pte

e's

iveway. Mireille clings to my coat as she clambers out

message on my phone and told me she'd been craving the steak at that restaurant for ages.

estaurant that I remembered to text

t it was quickly smothered by Mi

er into it. "Sweetheart, your mom came all this way. She just wants to spend

her fated mate, she's never demanded that I break m

w Jersey, I'll go thr

oira would insist on joining our river trip tomorrow. Simple as tha

my sleeve, her green eyes wide. "Dad, wha

es are. She tries all sorts of ways to get more of my time, but as long as I make my position

he skips through the front door, calli

un. "Of course, little Mireille. Let's get you washed up." Then she turns to me,

relessly. "W

"Luna packed her things and went back

rs, fingers tightening aro

, Al

't care. Her leaving isn't any real loss to me. I'm used to her quiet obedience, her endless

sappointment in her. She had hoped Moira would at least help her finish

ega, ventures, "Luna Moira didn't

rt-it was a scheme carefully planned by her pack. If she hadn't gotten pregnant, I never would have chosen

ure bloodline makes her the obvious choice for L

ittle laugh and continue u

es-Bella's name lights up the screen. I answer without hesitation, leave the letter behind, and h

a isn't at breakfast. If she stops calling, it just means she's finally lea

ra'

ell. I climb the stairs, the air thick with the familiar scent of cedar and linen. Six years of marriage, and t

eparate cards-one for me, one for Mireille. I've never touched Mireille's card, not once. Mine was almost always used to buy things for them: clothes for Mire

rown. There are a little over three million dollars left-nothing to Jude, but to me it's a lifeline. I transfe

meters, bought on a whim back then just to help a friend hit a sa

down the kitchen counters, and collapse onto the

etherlands. Breakfast time for Jude and Mireille. I set this alarm months ago so I could keep in touch with my daughter overseas. At first, Mi

mbers, then delete it. Pain stabs through my chest, but

t was never my dream, but it was the right choice for his c

bmit my resignation. My hand is steady a

life fade away with each step. The marriage, the pack, the endless ch

ille

ancing at my phone, waiting for it to ring at seven o'clock sharp like it always does. Mom

all talk, no more pretending to care about how her day went, no more guilt for rushing to hang up. Bella

. But as my hand closes around the doorknob, a strange anxie

before school!" Mrs. Leah calls after me. I can hear

reedom. No more listening to her morning nagging, no more being force

ll no missed calls. No texts. Nothing. The silence is unsettling, like yo

al. "Did Mom ever say. she

deep inside me. I push the feeling down and think about Bella and our river trip instead. Bella w

eling in my chest. I'm finally free of Mom's attention