Chapter 55: Breaking Pack Bonds
Chapter 55 Breaking Pack Bonds
(Scarlett’s POV)
The golden rays of sunlight barely lifted the heaviness surrounding my mood, My office, usually a sanctuary of calm and purpose, felt colder today. The termination documents Emma had sent were placed squarely on my desk, their stark weight undeniable
The neatly printed words severing all ties with the Winters Pack weren’t just on paper. They carried the force of years of betrayal, pain, and resolve to finally break free. I ran my fingers over the corner of the page before tightening my grip. This was closure, but it wasn’t peace.
The door to my office slammed open so hard it ricocheted against the wall. Sarah’s furious presence filled the room like a storm, her wolf e
energy practically crackling in the air around her.
“Scarlett” she spat my name, her voice trembling with rage. Her sharp eyes landed on the papers in front of me, pupils narrowing “What is this nonsense?”
I didn’t finch. I leveled my gaze at her–cold, unyielding. I leaned back in my chair, the faintest hint of a smirk curling my lips.
“Good morning to you too, Sarah,” I said calmly, the sarcasm tingling in my tone.
“Don’t play games with me!” she practically shrieked, her fists trembling at her sides. She stomped closer, her boots colliding with the hardwood floor in heavy thuds. “What are these papers? Severing ties with the pack? You think you can just what, walk away? How dare you even entertain such a ridiculous notion!”
I rose from my chair slowly, making sure to exude all the confidence it had taken me years to build. Matching her rage with icy resolve, I stood tall
“Not entertaining it, Sarah. Doing it, I replied bluntly, lifting the papers between us. “This, I gestured to her with the document like it was proof of her failure, “is my goodbye. Official and binding”
Her mouth fell open slightly, as if she was trying to form words but couldn’t. For a moment, I thought she might regain a fraction of composure. But when her wolves” energy surged again, crashing against my own in waves of fury, I knew better.
“You ungrateful brat!” she spat, her voice dangerously loud. “You think you can walk away from blood ties? From a heritage that gave you everything?”
I laughed. A sharp, bitter sound that echoed through the room.
“Blood ties?” I said, my mouth curling in anger. “That’s funny coming from you. Since when did blood ties mean anything to you? You didn’t seem to care about them when you shoved your real daughter aside for Grace
Her cheeks flushed bright red, whether in anger or shame, I couldn’t tell. She blinked rapidly, clearly trying to find any words that would land with impact.
1 treated her like any mother would!” she finally barked. My eyes narrowed as those words clawed under my skin. “She was an innocent child. It wasn’t her fault things turned out–complicated“”
“Complicated,” I repeated, my voice dripping with venom. “Complicated was what you called abandoning me for months after she orchestrated an attack on me. Do you even hear yourself?”
“For the love of the Goddess, Scarlett, she was just a child!” Sarah snapped, banging her hand down on my desk with ferocity
“And so was I!” I shouted, losing the edge of my calm. My voice rang out sharp and angry, making her step back slightly. “How old was 17 Thirteen? Barely old enough to understand what being a wolf even meant, and you threw me to the side like I was some burden”
She froze, her breath ragged, eyes wide. But in true Sarah style, regret never lasted more than a heartbeat. Her expression hardened again as if she’d decided that doubling down was the only answer.
“You don’t understand the sacrifices I made she said lowly, bringing her face much closer to mine. “What I did for this pack–for your
“For me?” I growled, my t
my tone deep. “You didn’t do anything for me, Sarah. Everything you did was for Grace, and you know it.”
Her anger wavered just slightly, but I didn’t let her speak
“You let her, your little pet rogue, take everything from me I said coldly, resentment laced in each word. “And when she tried to take my life, your answer was to send her off for a cozy little getaway in Europe instead of holding her accountable!
13
Chapter 55 Breaking Pack Bonds
Sarah’s face twisted into something between quilt and rage, but she refused to back down. Her fists clenched again, and she practically snarled, 1 am your mother. You owe me loyalty whether you like it or not!”
I laughed bitterly again, the sound of it cutting through her self–righteousness like a blade.
“A mother?” I sneered, stepping closer so she couldn’t avoid the full weight of my words. “You were never a mother to me. Mothers protect their daughters. Mothers love their daughters. Where was your love, Sarah? Because all I ever saw was the glowing pedestal you placed Grace on while I bled
in the shadows.”
