Chapter 3

It was a hectic day at the medical center the next day.

I was exhausted to the bone. But I still had one thing left to to do.

The carriage took me straight to the wedding ceremony coordinator’s office to make the wedding cancellation official.

The coordinator who goes by the name Sasha, looked almost dejected as I took my seat across from her.

“I’m sorry you’re having to go through this, Layla.” She pushed a stack of documents toward me, along with a pen.

I simply gave her a small nod and reached for the pen.

“There’s actually something I feel like I should tell you.” Sasha said then.

I looked up from the documents and she revealed, “Alpha Theodore reached out to me just last weekend.”

My fingers tightened around the pen. He did?

Before I could ask her the reason, Sasha continued speaking.

“He asked me to add something special to the reception menu. Lilies. He said you really love it. Then he also demanded I arrange migraine pills in the bridal suite. Apparently, his secretary thought you might need them to avoid freaking out on the wedding day.”

Elowen.

Even my wedding preparations had somehow involved her.

She’d been choosing medication for the bride while Theodore, the supppsed fiancé, happily allowed her to play the role.

Whatever tiny piece of sentiment that had survived inside me disappeared and I looked down at the papers.

I began to sign my name across every required line. So hard the pen dug deeply into the paper and the tip nearly tore through it.

Then I handed the documents back and walked out.

I didn’t forget my scheduled meeting with Theodore’s mother.

I went to meet her at a small café nearby. As we sat down at a quiet table in the corner, she ordered two lattes.

“The security told me everything.” She said, reaching out across the table to squeeze my hand.

I’d heard the door open when I went to the packhouse. It must have been the security. He’d seen Elowen’s little performance and must have reported to Serena.

“I wish I could say I was surprised, but I’m not. Theo has always been incredibly selfish. And that girl…” Serena shook her head. “I never trusted Elowen from the first day she appeared around him.”

I sighed, staring into my latte when she gripped my hands tighter on the table.

“Nevertheless, I’m proud of you for leaving, Layla.” She said to me, her eyes softening.

Despite that Theodore was her son, she wasn’t making excuses for him.

I looked up at her and couldn’t help but smile.

Just then, the café’s bell jingled and Theodore stormed inside, with Elowen right beside him.

Immediately he spotted us, his face hardened.

“Mom.” He growled as he strode across the café, ignoring the curious glances from the other customers.

“What are you doing here with her when she’s hellbent on ruining my life?” He asked the instant he stopped before our table.

I chucked internally.

“She invited me.” I said without sparing him a look.

I felt his raging gaze drop on me, then Elowen stepped closer.

“Layla, we don’t want to fight with you.” She spoke up, her voice soft.

I waited to hear where she was heading with this.

“The ceremony payment came from Alpha Theodore’s account. Since you canceled it, shouldn’t you make sure he gets every cent back?” She asked, and Theodore immediately nodded alongside.

Whilst trying hard not to laugh, I leaned back in my seat.

“Well, let’s see.” I said and reached into my handbag.

I pulled the financial records printout out and flipped through my banking records.

“For over two years, every penny made into that account was deposited from my pocket.” I stated firmly.

Theodore’s confidence faltered.

Elowen’s pleasant expression disappeared as I turned the papers toward them.

“When you handed me that card, you told me it was easier for us to use one account for all the wedding expenses. What you conveniently failed to mention was that I was the one funding it every month.” I said as Theodore’s eyes kept flickering across the pages, as if trying to will the words on it to change in his favor.

It didn’t.

Serena shifted closer to me.

She looked through the transactions in silence. Then she looked at her son.

Theodore barely had time to react before her hand connected with his cheek.

The sound echoed through the café, and everyone went silent.

David stood there, stunned, one hand slowly rising to his face. “Mom!”

But Serena didn’t feel an ounce of remorse.

“You ungrateful fool,” Her voice shook with fury. “How dare you stand there and demand money from the woman who paid for your wedding?”

Theodore opened his mouth.

She didn’t let him speak.

“If you ever bother Layla again, you will regret it. And if you think I’m going to stand behind you after all these terrible things you’ve done, you’re even more delusional, Theodore.” She angrily scolded him.

By then, Elowen had retreated several steps in fear of being stuck too. Awesome.

Deciding it was time to leave, I whispered goodbye to Serena, picked up my bag and stood.

Only for Elowen to daringly move into my path.

“You planned all of this, didn’t you?” Her eyes narrowed.

I stopped. “What?”

“You knew exactly what you were doing. You wanted to humiliate us. You hatched everything, right?” Elowen asked, her voice raising slightly.

I scoffed, taking a predatory step forward.

“Ending a relationship isn’t that different from treating a wound, Elowen,” I told her, my voice cold as ice. “You examine the damage. You identify what’s poisoning you. And when you realize leaving it inside will only make things worse, you remove it before the infection spreads.”

I stepped around her. “That’s what I did.”

Then I walked away without another word.

