stay in the Omega quarters for now,” he continued. “Once things calm down, I’ll come back for you. You still have a place in my heart.”
I yanked my arm free, his touch turning my stomach.
“It’s over, Leon,” I said coldly. “The mate bond is broken.”
His expression darkened, lips twisting into a bitter smirk. “So that’s it? You’d rather run off alone? Without me, you won’t last. You’re not the Alpha’s daughter anymore, and your ‘father’ won’t lift a finger to help you.
“To them, you’re just a mistake that’s been corrected.”
I didn’t respond and just walked past him.
Outside, I saw my father waiting. I approached slowly, and he didn’t speak right away.
“You no longer carry the Black Stone bloodline,” he said flatly. “Leave the pack immediately.”
He handed me a worn pouch. “There’s gold, rations, and a silver dagger inside. Take it.”
I took the pouch silently.
“Father,” I said softly, “I’m leaving. Take care.”
He didn’t answer. “Go. The night is young. Don’t come back.”
Then he turned and walked away, as though the past eighteen years had meant nothing. Without the bloodline, I had no place in this pack. Even if I stayed, he would have cast me out.
He was no longer my father, just a leader fulfilling his duty.
And I… was no one.
The sky was dark, the moon veiled behind thick clouds. I walked through the village alone, past faces I once knew. Their stares burned into my skin.
“There she is, the fake.”
“She’s still here? Shameless.”
“If it were me, I would’ve disappeared already.”
I didn’t look at them and just kept walking.
When I reached the edge of the forest, I paused only for a moment before stepping into the shadows.
I was a rogue now.
No home. No mate. No family.
Everything I once was had been brutally stripped away.
Still, I didn’t cry.
Tears wouldn’t change anything.
Even as my wolf howled in pain, I kept moving.
The forest was dangerous, but I had to get as far from the pack as I could before night truly fell.
I needed shelter, safety, warmth, or anything.
But my limbs were growing heavy, and the edges of my vision blurred.
Still, I didn’t stop walking.
Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella’s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.
