A Luna's Escape

Aftermath

Cole's POV

I burst through the door of my home, my eyes scanning every inch of the walls within their view.

"SOPHIE!" I called out as I ran through the house. I bounded up the stairs, skipping as many steps as I could.

"SOPHIE!" I called out again. My heart pounded in my chest as I continued to search the house. My hand hit the frame of our bedroom door. I took a deep breath as I stood in the doorway.

The room was void of life. Yet everything seemed in its right place. I slowly walked into the room.

"Sophie?" I called out. I peeked in the bathroom, but she wasn't there. I noticed that some items seemed to be missing, but I couldn't tell what. Something looked different. I put my hand to my head with force as I scolded myself for not being home more. If I was home more, maybe I could remember what was off about the room.

"Soph? Where are you, love?" I turned around, my eyes catching the closet. My heart sank as I noticed her side was almost completely empty.

I rushed over to the closet for a better look. The light had been left on inside. A few shirts and random items were carelessly tossed on the floor. Most of her clothes and shoes were gone. I fled out of the closet and over to her dresser. I threw open the drawers, angrily tossing them aside as each one I opened was empty. With my hand on my hip, I ran my other hand through my hair. Anger was consuming me.

"HOW COULD YOU LEAVE ME?" I roared. I turned around, kicking her nightstand next to the bed.

My eyes caught something flash as it flew through the air. I dove for it, scooping it up as it rolled across the floor. I held Sophie's engagement ring in my hand. The large, square diamond sparkled as the light hit it. Tears welled up in my eyes as I fell to the floor.

"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?" I slammed my fists against my head repeatedly as guilt began to replace my anger.

This was all my fault. I began to sob. I ran her off. Somehow I knew she wouldn't stay. I knew she would leave me. I never thought she actually would though. I expected her to stay here, playing the happy wife while I snuck around with Maggie. I didn't love Maggie though. She was just a good time. A way to relieve my stress. I loved Sophie. I wanted to be with Sophie, but I neglected her. I treated her so poorly and now she was gone.

"Baby? Baby, what's wrong?" Maggie's voice hit all of my last nerves. How dare she show up in my house. She quickly ran up to me, kneeling on the floor in front of me. She put her hands on my wrists, shoving her face up under mine, forcing me to look at her.

"LEAVE!" I growled. She winced, sitting back, but not leaving the room.

"Cole, baby, what happened?" She gestured to the room.

"She's gone." I said through silent tears.

"Sophie? Sophie is gone?" A smile crossed her lips. She quickly tried to hide it, but I saw it. I clenched my fingers tightly around Sophie's ring.

"Yes. She left me. Because of you." My face was contorted in pure rage. I was angry. Angry at Maggie, angry at what we had put Sophie through, angry that she was gone, but most of all, I was angry at myself.

"Well, that's a good thing. Now we can be together, right?" She smiled, reaching for my face. I grabbed her hand just before she made contact. "Cole? This is what you wanted, right? You can mark me now. Look, your mark is almost gone." I quickly touched my neck. I noticed a severe burning and tingling sensation. It had been there since the beginning of all of this, but I hadn't noticed through the rest of the pain I was experiencing. I shot up, quickly racing into the bathroom. I examined my neck in the mirror. Maggie was right, my mark, the mark Sophie had given me, was fading. The area was inflamed and a bright red color. The small moon shape was barely visible.

I remember the night she gave me my mark. Being a werewolf with no wolf she didn't have fangs like a full blood werewolf would, but she had longer and sharper teeth than most humans. She was able to leave a shallow mark on my neck the night we sealed our bond.

"What did you do! What did you do!" I spun circles in the bathroom, not knowing what I should do now. I had one hand on my neck, the other ran through my thick hair.

"She did what we wanted her to do." I looked up to see Maggie standing in the doorway of the bathroom. She leaned against the wall. "Now that she's gone, we can be together. Don't you see, Cole? We're finally free."

"Free? My mate is gone and all you can think about is you!" I shouted.

"Cole, baby, I'm thinking about you too! This is what you wanted!" She came over to me, throwing her arms around my neck.

