章節 25: Fractured Bonds and Lingering Shadows

Ethan's POV

The door slammed shut behind me, the sound echoing through the hall, and I felt a surge of anger rising in my chest. Azaria should have been here. I'd been looking forward to seeing her, to watch her squirm in the pain she chose over simply being quiet, obedient, as she always had been. But as I glanced around the room, it was clear she was gone. She truly left with nowhere to go.

Marcus stood in the corner, his face unreadable, though I could sense the discomfort in his stance. He knew something. He had to.

"Where is she?" I demanded, my gaze narrowing on him. I didn't have time for his usual stoicism. I needed answers, and I needed them now.

"Alpha," Marcus began, his voice steady, but I could tell he was choosing his words carefully. "Lu-She left."

I took a step closer, fists clenching. "What do you mean, she left? And pry tell, where the hell did she go?"

He swallowed, his eyes meeting mine briefly before he lowered them. "It was hours ago. She didn't come in or say where she was going, she just… left, according to the staff and a few bystanders."

My jaw clenched, the muscles in my neck straining as I fought the urge to grab him by the collar and shake him. "And you didn't think to tell me?" I hissed. My voice was low, dangerously close to a growl. "What use are you, Marcus, if you can't even keep track of a single woman?"

Marcus shifted, his jaw tightening, but he kept his tone level. "She made it clear she wanted privacy. We thought—"

"You thought?" I cut him off, stepping forward until I was only inches from his face. "You're not here to think, Marcus. You're here to follow orders. And now she's gone, because you couldn't do the one thing I asked."

Marcus held my gaze, though I could see the slight flicker of defiance in his eyes. It was a look that had always irritated me—a reminder that he thought he was more than just my beta. But before I could say anything else, the door opened, and Stephanie entered, her face pale and drawn.

"She's gone?" Stephanie's voice trembled, her eyes wide with disbelief. She looked from me to Marcus and back again. "Why-why didn't she tell me? I thought she trusted me."

I scoffed, crossing my arms as I turned away from both of them. "Trust? Don't be naïve, Stephanie. She's always thought herself too good for any of us. You, especially."

Stephanie's eyes narrowed, a flash of hurt passing over her face before she stepped closer, her fists clenched at her sides. "You don't know anything, Ethan," she snapped, her voice shaking. "Maybe she wouldn't have left if you treated her with an ounce of decency. You just can't stand that she's free and out of your control now."

I laughed bitterly, the sound harsh and cold. "Oh, this is rich. You're defending her now? She's nothing without me, and now she's gone off to prove it. You're just bitter because you don't have her around to fawn over you."

Stephanie's face flushed, her hands shaking as she took a deep breath, steadying herself. "You're a fool if you think she'll ever come back to you, Ethan. And I'm a damn fool too for ever thinking you were capable of understanding love. Had I been smart, I wouldn't be standing here getting ready to replace my fated as fucking Luna."

I turned on her, my anger flaring as I took a step forward. "You're as expendable as the rest of them, Stephanie," I growled, my voice dripping with disdain. "Don't test me and don't think you could ever compare to her."

For a moment, we stood there, the tension thick and suffocating, but she didn't back down. Her eyes met mine, fierce and defiant, and I almost admired her for it. Almost. But then she turned, leaving the room without another word, and I was left with Marcus, who had wisely stayed silent throughout the exchange.

I turned back to him, my mind racing. Azaria was gone, and I had no idea where she was. The thought of her out there, free from my control, made my blood boil. But I wasn't going to let her slip away that easily. Not after everything I'd done for her.

Ethan's POV – Four Months Later

I sat beside Stephanie, my arm wrapped around her shoulders as she trembled, her face buried against my chest. I stroked her hair, leaning close, my voice low and soothing. "It's alright, Steph," I murmured, my hand moving in slow, comforting circles on her back. "We'll try again when you're ready. There's no rush."

