Chapter 21 I’m not yours anymore
Aiden’s POV
I was just taking a break from training when Sora called me. Her voice was tiny and sharp in my ears, I had to put it away from my face.
“Aiden, you won’t believe who I just saw.” She began.
“Spit it out,
“It’s Rue, at Blood Claw Pack. Taking out trash…like a servant. Can you…’
I didn’t even wait. I hung up the phone mid-sentence. Rue’s name was like a lump on my throat that I couldn’t get rid off. And working as a servant? Doing chores for another rich family? That thought hit a nerve I didn’t know existed.
I left almost immediately, and about half an hour later, I was in a car towards Blood Claw territory. I called Sora while I was on the way, one hand on the phone while the other controlled the wheel.
“Where exactly did you see her? What was the address?” I instantly asked when she finally answered.
“Maybe you shouldn’t go over there. She might try to stick to you again, then latch herself to our family – ”
I hung up.
I hoped she’d do that. That thought made a small frustrated part of me hopeful. At least she’d come begging again for me to take her back. I knew she was stubborn, but I knew there would be a day when she would come back.
I got a little excited thinking about it.
As I turned to an address Sora had texted me, another car pulled up behind me. A man stepped out, Percy. He had an unbothered look on his face as he walked towards the house.
Almost coincidentally, at the very same moment, Rue got out of the house carrying a white trash bag. She didn’t look like a servant, or a maid. She seemed surprised to see Percy though
“I forgot my phone,” I heard him say.
“Yeah, I’ll get it…”
She paused when I killed the engine and stepped out of my car.
“Hi Rue,” I called.
For a moment there, I was almost suffocated by the old memories of her and our daughter Iris. How she used to take care of me and manage to do things I couldn’t.
“You are a maid now?” I asked but didn’t wait for a response before proceeding ” If you are having any financial trouble – anything- just come to me. Working at blood claw pack as a servant must be rough. You don’t have to do this and I’m here.”
Percy’s face tightened as he stepped a shade closer in front of her, the same way a protective man would to a girlfriend. His actions reminded me of how he had proclaimed himself as Rue’s fate mate. Something my mind
didn’t even want to entertain.
“That’s the whole reason you drove all the way here?” Percy questioned ” just admit it man, you miss her.”
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I could almost hear him sneer. Annoyance creeped up my neck.
“I’m only here to offer help to my struggling ex-wife. And it’s in her best interest to accept it before she ends up in a “I paused, inwardly thinking of a worse place than being a maid, maybe homeless.
I took out an envelope from my pocket and handed it to Rue. Percy took it.
“Consider this compensation. For the three years of “I paused to rephrase my sentence “For the past three years. Take it, it will help you in this difficult time.”
Rue glared at the envelope like it might bite her. Gently, she took it from Percy’s hand with such calmness I started believing she was accepting defeat.
However, with the same calmness, without even opening it, she tore it up deliberately. Then progressively, it got frantic as she practically shredded it with her hands.
“Three years.” She spat, voice chillingly low, ” you think three years of my life, that I gave you, is worth….”
Percy reached out and wrapped an arm around her shoulder, in a gesture that both made me feel guilty and angry. The sight made my skin itch and my heart thump faster. She looked comfortable in Percy’s embrace.
I turned then got back into my car. As I drove away, I regretted coming in the first place. As if to taunt me, a faded photograph on the rearview mirror of Rue holding Iris smiled at me. I had stupidly hung it there for sentimental
purposes.
Now,
she was someone else’s history. My hands tightened on the wheel.
When I got back to camp, the line at the infirmary was longer and seemingly endless. They sat on benches, faces ashen and hollow like ghosts. Others were holding their hands against their heads.
I heard someone complain of shortages as I matched towards the medical office in search of the pack doctor.
“Sir,” he began without waiting when I found him. “We need more medical supplies. More people are unconscious, and rationing is barely working.”
My eyes scanned the rows of empty bottles and containers.”What kind of meds do you have currently?”
“Only pain killers. They will ease the pain but its ineffective against the virus.” He said pointing a tack of five boxes in the corner
I recalled the conversation I had earlier had with my mom on the phone. She’d told me to keep the meds for the pack, and have it administered on a blood first basis.
The idea of people suffering didn’t bother me that much, because I believed pain always made people stronger, but the virus was capable of wiping entire bloodlines. It was not the kind of legacy I wanted to drive.
“Give the stronger meds to our people first.” I told the doctor,” But to the others, something to steady them will suffice. Something to calm their migraines and fevers.”
The doctor hesitated. “We have a bulk supply of a weak antipyretic. It won’t cure them, but it’ll take the edge off.”
“Good. Use it.” I tried to make my voice level..
Haven called me twice that day. The first time she wanted to confirm a florist and whether the engagement dinner should be on Sunday. The second time she pushed, “Sunday’s perfect. Are we inviting Alpha Cyrus – your future in -laws? Hurry, I’ve already ordered the napkins.”
I was standing by a makeshift supply table, watching a nurse hand a small pill to a trembling woman when my
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phone buzzed again. I looked at the name-Haven-and let it go to voicemail.
A few minutes later she called again: “We need to finalize the ring engravings, Aiden, and-”
I put the phone to my ear. “I’m busy,” I said, and clicked it off. Then, when she called back, I hung up. Twice. She left three brief, confused messages.
Rue had never nagged. She’d never rattled me with small, important things. She’d stood silent when silence helped more. Haven didn’t understand silence; she filled it with her obsessions.
That used to be comforting. Now it felt like a pebble that kept turning in my shoe.
Later that evening, the pack’s doctor came to me.
“Alpha Aiden,” he said respectfully, “I’ve received word from Blood Claw. Their shaman has agreed to come in a few days. He’s highly reputed-if anyone can help, it would be him.”
I nodded slowly, suppressing the flicker of unease in my chest. “Good. Make the necessary arrangements. Prepare quarters for his stay, and have the elders notified. I’ll visit him myself once he arrives.”
The doctor bowed and left.
For now,
that was all I could do-wait. Wait for a so-called healer whose reputation preceded him.
If he truly lived up to it, then maybe this plague wouldn’t cripple my pack further.
What I didn’t know then… was that the one coming to save me was the last person I ever expected.
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