The Alpha Who Faked Our Bond

Amaras POV

For five years, I had worn a ring that meant nothing to the Moon. No blood moon hunt beneath the stars. No sacred binding before the Elders. No vows howled beneath the ancient oak where our ancestors clawed their loyalty into earth and pack. Only a hollow contract that my so-called mate, Alpha Sebastian Mooncrest, shoved into my hands, insisting it was enough.

He promised the rites would come later, that once the pack was secured and his battles eased, he would bind me before the spirits. But five winters passed, and the Moon never marked me as his true mate.

Last week, when I dared to ask again, timidly, while folding his battle leathers, trying to steady my voice against the thrum of hope in my chest, he did not even glance away from his papers of trade and alliance.

Alpha Sebastian maybe this year we could finally hold the mating ceremony? For our fifth anniversary? Maybe the Moon can bless us at last?

His eyes stayed fixed on the parchment, cold and dismissive.

What for? You already bear my mark. A ceremony is for wolves who need proof. We are past that.

But you promised, I whispered, my throat raw with the plea I had carried for years. You said, when the storms of war passed

Youre childish, he snarled, his wolf flashing in his tone. Drop it, Amara. The pack treasury is thin. I will not waste resources on hollow tradition.

And like every time before, I swallowed my pain. But not today.

Today marked five years since I had stood beside him, believing myself chosen, believing I mattered. He had said he was too busy with patrols and leading the Mooncrest Pack to celebrate, but I told myself I could still honor the day. I rose early, went to the market, and gathered what I needed for his favorite meal.

I even bought white moon-lilies, the same flowers he once claimed reminded him of purity under starlight. I cradled them to my chest, foolishly warmed by the thought of surprising him.

But the Moon pulled me elsewhere.

Just one block from home, as I passed the stone steps of the Pack Hall, a strange instinct stopped me. My wolf stirred uneasily, urging me to look. And when I turned, my blood froze.

Alpha Sebastian.

And Vera.

My sister, lost to the wild five years ago, is now walking beside him with her arm coiled through his as if she had never vanished. They laughed, their voices soft and intimate, like a cruel echo of what should have been mine. In Veras hands gleamed a parchment, fresh ink glistening beneath the sun.

A marriage certificate.

The scent of betrayal struck me harder than claws.

Are you sure this was allowed? Vera asked, her voice laced with mock worry. What about my sister, Amara? You are still bound to her. Shes still your Luna, Alpha.

Alpha Sebastians voice carried, cold and cutting. That bond was false. I never brought her before the Moon, never offered her to the Ancestors. She was a stand-in, a shadow of you. Now that youve returned, I will discard her. Permanently.

Vera gasped, as if testing his devotion. You mean after I ran from you on our wedding day, you still love me? Even after I abandoned you?

Alpha Sebastian cupped her face with the tenderness he had once faked for me. Always. You are my true mate. Amara was only a convenience. She shared your scent, your face, your bloodline, so she warmed my bed until you came back.

My knees buckled.

I could not breathe. My wolf clawed at my ribs, keening with grief.

And then, two more scents hit me. Familiar, beloved once. My brothers, Luis and Erol, emerged from the hall with grins stretched across their faces.

You sealed it already? Luis asked Alpha Sebastian, clapping his back. Good. Now we can move forward.

What about the ceremony? Erol laughed. Amara will throw a fit if she finds out. Maybe send her to the human lands, or let the rogues deal with her.

Luis added, his words like venom in my ears, She is too weak-hearted for the pack anyway. Lets get rid of her soon.

They all laughed, the sound of a chorus of betrayal that crushed me.

The same brothers who swore to protect me. The same sister I mourned. The mate I sacrificed my pride for. They were all bound together in a conspiracy of wolves, sharpening their teeth for my ruin.

The shame, the heartbreak, the rage, it was all too heavy, too sharp, I couldnt take it, I ran.

My wolf fought to rise, but my body was weak, broken by years of being nothing more than Alpha Sebastians shadow. Tears blurred my vision, the world tilting as my lungs burned.

And then, the screech of iron wheels, the thunder of hooves, a blinding crash of pain.

The world went black.

But as darkness claimed me, the Moon whispered in my bones, ancient and fierce.

From blood and betrayal, your true form is forged. You are not prey. You are the storm.

