Chapter 114

Aria’s POV

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you,” I started.

“I’m not upset about that,” Cathy replied. “I’m worried about you. I know your feelings for him are all in a jumble. It couldn’t have been easy to hear him say that he has suddenly developed some affection for you now.”

It wasn’t, and I still hadn’t truly come to terms with it.

“I don’t want to ruin tonight,” I said, hoping she would let the matter drop. Talking of Lucian here and now made my stomach sink. Suddenly the pulsing music seemed too loud. I wanted to go home.

Cathy immediately spotted the change in me. “I’m sorry I brought it up. Let’s forget it, okay? Tonight is about you and Piper, celebrating our friendship, as well as cheering on the future for you both.”

With a heavy exhale, I allowed myself to relax.

“Thank you for understanding,” I said.

She lifted her glass again. “How about a new toast?”

“To what, this time?” I asked, a laugh finding its way back into my voice.

Cathy hummed. “How about… To a bright future?”

Placing my hand on my stomach, I agreed. “I can toast to that.”

The next morning, it was time for me to go. Piper was already waiting in the taxi with our luggage while I stayed behind in the house a moment to say goodbye to Cathy. She was nursing a hangover from the night before, looking pale and bleary eyed.

The tears that fell from her eyes though, I knew were not alcohol related, because my ever-sober self also shed them.

I pulled her into a tight hug, which she returned just as firmly.

“Every day phone call,” she said, a reminder.

“I won’t forget,” I assured her.

“And you take a million pictures of that baby,” she added. “I don’t want to miss a minute.”

“So many pictures,” I assured her.

Too soon, we had to separate, and it was time to say goodbye.

Before I stepped out of the house, I affixed my Dr. A disguise. My friends would know that this was Aria’s departure, but the rest of the pack only knew Dr. A was leaving.

When the taxi pulled up to the airport, I was glad that I had taken the time for this precaution, as a huge crowd of people was waiting for us out in the parking lot. Security was holding them back, keeping a path open for us to walk from the taxi into the airport.

The crowd was huge; it looked like almost the entire pack was there to see us off.

Some even held signs that read things like: We love you, Dr. A! Bon Voyage, Dr. A! Visit us soon! Don’t forget Nightfall!

Their kindness and support was overwhelming, causing my chest to feel tight, so overflowing with gratitude and admiration.

Nightfall pack had been my home for my whole life. While we certainly had our ups and downs, I couldn’t regret my time here.

Leaving was frightening, venturing out into the unknown, but I was only able to do so because I had gained so much strength here in Nightfall. This good pack didn’t need me anymore. I had to leave and help others.

Near the doors of the airport, Lucian stood, with Ben beside and slightly behind him. Ben was holding a bouquet of sunflowers. Seeing me, Lucian turned and Ben handed him the bouquet.

As I approached, Lucian held out the bouquet for me.

“Nightfall pack are sorry to see you go, Dr. A,” Lucian said. “But we thank you for the time you spent with us, and offer you well wishes on your adventures to come.”

I accepted the flowers. They were beautiful. As I held them close to smell them, I noticed that Lucian was looking behind me. He spotted Piper, but seemed to be looking for someone else.

My mysterious ‘partner,’ most likely. It was kind of Lucian to be so defensive of me and my child, thinking there was some deadbeat father who needed a firm talking to. He had no idea that father was him. And as long as I had a say in it, he would never know the truth.

His eyes fell back onto me, and I took one last moment to soak in the sight of him, knowing this would likely be the last time I ever saw him. Even if I returned to Nightfall to visit at some future date, I would never try to see him again.

In fact, it was for the best if we never saw each other again after this moment, for both our sakes.

He had confusing, nostalgic feelings for me that were throwing his life into turmoil. And I wasn’t going to be caught up in the whirlwind again, giving my heart away just to have it slowly slide back to me when he never accepted it.

I soaked in the sight of him, his beautiful eyes, his confident features, the hard line of his jaw. He was terribly handsome, heartbreakingly so.

Years ago, I would have done anything to stay by his side. Now, of my own accord, I was leaving it.

Regret filled my heart, asking me once more to reconsider and stay with this man, the one I had loved for so long.

Yet, in a flash, I steeled myself against those feelings. I needed to focus on the future, the best life for me and my baby. That meant leaving and never looking back.

“Be strong,” Luna whispered in my mind, though whether she spoke to herself or to me, I wasn’t certain. I could feel her own regret, her own longing, mirroring my own.

We had broken the mating bond, but I still felt connected to Lucian in a way that I was certain I would feel with no one else.

That wasn’t enough for me to stay, though. Not anymore.

“I wish you a good life, King Lucian,” I said, careful to keep my voice calm and my true emotions locked away.

“And you, Dr. A,” Lucian replied.

Piper walked forward a few steps. When I didn’t immediately follow her, she looked back in concern.

“Take one step, and then another,” Luna said. “Focus on each step.”

Following that direction, I did indeed focus on my first step, and then the next. It was so difficult, even with my reasoning, to walk away from Lucian.

This was the right decision, I knew that. But in these final moments, it felt like such a huge mistake.

I loved Lucian so much, even now. To leave him behind tore at my heart, a terrible pain.

Piper gave me an encouraging smile. Luna helped make me strong.

Together, I forced my legs to work. Soon, I boarded the plane. A stewardess led us to our seats, one of which was a window seat. I slipped into it and sat down.

Through the glass, I could still see the crowd and their signs. Lucian, where he had been standing, was hidden from me. At least until I saw him and Ben walking closer to the King’s sedan. There, they stopped and turned back toward the plan, as if ready to watch it take off.

Lucian was so small, so far away.

Already I could feel the distance.

“You’re making the right choice,” Piper said, and I knew she was right.

As much as it hurt, I wouldn’t regret this.

The only direction I could go now was forward.