The Poison Takes Root

Chapter Four: The Poison Takes Root 

Maya didn't sleep that night.

She lay in the big bed, alone, staring at the ceiling. The fire had died hours ago. The room was cold. Empty. The space beside her was untouched. Xavier hadn't come home.

She didn't know where he was. She didn't want to know.

Her hand rested on her belly. The tiny flutter was still there. Still alive. Still holding on. But she felt the hope slipping away, like water through cracked fingers.

Kaelen was restless inside her. Leave, the wolf snarled. Pack your things. Take the pup. We don't need him. We never needed him.

But Maya couldn't leave. Not yet. Not without one last try.

Tomorrow, she told herself. I'll try one more time tomorrow. I'll make him see. I'll make him remember what we had.

She closed her eyes. She dreamed of a love that no longer existed

Morning came too soon.

Maya dragged herself out of bed. She splashed cold water on her face. She studied her reflection in the mirror.dark circles under her eyes, pale skin, hollow cheeks. She barely recognized herself.

She dressed carefully. A soft blue dress, the one Xavier used to love. She brushed her hair until it shone. She applied a touch of color to her lips. She wanted to look beautiful. Wanted to remind him what he was losing.

She found him in the great hall.

He was sitting at the head table with Marcus and Seraphina. They were laughing. Sharing jokes. His hand rested on Seraphina's arm, casual and intimate.

Maya stopped at the doorway. Her heart hammered. Kaelen snarled.

Don't, the wolf warned. Don't give him the satisfaction. Walk away.

But Maya had made a promise to herself. One more try.

She approached the table. Her steps were steady. Her chin was lifted.

Xavier, she said. May I speak with you?

The laughter stopped. Marcus looked away. Seraphina smiled that cold, knowing smile.

Xavier turned. His grey eyes met Maya's. For a moment, something flickered there. Guilt? Regret? Then his expression hardened.

I'm busy, he said. Can it wait?

No. Her voice was firm. It can't.

He sighed. He stood. He led her into the eastern corridor, away from the others.

What is it, Maya?

She took a breath. She met his eyes.

I'm leaving, she said. Not forever. Just... just for a few days. I need to clear my head. I need space.

His face flickered with something.relief? Hope? It was there and gone before she could read it.

Space, he repeated. You need space from me.

I need space from everything. The pack. Politics. Her. She spat the last word like poison. I need to remember who I am without all of this.

He looked at her. His grey eyes were unreadable.

Fine, he said. Go. Take a few days. I'll handle the pack.

Just like that. No fight. No protest. No don't go, I need you.

Maya's heart shattered a little more.

Xavier, she whispered. Is that all you have to say? I'm leaving—maybe for good—and that's all you have to say?

What do you want me to say? His voice was tired. Flat. You want me to beg you to stay? You want me to pretend we're fine when we're not?

We could be fine, she said. We could be happy again. If you just.

Stop. He held up his hand. Just stop. I can't do this right now. I can't have this conversation.

Maya stared at him. This man she'd loved. This man she'd given everything to.

One day, she said softly. One day you'll realize what you lost. And I won't be here to pick up the pieces.

She turned. She walked away.

She packed a small bag. Simple things. A change of clothes. A few cherished items. A worn photograph of her and Xavier on their mating day, both of them smiling, full of hope.

The photograph made her cry. She tucked it into the bag anyway.

She stopped by the omega quarters before she left. Hilda was there, tending to Elara, who was coughing again.

Luna, Hilda gasped. What are you doing here?

I'm leaving for a few days. Maya knelt beside Elara. She pressed her hand to the old wolf's chest, channeling a sliver of her healing energy. The coughing eased. Elara's eyes fluttered open.

Thank you, Luna, Elara whispered. You're too good to us.

Maya smiled. It was a sad smile. A goodbye smile.

Take care of each other, she said. I'll be back soon.

She pressed a kiss to Hilda's forehead. She squeezed Elara's hand. Then she stood and walked away.

She didn't look back.

She walked through the pack lands. Past the training yard. Past the gardens. Past the stone bench where Xavier had proposed, where Seraphina had taunted her, where everything had fallen apart.

She walked to the eastern gate. The border of pack territory. The road to the human world.

And there, waiting at the gate, was Seraphina.

Maya stopped. Her hands clenched. Kaelen snarled.

I heard you were leaving, Seraphina said. Her voice was sweet. Poisonous. Such a shame. I was just getting to know you.

Get out of my way.

Seraphina stepped closer. Her ice-blue eyes glittered.

You know, I almost feel sorry for you. Almost. You gave him everything, and it still wasn't enough. You were never going to be enough. You were just... a placeholder. A warm body. A convenient Luna.

Maya's blood boiled. Kaelen surged forward, claws scraping the inside of her skin.

