Chapter 7
Jeremy had broken his promise by trying to use his Alpha authority on me. But I stood firm and unshaken of it.
“I am not your person anymore, Jeremy. I belong to Blazemane now,” I said, my voice cold but resolute.
His frustration simmered, but he still tried again. “Come with me!” His command held the same force it always did, but it no longer worked on me.
“You‘ re not my Alpha anymore. You are not Deryl,” I shot back, my voice sharper this time. “You can’t control me. Not now, not ever again. So, leave, or I will call guards and have you escorted out.”
Jeremy sneered, his pride bristling. “Go ahead. Try.”
I narrowed my eyes, sensing his challenge.
“I know you came here without
permission, just like you used to sneak out
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during academy breaks to visit me. Those tricks might have worked when we were younger, but not now.
“You may be the Alpha of Nightshade, but here, you‘ re just an intruder. It was just like you, Alexa, and Adrian have treated me for the past two years.
His face darkened, and I knew my words had struck a nerve.
But the truth was, Jeremy‘ s distance had not begun when he realized Alexa was his mate. No, the cracks in our relationship started right after I lost our child.
When the doctors told us I might have difficulty conceiving again, something in Jeremy changed. His gaze grew distant, his warmth fading.
Slowly, he began spending more time with Alexa and Adrian, leaving me in the cold.
He would only come to me when he needed my touch to control his heat or when he sought comfort, but the affection
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and the love we once shared, it was all
gone.
Gifts became routine, an obligation. Vacations that were meant for us always included Alexa and Adrian, and any time spent together felt hollow.
I missed the days at the academy when Jeremy would sneak out just to see me at Blazemane Pack. His defiance of rules, his youthful passion, it had all seemed so romantic back then.
But that was before the rogue attack. That day, when I laid there, bloodied and broken, Jeremy was not by my side.
He was with Alexa, shielding her from the horrors I was enduring alone. It was at that moment I realized the depth of his
betrayal. The Jeremy I loved was long gone.
Just then, a guard passed by. Spotting me, he waved, a familiar face from the academy.
“Hey, Ev!” he called out with a grin. “I
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heard you‘ re back for good! Gonna teach at the academy, huh?”
I smiled back, grateful for the distraction.
“Yeah, I’ll be starting soon. Looking forward to it.”
We exchanged a few pleasantries, and when I turned back, Jeremy was gone. He vanished into the shadows.
At that moment, his sudden disappearance felt like the final thread snapping between
- US.
Later that evening, my mother informed me if Deryl had come and planned to take me out for a walk.
I agreed, grateful for the distraction. I needed to clear my mind from the haunting memories of Jeremy and Alexa.
Also, even if Deryl was my Alpha, he was unlike Jeremy, he had always treated me with respect.
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After finished showing me around Pack, he
asked, his voice gentle, “Where would you like to go again?”
I thought for a moment. “Do you
remember the lake we used to run to when we were younger?” I asked, hoping the memories hadn’t faded for him.
Deryl’s eyes lit up. “Of course. But it‘ st not the hidden gem it used to be. It‘ s become a popular spot now. So, shall we run or take it slow and enjoy the view?”
I did not hesitate. “Running sounds good.” I needed the rush, the release, the freedom.
We shifted into our wolf forms, letting the thrill of the run wash over us as we raced side by side, the wind pushing against our fur. It felt like old times, like we were young again, escaping the world, even if just for a while.
But when we arrived at the lake, it was not really the peaceful retreat I remembered.
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Couples strolled hand in hand, lights illuminated the once–hidden waters, and laughter filled the air. It had become a gathering place, no longer the quiet sanctuary from our youth.
“Since when did this place turn into a dating spot?” I asked, half–amused, half- saddened by the change.
Deryl shrugged, smiling at my reaction. “Hmm… I think about a few years ago. Sometimes there are wolves from other
Packs who meet our wolf Pack just for a date, because this place is a safe zone. Of course, there are still guards on guard to anticipate.”
I sighed, taking it all in. The lake was not the same, and neither was I.
But as I stood there, watching the ripples of the water under the fading sunlight, I felt something settle inside me.
Maybe that was what I needed, a reminder that time changes everything, and it was
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time for me to move forward.
No more holding onto the past. No more Jeremy. It was time to embrace my future.
As I sat on the edge of the lake, I asked, the disappointment evident in my voice.
“Should we find another hidden gem for ourselves?”
Deryl smiled as he explained, “Are you upset about the change, Everly? Personally, I think it’s great. The more crowded, the better. The economy of our Pack is thriving. We’re no longer reliant solely on the academy.
“See those food vendors over there? They’re the biggest taxpayers after the market traders. Imagine how much they make from all the wolves that gather here.”
I watched him, momentarily distracted by how much he had changed. The once quiet, shy boy I grew up with had become a confident and reliable leader.
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His excitement over the Pack‘ s progress was infectious, and I found myself staring at him longer than I should have.
“Is there something on my face?” Deryl asked, catching me off guard and pulling
from my reverie.
me f
I quickly looked away, embarrassed.
“Nothing,” I mumbled, trying to cover up my obvious admiration. But just then, my stomach betrayed me with a loud growl.
“You‘ re hungry, huh?” Deryl laughed, clearly amused. “Go ahead, pick whatever you want. It’s on me.”
I glanced at the food vendors, eager to try everything. “I’ll have some skewers, dumplings, and maybe a sandwich too,” I said, enthusiasm bubbling up.
Deryl grinned, standing up to get the food.
As I waited by the lake, I could not help but smile to myself. It felt like old times, but with a deeper sense of peace, like
something was mending inside me.
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Keena suddenly stirred in my mind. “So, is this a popular place for dates?” Keena teased; her voice laced with amusement.
I chuckled softly at her commentary.
“Seems like it.”
“But, are we on a date too, Everly?” she asked, her mischievous tone catching me off guard.
My cheeks flushed, and I quickly tried to dismiss the thought. “No, it’s not a date. We’re just… just hanging out.” But even as I said it, I struggled to find the right words. Was that really just a hangout?
Before I could dwell on it, Deryl returned, pressing a cold drink to my cheek playfully.
“Why are you blushing?” he asked, smirking.
“I’m not blushing!” I protested, taking the drink from him. “It’s just the reflection of the sunset.” I could feel my cheeks heating up even more, but I quickly took a sip of the drink, hoping to cool
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myself down.
Deryl sat beside me, and soon the food arrived. We ate and chatted, talking about the changes in the Pack, reminiscing about old memories. The conversation flowed so easily; it was almost as if the years apart. had never happened.
For the rest of the evening, we also avoided the topic of Jeremy, and I was grateful for that.
But suddenly, as if the universe had a cruel sense of humor, a proposal took place right beside us.
A man knelt before his partner, fireworks lighting up the sky as he asked her to marry him. The woman accepted, and they kissed amidst applause and cheers.
The sight was beautiful, romantic, and painful. Yes, painful, since it reminded me too much of Jeremy‘ s proposal, of the promises we made that he later shattered.
So, without realizing it, tears welled up in
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my eyes as the memory flashed vividly in my mind.
“Are you okay?” Deryl asked when seeing me crying.
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