Chapter 21: The Alpha Finally Came to Me

By the time I reached Red Mesa, the first thing I noticed was how quiet my mind had become.

For five years, every thought had somehow led back to Julian Hawthorne.

His approval. His attention. His promise that one day I would become Stonebridge's Luna.

Now, none of it mattered.

I was home.

Wyatt was waiting for me at the edge of the private landing field, his expression unreadable as he watched me step out of the car.

He didn't ask whether Julian had finally chosen Felicity.

He already knew.

Instead, he walked over, took my suitcase from my hand, and said quietly, “You don't have to explain anything.”

For the first time in years, I believed someone when they said that.

That evening, the Calloway council gathered in the main hall.

My father sat at the head of the table, his face colder than I had ever seen it.

My mother was beside him, silent and pale.

Wyatt stood behind my chair.

The moment I entered, every conversation stopped.

My father looked at me for a long moment before speaking.

“Clara, the five-year agreement is over.”

I nodded.

“I know.”

He pushed a folder across the table.

Inside were copies of the original marriage contract, the inter-pack alliance, and every formal notice the Calloways had sent Stonebridge during the past year.

There was one document I hadn't seen before.

A termination notice.

Signed by my father.

Dated two weeks earlier.

My breath caught.

“You were already prepared to bring me home?”

Wyatt answered instead.

“We gave Julian every opportunity to fix this before we acted.”

He tapped the final page.

“He ignored every one of them.”

I lowered my eyes.

For so long, I had believed I was the reason my family had to tolerate Stonebridge.

I had thought they were embarrassed by my wolfless status.

But they had been waiting for me to choose myself.

Before anyone could say more, the doors of the council hall burst open.

A Red Mesa guard rushed inside.

“Alpha,” he said breathlessly. “Stonebridge is here.”

The room went still.

My father slowly rose from his chair.

“Who?”

The guard swallowed.

“Julian Hawthorne.”

A cold feeling settled in my chest.

I hadn't expected him to come.

Not after the way he had thrown me out.

Not after choosing Felicity in front of everyone.

The doors opened again.

Julian walked inside alone.

He wasn't wearing the confident expression of the Stonebridge heir I remembered.

His coat was dusted with snow, his jaw was tight, and his eyes looked almost feverish.

But I didn't stand.

I didn't run to him.

I didn't even feel the old panic.

Julian's gaze found mine immediately.

“Clara.”

I looked at him calmly.

“Why are you here?”

His eyes flickered toward Wyatt before returning to me.

“I came to take my wife home.”

A bitter laugh almost escaped me.

My father slammed his hand onto the table.

“She is already home.”

Julian's expression hardened.

“The marriage contract hasn't been formally dissolved.”

“Then read the second page,” Wyatt said.

Julian's face changed.

He had finally realized what was happening.

The five-year clause had expired.

The alliance was no longer protecting Stonebridge.

And neither was I.

Julian took one step toward me.

“Clara, we need to talk.”

I shook my head.

“No, Julian.”

For the first time, saying his name didn't hurt.

“You needed to talk to me five years ago.”

His eyes darkened.

“I made a mistake.”

I stared at him.

“You made the same mistake every year.”

Silence filled the hall.

Then I stood.

“You didn't lose your Luna because I left.”

I walked toward him slowly.

“You lost your Luna because you never treated her like she mattered.”