Pain. It was the first thing that ripped through me when my eyes cracked open, a savage fire tearing down sinew and marrow as though my very wolf had been dragged across burning coals. It wasnt just the shatter of bone or the sting of torn flesh; it was deeper, older, a soul-deep agony that made the beast within me throw back her head and wail against the void. My wolf whimpered, her presence dim, fading like a dying ember, and the hollow echo of her grief nearly unraveled me.

A doctor, human, not of the pack, rushed to my side, her touch careful but alien, lacking the grounding weight of a wolfs essence. Her hands pressed me back into the cot, and the absence of pack energy in her aura made my instincts bristle, my wolf stirring in weak protest.

Do not move, child. Your ankle was broken, your ribs bruised, and you had cuts and burns across your body because of the accident. You must rest.

Her words sounded distant.

Accident?

Then it struck like lightning: Alpha Sebastian, Vera, the forged bond, the Elders silence, my brothers laughter at my humiliation, my desperate flight into the storm, and the truck that came barreling toward me when my wolf refused to answer my call.

How long have I been here? My voice cracked, more broken than my body.

Almost a day, the healer whispered, her gaze lowering with pity. Then came the blow that shattered me more completely than steel or flame.You were carrying life inside you Two months along. The accident took it. Im so sorry.

Her words echoed, hollow and merciless. Pregnant? My wolf keened in my chest, claws raking the inside of my ribs as if she could tear the truth away. I hadnt even known. Not once had Alpha Sebastian touched me in a way that honored the Moons bond; our union had been bound only by ink and lies, not by blood nor howl nor the sacred rites beneath the oak. Yet still, my body had held the spark of life, a cub that would never breathe the night air.

I- I didnt know I whispered, each syllable cutting me open.

The doctor asked if she should summon someone. My heart clenched at the thought. Alpha Sebastian, my so-called husband, had already chosen my sister as his bride beneath the eyes of the pack. Luis and Erol, my brothers who once swore blood oaths to defend me, only to sneer as I was discarded. Still, I was drowning, and drowning creatures grasped anything.

My phone, I rasped.

I tried calling, but disappointment greeted me when Alpha Sebastian never answered. No matter how many times I called, his voice never came. Instead, the doctor set down a basket by my bed. A friend brought this. Food, herbs, and flowers. Said he is the one who pulled you from the wreck. A doctor, though not of my kind.

A strange unease rippled over me. Who had pulled me back from death when even my wolf had gone silent?

Alone, I reached for my phone again. My breath caught when I saw it, photos and videos splashed across the packs feed. Alpha Sebastian, Vera, and my brothers. Smiling under foreign lights, their arms linked, their faces bright with joy as they feasted and celebrated. The caption read: Finally, a real family trip. Much needed.

Real family. The words gutted me. My wolf wailed inside me, a sound no one else could hear.

--

By morning, Alpha Sebastian finally called, his voice dripping with forced panic. Amara! Why didnt you tell us you were in the hospital? We wouldve come sooner.

Us.

They arrived together, Alpha Sebastian, Luis, and Erol. Their faces painted with concern, but their scents betrayed them.

Guilt, deceit, and the lingering sweetness of Veras perfume cling to Alpha Sebastians skin.

I tried calling you, I said hollowly. Where were you?

Business, Alpha Sebastian replied too quickly.

Business

As if yesterday hadnt been the day of our anniversary. As if he hadnt abandoned me for my sisters arms.

He reached for me, murmuring empty promises, but before I could summon the strength to push him away, Erol burst in with a shout. Vera fainted!

Alpha Sebastian froze, his eyes snapping wide. And just like that, his grip faltered. He dropped me to the cold stone floor without a second glance, bolting from the room to chase after her scent.

Pain lanced through my body as I crumpled, humiliated and discarded once more. My wolf whimpered, too weak to rise.

And then, arms far steadier than Alpha Sebastians lifted me.

Strong. Familiar.

Through blurred vision, I saw him, dark hair, eyes that burned like embers.

Xavier Moonveil? I breathed. The healer from my past. The wolf who had once cared for me then vanished without a trace.

He brushed a strand of hair from my damp face, his touch grounding. Still stubborn enough to run headfirst into danger, I see. His voice was low, steady, carrying the resonance of the Moon itself.

I trembled as his scent wrapped around me, cedar and earth after rain, the scent of home my wolf recognized instantly.

Xavier Moonveil leaned closer, his gaze unyielding.Amara will you run away with me under the Moons shadow, away from the chains of your pack, and run free at my side?

