He Hated Me Until He Lost Me

Micah’s POV

Back in my chamber, the room felt cold and empty. The walls held picture frames of my family, complete with Noah, my baby.

My eyes welled up as I stared at them. It was the only picture of a family once whole. Love could not change what happened. No matter how much I held onto it, it could not fix the broken pieces.

I had thought love was powerful, that it could last forever. I was wrong. The love I thought I had with Renan was nothing but an illusion, a fragile hope I had clung to since the Moon Goddess Feast in the Empire’s grand park.

I thought love would protect me from pain, that it would not shatter me into pieces.

I let out a heavy sigh, grabbed a frame, and smashed it into pieces. There was nothing left to fight for in this family.

I would leave for good, and I would bring justice for Noah. Those who killed him would pay.

I gathered everything that tied me to them—the family pictures, the wedding ring, the necklace Renan had given me, my dresses, Noah’s little clothes—and I burned it in the trashcan, inhaling the smoke as I let it go.

“What are you doing? Trying to burn the pack down?” Dominic barged in, eyes wide at the flames. “You crazy woman! Are you out of your mind?” He grabbed my arm and slammed me against the wall, calling for a servant to douse the fire with water.

I had thrown everything into that fire. There was nothing to salvage.

Dominic’s fury boiled over. He kicked me in the stomach. Blood and pain shot through me.

“You will be punished for trying to set us on fire!” he roared. “Father will never forgive this!”

“I am not trying to set fire, Dominic,” I said, my voice trembling.

He recoiled at the word son. “Don’t call me that! I don’t have a mother who would kill her own son!” His words choked him with rage.

“Say that again, and I’ll cut your tongue out! You crazy murderer!” he spat. I let him shout.

“You are right,” I said coldly. “I have no son. No family. Why would it matter?” I shoved him hard, and he stumbled back. I may not have been a wolf yet, but I was the most dangerous wolf in the realm the strongest, the smartest, one who could take down an army.

His eyes widened with fear. “You’re trying to kill me! You crazy woman!”

I stepped closer, leaning into the fear I saw in him. “You are not my son. I have no son anymore. You should not worry. You will never be my son.”

Then I passed him.

“Crazy woman! Where are you going?” he shouted.

“I’m crazy, right?” I said coldly. “Then I’ll be crazy. I have no family anymore.”

“I’ll call Father! You will be punished! You crazy woman!”

I went down the stairs and saw Dylan and Maurice entering. They were laughing about the food and the finest berry wine in the city.

Maurice waved at me. “Micah! You’re here! Take these bags. I’ll stay here. Isn’t it perfect?”

“It’s perfect, Mom,” Dylan smiled, though his eyes were on me. “Why didn’t you take them?”

I stared at the two large bags, then at Dylan, then at Maurice. Without a word, I grabbed them.

“Where should I take them?” I asked.

“You know where,” Maurice answered with a smile.

Once I placed the bags in Renan’s chamber, I stared at the room. Memories clung to every corner some sweet, some painful. I collected every gift I had given him, every watch, every piece of clothing, and stuffed them into a plastic bag. Then I went to Dylan’s room, and Dominic’s, taking everything I had given them.

I burned it all in the back.

They were no longer my family. My sons, my husband they were gone from me in every sense.

I watched the flames consume everything. Memories turned to ash. It meant nothing to me now.

Mama, I whispered to myself. I’ll be coming home soon, and I will take the throne you always wanted for me.