Chapter 4

Khayim came as soon as he heard. He flung the hospital door open like a kid, earning a couple of shushes from the hospital staff. We laughed.

He agreed to drive Violet to her hotel to pack up, go back to the hospital to process my release, and then drive us to wherever we wanted from there. Violet and I were grateful. It was so like him to go all out.

"Well it isn't free," He joked, "You both owe me a day-out." his usual happy self was very comforting. "You're treat!" he was saying as he stood up and left the room for the billing station.

It took a lot of tests to convince my doctors I could go home, but in the end, I was allowed to leave the hospital that same day I woke up.

We stayed at Violet's hotel for the night and left as early as the first light. The journey back to my husband's territory would take us around a couple of hours from the hotel, but I had regained my strength so I barely mind. I let myself relax in the front seat. Violet has already made herself comfortable in the backseat, headsets on, just chilling.

As expected, Khayim chatted spontaneously throughout the trip, filling me with news from the Sirius pack -- though I suspect, leaving out the heavy stuff. Normally I would have frowned, but this time I let him. I have too much negativity already. It's nice to let myself breathe just this once. I closed my eyes.

"Go on , I'm listening," I muttered,"I'm afraid Dad won't see me, Khayim."

"He wants you to come home than anyone else ,Nayla." Before I fell into a deep sleep, I heard a gentle voice."After seeing him, remember to give him a hug."

"Wake up, wildflower," I opened my eyes and saw Khayim staring at my face, a rare tenderness in his eyes. He shifted his gaze back to the road. "I won't be able to call you that very soon, you know." He smiled.

"Violet told me. I'm glad you made up your mind. Our people needed the strongest of us to lead the pack." I smiled at him and straightened up. "Thanks, Khayim, really." And I mean it. I strained my neck to the backseat were Violet just woke up as well. "You can both call me anything you want, Alpha or not."

The boundary marker of Canopus estate came into view. My wolf has awoken earlier. She's ready. I'm ready. My muscles tensed in anticipation and I smiled. I untied my hair and let it down. With the artificial tint off, it now shows off its natural light brown glow and the rare golden streaks only werewolves of extremely noble origins may possess. Violet handed me a small pouch. I opened and found an expensive looking black dress, made of obviously first-rate material, very elegant in its simplicity. "Put that on." She grinned mischievously.

I could already make out the mansion at the distance. A moment of sharp pain cut through me but was gone as quickly as it came. "Pull over the next bend Khayim!" Violet said before I could respond. "Nayla has to change. Just close your eyes." We laughed. "Alright, Violet, I'll let you have your way."

"I want to see my husband." I announced through the car window as we reached the estate gate. Two pale-faced royal guards let us pass without a word, clearly taken aback by the sudden authority in my voice. The gate opened and Khayim drove the Lotus Emira to the front lawn, where the party had been only days before. "We'll wait for you by the shade, ma'am." He said professionally. I nodded.

Canopus pack members stared at me in contempt. I ignored them and went straight to the guard at the door. "I want to see my husband." I said again. He was puzzled, but like the guards at the gate, he let me in without a word, howbeit reluctantly.

Gareth was in his study. I walked in and for a moment felt my heart leaped at the scent of him. A rush of delight came over me and for moment all I wanted I to hold me again and bury my face in his hair. I stopped myself. Of all things I needed! I tensed my muscle and focused on the memory of his rejection. I felt my resolve coming back. For freedom. My wolf and I muttered in my head. I fixed my eyes on my soon-to-be-ex-husband's ice-cold face. He stiffened realizing who I was.

"The full moon will be in eight days. I accept your offer. I want our mateship dissolved." I said firmly.

Our gaze locked. I thought I saw a flood of emotions in his eyes, but it was gone too quickly. I can see the veins in his neck twitch. His face remained stone. He said nothing.

I am dead sure I want no part of him. Not anymore. My wolf and I held our ground. We'd deal with feelings later. "Breech tree, at the Canopus pack's border, twelve a.m."

I turned my back before he could utter a word. I paused and look back one more time, "Oh, and, I've arranged for divorce. Don't worry, I'm returning everything. I'll get the rest of the paperwork done right after the moon ceremony. Goodbye." I left.