Chapter 4 Gone

Mason

I couldn't stop pacing.

Maya had asked for a divorce. Twice. During intimate moments, no less, like she'd been waiting for the perfect time to humiliate me.

Had she been this miserable the whole time? Was she just waiting for an excuse to escape?

The questions circled my brain like vultures.

I left the packhouse and headed to the smaller residential building on the property. I needed space from both Maya and Seraphina. Needed to think without either of them clouding my judgment.

But thinking was impossible.

I lay awake all night, staring at the ceiling, my mind racing through everything that had happened. Seraphina's return. The baby. Maya's accusations. The divorce papers I'd shoved at her like a weapon.

By morning, guilt was eating me alive.

I'd been too harsh. Too quick to judge. Deep down, I knew Maya wasn't capable of pushing someone down the stairs. It didn't match anything I knew about her.

I needed to apologize. To talk this through like adults.

But first, I had to deal with Seraphina.

I found her in the guest room, surrounded by maids fussing over her and the baby. She dismissed them with a wave when she saw me.

"Mason, I'm rather surprised it took you this long to visit your beloved and the mother of your child. But I heard about the quarrel with Maya, so I suppose it's forgivable," she purred, her movements laced with subtle attempts at seduction.

"How are you feeling?" I sat on the couch across from her, deliberately keeping distance between us.

"I'd feel better if you came closer." Her voice dropped, taking on that seductive tone I used to love.

Used to.

Now it just made me uncomfortable.

She moved toward me. I held up a hand to stop her.

"Seraphina, this can't happen. I'm married. Whatever we had before... it's over."

Her face went from sultry to shocked in half a second.

"What are you talking about? That marriage is about to end anyway. Who cares?"

"My marriage isn't ending, Seraphina," I said firmly. "I'm not divorcing Maya. I don't want to and I don't think I ever would either. So, she's still your Luna, and you need to respect that."

Even as I said it, I wasn't sure where the words were coming from.

Even I couldn't fully understand my own actions. For months, I had entertained thoughts of divorcing Maya, feeling trapped in a marriage forced upon me by my father. Yet, when the opportunity presented itself, I hesitated.

What was I even doing?

"What? What the fuck are you saying? What about me?" Seraphina's voice rose. "What about our son? Why wouldn't you divorce her now that your father's gone?"

I didn't have a good answer. I didn't even understand my own actions.

Then Seraphina's eyes went wide.

"Oh my God." Her voice dropped to a horrified whisper. "You fell in love with her? You fell in love with Maya."

The accusation hit me like a freight train.

"You... you betrayed me," she continued, her voice shaking. "You betrayed everything we had. How could you fall for that little piece of-"

"Don't." My voice came out sharp as a blade. "Don't you dare disrespect the Luna."

Seraphina looked like I'd struck her.

"Look, Sera." I rubbed my face, suddenly exhausted. "I'll make this right somehow. But you have to accept that Maya is my mate and the rightful Luna. That won't change, nothing you do or say will change it."

"Also, I'll like to apologize for what happened between you two. I'm sure Maya didn't mean to push you. Maybe you just tripped and thought-"

"Are you making excuses for her right now?" Seraphina's laugh was sharp and painful. "For hurting me?"

Guilt twisted in my gut, but I pushed forward.

"I'm sorry for all of this. I'll accept the baby after we do a paternity test, but that's all. We're not getting back together, Sera. I'm sorry if that feels so unfair."

I left her crying.

The relief that washed over me was immediate and overwhelming. I practically ran to my room, ready to fix things with Maya. Ready to apologize for my cruel words and cold treatment over the past months.

Ready to finally start over.

But when I burst through the door, the room was empty.

My heart dropped.

I ran to the Luna's wing. Also empty.

"Flora!" I grabbed Maya's personal maid by the shoulders. "Where's the Luna?"

"She... she left early this morning, Alpha." Flora's voice trembled. "She told me not to follow her. I haven't seen her since, and she's not answering her phone."

No.

No, no, no.

I ran back to my room and rifled through the papers on my desk.

There. The divorce papers I'd thrown at her last night.

Signed. Her signature at the bottom in neat, careful letters.

She'd signed them. She'd actually signed them.

My hands were shaking as I grabbed my phone and dialed Mr. Cooper, Maya's father.

"Is the Luna with you?" The words tumbled out before he could even say hello. "I need to speak with her. It's important."

"Good morning to you too, Alpha." His voice was maddeningly calm. "No, she's not here."

He knew something. I could hear it in his tone.

"Where else would she be?" My voice rose. "If not with her father or her husband-"

"Ex-husband," Cooper corrected. "I think you mean ex-husband, Alpha."

The word hit like a slap and his calm demeanor only fueled my fury.

"Where is Maya, Cooper?" I was shouting now. "Where the hell is my wife?"

A long sigh came through the phone.

"I wish I knew, Alpha. She left the Southern Pack this morning. That's all I can tell you."

The room tilted sideways.

"Left? Why? Is it a vacation? When is she coming back?"

"Never, Alpha." Cooper's voice was heavy. Final. "My daughter isn't coming back to the Southern Pack. She's gone. For good."