You don't know anything about me, Maya said. You don't know what I've given. What I've sacrificed.

"No, Seraphina agreed. But I know Xavier. I know his heart. And I know he never loved you. Not really. He just settled because he was lonely.

Liar, Kaelen snarled. She's a liar.

"Maybe, Maya said. Her voice was cold. Steady. But I loved him. I loved him with everything I had. And he's going to regret throwing that away.

Seraphina laughed. Regret? Xavier doesn't regret anything. He's an Alpha. He makes decisions. He moves on.

Maya stepped closer. Her eyes locked on Seraphina's.

Then why does he call my name in his sleep? she whispered.

Seraphina's smile faltered. Just a flicker. A crack in the mask.

"You're lying.

Am I? He's been calling my name for three years. Even when you weren't here. Even when you were just a ghost. Maya's voice was soft. Cutting. Maybe you're not as irreplaceable as you think.

She walked past Seraphina. Through the gate. Into the human world.

She didn't look back.

The road stretched before her. Dirt and gravel and the promise of freedom.

Maya walked for hours. Her feet ached. Her heart ached. Kaelen was quiet for once, stunned into silence.

She didn't know where she was going. She just knew she couldn't stay.

She thought about the pup growing in her belly. Her tiny secret. Her tiny hope.

I'll raise you alone, she whispered. I'll give you everything. Love. Safety. A home where no one calls us worthless.

A tear slid down her cheek.

I'll make sure you never know how much your father broke me.

She walked until the sun began to set. The sky blazed orange and pink and gold. Beautiful. Cruel.

She found a small inn on the edge of a human town. She rented a room. She collapsed on the bed.

She dreamed of a different life. A life where she was enough. A life where she was loved.

She woke up crying.

Three days passed.

Maya wandered the human town. She ate simple meals. She watched families laugh and children play. She tried to remember who she was before Xavier. Before the pack. Before the weight of being Luna.

She couldn't remember.

She was so tired. So broken. So empty.

On the fourth day, she decided to go back.

She wasn't going back for Xavier. She was going back for the pack. For the omegas. For the duty she'd sworn to uphold.

She was going back because she was Luna. And Luna's didn't run away forever.

She walked the long road back to Silver Crescent. Her feet were sore. Her heart was heavier.

And when she arrived at the eastern gate, she knew something was wrong.

The gate was open. Unattended. The pack house was quiet. No wolves patrolling. No pups playing.

A cold dread settled in her stomach.

She walked faster. Through the gate. Past the training yard. Past the gardens. Into the pack house.

And there, in the great hall, she found them.

Xavier was standing at the head table. His back was to her. He was speaking to Marcus, his voice low and tense.

Seraphina was there too. Standing at his side. Smiling.

They didn't hear her approach.

Xavier, I

He turned. His grey eyes met hers. And for the first time in weeks, she saw something in them.

Not love. Not longing. Not even regret.

Fear.

Maya, he said. You're back.

I'm back, she said slowly. What's wrong?

He looked at Seraphina. Seraphina nodded. A silent signal.

Xavier took a breath. He squared his shoulders.

We need to talk, he said. About us.

Maya's heart stopped.

No, Kaelen whimpered. No, not now. Not yet.

Xavier, she said. Whatever it is, we can work it out. We can.

There's no working this out. His voice was flat. Empty. I've made a decision.

What decision?

He looked at her. His grey eyes were cold. Distant.

Seraphina and I have been talking, he said slowly. And we've come to the conclusion that... that we were never meant to be apart. She's my true mate, Maya. My true Luna.

The words hit her like a physical blow. She stepped back. Her hand flew to her mouth.

What are you saying?

I'm saying that I made a mistake. He didn't meet her eyes. I was grieving. I was broken. And I used you to fill a void. But that's not fair to you. And it's not fair to her.

Used her. He used her. He admitted it.

Maya's world tilted. She gripped the table to steady herself.

Xavier, she whispered. I'm carrying your pup. Your heir. Does that mean nothing to you?

Something flickered across his face. Guilt? Pain? Then it vanished.

I'm sorry, he said. But this is the right choice. For everyone.

Sorry. He was sorry. He was sorry he'd wasted three years of her life.

Maya looked at him. This stranger was wearing her mate's face.

Tell me one thing, she said. Did you ever love me? Even a little?

A long pause. His jaw tightened.

I cared about you, he said. But I was never in love with you. Not the way I love her.

The words cut deeper than any blade.

Maya's vision blurred. Her chest burned. But she didn't cry. She wouldn't give him the satisfaction.

She straightened her spine. Lifted her chin.

Goodbye, Xavier, she said softly.

She turned. She walked out of the great hall. Out of the pack house. Out of his life.

She didn't look back.