"I didn't want to do this!"

"You said you did."

"I know! But I never meant it!"

"What do you mean?" A look of hurt washed over her face. Her hands slipped free from around my neck as she put distance between us.

"I don't love you Maggie. I never did."

"But, you said…"

"I KNOW WHAT I SAID." I shouted. "Look, I got caught up in all of…of this." I waved my hands around in front of Maggie.

"I got caught up in having fun, letting loose. I had no intention of leaving Sophie. She's my mate."

"MATE!" Maggie spit out. "She doesn't even have a wolf!"

"I KNOW!" I ran my hands through my hair again. Turning to look at myself in the mirror. "At least, I thought I knew."

"What are you talking about?" Maggie quipped. Her hands folded across her chest.

With Sophie's lack of wolf, she had no scent. I couldn't tell if she was my mate or not. We had chosen each other. The second I saw her I thought she was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. I knew I had to have her. Something about her told me she was mine, for life. I had never expected a second chance, but the moon goddess blessed me with one. My fated mate had left me. I was wrapped up in my alpha duties and admittedly not the best husband. She became tired of not having a supportive spouse, and chose another mate. She suffered through her infidelity, I suffered as she severed our bond in secret. The same as Sophie had just done. I didn't deserve it the first time, but I definitely did this time. I promised Sophie that I would never cheat on her or leave her, and here I was, cheating on her. The bond breaking this time was the most pain I had ever felt. More intense than it had been the first time. I knew she was my second chance. She had no idea. Without a wolf, she couldn't feel the bond the way I could. She thought I had chosen her of my own free will. She had no idea.

"She was my second chance mate." I explained to Maggie.

"Why would moon goddess give you a wolfless second chance? You're an alpha! You can't mate with a human!"

"People do it every day! Look at Sophie's parents. Her dad was an alpha and he married a human!"

"And look at her! She has no wolf! How is she supposed to give you a proper heir? I'm a better choice than her and you know it!"

"OUT!" I roared. She whimpered and backed out of the bathroom. "You need to leave! I never want to see you again!"

"Wow." She put her hands up, a look of disgust all over her face.

Just as I was about to demand she leave again, Lucas came bounding up the stairs and into the bathroom.

"Cole? Dude, what's wrong?" He panted.

"Sophie's gone." My shoulders fell as I brushed past Lucas and Maggie, slumping over on the bed.

"Wait, what do you mean she's gone?"

"GONE! She left me."

"What? Why?" He feigned shock.

"You know why." I gestured to Maggie. I watched as she rolled her eyes, looking at Lucas.

"He wanted her to leave." She sneered.

"What are you still doing here?" I growled again. She smiled devilishly, turning on her heels, stopping just before she exited the room.

"Don't worry Cole, you'll be begging to have me back soon enough. You know where to find me." I heard her cackle as she faded down the stairs.

"Sophie knew?" Lucas gestured towards the door where Maggie had just disappeared from.

"Yes. Everyone knew." I sighed. "It's not like I tried too hard to hide it."

"No, you did not." Lucas said. "What now?"

"We have to find her." I shot up from off the bed.

"How?" Lucas asked. "She wasn't a wolf. She has no scent."

"I don't know, but I have to get her back." Tears welled up in my eyes again. "Luke, she was my second chance. I loved her. I was stupid for sleeping with Maggie."

"Yeah." Luke interrupted me. I shot him a glare.

"Don't rub it in. Maggie will never be the woman she was. She will never be the Luna Sophie was going to be."

"Nope." Lucas took his phone from his pocket, glancing at it, his eyes widening in shock.

"What's wrong?" I was instantly at his side.

"It's from Sophie. She's at the store." I ripped the phone from his hand, glancing at the text.

'Hello Lucas. I've left Cole's car in the parking lot of the store. The keys are under the passenger's seat, as well as this phone. Don't come looking for me. Tell Cole I hope he is happy, and finds the love he is searching for. I wish you both the best.

Sophie.'

I handed the phone back to Lucas. I could feel the color draining from my face.

"We have to go. NOW!" I said to Lucas as I rushed down the stairs and to my car. I have to find her.