She sniffed, her fingers clutching at my shirt as if I were the only thing keeping her grounded. I didn't mind. In moments like these, I knew how to play the part she needed. She was fragile, vulnerable, and it was easy to be the one she leaned on.

"I just… I thought this time…" Her voice broke, and I tightened my hold on her, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead.

"It wasn't your fault," I said, my voice smooth and comforting. "Sometimes these things just happen. We'll get through it together."

She nodded, her body relaxing against me as she took a shaky breath. I held her a little longer, letting her soak up the comfort, letting her believe that I cared more than I did. It was easy to put on the mask, to say the right things. But even as I spoke the words, my mind was elsewhere.

The door opened, and Theo entered, his gaze flickering over Stephanie before he offered me a sympathetic nod. I gave him a brief look, and he took it as his cue.

"Go with Theo," I whispered to Stephanie, pressing another gentle kiss to her forehead. "Rest for a while. I'll handle things here."

Stephanie hesitated, her eyes searching mine as if looking for something more, but I held her gaze, my expression steady. Finally, she nodded and rose, letting Theo guide her from the room. Her shoulders were slumped, her steps heavy, and I waited until the door clicked shut behind them.

As soon as they were gone, I let out a sigh, and the warmth drained from my face. I turned to Marcus, who had been watching from the corner, his expression unreadable. He knew better than to interfere, but he hadn't left. Smart of him. I had more to say.

"Can you believe this?" I muttered, pacing the room as I ran a hand through my hair. "One bad turn after another, and now I'm left with nothing."

Marcus remained silent, his gaze following me as I moved, but he didn't speak. He knew better than to interrupt when I was like this.

"That woman is to blame for this," I continued, my fists clenching as I thought of Azaria, the image of her face swimming in my mind. "Azaria. She cursed me when she left. Everything's gone wrong since then. No trace of her, no way to keep things under control."

Marcus shifted slightly, his eyes flickering with something I couldn't quite read. "You think she's responsible for the miscarriage?" he asked, his tone cautious.

I laughed bitterly, the sound harsh and grating. "Of course she is. She's the root of every problem. Her leaving set this all into motion, and I'm the one left picking up the pieces." I sneered, my gaze turning cold as I fixed it on him. "I gave her everything, and she tossed it all away. She owes me, Marcus. She owes me her loyalty."

He nodded slowly, though his face remained impassive. "We'll keep looking, Alpha. We'll find her."

I stopped pacing, my gaze piercing as I met his eyes. "See that you do. I won't rest until she's back where she belongs."

I let the words hang in the air, the weight of my demand settling between us. Marcus gave a short nod, understanding my meaning without needing me to spell it out. I didn't care what it took, how far he had to go. I wanted Azaria back, and I wanted her back now.

Stephanie's POV

I sat on the edge of my bed, the stillness of the room pressing down on me like a heavy weight. My hands rested in my lap, my fingers tracing the faint lines of my palms as if searching for answers that I knew weren't there. The space beside me felt empty, hollow. I had dreamed of a future, a child, something of my own to fill that void. But now that dream lay in fragments around me, scattered like ashes.

"It wasn't your fault, Stephanie," I whispered, repeating Ethan's words, though they felt hollow in my mouth. I wanted to believe him, to let those words sink in and ease the ache in my chest. But the guilt remained, a suffocating weight pressing down on me, refusing to let go.

The door creaked open, and Theo entered, his presence a small comfort in the emptiness. He took a seat beside me, his expression solemn as he reached out, placing a gentle hand on my shoulder.

"Stephanie, I wanted to see how you were holding up," he said softly, his voice filled with a warmth that made my throat tighten. He had always been kind, always the one to offer a word of encouragement when I needed it most.

I managed a weak smile, though it felt fragile, as if it could shatter at any moment. "I'm… I'm coping," I replied, though I wasn't sure if that was true. The words felt distant, like they belonged to someone else. "I just keep thinking—what if I could have stopped her from leaving?"

