Chapter 117: Possessiveness
But I knew it too well. After cleaning its corridors for years, no one knew the Night claw pack better than the pack slave.
I reached the back exit without running into anyone.
Luck...
Or maybe just timing.
The door creaked slightly as I pushed it open, and I froze.
I didn’t want to run into anyone at this moment, because I wouldn’t know how to explain myself.
Until I completely left the Night claw pack territory, I was still under their control and might get sent back without questions.
So, I mustn’t let anyone find me.
After listening for a while and not seeing anyone, I exhaled slowly and stepped outside.
The cool morning air hit my face instantly.
Even though I had left the pack house, I was still within the pack territory.
Luckily, when I went on the mission last time to retrieve the injured pack members, I didn’t just go blindly.
I knew that a day like today would come, so I mapped out the pack in my head.
During the past couple of months when I woke up early to train and jog I had also understood the security of the pack, especially this early in the morning.
At this time, it was already past the time when rogues or other packs would dare to attack, so security was usually relaxed.
Many warriors went back to sleep at this time and only a few were left as scouts.
I already knew their route very well.
So, it wasn’t hard for me to avoid them and silently leave the area of surveillance.
Once I was beyond the place where scouts could reach, I finally breathed in the fresh air that filled my lungs.
"You’re out," Lizzie said softly.
"Yes."
This felt like freedom.
However, I knew that I had to start moving, especially since I didn’t have a car.
Once everyone woke up and realized that I was gone, things wouldn’t be good.
By the time they realised I was missing, I hoped that I would be far away.
So, I adjusted my grip on the suitcase and started walking.
I was walking away from the pain, the humiliation, the threats, and the mate who wanted nothing to do with me.
The path leading out of the pack territory was quiet.
Most of the pack would still be asleep.
Which was exactly why I chose this time.
But wild animals were awake and hunting.
I prayed as I walked that I wouldn’t encounter rogues that might tear me to pieces if I met them.
"Don’t worry, move forward bravely. No wild beast would come near you.* Lizzie said in my mind.
I didn’t know why she would say this, but I have always trusted her. So, I did the same this time.
If I left at this time, no one would have the chance to stop me.
That was what I thought, until....
"Valerie."
I froze and my entire body went still.
That voice...
It was a voice I knew too well.
Slowly, I turned around and there he was.
Standing a few meters away and watching me.
My heart skipped a beat. Then another, and another, and soon, it started pounding uncontrollably.
I was already a distance away from the pack house.
What was he doing here? Did he follow me from the beginning?
"What are you doing?" he asked.
His voice was low but there was something dangerous beneath it.
I straightened slightly, tightening my grip on the suitcase.
I thought about making excuses but realized that I wouldn’t be able to fool him.
He was my mate, and it was probably that pulling mate bond that had awakened him and forced him to come.
So, lying won’t cut it.
"Leaving." In that case, I decided to answer directly.
His gaze dropped briefly to the suitcase.
Then back to my face.
"And you thought you could just walk out without saying anything?"
I didn’t respond immediately.
Because what was there to say?
"You made it clear last night," I said calmly. "There’s nothing left to say."
Anyway, he was the one who said I didn’t matter and he didn’t want a weakling as a mate.
So, whether I leave or not, what’s it to him?
His jaw tightened.
"That’s not what I meant."
"It doesn’t matter what you meant," I replied. "It matters what you said."
Both of us fell silent for a long while. Just staring at each other.
"You’re my mate," he said finally.
The words hung in the air. Filled with a possessiveness I didn’t know Mike possessed.
And something inside me...twisted painfully.
If only he truly loved me the way a mate was supposed to love their partner.
"I was," I corrected softly.
His eyes darkened instantly.
"What does that mean?"
"It means I’m leaving."
"You don’t get to decide that."
"I already did."
My voice didn’t waver.
"You have your life, Mike. And you have Innocent. You don’t need me." I added.
Even though my heart was racing and the mate bond was pulling at me harder and more desperately, I refused to back down.
"You’re not going anywhere," he said, taking a step forward.
I stepped back immediately and the distance between us remained.
"Yes, I am."
"You think you can just walk away from me?" His voice dropped lower.
"Mike, there is no need for us to have this conversation."
"You belong to this pack."
"No," I said quietly. "I never did."
How dare he say that? Did anyone here treat me as part of the pack?
Especially after my parents’ death, I was nothing but a slave and Mike was one of those who made sure I knew my place.
So, why change that now?
I could see the flash of anger on his face mixed with frustration and maybe something else.
Something he didn’t understand himself.
"You’re my Luna."
I let out a soft, humorless laugh.
"Am I?"
The question hung between us.
He had made it clear in front of the entire pack that I was nothing. There was no need to change now.
"You made your position clear last night," I continued. "So I’m acting accordingly."