My Pups and I Say Goodbye

The full moon shone brightly over the small town of Eldridge, casting shadows that danced on the wooden floor of my home. Leo’s phone buzzed incessantly on the kitchen counter, the sound echoing off the walls, but he didn’t seem to care. Did he really think I wouldn’t notice?

I felt the weight of my pregnant belly as I shuffled towards the kitchen, the soft glow of the moonlight barely illuminating my path. The sound of water from the shower flooded the air, mixing with the tension that hung heavily in the atmosphere. I forced myself to breathe steadily, my heart racing. With a growing sense of dread, I swiped at the screen of his phone, attempting the usual passcodes that usually worked—our anniversary, my birthday—but none of them unlocked his secrets.

With determination, I punched in the date of the last full moon—a night when I had been alone with my thoughts and worries, while Leo had been “out with the pack.” The screen unlocked with a satisfying click.

Biting back the swell of anxiety, I opened his messaging app. My pulse quickened as I scrolled through the chat history, and there it was: a message from a woman named Lyra. Her profile picture was a Moonshine, carefree snapshot of her grinning under the moonlight. Leo’s words were right there, a testament to his betrayal: “Can’t wait to feel you by my side tonight,” he’d typed. Her response made my heart drop further: “It’s our special night, just like before.”

With shaking hands, I activated the screen recording feature on his phone, my breath hitching in my throat. I knew this evidence would become crucial. Next, I switched to his shopping app, praying against hope that my worst fears weren’t confirmed.

My heart sank as I scrolled through his order history. Each item listed—moonstone jewelry, herbal teas, and special wolf supplements—was sent to the same address: Lyra’s. I took quick screenshots of the messages and orders, sending them to my own device before deleting them from his phone. As I placed it back on the counter, I felt a cold shiver run down my spine.

Retreating back to the bedroom, I lay on my side, feeling a mix of rage and sorrow. After seven years together, I was reduced to a spectator in my own life, the weight of betrayal heavy on my heart. The pups inside me shifted, as if sensing my turmoil, and I placed a hand protectively over my belly.

Leo emerged from the shower, steam swirling around him like a ghost. As I peered at him through the slightly ajar door, I watched him answer a call with a soft smile that sent ice coursing through my veins. He stepped onto the balcony, leaving the door cracked just enough for me to hear the murmur of his voice.

Curiosity gnawed at me, pulling me from my despair. I pushed myself up, straining to catch snippets of his conversation. The words were muffled, but I could see the warmth in his eyes as he spoke. My heart raced with both hope and dread, but it shattered when he frowned at something she said and then nodded in agreement, a smile creeping back onto his lips.

I turned away, feeling as if I were suffocating. The air in the room was thick and heavy, and every breath felt like a struggle. A part of me wanted to confront him, to demand answers, but I was trapped in my own fear and uncertainty.

After a few minutes, Leo tiptoed back inside, his hand resting on my belly, the other brushing my hair away from my forehead with a tenderness I had longed for. “Hey, love, there’s an urgent pack meeting. I need to go,” he said softly.

I turned my head to meet his gaze, desperation clawing at my insides. “I’m not feeling well. Could you stay with me?”

For a fleeting moment, I thought that if he chose me over his pack, I might be able to forgive him.

But then I remembered: once trust is broken, it’s almost impossible to repair.

His expression shifted to one of uncertainty, the mask of love he wore faltering. “I have to go, Mira. It’s important for the pack. They need me.”

“I’ll call Rhea to come over and stay with you,” he added, his words like a dagger to my heart.

I felt bile rise in my throat, but I managed a weak nod. “Drive safely, Leo.”

In silence, I watched him dress and leave, the door clicking shut behind him with an ominous finality. I stayed there for a moment, gathering the shattered pieces of my resolve.

Then, with determination, I rose from the bed, cradling my belly, and made my way downstairs. I needed to know for sure.

“Take me to the Silverwood Clearing,” I told the driver as I slid into the back seat of the car, my mind racing with thoughts of Leo and Lyra.

As we drove through the winding roads, I felt the tension knotting in my stomach tighten further. Just as we approached the clearing, I spotted Leo’s car parked beneath a canopy of trees. My heart raced as I instructed the driver to park behind a cluster of bushes.

Peering through the window, I saw Leo and Lyra emerge from the shadows, her laughter ringing like music through the night. He wrapped his arms around her waist, the tenderness in his gaze burning like acid in my chest. They stood there, the moonlight casting an ethereal glow around them as they leaned in closer, their lips inches apart.

My hands trembled as I took out my phone and switched to video mode, capturing the evidence of their betrayal. I couldn’t breathe, the reality of my world crumbling around me.

“Follow that car,” I said to the driver, my voice steady despite the storm raging inside me.

The driver nodded, and we followed as they pulled onto the main road, the city lights blurring by. I dug my nails into my palm, grounding myself in the pain as I repeated the mantra, “Mira, endure it. The pain will pass.”

When we reached the Silverwood General Hospital, I scanned my payment app to pay the driver. He turned to me with a look of concern. “Miss, please take care of yourself. For the pups’s sake, don’t hurt yourself.”

His words struck a chord deep within me, and I forced a smile, thanking him as I stepped out of the car. The kindness of a stranger felt like a lifeline, a momentary escape from the chaos in my mind.

As I closed the door, I whispered softly to myself, “No one can hurt me anymore. I’ll make sure of that.”

The night was far from over, and I was ready to reclaim my life.