Theo's face softened, a flicker of sadness passing over his eyes as he looked at me. "I miss her too," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "But Azaria made her choice. It was never about us, Stephanie. She needed to be free."

I looked at him, the guilt in his eyes like a mirror reflecting my own. And I saw an opportunity, a chance to ease some of my own pain by sharing it, by making him feel it too. "Maybe if you'd tried harder to keep her here, she wouldn't have left," I murmured, watching as Theo's shoulders sagged under the weight of my words. I could see the regret in his eyes, the way he seemed to shrink, and it gave me a twisted sense of satisfaction.

Theo shook his head slowly, his gaze falling to the floor. "It was out of my hands. She was determined, and I… I respected that."

I reached out, placing a hand on his arm, my fingers tightening slightly as I leaned closer. "It's alright, Theo. You did what you thought was best," I said, my voice soft and soothing. "But Azaria's absence—it feels like a part of me is missing. Do you think she'll ever come back?"

He looked at me, his face filled with a sadness that seemed to cut through the silence. "I don't know," he replied, his voice barely a whisper. "But if she does, I hope it's because she wants to. Not because we forced her."

I forced a smile, though it felt thin, stretched too tight over my grief. "She'll come back," I murmured, more to myself than to Theo. I wanted to believe it, to cling to that hope like a lifeline. "She'll come back for me."

As Theo rose to leave, I watched him go, my heart aching with the weight of everything I had lost. But beneath that ache, there was a flicker of something else, something darker. Azaria would come back. She had to. And when she did, I would be waiting.

The thought brought a twisted sort of comfort, a balm against the emptiness that had settled inside me. I would wait. And when she returned, I would be ready. Because no matter what Ethan or Theo believed, I knew one thing for certain: Azaria was mine, and she always would be.

Azaria 'Ziya' Point of View

The pain tore through me, relentless and unforgiving. I clung to the bedpost, my fingers digging into the splintered wood as I fought to keep myself grounded. The room was dim, a single candle casting flickering shadows over the peeling wallpaper, making the walls feel like they were closing in, squeezing the air from my lungs.

"Breathe, Ziya." Lilly's voice cut through the haze, her hands firm on my shoulders. I forced myself to meet her gaze, drawing strength from the warmth in her eyes. "You're doing great. Just a little longer."

I nodded, my jaw clenched as I swallowed back a scream. Each breath felt like a battle, each moment a war against the fear gnawing at my insides. Could I really do this—bring a child into a world that had already shown me its cruelty?

My mind drifted to the border packs, to the looks of suspicion and disdain that followed me as my belly grew. We had spent weeks traveling from one small pack to the next, each one as hostile as the last. The judgment was relentless, their stares piercing through me like daggers, as if I had something to be ashamed of, as if my very presence was an offense.

I remembered one pack, where we'd arrived late at night, hoping for a place to rest. The Alpha had stood at the border, a tall, thin man with eyes as cold as ice.

"What brings you here?" he'd asked, his gaze flickering over my belly with barely concealed disgust.

"We're just passing through," Lilly had answered, stepping protectively in front of me. "Looking for a safe place to stay."

He'd sneered, crossing his arms. "Safe? You're in the wrong place for that. We don't take kindly to outsiders, especially ones with secrets."

I remembered how I'd clutched Lilly's hand, fighting the urge to shrink away under his glare. It wasn't the first time we'd been turned away, and it wouldn't be the last. But each rejection, each look of contempt, chipped away at the fragile hope I'd been clinging to.

Another contraction hit, wrenching me back to the present. I squeezed my eyes shut, clinging to Lilly's voice, the only thing keeping me anchored. "I can't… I can't do this," I gasped, the words spilling out before I could stop them.

"Yes, you can." She gripped my hand, her voice steady and unwavering. "You've already made it this far, Ziya. Don't give up now."

Her words wrapped around me like a shield, but the last few months had stripped me down, piece by piece. The night we abandoned the car came rushing back to me, the quiet urgency of leaving behind the last remnants of our old lives.

