Chapter 6: The Life I Chose

Evelyn POV

By the time the northern border disappeared behind me, the first light of dawn had begun to spread across the mountains.

I did not look back.

The carriage carrying me toward Frost River moved steadily through the snow-covered pass. My injured leg still ached whenever the road became uneven, but the pain was nothing compared to the emptiness I had carried out of Blackridge.

For years, I had believed that leaving my family would be impossible.

Now I wondered why I had waited so long.

I rested one hand over my stomach.

My pup was still there.

That thought alone gave me enough strength to keep going.

A Frost River escort was waiting at the border checkpoint. When he saw the Council documents bearing my name, he bowed respectfully.

"Chief Investigator Hart?"

"Just Evelyn is fine."

"The Alpha has been expecting you. Your quarters are prepared, and the security division has already been informed of your arrival."

I nodded.

No one asked why I had left Blackridge.

No one asked whether Caden had betrayed me.

No one asked why I was traveling alone while carrying a child.

For the first time, I was grateful for silence.

At Frost River's central compound, I was taken directly to the investigation headquarters. The building was smaller than Blackridge's Moon Hall, but every corridor was filled with case files, maps, patrol records, and security reports.

It felt familiar.

Useful.

Mine.

The head of Frost River Security, Mara Voss, handed me a key.

"Your office is on the second floor. Your first case can wait until tomorrow."

"I can start today."

She studied me for a moment.

"You crossed the northern border before sunrise. You are injured, and you look like you haven't slept."

"I'm still capable of reading a report."

A faint smile appeared on her face.

"Then you'll fit in perfectly."

For the first time in days, I almost smiled.

She left me alone in the office.

I placed my work files on the desk and opened the final document from Blackridge.

My bloodline severance declaration.

My fingers paused over the seal.

I had expected grief when I saw it.

Instead, I felt strangely calm.

I had spent years believing that being born into a family meant I was obligated to remain available to them forever.

The Council had made it official.

I was free.

I closed the file and began sorting the Frost River case assignments.

A few hours later, a healer arrived for my examination.

She confirmed that the pup was stable and warned me to avoid excessive strain while my leg recovered.

"Your child is strong," she said. "But you need rest."

I nodded.

She paused before leaving.

"The medical report from Blackridge says twelve weeks. Is that accurate?"

"Yes."

"Then you have time to build a safe life before the birth."

A safe life.

The words stayed with me long after she left.

That evening, I stood beside the window of my new apartment and watched snow fall over Frost River.

My old life felt impossibly far away.

Then my communicator lit up.

Unknown Blackridge number.

I stared at it.

The call ended.

A second call came immediately after.

Then a third.

I knew who it was without answering.

Caden.

I turned the communicator face down.

A message appeared a moment later.

"Evelyn, please answer me."

Another followed.

"I need to explain what happened."

I almost laughed.

Explain?

He had had countless opportunities to explain before I left.

He had chosen not to.

Another message arrived.

"Please tell me where you are. I won't force you to come back. I just need to know you're safe."

My hand hovered over the communicator.

Then I remembered his words from the night before.

"Blackridge is where you were born. Without your family or me, where would you even go?"

I deleted the message without replying.

Across the border, Caden could finally learn what it meant to lose someone who had always been waiting for him.

I had spent years waiting.

Now it was his turn.