Chapter 4
Bran's mother reached out to meet. I agreed.
When we met, I slid a leather pouch across the table. Inside was the crescent-moon pendant she'd once given me.
"This should've been returned long ago," I said evenly.
"Apologies for the delay."
Her gaze lingered on the pouch before she sighed.
"Laura, you're too good. You know as long as I'm here, Elena will never set foot in this family."
Three years ago, when the pack was locked down during the territory dispute, she admired how I stood by Bran, unwavering.
After we made it official, she gifted me the pendant, calling it the family's blessing for their Luna.
But that chapter had closed. I no longer deserved it.
"Are you sure there's no chance?" she pressed.
I managed a faint smile.
"Three years, and I still hate how it ended. But I can't lie to myself anymore."
She clasped my hand, her expression regretful.
"Bran told me something after you two became official. He said every woman before you only cared about his power. But you? You didn't."
Her words pierced deeper than intended. So that was it. He chose me because I didn't crave his title-nothing to do with love.
Bran never should've said, "Let's try."
He should've spared me the false hope, the heartbreak.
"Mom." The familiar voice froze me mid-thought.
I turned, rigid, as Bran's tall frame approached.
He stopped a few paces away, his eyes locking onto mine before darting to the pouch.
"Come here," his mother demanded.
Suddenly, I felt exposed. Betrayed.
"Laura," she said quietly. "It's my fault. I kept hoping you two could make it work."
I stood abruptly, masking my disgust with indifference.
"Apologies. I have other matters to attend to."
Bran's hand clamped around my arm before I could escape. His gaze bore down on me.
"Still playing hard to get after a month of this?"
"Let go," I snapped.
"Laura, I'm only here because my mother asked me to be. Don't flatter yourself. You're the one who stormed off because I snapped at you about that deer. A deer, Laura. And let's not forget how you shoved Elena."
The memory of his condescension ignited something feral in me. I grabbed the nearest glass of water and flung it at his face.
He released me, cursing, as I set the glass down with deliberate calm.
I turned to leave but collided with someone rushing through the doorway.
"Bran! Are you alright?"
Elena was here.
She dabbed at his dripping face with napkins before turning to block my path.
"Apologize," she demanded.
I reached for Bran's mother's untouched tea and dumped it over Elena.
For the first time in weeks, I felt relief.
Bran's mother's expression twisted.
"Laura, this temper of yours. Why can't you speak calmly? "
"She's always been like this," Elena cut in.
"Once, Bran asked if she'd eaten during a hunt, and she just glared at him instead of answering. How could anyone bear that?"
She stepped closer to Bran's mother,.
"I know I shouldn't be here, but when I saw what he's been enduring, I couldn't stay away."
Bran's mother said nothing, but her disappointed gaze spoke volumes.
"Laura," she finally muttered. "I never knew. I truly misjudged-"
"Enough." My voice cracked as I raised a hand to silence her.
"Meeting any of you was the worst stroke of luck in my life."
Bran slicked back his soaked hair, his face dark with anger.
"Laura, if you've got any pride, don't ever come near me again."
I walked away without looking back.
He didn't know this would be the last time we'd meet.
Tomorrow, I'd leave the pack for good.
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