Chapter 9
Two days before the mating ceremony, Felix and I went back to our separate homes.
When he dropped me off, he held my hand so tightly, it was like he was afraid I might slip away.
“Lydia,” he said, searching my eyes, “we’re still doing the mating ceremony… right?”
I didn’t answer.
But he nodded to himself anyway, like saying it aloud could make it true. “Yeah. Of course we are. We’re getting mated.”
That night, I snuck back to the house filled with all our memories.
I packed up everything that belonged to me.
Every photo, every keepsake. I even made sure not a single strand of my hair was left behind.
What I did leave?
A pile of broken gifts he’d once given me. The wedding dress I’d slashed open.
The journal I used to plan the ceremony.
And the mating bands still untouched in their box.
I really wanted to see the look on his face when he realized I was gone.
I bet it’ll be a moment to remember.
The day before the ceremony.
Mia posted again: [The man I love is getting mated tomorrow. And I’m not the bride.)–along with a photo of her bandaged wrist and her lying in a hospital bed.
Ithrew on my sunglasses and parked outside the pack hospital.
It didn’t take long
Felix showed up in a rush
Mia collapsed into his arms like she’d been waiting for this exact moment.
He didn’t hug her back–but he didn’t push her away either.
From a distance, I couldn’t hear what they were saying.
Her head rested against his chest as she sobbed uncontrollably.
And me? For once, I didn’t feel a thing, Not anger. Not jealousy. Not even pain.
I suddenly remembered something–from our second year together.
It had been late, and we were tangled up in bed when I asked, “What if someday you fall for someone else? Someone younger, prettler?”
He kissed my cheek and laughed. “What are you talking about? No one could ever look better than you. And besides… if I ever cheated, then there wouldn’t be a single decent man left in the world.”
He palled me closer then, like a promise
“I met you at twelve. Got with you at twenty–five. Half my life belongs to you. I could never love an
anyone else.”
Turns out it was all a lie.
My phone buzzed.
Chapter
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It was Lucy.
(My advisor is a total legend. You’re gonna love it here!]
[I still can’t believe you applied for the PhD. I thought you were joking!]
[When do you land?? I’m picking you up at the airport!!)
I looked up one last time at the pair wrapped up in their little heartbreak drama. Then typed back:
[Tonight.]
Every trace of me in the house was already gone.
In my wedding journal, the final two entries read:
[Two days before the ceremony: I finally understand now–you have to love yourself first. It’s not that I’m unworthy of love. It’s that you were never worthy of mine.]
[One day before the ceremony:
This wasn’t time I gave you it was time I gave myself. Time to watch you closely, to see just how far you’d go. Time to study the way you hurt me without hesitation, how easily you convinced yourself it was all okay.
I needed that time–not for you, but for me. So that when I finally walked away, I’d have no regrets.
I let the disappointment settle in. Let it rot every good memory. Let it eat through whatever love I had left until there was nothing but emptiness.
And when even the emptiness turned sour, when all I felt was disgust–I knew.
Felix, we’re done. Game over.]
I closed the journal, zipped up my suitcase, and turned off my phone.
Then I boarded the plane without looking back.
Some people are meant to be temporary.
If I loved wrong. I’d still walk away right.
The road always leads somewhere new
And honestly? I’m a little excited.
Felix–Guess what? I’m skipping the wedding too. Bet you didn’t see that twist coming.