I stayed in the infirmary longer than I thought I would, partly because of the lingering pain in my fractured ankle, but mostly because no wolf from my own bloodline came to fetch me. Not my so-called mate. Not my brothers who once swore loyalty beneath the Moon. No one, except Xavier Moonveil.

Xavier, who used to be my friend at the Academy of Claws and Shadow, back when our wolves were still learning to hunt beneath the stars. Xavier, who once confessed that his wolf stirred whenever I drew near, and whom I turned down gently, because I had already surrendered my heart to another. To Alpha Sebastian, my chosen mate.

And now, it was Xavier who stayed at my side as I healed. He brought meat seasoned with herbs that my wolf could stomach. He sat beside me while I wept, never demanding an explanation, never asking for more than I could give. His presence was steady, grounding, and his wolfs aura kept the nightmares at bay.

The day I was about to be discharged, he wheeled me out into the sunlit grove behind the hospital, where the sacred trees whispered with the voices of our ancestors. We sat in silence, the hum of the wind and the rustling leaves filling the heavy space between us.

I meant what I said, Xavier murmured, his gaze steady, his wolf flickering golden in his eyes. You dont have to stay in that pack house full of vipers. If you want to leave with me Ill make sure your wolf and spirit are safe.

I stared at my hands. They were thinner than before, trembling faintly, the claws refusing to emerge no matter how hard I willed them. So many choices, and all of them had led me here, hollow, discarded, grieving alone.

Give me five nights, I whispered. I need to settle what remains. But after that Ill go with you.

His smile was small, tinged with sorrow. Then my wolf and I will wait for your call under the Moon.

--

When I returned to the pack house, it was already past noon. The sun was too bright, the birdsong too cheerful for the kind of storm brewing in my chest. I leaned on the cane the doctor had given me, limping toward the great oak doors.

Each step was a gamble.

Choosing Xavier, a wolf I once rejected, felt uncertain, but it was better than living in a pack house where I had become invisible prey.

I pushed open the doors.

Laughter

I froze. Inside the hearth hall, I saw them: Alpha Sebastian, Luis, Erol, and Vera. Lounging like royalty, drinks in hand, Veras head resting on Alpha Sebastians shoulder. My mate. My sister. My brothers.

They looked up at once. Their smiles vanished, as if they had seen a ghost returning from the grave.

Oh, Alpha Sebastian said, blinking. Sorry. I forgot you were coming home today. How are you?

Forgot? A bitter laugh coiled in my throat. They never visited. Not once.

Before I could speak, Vera leapt to her feet, rushing toward me with a dazzling smile. Sister! I missed you. Im so sorry we didnt visit. Ive just been so weak, but Im better now. What about you? Feeling well?

I stepped back, disgust crawling like spiders down my spine.

Im not well, I said sharply, my voice cold enough to frost the air.

Her smile faltered. She blinked, then reached for me again. Amara

I shoved her hand away. Dont touch me.

Hey! Erol snapped, rising, his wolf bristling. Why would you push her? You know shes fragile right now.

Luis followed, his eyes narrowing. Shes been through so much. You cant treat her like this.

What about me? I demanded, my voice rising into a growl. I lay broken in the healers ward. I was struck down by steel and fire. And where were you?

Alpha Sebastian rolled his eyes. Because you were reckless. Running in the middle of the road without your wolf. But Vera, she battles a sickness that eats her alive, Amara. She is fragile.

She is also my sister, Vera added sweetly, her eyes shimmering with false tears. Please dont fight me. Were both suffering we should stand together, not

I shook my head slowly. I bled too. I lost my child. But none of you came. Not once.

The words barely left me before Vera staggered dramatically, clutching her stomach.

Oh no, Erol gasped. Shes ill again.

As expected, they surged to her side instantly, Alpha Sebastian lifting her as though she were made of glass, Luis fetching a cloth, Erol patting her back with worry.

And I stood there.

Alone.

Again.

My confession was swallowed whole, dismissed like smoke on the wind. I thought of screaming, forcing them to see me, but I was too hollow. Too weary. How could I remain in a pack where no one claimed me?

I turned and limped to the room Alpha Sebastian and I once shared. But when I opened the door, my breath caught.

Everything was gone. My garments, my photos, even the sacred trinkets I had placed upon the nightstand. In their place, Veras perfume, her jewelry, her dresses draped near the mirror as though she had already marked this territory as hers.

