Chapter 500 In Two Days

Nora’s POV

Finally, we arrived at the Full Moon Pack. The familiar scent of pine and damp earth filled the air as the car rolled to a stop in front of the packhouse. For a moment, I couldn’t move. My chest felt hollow, my hands gripping my bag like it was the only thing keeping me upright. When I finally stepped out, the cool breeze brushed against my face, but it didn’t calm me. I watched as the car drove off, the tires crunching over gravel until it disappeared from sight.

“Are you okay?” Lolita’s voice broke through the silence.

“Yeah,” I lied, forcing a weak smile that didn’t reach my eyes. “I’m fine.”

But I wasn’t fine. Not even close. My wolf whimpered inside me, restless and hurt, and it took everything in me not to cry right there. Every inch of my body ached for something I couldn’t name, or maybe I could, and I just didn’t want to admit it.

“Let’s go in. Olivia should be waiting,” I said quickly, turning away before Lolita could read the pain written all over my face.

We started walking toward the house. The pack grounds were buzzing with activity, familiar faces and familiar smiles, but everything felt distant. People greeted us warmly, surprised to see us back after so long.

“Welcome home!” someone said.

“Good to have you back!” another called out.

I smiled faintly, returning their greetings, but my heart wasn’t in it. Their voices sounded far away, like echoes underwater. All I could think about was that I had left a part of myself behind, and he hadn’t even tried to stop me.

When we stepped into the main house, the warmth of the place hit me. The polished wood floors, the scent of baked bread, the faint hum of chatter from the kitchen. Everything looked the same, yet nothing felt the same.

I took a deep breath and squared my shoulders. “Come on,” I told Lolita. “We should find Olivia before she starts worrying.”

But even as I said it, my chest tightened. Because deep down, I knew that no matter how far I ran, my heart was still somewhere back in his pack, with him.

The moment we stepped into the packhouse, I spotted Olivia coming down the staircase. She looked radiant, glowing actually, her hand resting gently on her stomach. The joy on her face was undeniable, and when her eyes landed on us, they lit up completely.

“Nora! Lolita!” she exclaimed, her voice full of excitement as she hurried down the steps. “You’re finally back!”

Before I could even respond, she wrapped her arms around me, hugging me tightly. I froze for a second, startled by the warmth, then slowly hugged her back.

“Oh, you have no idea how much I missed you both,” she said, pulling back just enough to look at me. Her gaze softened. “You look tired. Are you alright?”

“I’m fine,” I lied, forcing a small smile. “Just the trip. It was long.”

Her eyes narrowed slightly, but she didn’t push. “Well, you’re home now,” she said warmly. “Come, sit. You both must be starving. I’ll have something brought for you.”

Lolita smiled politely, but I could feel her sneaking glances at me, worried I wasn’t okay. As we followed Olivia into the sitting room, she kept talking about the pregnancy. I nodded and smiled where I needed to, pretending to listen, pretending to be okay. But inside, I was miles away.

Back in his office.

Back in that moment, his hands on my face, his lips on mine.

The slap.

The silence.

The way he’d just let me go.

Olivia’s laughter faded when she noticed my blank stare.

“Are you even listening?” she asked gently, her voice pulling me back from my thoughts.

I blinked, forcing a smile. “Sorry, I just… I was thinking.”

Her brow furrowed, concern replacing her cheerfulness. “About what?”

“Nothing important,” I lied quickly, looking down at my hands.

Olivia didn’t buy it. She sat forward slightly, her tone soft but probing. “Nora, are you sure you want to go on with this marriage? You’re marrying Daniel in two days. If you’re not sure about it, you can still pause things. No one will blame you.”

I let out a small, humorless laugh. “Pause it for who, Olivia?” I asked, my voice trembling despite my attempt to sound strong. “For a man who doesn’t want me?”

She frowned. “Nora—”

“No,” I cut her off quietly but firmly. “Daniel may not be my mate, but he loves me. He’s kind, patient… he actually looks at me like I matter.”

Olivia studied me carefully, her gaze softening. “But do you love him?”

The question hit me like a weight to the chest. I opened my mouth to answer, but nothing came out. My throat tightened, words stuck somewhere between truth and denial. After a moment of silence, I forced a smile that didn’t reach my eyes.

“I’ll learn to love him,” I said finally, my voice barely above a whisper. “That’s enough.”

Olivia sighed, leaning back against the couch, her expression heavy with sadness. “Nora, learning to love someone and actually loving them are two very different things. Don’t force yourself to heal in a way that hurts you more.”

“There’s nothing to think about,” I said quickly, standing before she could continue. “I’ve made my choice. I’m moving on.”

Her lips pressed into a thin line. “Alright,” she said softly. “Then go rest. You need it.”

I nodded, grateful for the escape. “Thank you.”

As I turned to leave, Olivia’s voice followed me, gentle but filled with something that sounded almost like pity. “Nora, make sure you think this through.”

I froze for a second, then continued walking.

When I reached my room, I shut the door and leaned against it, exhaling shakily. My reflection in the mirror looked calm, collected, but my heart was anything but. I sat on the edge of the bed, staring at my hands. They were still trembling faintly, just like they had when I’d slapped him. Just like they had when I’d watched the car drive away.

I thought I’d feel free once I left him. But instead, I felt empty.

I curled my fingers into fists, trying to steady the ache in my chest. “He let me go,” I whispered. “So I have to let him go too.”

But deep down, I already knew that was the hardest lie of all.