The pen moved swiftly across the paper. One signature. Then another. Then another.
Just like that. Years of marriage. My title. My place in this pack. Gone.
Signed away in less than a minute.
“There,” he said, sliding the documents back toward me. “Done.”
I picked them up carefully, my hands steady despite everything.
“Thank you.”
He finally looked at me then.
“Stay,” he said. “We’ll have lunch after this.”
Faye perked up at that, her smile widening.
“Yes, let’s eat together!” she chimed in sweetly.
I met his gaze.
For a brief moment, something flickered in his eyes. Expectation. Control.
“I’m not feeling well,” I said calmly.
His brows furrowed slightly.
“Then I’ll have someone bring you medicine.”
“I’ll manage,” I replied.
And before he could say anything else, I turned and walked away.
The hallway felt quieter this time. Or maybe it was just me. I stopped near a large window, the city stretching out below.
Then my hand moved to my stomach again.
“Just a little longer,” I whispered. “I promise… I’ll give you a better life.”
I opened my bag, intending to place the documents securely inside. But my fingers brushed against something else.
The sealed letter. I had almost forgotten. Carefully, I pulled it out. This time, I opened it.
Inside was a recommendation. My name written clearly. Approval for entry into the Direwolf Pack.
A small slip of paper fell from the envelope.
A number. I stared at it for a moment before pulling out my phone.
My fingers hesitated briefly. Then I dialed. The line rang once. Twice.
Then, it connected.
“Who is this?”
The voice was deep.
“My name is Stephanie,” I said quietly.
There was a brief pause.
“I see.”
The tone shifted slightly. Recognition.
“Elder Elisse mentioned you.”
My grip tightened slightly around the phone.
“Yes.”
“Do you need someone to pick you up?” he asked directly. Straightforward.
I glanced at the time.
“Not yet,” I said. “It will be later tonight.”
Another pause.
“After the event,” I added.
“I understand,” he replied. “I’ll make the arrangements.”
Something about his voice felt… steady. Reliable.
“Thank you.”
“We’ll be waiting.”
The line went dead. I lowered the phone slowly.
The event hall was filled to capacity. Lights. Cameras. Energy. Everything felt grand. Important.
I sat in my assigned seat, my hands resting over the speech I had prepared.
Pages filled with words. Ideas. Acknowledgments. Everything I had worked for. Everything I wanted to say.