We had pulled off the road, finding a secluded spot by a dense thicket of trees. The air was thick with the scent of pine, the world around us silent as we worked. Clothes, papers, even the few trinkets I had held on to—all of it left behind, scattered in the car as if we had been taken in a hurry. It was a last act of desperation, a way to convince them that I was gone for good.

"Are you sure about this?" Lilly had asked, her voice barely a whisper as we stared at the car, abandoned and empty, a ghost of our former lives.

I'd nodded, my throat tight. "It's the only way. If they find the car, they'll think we're gone."

She'd nodded, her gaze steely. "Then let's make it look real."

We'd walked away in silence, leaving behind the last ties to a life that no longer existed. And now, here I was, on the edge of nowhere, my body breaking under the weight of what I'd chosen.

Another wave of pain brought me back, the world narrowing down to the burning ache in my core. "Think of the baby," Lilly murmured, her hand smoothing my hair back from my damp forehead. "Think of what you're fighting for."

I nodded, forcing myself to breathe. This child was all I had left, the only hope in a world that had tried to break me. But fear lingered, coiling in my gut, whispering that I wasn't strong enough, that I was alone in a way no one could understand.

We'd been in a pack on Drakova side of the boarder only a day when the whispers started. The town was small, isolated, with low tolerance for outsiders. I'd tried to keep to myself, but my belly became a beacon, drawing stares and questions I wasn't ready to answer.

"You look new here," an older woman had said, cornering me outside the market. Her eyes were sharp, her mouth set in a hard line. "And pregnant, I see. Where's the father?"

Her words had stung, and my silence had only fueled her disdain. "Figures," she'd muttered, loud enough for others to hear. "Probably some runaway. Who knows what kind of trouble she's brought with her?"

I'd turned away, fighting back tears as I hurried to the rundown house where we were staying. Lilly had been waiting, her face softening as she saw the look in my eyes.

"It's not worth it," she'd said, wrapping me in a hug. "They don't know you. They don't know what you've been through."

But their words lingered, digging into me like thorns. Even here, on the edge of nowhere, the past was a shadow I couldn't escape.

Another contraction wrenched me back, sharper than the last, and I cried out, my nails biting into Lilly's arm. "Why does it have to be like this?" I whispered, barely able to catch my breath. "Why does everything have to be so hard?"

"Because you're strong enough to handle it," she replied, her voice fierce, her grip unwavering. "Because you're going to make it through this, Ziya. And when you do, you'll be stronger than you ever thought possible."

I wanted to believe her, to let her words fill the empty spaces inside me. But the doubts wouldn't quiet, whispering that I wasn't enough, that I'd never be enough. The road to Drakova had been long, a winding path through forests and fields, each step a reminder of what I was running from, and what I'd left behind.

"I hate this," I'd muttered one evening as we sat by a fire, the flames casting shadows over our faces. "I hate hiding. I hate running. I just want… I just want to be free."

Lilly had looked at me, her eyes filled with something I couldn't name. "Freedom comes with a price. Sometimes, it's those willing to pay it who find their way."

I'd nodded, though her words felt heavy, weighing down my heart. I wasn't sure if I was willing to pay that price. But freedom was the only choice left, even if it meant leaving everything behind.

The pain crashed over me again, stronger than before, and I gasped, clinging to Lilly as she spoke softly, her voice guiding me through the darkness. "Almost there," she murmured, her hand steady in mine. "Just one more push, Ziya. You can do this."

I gathered every ounce of strength I had left, drawing a shaky breath as I braced myself for the final push. I thought of the child I was about to bring into a world that had tried to break me, and I knew I had to keep fighting.

"Ziya," Lilly said, her voice tense, "the baby's crowning. Just one more big push."

I screamed, my body straining, every muscle burning as I poured all my fear and hope into that final effort. The room blurred around me, the pain fading as I felt the life inside me slip free, a quiet cry breaking the silence.

Then, everything went still.