Her lips trembled ever so slightly, and for a single, fleeting second, I thought I might’ve reached far enough to touch whatever remnant of humanity lingered in her chest.
But Sarah Winter was nothing if not prideful.
“Family bonds can’t be broken, Scarlett, she hissed between her teeth. She lifted her head slightly, clinging desperately to the mantle of authority she had crafted for herself over the years.
I took a step closer until only inches separated us. My gaze bore straight through her with the force of everything she had lost.
“Oh, they can. They already were,” I said firmly, each word landing like a fatal strike. “The moment you chose Grace over me, you broke them. Blood
ties mean nothing when the only thing you nurture is betrayal”
Her nostrils flared, and this time, her composure shook in a way that no dominance could hide. I could see it–the raw helplessness lining the cracks of her fierce expression
Scarlett, you don’t mean that—”
“do” I said sharply, cutting her off without a second thought. Her words meant nothing to me. Not anymore.
“You’re not my mother, Sarah, You’re just the Luna. And even that title might not be yours forever.”
Her sharp inhale filled the room like a physical slap, but I didn’t flinch.
Forcing any strength she had left, she raised her chin and held my gaze. “You will regret this.” It wasn’t a threat, not really–it was the desperate cry of a wolf clinging to something already broken.
I didn’t dignify her with a response, turning deliberately back to my desk. The echo of her loud, stomping boots faded into the hallway, leaving me in
bitter silence
I leaned back against the desk, the tension still alive in the air. But despite the ache in my chest, I knew this to be true: I wasn’t hers. I never had been.
(Marcus’s POV)
The weight of Scarlett’s severance declaration felt heavier than anything I had touched since becoming Alpha. I sat rigid in my office, rereading the document line by line as if my eyes could somehow undo what was written
I slammed my hand against the desk, the sound reverberating in my ears.
Without thinking, I snapped my connection open to Sarah, her chaotic emotions crashing into mine like a storm.
“What happened?” I roared, each word punctuated by rage. The pack bond carried the full force of my Alpha presence, leaving no room for defiance
on her end.
“She’s severing ties,” Sarah replied, panic lacing her voice. “She made it official–she said she’s leaving the family, the pack, everything“”
“And you let this happen?” I growled, the heat rising in my chest dangerously fast.
every rule we have! I don’t know
“She’s uncontrollable, Marcus! Sarah’s voice cracked through tears and frustration. “For years, she’s been delying every what to do anymore if she won’t–won’t even listen to reason
“Reason?” My voice was electric with fury. “This isn’t defiance. This is calculated rebellion, and you gave her the opening she needed!”
“…” Sarah stammered, but the hesitation in her mind was louder than her voice.
“You will FIX this,” I snarled, my tone low and sharp. “Grovel, negotiate–I don’t care. If Scarlett walks away fully–if this damages the pack’s stability- then you can forget your position as Luna.”
Her wolf quivered beneath the implication, and her mental voice only answered in faint submission. “Yes, Marcus.”
2/3
Chapter 55 Breaking Pack Bonds
I didn’t bother softening my stance. There was no room for patience here…
The bond snapped closed, cutting off her desperate pleas. But this wasn’t just her failure–it was also Alexander’s,
Tapping into the connection to my son, I shoved all pretense of politenens nway
“Alexander” My mindlink hit his like a bullet to the brain, making him instantly alert. “Scarlett’s severing ties with the pack. Immediately”
“What are you talking about? Alexander’s confusion quickly gave way to agitation. “She wouldn’t do that-
“She’s already done it,” I snapped. Do you understand the danger we’re in? Grace’s recovery–every damn resource we need–depends on Scarlett’s supplies, and you’re sitting on your hands.”
His silence stretched dangerously long. When he spoke again, his words were softer, filled with dread. “She wouldn’t risk losing us entirely… Would she?
“She’s not risking anything, you fool,” I growled. “She isn’t the weak girl you turned down for Grace. Scarlett’s building her empire while we scramble for scraps, and we might have just handed her the power to bury us.”
“Can’t we force this back?” Alexander’s voice trembled ever so slightly. “Can’t we negotiate?”
I held no patience for his desperate hope. None of our moves to control her had worked. She was no longer someone we could manipulate.
