#Chapter19: An Accident

Cara “It’s… It’s gone.” Lucy’s voice is in my head. She sounds devastated. She sounds broken. “I know,” I reply to her softly. I can feel it. Whatever was left of the mate bond between Alaric and I… it’s completely and utterly gone. I look down at the birthday cake I pathetically bought for myself while I waited for Alaric. Waited for him to show up. Waited for him to care about me. “Our mate… I can’t believe it’s really gone now.” The sad sound of Lucy’s voice was almost too much for me to bear. I’m such a fool. I’m a fool with an empty heart. It’s like my chest has been fully hollowed out. There’s no warmth, no joy. Just cold. I’ve said it so many times already but this time has to be the last. I keep disappointing myself, keep getting drawn back in. But this time I refuse. This time I need to leave Pack DarkWood. For good. *** Alaric never came to see me that night. Or the nights after that, either. I worked harder than ever at wedding planning. The