Chapter 20 Say Goodbye

~Liam~

My mate and my sis engaged in a conversation between them. I wished I could see her face. She seemed to be more relaxed with Lexy. I guess that was normal – she saved her life.

We soon reached a dirt track road, and three black SUVs were parked, waiting for us. Three of my men, all of them wearing casual clothes, were standing in front of the driver’s side.

“Gale!” Lexy exclaimed the moment they came into view.

The kid standing in the center who looked to be in his early twenties, with reddish-brown hair accented with pink highlights, smiled and waved to us. He walked over to us and stopped in front of Anna.

“Luna,” he said with a wide grin on his face. “I’m glad to finally meet you. I’m Gale, the Beta of the Red Claw Pack.”

He extended an arm towards her and she didn’t hesitate to shake his hand. “I’m Anna,” she said. “Glad to meet you, too.”

“So, I’m being ignored now?” Lexy said with a pout.

Gale ruffled her hair and chuckled. “One jealous Alpha is already a pain to handle, Lexy,” he said, turning his attention to me.

I scoffed. “Why would I be jealous?”

He raised a brow. “Oh? It’s written all over your face though.”

The two women turned to look at me, amusement in their beautiful faces. “What?”

Lexy pointed a finger and exclaimed, “Ah! That look! You are jealous!”

“No, I’m not,” I immediately replied while keeping a passive face.

“See, Anna, bro here wants to conceal his emotions because of the ‘I’m the Alpha and I’m scared’ thing, but when you see that look on him, he’s actually jealous of something,” she explained to my mate.

Anna looked at me like she was studying my face, which would’ve been something I’d be happy about if she wasn’t trying to actually figure out what Lexy was saying. I would’ve been like, “she’s looking at me” and I’d pretend that I wasn’t aware of it.

Those eyes of hers were completely glued to me then a corner of her lip pulled up. She was enjoying this. “Thank you, Lexy. I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Sure. I’ll teach you all that I know on how to tell what he’s actually feeling. That way, he won’t be able to hide anything from you.”

“I’ve got nothing to hide from her!” I said and Gale’s smile faltered. I hope Carson didn’t notice.

Lexy held her hand and dragged her towards one of the cars. “Come on, Anna. Let’s go home.”

“Wait!” she said, stopping Lexy. Then to me, she said, “Can I… talk to him first?”

“Who?”

“Al –” she stopped herself from saying the word. “Flynn. I have something to give him.”

“He’s on his way,” Carson said calmly. “I knew you wouldn’t leave without talking to him properly, so I called him over. That must be him.”

I listened closely, and soon enough a shout came from the woods behind us.

“Anna!!!”

He continued to run towards us, his eyes fixated on my mate, who was smiling at him.

They’re all…

He stood in front of her, panting, wearing new clothes and I had a good hunch as to why.

… making me …

“Stay,” he said, in between breaths.

“Yes,” she replied.

… jealous.

My fist connected with his right cheek, sending him to the ground. That was the last straw.

“Oh, that did it,” Gale commented.

“Sure did,” said Lexy.

I ignored them both and was ready to punch him again the moment he stood but Anna was quick to come between us.

“Don’t,” she said firmly, her lips pursed.

“You said you were leaving. I agreed with your conditions! I keep seeing them so close to you and I can’t do the same because of the first fucking condition! So why would you say –”

My words get cut off when she took a step closer, stood on her toes, and placed her lips on mine. And as quickly as she did, the kiss ended, if that was even a kiss.

She smiled sweetly at me. I held my breath.

“You look cute when you’re jealous. Just hear me out first before you start punching people. Alright?”

I couldn’t find the words to respond to her. All that was on my mind was the feel of her soft lips, and her smile – she kissed me, on her own. It was to shut me up, but… that meant something, right?

She crouched beside Flynn and took out something from her pocket – a ring. It wasn’t any ring, and we all recognized it.

“That’s an Alpha ring!” Lexy exclaimed. “Anna, are you –“

“No, I’m not an Alpha, Lexy,” she replied, cutting her off. “Sorry about that.”

“Don’t leave,” Flynn whispered to her. “I take it back. I take it back so… stay with me.”

His hand cupped her cheek and I swear, I would’ve cut that off if it hadn’t been for my mate.

“Had you asked me earlier, we both know I’d say ‘yes,” she said.

“So, say ‘yes’ now. We’ll start over. Pick up where we left and this time… I’ll do things right.”

“I can’t,” she said. “Flynn, I stayed with the pack because of him. From a long time ago, I’ve decided, that I’ll leave when the promise is fulfilled. I know about that day – Alpha Fraser told me. Now, I can tell that you’re the Flynn I once knew and that means I’ve kept my promise. I can no longer stand beside you – not in the way he wanted, not in the way I once wanted, and not in the way you want now.”

She took his hand and placed the ring on his palm. “I’m free now, and my mate wants me to be with him,” she said, glancing at me before looking back at him. “I’m sorry, Alpha. We can no longer be – you decided this for us the night you forced me.”

I couldn’t understand what she was saying, but the saddened expression on her face despite the smile she wore made me want to protect her more - so she wouldn’t have to force herself to keep smiling when she wasn’t happy inside. But do I have the right to - when we reach the pack, I’d be the cause of it.

“I’ll take it back,” Flynn said, his voice cracking. “Please… stay.”

“Goodbye Alpha Flynn Astra,” she said, standing. She bowed slightly before him and said, “Thank you for everything.”

Then she headed to the car in the middle, and the two Gammas bowed to her. “We’re pleased to meet you, Luna Anna,” they said in unison.

One of them opened the door for her and she stepped in, keeping her eyes to the front.

“Let’s go,” Lexy said, her voice a little higher. She went into the car behind ours.

Gale glanced at Flynn, then got into the driver’s seat.

Flynn was staring at the ring in his hand. She chose me, and yet it felt like a bitter win.

“She’s mine now,” I said to him. “I’ll make sure she’s happy so… don’t bother us from now on.”

I nodded at Carson, then left them behind and sat beside my Anna.

“Are you ready?” I asked and she nodded, tears rolling down her cheeks.

I didn’t know what happened between them. I could only guess. She chose me because I was her mate, but it must be difficult for her… to leave behind everything she knew.

I pulled her close to me so she could cry on my chest, and as the engine started and we were well on our way home, she bawled her eyes out until she fell asleep. I held her close to me for I didn’t know when I might be able to again.

She had already restricted me with the first rule, but that was easy to break. I held her because she wouldn’t kiss me again, she wouldn’t come near me on her own, and she’d be trying to escape me every chance she gets.

This would be the last I get to hold her in peace.

When we get back, it pained me… that she would have to cry again.