Chapter 168
I stood in the grand hall, my hand brushing over the carved wood of the fireplace. Today, it felt like a mirror reflecting all the love I’d found and all the
heartache I left behind.
The children found me there, their small faces were full of confusion and tears. Lila, the fierce little fiery angel who also happens to be Isabella’s best friend, clung to my leg, her eyes wide with a question she couldn’t voice. “Will you come back?” she whispered breaking my heart.
I knelt down pulling her into my arms, her scent vanilla and wildflowers suddenly too precious to let go. “Always, my angel. This place will always be my home and you guys will always be my family so I will come constantly to check when you guys and if you want to visit me then you can come anytime
as well” I promised, even as my voice cracked.
I think she misses Isabella even more especially because the kids haven’t come back from their visit with their father so they couldn’t be here to say
goodbye but I’m also happy about that because I’m going to surprise
everybody.
“I’ll never stop being your alpha.” Her brother, Benny Jr., thrust a crumpled paper into my hand which was drawing of me, the Crescent Pack, and them holding my habd “For you to always remember us” he said gruffly, then
bolted. He is so shy that it’s adorable and I got a lot of drawings from all the
children and some of them got me flowers from the pack garden even
though I warned them not to pluck them but today was the only exception.
I will always have a soft spot for children and they’ve also helped me heal
and come to terms with my miscarriage
Because at the end of the day Astor and I lost a child and maybe I’m always
going to feel the pain a lot more as the mother but that doesn’t mean that he
feels any less because it was his child as well and I took away his chance to
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grieve properly by constantly blaming it on him.
By noon, the pack had gathered in the courtyard. I’d told them I needed to leave, but none of them could mask their sadness. Even the elders, who’d once watched me like hawks, stepped forward to touch my hands, to press tokens into my palm, a silver pendant, a dried sprig of lavender, a carved wolf tooth. “You’re our Alpha,” an older woman said, her voice trembling. “Even when you leave, you’ll always be ours.”
Then came Chase.
He stood apart from the others, his shoulders stiff, eyes shadowed. We’d never been close, but in the past six months, something had shifted.
The hostility had faded, replaced by a quiet understanding. I’d chosen him to lead the Crescent Pack not just because he was strong, but because he’d
earned it.
I saw the change in him and how willing he was to work on Kimberley’s forgiveness and to be honest he earned mine.
I’m probably never going to forget and I think he expected me to remove him from his position as the beta but I believe that if something is not bothering you so why change it and the reason why I’m leaving him in charge is because he and Isabella share a really good and funny relationship so I know that in the future he will be the best person to help her take over her position.
“I know why you’re doing this,” he said, his voice low. “But if you need anything… any of it, you come back.” He handed me a small, leather–bound journal. “From the kids in the orphanage ” I looked down -For Mama Faith.
My throat tightened.
“Thank you, Chase. I’ll never forget what you’ve done.” He nodded, but his eyes held so much more, regret, maybe even a plea for forgiveness.
Then Kimberly arrived.
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She’d been avoiding me since I announced my decision, and now she stood in the doorway, her face pale. “Faith,” she began, her voice shaking.
She turned to me, her face a mask of pain and determination. “You
remember when you told me we were the same? The same broken people
chasing a man who always screws up? I thought I was right. But I was wrong. I’ve spent years blaming him, him… but I haven’t once asked myself what I wanted. I want him. My mate, the love of my life–I want to fight for him. Even
if it breaks me.”
I know that she thinks that I’m angry or disappointed in her first staying but I don’t think I’ve ever been prouder of her and the woman that she has become and she has proved to be an exceptional beta female.
“You’re a better woman than me because maybe I should have done the same thing but I’m finally going to be brave enough to face everything.”
She nodded, wiping her tears. “Then go, Faith. Go get your happy ending.”
By sunset, I was at the gates, my bag packed, my heart heavier than it should’ve been. The kids had insisted on walking me to the car, their small hands clutching at my jacket. “Take the picture,” Lila begged, handing me a framed photo of us, me, Chase, Kimberly, the children, most of the Pack members who came to Say Goodbye side by side. I pressed a kiss to her forehead. “I’ll keep it close.”
As my car pulled away, I watched the mansion shrink in the rearview mirror. The pack had given me everything–love, respect, a second chance. But they hadn’t given me him.
I always knew that me staying here was temporary and it was time to go home but what I will find there is either going to make me or break me.