I staggered back, the cane slipping from my grasp, and when I turned, she was there.

Vera. Smirking.

She no longer wore a mask of sweetness. Only the serpent remained.

You know, she murmured, tilting her head, I used to be soft. But kindness won me nothing. You stole my place, my man, even my brothers loyalty. Now, I am merely taking back what was always mine.

Her smile was venomous.

But dont worry, she added mockingly, Ill give you a few days to crawl away. I wouldnt want the pack to see you tossed out like a stray. That would tarnish our familys image.

I stared at her, fury igniting. Are you truly sick?

Her eyes narrowed. Of course I am.

But I remembered. How Vera once faked fainting spells to draw attention. How she spun lies of headaches and weakness to escape duty.

You dare accuse me of deceit? she said louder now, her voice sharpened to carry.

Luis and Erol rushed in.

Shes at it again, Vera wailed. She says my illness is false!

You really are the curse in this family, Amara, Erol spat. No wonder no one ever liked you.

Luis stormed forward, and before I could react, he tore the necklace from my throat, the one he gave me when we were pups, a token that he would always protect me.

You dont deserve this anymore.

I stood frozen, numb as ice.

They left, one by one.

And I sank to the floor, clutching my side, every breath a reminder of the pain I had endured.

But I stayed silent.

Because in a few nights, I would be gone.

And when I was, the Moon itself would bear witness to the regret they would choke on.

The last of my clothes was folded into the leather satchel when the sound of the doorbell cut through the silence of my room. I froze, the scent of cedar smoke and cold night air drifting faintly in from the open window. My heart stuttered. Perhaps it was Xavier Moonveil? I reached for my phone, searching for a missed call, a message, some sign of him. Nothing. With a heavy exhale, I abandoned the thought and padded toward the door, the wooden floors creaking beneath my steps.

A white box rested on the stone threshold, larger than any offering I had ever seen, its silk ribbon glinting gold under the silver light of the rising moon. My name was written across the top in curling, calligraphic strokes, as though summoned from another lifetime. No note, no sender, only my name.

Curiosity, and something darker, something restless that stirred in my blood, drove me to bring it inside. I placed it on the table and untied the ribbon, lifting the lid slowly, reverently, as though afraid the contents might bite.

And then my pulse faltered.

The gown. My gown.

It was the very design I had sketched as a girl, back when I still believed Alpha Sebastian would one day claim me under the Moon, when I dreamed of a true Blood Moon Binding instead of the hollow paper contract he shoved at me years ago. Ivory silk shimmered like liquid light, the sleeves of lace spun delicately as if woven by the spirits of our ancestors themselves. My trembling fingers traced the bodice, where a name was hand-embroidered in gold thread.

AMARA.

My throat constricted. Tears blurred my vision. Could this be Alpha Sebastians way of making amends? Could this be his silent apology after years of distance, betrayal, and unspoken wounds? Was he ready at last to give me the binding the pack had waited for, the vows beneath the Sacred Oak, the acknowledgment that I was his mate in truth, not just convenience?

For a moment, I allowed myself to believe. My heart whispered yes.

I stepped into the gown, shivering as the silk embraced me, molding against my skin like destiny itself. In the mirror, I caught my reflection, fragile yet radiant, and pressed my hand to my chest, hearing the faint echo of my wolf stirring within, aching for recognition.

The door burst open with a violent crash.

Amara, what in the Moons name are you doing?!

I jolted, breath caught in my throat.

Alpha Sebastian filled the doorway, fury carved into every line of his face. His scent, smoke, iron, and the familiar musk of his wolf rolled through the room, stifling me. Before I could utter a word, he strode forward, his fangs flashing faintly in the corner of his mouth, and ripped the gown from my shoulder with such force I thought he might tear the fabric, or me in half.

Why are you holding this? His voice was a growl, raw and merciless.

I My words faltered. It has my name it was my design. I thought are we finally going to be bound before the pack?

His laugh was sharp, colder than a blade dipped in winter water.

Bound? Dont be foolish, Amara. You and I are already mated.

Then why-why this? My voice cracked.

The gown in his hands seemed to burn my eyes as he spat the answer.

It is for Vera.

My heart stilled.

She deserves the ceremony. She deserves the gown. She has always dreamed of walking the aisle beneath the Moon, of pledging herself as a bride before the pack. And she is sick. She does not have long.

