As I walked toward the edge of our territory, I felt a new resolve take root within me. I was not a woman scorned; I was a warrior carrying the legacy of my bloodline. I would build a new life, a future untethered to his lies, one where my child would know the strength and honor of their heritage.
With one final glance back at the hospital, I whispered to myself, “This is the end, Derrick. You’re hers now.”
The message from Derrick arrived as expected, hollow and practiced: "Hey, Charlotte, I’ll be working late tonight. It’s a bit chilly, so don’t forget to close the windows. Love you always, your mate."
I stared at the words, feeling nothing. There was a time I would have worried, stayed up, and waited for him to come home. But those days were gone. Now, I merely closed my phone, indifferent. Derrick was part of the past I had already left behind. Today, I was ready to sever our bond for good.