No Past, No Pain, No Return Chapter 05

No Past, No Pain, No Return Chapter 05

**POV:** Caleb Calloway

Today was Vanessa’s discharge day.

I received a package from the northern border regional medical center.

Inside was a diagnosis report and a note.

I opened it. The world spun. Only a few words registered.

[Serena…]

[Stomach tumor… suspected malignant…]

I opened the second paper with trembling hands.

One line.

Written so heavily, the pen tore through the paper.

[Don’t look for me. Let me die in peace. You hate me. I hate you more.]

My hands shook harder. I closed my eyes. I remembered seeing blood in Serena’s vomit. My chest tightened.

“Caleb?”

Serena’s mother, Aunt Marianne, walked over.

“What’s wrong?”

I crumpled the paper. I didn’t let her see it.

“Nothing.”

I forced my scattered thoughts aside. I settled Vanessa and the pup. Then I made an excuse and left.

I texted Serena. No reply.

I called her. Dead.

Three homes. Ours. Her mother’s. Vanessa’s. I checked them all. Empty.

I booked a flight to the northern border.

On the way to the airport, Vanessa kept texting.

I ignored her.

Aunt Marianne called.

“Caleb, are you done yet?”

“Vanessa can’t eat without you. She can’t stop crying.”

Vanessa had postpartum depression.

Serena’s confrontation made it worse. Now she had separation anxiety too.

My head pounded.

“I have to go on a short business trip. I’ll be back tomorrow.”

“Give the phone to Vanessa.”

I calmed her down for half an hour. Then I hung up.

Finally, I was on the plane.

I never had stomach issues. But now I was in agony.

My wolf sensed something. The fated bond twisted painfully.

The pain made me sick. I threw up several times during the turbulence.

At the northern border, I went straight to Serena’s office.

Her colleague smiled when she saw me.

“You must be Serena’s mate. I see your picture on her phone all the time. She loves you so much. Are you finally back from your assignment?”

I forced a smile. “Do you know where she is?”

The smile faded. “I was going to ask you. She resigned yesterday. The process isn’t finished. And we can’t reach her today.”

“Her things are still in her dorm.”

“Didn’t you come to help her with the paperwork?”

I shook my head bitterly. I asked her to show me Serena’s desk.

Her planner was on the table.

Vanessa’s due date was circled in bold.

Next to it: [Stay safe.]

I flipped to the date of the diagnosis.

Blank.

The next day had one line: [What do I do? I can’t tell them.]

My heart twisted. My wolf howled with rage.

Too late. It finally sensed what our mate had suffered.

The pain stole my breath.

Two months.

Serena carried the fear of stomach cancer alone. She didn’t say a word.

She didn’t want us to worry.

My stomach churned again.

I kept calling.

Dead. Dead. Dead.

“Serena, answer the damn phone!”

My phone buzzed in my hand. I jumped.

Not Serena.

Vanessa.

“Caleb, I can’t sleep. My chest feels tight. I can’t breathe. Can you talk to me?”

Her weak, suffering voice came through.

But I didn’t feel sorry for her. I felt annoyed.

“I’m busy. I’ll call you back.”

I hung up.

My stomach twisted.

I ran to the bathroom and threw up. Like I was purging everything inside me.

Serena. I know what you felt now.

Please. Come back. Please.