The world tilted. My wolf snarled inside me, clawing against my ribs, howling at their betrayal.

But it was my dream, I whispered, voice shaking. It was always mine.

My brother Erol stepped into the room, his smirk dripping with disdain, the aura of his wolf crackling like sparks. Behind him, Vera appeared, wrapped in her blanket, her face pale and luminous as though she wanted the entire world to pity her frailty.

For Moons sake, Amara, Erol sneered. Stop making this about you. You are strong. She is not. Let her have what she wants.

Veras soft eyes lifted to mine, glistening with unshed tears. I only wish to be wed once, Amara. To feel the Binding, even if it is borrowed. I do not mean to steal him forever. Just the ceremony. Just the dream. You are strong enough to endure. I am not.

Borrow my husband? My words were ice. Steal my dream?

Silence. Their silence condemned them all.

You truly disappoint me.

Vera flinched, but I no longer cared. I turned from them, the gown slipped from my body like discarded skin, and walked away. Each step felt heavy, but fire burned inside my chest, hotter than the shame they had smeared across me.

I entered my room again and pulled everything from its drawers: the letters, the sketches of gowns I once cherished, the photographs of Alpha Sebastian holding me as if I mattered. I carried them all outside, to the iron barrel behind the pack house, and set them ablaze.

The flames roared, devouring my past, curling smoke skyward as if carrying my lost dreams to the Moon itself. My wolf shifted restlessly beneath my skin, keening with pain and fury. I remembered my brothers promises of protection, Veras false adoration, and Alpha Sebastians empty vows. Lies. Every last word.

Ash swallowed the final page of my sketchbook when I felt arms circle me from behind.

Amara, Alpha Sebastian murmured against my ear, his breath hot, his wolf pressing close. I did not mean for it to go this far. Forgive me. Just do this for her. She is sick. You are stronger.

I stood motionless, the fires glow flickering in my eyes.

How about this? he whispered. Tomorrow, I will take you out. Just the two of us. I will make it up to you. I promise.

I had no strength to argue. Fine, I breathed.

Thank you. His lips grazed the top of my head, but I felt nothing.

Later, when darkness wrapped me in its false comfort, sleep began to take me.

Until his voice shattered it.

AMARA! WAKE UP!

My eyes flew open. Alpha Sebastian Mooncrest loomed above me, frantic, his eyes wild. We need your blood. Now. Vera needs a transfusion. You are her only match.

What? My heart pounded.

She is fading. Do not be selfish. Be useful for once. Be her blood bank.

The command hit me like a blow. My wolf screamed inside me, not with fear, but with rage.

She is fading. Do not be selfish. Be useful for once. Be her blood bank.

The Alphas command slammed into my mind like iron shackles.

No, I growled, wrenching my arm free from Alpha Sebastians grip, my wolfs heartbeat thrumming fiercely beneath my skin. I will not give her my blood.

Alpha Sebastians amber eyes darkened, glowing faintly as his wolf stirred. Amara, dont start this again. She carries blood-sickness. The healers cannot save her without you. You are her match.

That is not my fault, I snapped, planting my feet as though I stood in front of a rival Alpha. She is not the only one who bleeds in this family. She is not the only one who suffers.

Erol stepped forward, his dominance pressing against me like an unwanted weight. Why are you always so selfish? She is dying!

She is not dying, I hissed, my wolf clawing at my chest, demanding release. She has been faking weakness her entire life. Even as children, she played at being fragile just to escape her duties. And you all still coddle her like she is the Moons chosen.

Luiss voice cut through the air, sharp as steel. Enough. You are embarrassing yourself.

Before I could shift my stance, before I could draw on what little strength remained, the three of them lunged as one. Hands gripped my arms, their combined dominance suffocating my wolf. I struggled, teeth bared, nails clawing against flesh, but I was weak from weeks of manipulation and hunger, still recovering from wounds no one bothered to heal. They dragged me like a criminal, forced me into the steel confines of the car, ignoring my growls, ignoring the fury that thundered inside me.

They hauled me to the pack infirmary.

Within the hour, I was strapped down like a rogue, silver buckles biting into my wrists, the sterile reek of the room smothering the wild in me. My pleas meant nothing. They silenced me as the healers drained me, vial after vial, blood filling bag after bag. I watched my life seep out of me, feeding a lie, while nurses shook their heads at the unnatural quantity demanded by my own kin.

