One Time Too Many

After deciding to leave, I went to the Blacknight Pack's municipal office to submit my withdrawal application.

"Ms. Holt," the clerk said carefully, "once you leave the pack, you'll lose all pack protection and will never be allowed to rejoin. Are you sure about this?"

"I'm sure."

When I stepped out of the building, a notification popped up on Instagram.

"Thank you for being there for me when I'm at my weakest!"

The photo beneath it showed the snowy scenery of Bhador and Mason wrapping a scarf around Eira.

My chest felt like it had been stabbed right through.

Even though I had decided to walk away from this relationship, I still could not stop the pain, nor the tears that slipped out on their own.

Then, something on her hand caught my eye: the moonstone ring.

It was the token of the Blacknight Pack's Luna.

Mason's mother had pressed it into my hand before she passed away.

Mason was supposed to slide it onto my finger in front of everyone at our marking ceremony next week, declaring me his mate.

All that…yet that ring was on someone else.

Before I could stop myself, I tapped the like button.

One second later, Mason called.

"Cassandra, Eira said the ring was pretty and wanted to wear it for a few days. She'll give it back when we return. Don't worry. You're the only one in my heart. The Luna position is yours."

Before I could respond, Eira's voice chimed in, "Cassandra, don't be mad at Mason over a ring. You'll make him sad."

I had not even spoken. Then, Mason transferred money to me.

"Buy the wedding rings we tried yesterday. You liked them, didn't you? Don't be upset, okay? Don't make things hard for Eira over something so small. Her condition can't handle the stress."

I accepted the payment; I needed the money anyway. There was no point refusing it out of pride.

After hanging up, I contacted everyone to cancel the marking ceremony. They were utterly shocked.

They had gotten used to postponements over the years, but canceling outright?

They thought I was just rebelling again… that I would cave like always. No one took it seriously.

Only my best friend, Selena, came over and hugged me tight.

"You finally walked away. Honestly, I think you should've left the very first time he postponed the ceremony for Eira. You deserve better."

When I finished notifying everyone and returned home to pack, Mason called again.

He sounded exhausted.

"This time… I don't know how long the delay will be. Eira isn't doing well. You should go ahead and tell your friends the ceremony's off. We'll talk again when she's fully recovered. And you–"

"I know," I cut him off.

I knew exactly what he was about to say. It was the same old routine of "I'm sorry", a handful of gifts, and him trying to make up for it.

I used to blow up at him every time… It no longer mattered, though.

There was silence on his end. He had clearly prepared a whole list of excuses and did not expect me to give in so easily.

Then he spoke again, carefully.

"I've found a new doctor for Eira. She should improve soon. When that happens, she won't affect us anymore."

"Mason, can you bring me the towel?" Eira's sugary voice rang in the background, grating on my nerves.

I hung up before he could say another word.

I used to never understand…

Why, whenever Eira got sick, did she insist only Mason could accompany her? Why did she chase away every doctor who tried to treat her?

I understood perfectly at this point: Eira never intended to get better.

After packing my luggage, I gathered everything connected to Mason and dumped it into the trash station.

A sudden wave of dizziness hit me, and I collapsed on the roadside.

In a daze, I dialed the emergency contact.

It rang several times before being rejected.

When the call finally connected, I gasped, "Mason, I almost fainted. Can you–"

"Cassandra Holt, Mason is asleep. And pretending to be sick won't work on us!" Eira hung up immediately.

In the end, a passerby called an ambulance and sent me to the hospital.

When I woke up, it was already the next night.

The doctor said, "Ms. Holt, you're pregnant. You need to rest more once you go home."

He left after giving instructions.

I sat there in complete shock.

Pregnant? Right when I chose to give up on Mason, too?