Chapter 4: Goodbye, Bruce

I changed our flight to three o'clock that afternoon.

After confirming our passenger information, I began the final preparations for our departure.

At nine a.m., I made breakfast in that house for the last time.

The moonberry pie Bruce had bought last night was still in the kitchen.

Leo took it out and threw it in the trash.

The Head Elder came by one last time to ask if I was still certain about severing the bond.

"Yes," I answered without hesitation.

He said nothing more, just nodded and left.

As we were getting ready to leave for the airport, I saw a new post from Fiona.

[The Alpha’s talisman works wonders! Tony loves it. He says he wants to wear it where everyone can see.]

Beside me, Leo took out the small dagger Bruce had once given him. It used to be his favorite toy.

After seeing the post, he said nothing, but quietly removed the dagger from his luggage.

"Let's go, Mom."

At one p.m., after lunch, Leo and I took a taxi to the airport with all our bags.

It was two hours before our meeting time with Bruce.

Leo held my phone, silently looking through the photo album.

There was a picture from his first-month ceremony, with Bruce holding him up proudly, showing off his heir to the pack.

A photo of him at three, with Bruce helping him build a tower of blocks.

And a video from this year, before Fiona reappeared.

Bruce was standing behind him, patiently guiding his hands as he shot his very first arrow.

He watched them over and over. He didn't cry, but a heavy sadness filled the car.

He was too young to understand why the father who had loved him so much suddenly didn't anymore, and why he now had another pup.

But he was old enough to understand what I’d taught him: don't cling to what you've already lost.

I sat beside him and said nothing.

At two, we were about to go through security.

Bruce called.

"Avril, tell Leo I'm sorry. Tony fell out of a tree and hurt himself. I have to take him to the clinic."

"I don't know if I can make it by three. If you can't wait, just head home."

"Tell Leo I'm so sorry!"

He hung up so fast he didn't even hear the boarding announcement in the background.

"Let's go," I said, taking Leo's hand.

He nodded, selected all the photos and videos, and deleted them with a single tap.

At exactly three o'clock, our plane took off.

I put noise-canceling headphones on Leo and watched the blue sky and white clouds outside the window. I let out a long, slow breath.

Goodbye, Bruce.

At that same moment, Bruce, ignoring Fiona's tearful pleas, ran out of the clinic and sped toward the amusement park.