The world dimmed, shadows closing in, until everything was swallowed by darkness.

When I woke, my body felt hollow, my wolf curled deep within me, snarling weakly, starved and betrayed. My veins felt like ice. My vision cleared only enough to see the one face I least wished to behold.

Vera.

She sat perched at the edge of the bed, fragile as a wilting flower, a tray balanced in her lap. Youre awake, she said softly, her voice wrapped in false honey. I brought you food.

For the briefest flicker of a heartbeat, my chest ached to believe her. That perhaps she cared, perhaps she wanted me whole.

Then memory struck, sharp as claws to flesh.

I shoved the tray aside, porcelain shattering as the plate clattered to the floor.

The door burst open. Alpha Sebastian. Erol. Luis. Their scents rolled in like smoke and ash, oppressive and suffocating.

What in the Moons name is wrong with you? Erol barked. She brought you food!

Youre unbelievable, Alpha Sebastian snarled. She is trying to make peace, and you spit on her kindness?

She forced me! My voice cracked into a scream, fury spilling out like blood from a wound. You all forced me! You strapped me down like a traitor to my own pack!

Amara Veras voice softened, sweetened, a serpent coiling in silk. Please. Dont be like this. You are my sister. I only wanted to heal what is broken.

She leaned closer, her lips brushing my ear, her breath warm against my skin.

You see now? she whispered. They do not want you anymore. So behave.

I froze, a shiver of rage sparking through me.

Alpha Sebastians gaze burned into me. Apologize. Now.

I did nothing wrong, I spat, but my voice trembled with exhaustion.

Amara. Luiss tone carried the warning of an Alpha command.

I swallowed back every scream, every howl clawing at my throat. Fine, I whispered. Im sorry.

Not out of guilt. Not out of surrender. But because I was too weary to fight all of them at once.

They nodded, satisfied, as though I were some disobedient pup who had finally learned obedience. I turned my face away, closing my eyes, feigning sleep while they comforted Vera, soothing her crocodile tears. I remained that way until their scents faded from the room.

Later that night, the vibration of my phone broke the silence.

Xavier Moonveil: Tomorrow is the day. Still ready?

My breath steadied. My fingers trembled, then moved with resolve.

Me: Yes.

The morning came with dread. My body ached, hollowed by loss, but my heart ached more. I longed to stay in the infirmary, to vanish into shadow, but Alpha Sebastians command had been absolute.

We need this, he had said, voice flat, Alpha command threaded through his words. You owe it to Vera, and to us, to stop behaving like a child. You promised me a date. You will go.

And so I went. Not because my heart longed for him. Not because hope lived in me anymore. But because saying no meant more chains, more blame, more voices pressing guilt into my skull until even my wolf was silenced.

I wore the dress I had worn on our first night together, back when I believed in things like mates and forever. Back when his hand had felt like a vow, not a shackle. Back when I thought I was chosen.

He said we would meet at the restaurant, just the two of us, to begin again. So I waited.

I arrived early. I sat. The waitress brought water. Time dripped like poison. Minutes turned to hours. My phone remained silent. My heart remained still.

Until it buzzed.

Vera: Oops. Seems they cant see you today, sister. They are occupied with me. Enjoy your meal. Alone.

Attached was a photograph of them together. Smiling. Radiant. Whole.

Once, I might have wept. But my wolf was stirring now, no longer lulled to sleep by their chains.

I rose, steady, head high. I called for the manager and left behind a bundle wrapped in worn parchment and quiet finality, a copy of the false marriage certificate, the report of the pup I lost, and the ring he had pressed into my hand five years ago.

If they ever come searching, I told him, tell them Amara is gone. That she belongs to them no more.

The bell above the door chimed as I stepped into the night air.

Xavier Moonveil was waiting at the curb, his presence calm yet fierce, his hand outstretched. Ready?

More than ever, I said, my wolf lifting her head within me, restless at last.

Together we drove, the city lights fading into the distance. At the airport, I removed the SIM card from my phone, a lifetime of chains condensed into a sliver of plastic. I tossed it into the bin without hesitation.

As I boarded the plane beside Xavier, calm spread through me like the first breath of a storm. Tomorrow, when they search for me, when they finally realize I am gone, they may call me.

But the Moon had heard my vow.

And I swear they would never find me again.