Chapter 5
Melanie giggled, nuzzling closer to him. “I guess you‘ re right. She never did understand you the way I do.”
I swallowed hard, my heart pounding. The way they spoke about me–as if I were some distant, inconsequential figure, a shadow of my former self–was unbearable.
I should‘ ve turned away, but I couldn’t. Not yet.
Then, a slow smirk spread across Melanie’s face, the kind that said, *I know you‘ re here. I know you‘ ve been watching* Her look dripped with smug satisfaction, as if she’d already won, as if I was just some obstacle she’d finally pushed aside.
But instead of breaking down, I felt… calm. It hurt, of course it did, but it was almost like the pain had reached its peak, and there was nothing left to give.
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I’d done my crying. I’d felt the heartbreak, the betrayal. Now, there was only this odd, empty peace.
I met her gaze and just smiled, a bitter, knowing smile. I raised an eyebrow, my look clear. *Take him. He’s all yours.* I didn’t care anymore. Let her have him, all of him, the lies, the secrets, the empty promises.
With that, I turned on my heel, walking away from them, from him, from everything we once were. For the first time, it felt like I wasn’t the one losing something. I was the one finally letting go.
I walked back home, soaked to the bone, each step feeling heavier than the last. By the time I got to the house, all I wanted was to crawl into bed and disappear under the covers. But as soon as I opened the door, there was Rachel, my Gamma friend, staring at me with wide eyes, looking horrified.
“Oh my goddess, what happened to you?”
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she gasped, rushing over.
“It‘ s… a long story,” I mumbled, trying to keep it together. But the exhaustion, the hurt–it was all catching up with me.
Without saying another word, Rachel guided me to the bathroom and started running a hot bath. I just sat there, numb, staring at the wall. She didn’t ask questions or push, just helped me out of my drenched clothes and into the warm water. The heat soaked into me, easing the tension in my muscles, but it didn’t do much for the ache in my chest.
After the bath, she wrapped me in a thick blanket and handed me a mug of hot chocolate. I took a sip, feeling the warmth spread through me as I sank onto the couch, finally feeling a bit of comfort.
Rachel sat across from me, watching carefully, waiting for me to speak. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself.
“Rachel, I need you to call the pack elders.
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tomorrow,” I said quietly, staring down at my cup. “I’m done with Drake. I want to break the bond… officially.”
She looked at me, stunned for a second, then nodded slowly. “Are you sure, Cass?”
I nodded, feeling an odd sense of relief just saying it out loud. “Yeah. It’s over. He’s made his choice, and I’m done being his second option.”
Rachel reached over, squeezing my hand.
“I’ve got you. Whatever you need.”
That night, I lay in bed, completely exhausted but too restless to sleep. Just as I was starting to drift off, my phone buzzed. Drake‘ s name flashed on the screen. For a second, I thought about ignoring it. I didn’t think I could handle another one of his lies. But curiosity got the better of me- I wanted to hear what excuse he had this
time.
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1 picked up, trying to keep my voice steady.
“Hello?”
“Hey, babe,” he said casually, like nothing was wrong. “I won t be home tonight. There’s something important I need to take care of. Don’t wait up, alright?” And before I could even respond, he hung up.
I stared at my phone, fingers flying over the keyboard before I could stop myself.
“Important business, huh? Is that what you call making out with Melanie in the rain and playing perfect dad? Nice touch with the ‘I love you, by the way. Real
smooth.”
