48
I hadn’t been in the capital for very long, but the consequences of my choice had already begun to settle heavily over my shoulders. Everything here felt unfamiliar–the skyline, the sounds, even the air. But that unfamiliarity was what I needed most. I had to get away Away from the place that reminded me of everything I’d endured. Away from him. Away from them.}]
When I first arrived at the hotel, I’d shut off my phone without a second thought. I wasn’t ready to deal with the messages, the calls, the inevitable questions. But now, sitting alone on the edge of the stiff bed in a room that smelled of antiseptic and fresh linens, I stared at the dark screen, knowing I couldn’t hide forever. With a reluctant breath, I powered it back on.
The moment the screen lit up, a flurry of vibrations followed–an onslaught of missed calls, voicemails, and unread messages. My chest tightened as I scrolled through the list of names. Most were from pack members, no doubt confused or panicked by my sudden disappearance. But it was the final name that made my pulse stutter: Martin.”
My thumb hovered for a moment before I opened the thread.
Martin:
Where did you go?!
Martin:
We need to talk.
Martin:
Ella, this isn’t how we handle things. Come back. We can work through this.
Tur
I scoffed, my lips curling in disbelief. Work through it? Was that what he thought this was? A temporary disagreement that could be patched over with a conversation? How could he believe that a few texts could erase years of neglect? Years where I’d been nothing more than a shadow in the presence of Marcella. He hadn’t seen the cracks growing in our bond. He hadn’t wanted to.
Another buzz interrupted my thoughts, this time from someone unexpected–Denise. One of the few in the pack who had always understood me, who had seen through the polished surface. I hesitated, then accepted the call.
“Denise?” I said quietly, the name catching slightly in my throat.
[Luna Ella, thank the moon you picked up,] she breathed, relief flooding her voice. [Where are you?]>
“I’m somewhere safe,” I replied vaguely. I didn’t want to give her details–not because I didn’t trust her, but because the less she knew, the better. Still, her concern reached through the distance, and my chest ached. “What’s happening back home?”
[You wouldn’t believe it if I told you,] she whispered, her voice tense. [The Alpha’s been in a frenzy. He’s called emergency meetings, demanded the guards search for you. He’s beyond furious that no one told him you left.]}
I exhaled slowly, bitterness rising. Furious? Of course he was. Not because I was gone–but because I had left on my own terms. Because he hadn’t been the one to decide. I could already picture his anger, his commanding voice ringing through the halls of the packhouse. “He never cared when I walked out before,” I said flatly. “Why should now be any different?”
There was a brief silence on the line, and then Denise spoke, gentler this time. [Because of the letter. He finally understands you’re serious. That this time, you might not come back at all.]
My heart pounded at her words, a storm of emotions crashing inside me. Was this what it took for him to open his eyes? For him to finally realize I was slipping through his fingers?
“Denise,” I whispered, swallowing the lump forming in my throat, “do you know how long it’s been? Years. Years of watching him put Marcella first. How could he be so blind to what he was doing to me?”
[I know,] she said, her voice full of sympathy. [Believe me, we all saw it. We all knew. But I don’t think Martin ever imagined a world where you’d actually walk away. I think he thought you’d always be waiting.]
Her words landed hard, the truth of them undeniable. Martin hadn’t just ignored me–he had expected me to stay. No matter how invisible I felt. No matter how much it hurt. I was the Luna in name only. A placeholder. A symbol. And I had endured it all, hoping he’d eventually see me again.
But now that I had disappeared, it wasn’t me he missed–it was the control he had lost.
“I can’t go back, Denise,” I said firmly, though my voice wavered. “Not to him. Not to the life I was barely surviving.”
She didn’t speak right away, but when she did, her tone was unwavering. [You’re right not to. You’ve always deserved better than what you were given.]
I closed my eyes and let her words sink in. For so long, I had seen myself only as Martin’s Luna. His mate. I’d lost sight of the woman I had been before him. The strength, the will, the identity I’d buried under the weight of loyalty.
“Denise,” I murmured, voice barely above a whisper, “I have no idea what happens next. But I do know one thing–going back to what I left behind isn’t an option.“”
[I get it,] she replied. [Just… promise you’ll stay safe. You know how persistent the Alpha can be.]
I looked out the tall hotel window, the city lights blinking like distant stars, foreign yet oddly comforting. “He might try,” I said, my tone calm but resolute, “but I’m not the same woman he walked away from.“W
When the Luna Walked Away
