Chapter 5
1165 Words
Chapter 5
Emilia's POV
I prayed I could just sink into the earth and vanish as I dragged my feet on the gravel path. I felt pain in every muscle. These days, I was too emotional, tired, and heartbroken. Everything was twisted up and felt a hundred times heavier during pregnancy.
Ahead, the icy, inhospitable walls of the Nightwolf Packhouse loomed. I have no desire to return here. I thought I would never come back, so I left all of my belongings behind when I left. But once more, I was here. only for my belongings. Nothing more.
No farewells. No justifications. No seeing Maximilian, of course.
Feeling the gentle surge of life beneath my fingers, I put a hand to my tummy. My chest constricted.
This is not fair to you. superior to him.
The thought of parenting this child by myself was painful. I had also been raised without a father. I was too familiar with the anguish. But I couldn't make a man stay if he didn't want us to. Particularly not Maximilian, who had already established a new life with Lena.
The idea twisted in my stomach like a knife.
I became anxious when I heard a noise behind me. The silence was broken by a voice that was familiar.
"You’re back."
Halfway through zipping my luggage, I froze.
You have three days, Emilia. You were away for three days in a row. What sort of Luna vanishes without saying anything?
I zipped the suitcase a bit more forcefully than I should have, allowing the noise to mask the swell of rage that was building inside of me. I turned around slowly.
Maximilian's mother was standing there. Her mouth was pinched in a tiny line, her arms pulled tightly across her chest.
It was just my luck.
I had never been liked by her. Nor did she ever conceal it. I was always accused of being too weak, too soft, too... me. Whatever I did, it was never sufficient. I used to go out of my way to win her approval. When she made fun of me, I smiled. When she insulted me, I nodded. Act as though it didn't hurt.
Now, though? I was going out for good now?
I had stopped swallowing it.
"Funny," I remarked in a bland voice. You always wanted me gone, didn't you? You should be glad I vanished, shouldn't you?
When I hit her, her eyes widened. She took a step forward and poked a finger into the air.
"You! Do you speak to your mother-in-law in such a manner?
I chuckled dryly as I snapped my bag's final buckle.
"Calm down. You won't be my mother-in-law for very long. The divorce between Maximilian and me is imminent.
The words came out with a harsh flavor. But there it was. The reality.
Her mouth opened and closed like a fish gasping for air as her face flushed.
"You ungrateful little—"
I interrupted her and dragged my luggage to the door. "Save it," I said.
She wasn't finished. Not even close.
Emilia, you're going to regret this! Nobody will desire a pregnant, used-up—"
"Better than staying here and rotting away like you," I muttered to myself silently.
I followed her gasp down the hall. I didn’t look back.
I ought to have been more aware. I assumed there wouldn't be any commotion if I slipped in and out. As if the Nightwolf Pack could ever do that.
When I arrived at the main entrance, I yanked firmly on the door.
"Leaving so soon?"
My heart nearly stopped. That voice seemed familiar to me.
Maximilian.
I turned around slowly. He blocked the doorway like a wall I couldn't scale by standing there with his arms crossed. My suitcase caught his icy gaze.
"You weren’t even going to say goodbye?"
"Why would I?" I kept my voice level, even though my chest was thumping. "You made it clear enough, Max."
He clenched his jaw.
"You’re running away."
"You gave me no reason to stay."
He moved in closer. I took a step back.
"Is this about Lena?"
"No," I yelled. It's about the fact that you never choose me. never even made an attempt.
He flinched like the words hit him.
"You’re pregnant."
There was no question. He was aware.
I put a protective hand over my bump.
"What if I am? You don't seem to care."
A shadow, halfway between guilt and rage, moved across his face.
"You’re carrying my child."
"You have another child already. Go look after her. My voice broke.
He opened his mouth, then closed it.
He said, "I didn’t know," following a protracted silence.
"Would it have changed anything if you did?" I responded.
Quiet.
That's right.
I brushed past him. My bag collided with the door frame.
"Wait," he said, stealing my wrist.
I said, "Let go," with my teeth clenched.
"Emilia, don’t do this."
"What are you not doing? Get out of here before you hurt me once more.
"You think I don’t care about you?"
I wrenched my hand away.
"Actions speak louder than words, Max."
Desperately, he looked into my eyes.
"I messed up."
"No kidding."
He combed his hair with his hand.
"I desired to make things right. I intended to"
"When? After the baby’s born? After you marry Lena?" I laughed, but it sounded broken.
"I never planned to marry her."
"Liar."
"I swear"
Behind us, the door crashed open.
Maximilian's dad.
"What’s going on here?" He had a whip-like voice.
"Nothing," I blurted out.
His mouth twisted cruelly as he glanced at Maximilian and then at me.
He said, "Good riddance," to me. "We don’t need weak blood in the Nightwolf Pack."
Startled, I blinked.
Maximilian clasped his fists at his sides.
"Father—"
"Quiet," his dad insisted. "Let her go."
Suddenly, it was finished.
I took my suitcase, swallowed the lump in my throat, and stepped outside into the chilly evening air.
With a loud thud, the door closed behind me.
I refrained from crying. Not quite yet.
The gravel road was covered in lengthy shadows as the moon hung thick and low in the sky.
Emilia, one foot in front of the other. Don't turn around.
I sensed it just as I was approaching the Pack gates.
My wrist tingled oddly and sharply.
I glanced down. There was a faint glow coming from the silver bracelet Maximilian had given me when we first mated.
I said in a whisper, "What the hell..."
The delicate, eager radiance pulsed.
Then, suddenly, the bracelet became shackle-tight around my wrist.
I screamed and scratched at it.
My arm began to hurt. My legs gave way, and I fell heavily to the ground.
There was a problem. Absolutely incorrect.
I attempted to scream, but it was inaudible. The darkness closed in on me.
Loud voices, angry echoes from the Packhouse. I heard footsteps running.
Maximilian.
But it was too late.
Everything faded.
- Writer
