Chapter 161
+25 Points
We were yelling. Right in the middle of the Pack House, outside, in the open, where everyone could
see us.
“Stop, Faith,” Astor said, his voice dropping instantly to that dangerous quiet tone that meant a
storm was coming. “We need to talk. Now.”
We walked quickly back to our own house. The tension between us was thick and ugly, like a heavy
blanket draped over the air. I could practically taste his anger.
When we stepped through the door, He just turned to look at me eyes blazing.
“You think you can make decisions on my behalf?” I asked, the words barely contained. “You decided I was just going to step down from the Crescent Pack? Without even asking me?” I didn’t wait for him to Rage on me because I was angry on my own.
“I was trying to—”
“No, No excuses” I stepped forward, making him take a step back. “You think you know what’s best for me. You think you can handle my duties and my life.”
My head was spinning. I wish he would just understand that I need space and time to find myself
but he just won’t let it go.
I took a deep, shuddering breath, trying to control the fury shaking her body. “We didn’t get to speak about this properly last night, but I already decided then. I am the Alpha of the Crescent pack because it’s my duty. Whether I chose it or not, it chose me, and I have to answer that call.”
I leaned in, my voice intense now, full of purpose. “Those people deserve a leader who will watch out for them. They cannot live forever in the shadow of the fact that their last Alpha was a traitor. That’s not fair. They are innocent people. They have children, Faith. Children who still deserve to
live a normal life. I will not let anything happen to them.”
The silence stretched out, heavy and painful. I felt a cold knot tighten in my stomach.
“And what will happen to us?” he asked looking defeated. “What will happen to them? Our children? Our family?”
He looked at me, and the anger was replaced by a terrible, heartbreaking resignation. He looked
utterly exhausted but so am I.
“I love you,” I said, the words quiet and final. “And more than anything, I want to build our family. But
it’s very difficult because we can’t seem to catch a break.”
Chapter 161
+25 Points
A bitter, sad smile touched his face but I carried on. “I deserve to have a break. I haven’t caught
one ever since I was born. Finding my mate was supposed to be my big break, my final chance at
happiness. But instead, you make me even more miserable.” my voice cracked. “I don’t want that
for myself. And I definitely don’t want the kids to grow up with a mother and father who hate each
other.”
I took a step closer, reaching for him hand. “I don’t hate you, Astor. I know you’re really angry at me,
but that can’t be hate.”
He pulled her hand back, shaking his head sharply. “but if I stay here I will end up hating you. And I
don’t want to bleed that kind of emotion toward our children. They deserve better than that.”
“So what does that mean? You’re just going to leave me, then? Just run off and go be happy as the
Alpha of the Crescent Pack?” He asked.
“We are mates. We can’t go away from each other, even if we wanted to. I hope someday, we will
be able to build a relationship that is healthy and happy. But for right now? Today? There is just too
much between us. It will not work.”
“We need space,” I stated, firmly. ” And after some time maybe we can heal, maybe then we can
finally look toward our relationship and be happy.”
“You’re just running,” he accused me “Just like you always do when things get tough.”
“Don’t you dare throw that at me,” I because now he is bringing up the past which is something that
I don’t even want to think about. “Because you happen to be the biggest coward of us both! When
things get tough, you always, always somehow find a way to be innocent of it, or find a way to
make me look like the bad guy. I’m tired of it. I just want to go away from you because I am
miserable with you.”
I felt his pain though after I said those words. “I’m miserable without you, Faith.”
“4
“We don’t have to go away forever,” I repeated, softening my voice again, trying to offer a lifeline. Just a few weeks, maybe months. I’m not sure about the timeline, but whatever it takes for both of
us to heal and be each other’s best, not worst.”
“The kids? What happens to them? Do we do it like the humans do–custody and weekends?” he
asked.
“You are always welcome to come and see the kids. The kids will always be welcome to come here and be with you for as long as they like. We are not enemies at the end of the day. We are
mates and we are parents. We just need a little break.”
I went over to him and hugged him“I know you are angry right now, but I need this in order to
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forgive you. As of now, there is so much between us, so many unspoken and spoken words, that
they will not just pass if we stay together and pretend everything is okay.”
“I don’t want to lose you,” he pleaded but my mind was already made up.
“You will never lose me,” I said. “But if I stay with you, then you will lose me. Because our relationship is killing my morale, my self–esteem, everything in me. And I just need to get away.”
And I also have to come to peace with what I did to Kyle,” I whispered. “Killing somebody is not a joke, especially your own brother. I need time to mourn him and understand him. I want to get to
know Kyle, not just as a man who wanted revenge, but as my brother. What better way to do that
than to go be with the people who knew him?”
“I will come back but for now just let me go”
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