99 Times He Broke Our Bond—The 100th Time, I Left Chapter 02

99 Times He Broke Our Bond—The 100th Time, I Left Chapter 02

Arthur’s face darkened.

“Still on this silly petty jealousy? Grace is James’s birth mother. She stays in the pack to stay present in his son’s life.”

So they can stay in touch?

I laughed till tears stung my eyes.

“And what about me? Every time you kick me out, I have to swallow my pride and fawn over them just to get you to let me back into the pack.”

“Arthur, have you ever stopped to consider how all of this makes me feel?”

He said nothing.

Suddenly, Kelly squirmed out of my arms and ran to the trash can.

“Dad, don’t be mad at Mom. It’s my fault. I’ll give the deer leg back to James…”

As she spoke, she jammed her fingers down her throat and gagged.

I rushed over and pulled her into my arms. “Kelly! Don’t do that… This isn’t your fault…”

She sobbed in my arms, her little face bright red.

James pointed at her and laughed. “See, Dad? She’s just copying that mean lady—always faking sadness to get her way.”

Arthur didn’t move. He just frowned. “See? This is what happens when you spoil her. She’s already learned to manipulate adults like this.”

Not once did he ask Kelly if she was okay.

But when James got a scrape in training, Arthur’d even walk out mid-elder council meetings just to rush to his side the pack hospital with him.

When James stuck out his foot and tripped my Kelly, she smashed her forehead on the coffee table and blood poured down her face. Arthur barely glanced at her. “Kids get bumps and bruises. Her healing will take care of it.”

I pushed those memories aside, picked up Kelly, and stood.

Arthur thought I was about to give in. He leaned back in his chair. “Take her upstairs and calm her down. Then come back, clean up the dining room, and help James finish his hunting drills.

I didn’t answer. I carried Kelly upstairs. Behind me, I heard James’s gleeful voice.

“She’s really mad? She’s probably just pretending. My mom says she’s the sneakiest person ever.”

Arthur sounded annoyed. “Ignore her. Just let her stew for a while.”

A few minutes later, Arthur and the boys were in the living room playing Packlink out loud.

James tattled to his grandma, Michelle. “Grandma, that lady’s stirring up more trouble again.”

“Her daughter stole my deer leg, Dad said a couple of things, and now she’s hiding in her room. She didn’t even clean up the table. And she’s saying she wants to break the bond.”

Arthur’s father, Alexander, snorted. “Her behavior grows more unbecoming by the day. She holds none of the bearing expected of our pack Luna.”

Grace’s soft voice chimed in. “Please don’t be too harsh on her, Father. I’m sure she has her own troubles… I just hate seeing James get hurt in all this.”

Michelle’s voice followed. “What kind of troubles could she possibly have? She lazes around the house all day and can’t even prepare a decent family meal. James is the precious Alpha heir of this pack. He’s growing. He shouldn’t have to beg for a deer leg.”

“She shows clear favoritism toward her own daughter.”

“Things were much better when you were here.”

James said proudly, “Exactly, Grandma. She never does anything nice for me. Not like my mom. Mom always makes sure I have everything.”

“Dad, when are you going to break the bond with her? My mom’s waiting to restore the bond with you.”

Grace laughed. “James, don’t say that. Your father already has someone he’s bonded to.”

“She’s not even part of this family! I’ll never accept her!” James shot back. “I don’t accept her!”

Arthur muttered something I couldn’t quite catch.

I leaned against the headboard with Kelly in my arms, a hollow emptiness settled in my chest.

Five years.

I had done everything for everyone in this family.

When Michelle’s back pain flared up, I learned soothing medicinal meals from the pack healer and brought them to her house myself.

When Alexander was in the pack hospital, I stayed by his bedside for a week, so exhausted I could have fallen asleep standing up.

But not once did they ever thank me. Not once did they acknowledge me.

I closed my eyes. I didn’t want to listen anymore.

Kelly gently tugged my sleeve. “Mom, I’m sorry… I shouldn’t have taken that deer leg…”

I looked down at her cautious little face, and my heart twisted sharply.

“Kelly,” I said softly, “what if we leave?”

She blinked. “Where are we going?”

“Somewhere you can have all the deer meat you want.”

She thought for a moment, then whispered, “Is Daddy coming with us?”

“Do you want him to?”

She shook her head and buried her face in my chest. “Daddy only loves James… not me.”

I held her tighter. “Okay. Then it’s just us.”