Chapter 81

Cara’s POV

I’m awash with relief when Dr. Marlow finally tells me that Mia is permitted to go back home. I whisper my thanks up towards the Goddess, not sure if my prayers had helped my daughter, but I figure it’s worth a shot either way.

I gather up Mia’s belongings and get my daughter safely into the car. We ride home in silence, Mia drifting in and out of sleep and me drifting in and out of my thoughts.

By the time we get back home, back to our little cottage on the edge of the Pack BloodyMoon Alpha villa estate, one thing is absolutely clear to me.

I am finally done with Alaric Grant.

A sense of peace comes over me at that realization. Finally, this saga is coming to an end.

“Mommy! You’re back!” I hear Ethan’s voice call to me, followed by the sound of the front door closing.

I walk out of Mia’s room to see Aidan and Ryan accompanying my son, making themselves comfortable by plopping onto the couch.

“Come on, let’s get you into bed,” I plant a kiss on the top of Ethan’s head. “Give me a moment, I’ll be back out once he’s tucked in,” I say to my brothers.

Ethan’s brushing his teeth when he looks at me seriously. He spits the toothpaste into the sink and says, “Mommy, did you see him?”

I make eye contact with my son through the mirror. His green eyes are large, full of concern and questions.

The last thing I want to do is discuss Alaric right now, especially not so soon after my other child Mia had so sweetly begged for a father.

I decide that changing the subject and deflecting is my best option squash Ethan’s questions. “I’ll tell you what I did see… I saw the doctors working so hard on your sister. They gave her the very best medicine and took excellent care of her.”

Ethan looks at me for a moment too long, like he can tell that I’m purposely avoiding his question. He finally decides to let it go, because he gets into his little bed without another mention of Alaric.

When I come back out to the living room, my brothers Aidan and Ryan are laughing together, recounting something funny that had happened to them earlier.

“And can you believe he actually asked to meet with Aylon?” Aidan asks with a laugh chuckle.

“What are you two up to now? More mischievous scheming?” I ask them in a light, half-joking tone.

“No,” Ryan responds immediately. When I arch my eyebrow at him, he adds, “Honest! We didn’t do anything this time.”

“Yeah, it’s not our fault that he’s so gullible!” Aidan says.

“Who? Who is so gullible?” I ask.

“Alaric! He’s demanding to have a meeting with Aylon Auburn,” Aidan can barely get the words out before another chuckle rips through him.

“Well he can demand all he wants. It’s not going to happen,” I say shortly. I grab the TV remote, “Anyway, let’s find a good movie to watch! Who’s turn is it to pick?”

The next few days pass without incident. I dive into work, letting my obligations and projects consume my thoughts, leaving little room for anything else.

Mia’s health is stable, a relief for all of us around her. The kids return to their normal routine, learning and playing and just getting to be normal kids.

It all feels…. Comfortable. Content. Calm, even.

It doesn’t last for long though… It never does.

Finally, the day of Ruby and Landon’s departure has arrived. Eamon insisted on hosting a goodbye party, mostly for Ruby’s sake. The Alpha villa was filled with the sounds of guests and music, laughter and joy.

“You should throw a party like this every time I leave!” Landon laughs, clapping his older brother Eamon on the back.

“Then we’d never have time for anything else! You spend more time away than you do at home!” Eamon fires back, elbowing his brother in the side.

“Awwwe, are you saying you miss me when I’m gone, brother?” Landon says to Eamon.

“They do say that absence makes the heart grow fonder,” I say, slipping in for a hug from Landon. “Which is probably why we all love you so much,” I smile up at him.

“Ah, the life of a jet-setting international playboy,” Eamon says mockingly.

Landon sighs, being sarcastically dramatic, “Yes, it’s a tough life, but someone’s got to do it!”

We all laugh together, enjoying the comfortable silliness for what may prove to be the last time in who knows how long.

I spend the rest of the night dancing away with Ruby, my best friend. We’ve spent so many night up to this point reminiscing about the past, worrying about the future, and fearing the moment we’d finally have to say goodbye.

But tonight is about fun.

The kids join us on the makeshift dancefloor, a giant square of wooden flooring Eamon’s servants added to the back garden for this occasion. Mia, Ethan, Ruby, and I danced and danced and danced, laughing until our sides were sore.

When its time to see Ruby off, nothing but joy fills my heart. It’s the perfect way to say goodbye. There’s no tears, no sad goodbyes. Instead, we smile at each other, thankful that we got to spend such a lovely night together.

I’m still riding the high of such a fun time when Ruby closes the door to the black town care that is taking her to the airport. She waves at us through the window, smiling in that bright, magnetic way of hers.

“I’ll be back before you know!” Ruby yells to the children. “Auntie Ruby will see you soon!”

“Wait! Wait up just a moment please!” Landon yells to Ruby as he races to the car, stuffing his suitcases in the trunk.

Evidently, the two are sharing the ride to the airport. Ruby rolls her eyes at Landon’s lateness, and I laugh, imaging all the ways that my brother will find to annoy my best friend during the short shared car ride.

“Cara, can you come here please?” Landon says to me quietly. I walk next to the trunk of the car, where Landon stands with something inside his closed fist.

He opens his palm once I’m next to him, revealing a small gold ring. It’s small enough that it probably only fits on my brother’s pinky.

Looking closer, I see intricate carvings on the sides of the band. There are little swirls and moons carved into the gold, impossibly detailed.

“It’s my lucky ring,” Landon explains, looking down at me. “It’s yours to keep.”

I gasp, “No! I can’t accept this, Landon. You keep it—”

“It’s served me very well over the years. But I think you might be in more need of luck these days than I am, Cara,” Landon says seriously.

“I—” I say, ready to offer a counterargument, when I look up at my brother and see nothing but caring kindness in his eyes. The look stops the words from coming out of my mouth. Instead, I simply say, “Thank you, it’s beautiful.”

“You’re welcome. I hope it brings you all the luck in the world,” Landon says, drawing me in for one last hug before getting into the car.

I’m twirling the ring around its new home on my middle finger once I’m back in my cottage. I’ve put the children to bed and am sitting alone in the living room.

Around me, there is only silence.

Ruby’s not here to keep me company. Not here to watching silly movies with, to laugh and talk with.

I feel the beginnings of loneliness start to seep in, like a long-awaited inevitability.

Then my phone buzzes. I smile to myself, imaging that it’s Ruby, scared of embracing the silence on her end, too.

I’m shocked to see that the text is not from my best friend.

It’s from Alaric.

“Meet with me. Please. I have words to say to you, We can go to that restaurant you like…”

What does it mean when a man who claims he doesn’t love me sends a message like this?

I blink down at the message a few times before I take a breath and know when I have to do.

I hit the ‘Delete Message’ button without any more hesitation.