Chapter 12
With that settled, I spent the day packing up what Ember and I would need for a long stay away. We weren’t taking much–just the essentials. I wanted to keep things simple and focus on us, free from the drama that had surrounded us for too long.
Before we left, I stopped by John’s place to officially hand over my responsibilities as Alpha. He was a little nervous, but his excitement showed through. “I won’t let you down, Cassandra,” he promised, determination clear in his voice.
“I know you won‘ t,” I replied, clapping him on the shoulder. “And remember, if anything comes up, Rachel’s got your back.”
With everything in place, Ember and I left town early the next morning, heading to a new city where we could blend in, explore, and live quietly for a while. We’d find a cozy little place to stay, maybe close to the
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ocean or somewhere surrounded by trees- just somewhere we could breathe.
2 Years Later
It had been a full two years since Ember and I left town, and I still felt the weight of the decision to leave everything behind. We’d found a cozy little spot near the ocean where the waves were calming, and the sunsets painted the sky in beautiful shades of orange and pink. It was peaceful -exactly what I needed after all the chaos.
One afternoon, while I was playing with Ember in the backyard, I heard a knock at the door. My heart raced as I glanced at her, who was happily stacking her blocks. I wasn’t expecting anyone, but I opened the door cautiously.
Standing there was Drake. He looked different–humbled, maybe even a little worn. Gone was the confident, cocky Alpha I once knew. “Cassandra,” he said, his voice softer than I remembered. “Can we
talk?”
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Chapter 12
I hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to say. “What do you want, Drake?”
“I came to apologize. Again. I know I messed up everything. I wanted to see how
you and Ember are doing,” he said, taking a step closer.
I crossed my arms, keeping my distance.
“We‘ re fine. We‘ ve built a new life here, away from all of that.”
“I understand,” he said, looking down. “But I want to meet her. I’ve missed so
much.”
A mix of emotions stirred inside me. Part of me wanted to tell him to leave, to cut him out of our lives for good. But another part knew Ember deserved to know her father. “Fine. But let me make this clear: live‘ ve moved on, Drake. There’s no replace for you in our lives anymore.”
cent
“Okay,” he nodded, relief washing over is face. “I just want to meet her. I romise I won’t disrupt your life. I just
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pter 12
ent, uns ed you to know I’ve changed.”
ant, Drak
Sure,” I said, trying to keep my voice Again ady. “But I’m not promising anything 5. I wan yond this meeting.”
>ing,” h
er I called for Ember, Drake’s eyes lit
when he saw her. She was just as epingmautiful as I remembered, her dark curls e built uncing as she ran toward me. “Mama,
o’s this?” she asked, looking up at ake with innocent curiosity.
said.lo
ner. Ihis is your dad,” I said, my voice even.
Drake.
rredi, Ember,” he said softly, kneeling int him to her level. “It’s so nice to finally
foret you.”
e deserted
estared at him, her big eyes wide. “You It let me
k like a wolf!”
- Drake
our liveste chuckled, and I felt a twinge of
ith in my chest. It was nice to see him dded, relia
led, trying to connect. But I quickly
want tom
t disrupt
ded myself of everything that had ened.
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Chapter 12
As they talked, I stood off to the side,
listening but also guarding my heart. I had no love left for Drake; he was part of my past, a chapter I was ready to close.
After a few minutes, he shifted the conversation. “Cassandra, about Melanie… I found out she was never pregnant with my child. The baby was someone else‘ s. A rogue. She had an abortion when I found out she was
cheating on me…”
I didn’t care. “Honestly, it doesn‘ t matter anymore, Drake…”
5