That night, I made the mistake of opening the family’s thread.

Serena had added me to it after Theodore and I announced we were going to tie the knot.

Now, his relatives had apparently decided that my breakup was now a community issue.

Messages were flying across the screen. His cousin called me heartless.

They all raged that I had destroyed Theodore’s life.

One of his councils even accused me of being a cold-blooded b^tch who had never deserved him.

But I was completely unfazed. I swiped at the messages without responding.

Then Elowen posted a picture on her social feed.

It was a photograph of a medical report showing her swollen feet.

Beneath it reads: “I wish I had never tripped on my feet. I never wanted to become a burden or cause problems between anyone.”

I stared dumbfoundedly at the screen.

The woman who had deliberately created scenes and then watched my relationship collapse was now presenting herself as the victim. Hoping people would believe her.

About ten minutes later, Mia, my friend who worked at the same medical center as me, sent me screenshots of everything Elowen’s comments said.

There were enough furious emojis attached to them to make me laugh despite myself.

Then I proceeded to forwarded the entire conversation to my attorney, Beatrice.

Once it’d went through, I mind-linked her. She answered almost immediately.

“I need you to send a formal legal notice” I said after we’ve exchanged greetings.

“To whom?” Beatrice asked.

“Everyone spreading lies in the family’s group thread. Since they want to make public accusations, they can deal with the consequences publicly too.” I told her with finality, choking out the remaining warmth in my heart.

An entire week passed by in a blur.

I barely had time to think about Theodore.

Between emergency cases and back-to-back shifts at the pack medical center, I was frequently busy.

After finishing another double shift, I checked my phone while walking toward the parking lot.

There were twelve missed calls and several messages. All from Theodore.

He wanted another chance. He said he had made mistakes.

He said he couldn’t imagine his life without me and wants a chance to rewrite his wrongs.

But I ignored every of his messages like I never saw it.

Then I came across one from Elowen.

“You should crawl into a hole and hide your face forever. You destroyed everything and shattered my life. You’re so evil.”

I stared at it for a moment, no trace of emotion on my face. Then I typed one sentence.

“Speak to my attorney if you have anything to say. I just sent in her contact details and her office address. Just don’t ever reach out to me again.”

Before I could put my phone away, Jason Davis, the head of my department, called my name.

I turned around. He dispersed from the rest of the medical team.

“The pack’s medical center is partnering with Theodore’s pack for a free community health clinic next weekend.” Jason said, stopping before me.

I felt my stomach tightening. “You’re kidding.” I akwardly laughed, shaking my head.

“I wish I were.” He gave me an apologetic look.

Then went ahead, “You’ve been assigned as one of the lead healers. I know the situation is uncomfortable, but the clinic is important. We can’t let personal problems interfere with the work.”

I should have turned him down but I found myself nodding in agreement. “Don’t worry. I’ll be there.” I assured and I meant it.

I have been a healer for years. There was no way I would allow Theodore and Elowen drive me away from a job I loved and was passionate about.

In the evening, I returned to my inn. However, what I didn’t expect was a paper bag placed by the door.

“Hey, it’s Elowen. Found this in the packhouse, in your former room. I thought it’d be best to send it to you.” The words written on it reads.

I frowned suspiciously. Why would she suddenly go through the trouble of bringing me something from the packhouse?

Pushing back the bad feeling creeping up in my chest, I picked up the bag. I reluctantly opened it and the smell hit me first.

Citrus. My nose wrinkled repulsively.

I took the stuff out and almost gasped. It was my vanilla perfume. It’d been covered in citrus.

A scent I hated so much and would never own.

But Elowen decided to be a b^tch by unloading the scent on my perfume and sending it over.

My face reddened in anger. Just as I dropped it straight into the trash, my phone rang.

Theodore.

I considered ignoring it, but picked up.

“Elowen told me she came by.” He spoke first, his deep voice carrying a heavy amount of tiredness.

“She did.” I answered plainly, trying my best to hide my infuriation.

I knew I failed when he sighed from the other end, “It’s a form of apology, Layla. She meant well.”

I almost let out a humorless laugh.

Then I looked at the trash can. “It’s still pathetic.”

Silence filled the line. Then Theodore spoke again.

“Layla,” He whispered, tone pleading. “Can we please meet? “Let’s see face to face. No Elowen, or my mom. Just us.”

I closed my eyes in infuriation. “How many times do I tell you? There’s nothing left to discuss, Theodore.” I sternly told him, a cruel unforgiving edge to my voice as I unlocked the door and entered.

“Do you really have to end everything completely?” Theodore asked, and I could imagine his shoulders slumping helplessly.

But not even his dejection could move me.

Rather, I took a moment to relish in it before responding,

“Yes. I’m closing this chapter, Theodore. There won’t be another opening.” I said flatly, stroking Leo’s head as he rushed into my arms.

Then I ended the call, deleted all his messages and restricted his numbers.

Theodore Williams stopped existing in my life.