Chapter 26 Breaking Points
Chapter 26 Raking Points:
(Presa’s POV)
The sound of hangers dragging across the closet rod echoed in the quiet room. Each scrape felt heavier than the last as pulled out my clothes. Holded them neatly and placed them in the suitcase lying open on the
bed. My hands were trembling, but I refused to let them falter.
The quiet didn’t last long.
steps thundered down the hallway. My heart skipped a beat, but I didn’t stop moving. He swung th door open without a word, his presence filling the entire room like a storm.
landed on the two suitcases, one half–packed, the other already full. The open wardrobe, with half
the clothes missing, didn’t escape his notice either.
“What are you doing?” His voice was quieter than I expected–but cold, sharp, and cutting all the same.
Tm packing.” I replied, my tone even. My hands continued folding as though I didn’t hear him.
For what?” He stepped closer, his boots heavy on the wood floor. “Running away, are you?”
That made me stop. I met his gaze, but I could already see the golden glint in his wolf eyes. Logan was
stirred awake, and he wasn’t hiding it.
“I’m not running.” I said firmly.
“No?” He gestured toward the suitcase. Then what is this? A vacation? Or is it because of him?”
I frowned. “Him?”
“Daniel Rivers,” he bit out, a sneer curling his lips. “Your oh–so–concerned pack brother.”
My blood boiled. ‘Daniel has nothing to do with this.”
“Doesn’t he?” Aaron took a step closer, towering over me, his wolfish aura pressing down hard. “First, it’s long lunches. Now you can’t wait to leave. What’s next, Freya? A love confession?”
I stiffened. “Don’t twist this into something it’s not, Aaron.”
“Twist?” His voice raised just slightly, his tone sharp like a blade. “Explain it to me, then. Why the rush? Did Daniel offer you something better?”
My hands clenched into fists at my sides. “Daniel is my friend. That’s all.”
“Friend,” he repeated coldly, taking another step. His hand shot out, gripping my arm tightly. His strength sent
heat rushing under my skin.
“You’re hurting me,” I said through gritted teeth. Bella growled faintly inside me, a low, protective sound.
“And you’re hurting me!” he snapped. His wolf eyes locked onto mine, filled with both fury and something! couldn’t name.
“I don’t know what is going on in that head of yours,” he continued, his voice dropping to a low, dangerous rumble. “But this sudden urge to pack and leave–it doesn’t sit right with me. What are you hiding, Freya?”
I glared up at him. “Tis hiding nothing! You’re the one who suggested ending this bond in the first place have you forgotten?
For a second, his grip foosened. His brown furrowed, but the anger didn’t leave him Instead, it simmered,
olling just beneath the surface
And now you’re using my decision as an excuse to run,” he accused, his tone mocking. “You must have been
waiting for this moment all along, haven’t you?”
“No” I shot back. My voice cracked slightly, but I never wavered “Don’t act like you know what I’ve been waiting for. Aaron You made it clear what this bond meant to you.”
His laugh was low and bitter. And what exactly does it mean to you, Freya? Tell me.”
I
My chest tightened. His wolf’s energy pressed harder against mine, demanding submission. I fought against
it, teeth gritted, knuckles white.
“What do you want me to say?” I asked, my voice shaking. “That I didn’t care? That this has all been simple
for me? Fine Let’s call it what it is–a farce to please your grandmother
His wolf eyes narrowed. “So, these two years… His voice dropped dangerously low. “You’ve just been acting
with me, right?”
“And haven’t you?” The words came out with a bitterness I couldn’t hold back. Bella’s whine echoed softly in
my mind, reflecting my pain.
Aaron blinked, the fire in his gaze faltering for a split second. His hand fell away from my arm. For just a moment, I thought I saw something under the anger-something like hurt.
But it was gone as quickly as it appeared.
“Fine,” he muttered, stepping back slightly. His tone returned to its cold, detached form. “If you’re so determined to leave, move to the guest quarters. But we can’t make it obvious yet.”
I crossed my arms. “After we sever the bond, I’ll
He didn’t let me finish.
“No,” he cut in harshly. “Not yet. My grandmother’s surgery comes first. She can’t know about this. Neither
can the pack.
He turned away for a moment, his hand running through his dark hair in frustration. When he looked back, the fire in his golden eyes had dimmed, but only slightly.
“Do you think I want to explain this?” His tone was pointed.
“I wasn’t planning on making things difficult,” I replied, though my own fire was fading too. “I’ll wait. For her
“How thoughtful,” he said dryly.
I flinched.
“For two years, you’ve walked around playing Luna,” he continued. There was no mistaking the venom in his words now. “And now, you’re falling apart because you couldn’t keep up the role anymore”
“That’s not fair!” I shot back, my voice rising again.
“Isn’t it?” He leaned closer, his breath warm against my cheek. “You’ve been miserable for two years, haven’t
An
you? Just admit
He was twisting my words again, turning them into something that only fueled his anger
Tm not doing this,” I said finally, stepping back. I was too tired, too drained, to keep going “Believe what you want, Aaron
I turned away, shutting him out entirely. My hands rested on the suitcase as I tried to steady my breathing Bella whimpered softly in my mind
Aaron stood in silence for a moment before he spoke again. His voice was almost quiet, but the bite in his words remained
“If my presence is so unbearable,” he said slowly, “then I’ll spare you the trouble. I won’t come back here tonight”
I froze, my back still turned to him.
“Maybe then you’ll finally be happy,” he added bitterly before storming out.
The door slammed behind him, the echo bouncing through the pack house. His words felt like knives, each one lodging painfully in my chest.
I sank onto the bed, suddenly unable to stop my hands from trembling. My gaze fell to the suitcase,
half packed and filled with pieces of a life I’d spent two years building–and now watched fall apart in a
single night.
“Luna?” Martha Wilson’s voice jolted me. She stood at the door, her face lined with concern. “Alpha Aaron left
quite upset. I thought I should check on you.”
I forced a small smile, though my throat felt tight. I’m fine, Martha. Just tired.”
Her eyes swept over the room, landing on the half–packed suitcase. Understanding crossed her expression, and her brows dipped in sympathy.
“My dear,” she said softly. “Does this have something to do with Miss Caroline’s recent visits?”
“Not everything is as simple as it seems,” I replied, looking away.
Martha sighed heavily, her tone turning reflective. “I remember when Miss Caroline left the pack years ago. Alpha Aaron was different then. I could never have imagined.
Her words trailed off, but I didn’t need her to finish. The shift between Aaron and me had been a quiet storm brewing for years. And now, it had finally broken.
“Will you
need anything tonight?” she asked gently.
I shook my head. “No. Thank you.”
She lingered for a moment, hesitating as though wanting to say more. But eventually, she turned and left, her footsteps fading down the hall.
I hugged my knees to my chest, letting the silence settle around me like a heavy blanket. Bella growled softly in the back of my mind. She wanted to fight. She wanted to stay
But I wasn’t sure staying was an option anymore.
Chapter 27 A Drunken Alp