The Crippled Wife They Tried to Erase - Chapter 11: Chapter 11
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Sleep wouldn't come that night. Zephyr's promise echoed relentlessly in my mind. "I'll protect you. You deserve to be safe." The sincerity in his eyes had been undeniable, but so was the blood I'd seen earlier—the deep gash across his back, Xavier's mercenaries, those chilling words in the letter.
I didn't trust myself with an entire pack's fate resting on my shoulders. What if this was just the opening move? Would Xavier send more rogues? Something worse? Zephyr might be my second-chance mate, but I refused to let his pack pay the price for my existence. And Lilith—precious Lilith. The mere thought of harm coming to her...
That wound on Zephyr's back wasn't just an injury—it was a message. Xavier wouldn't stop. My healing gifts had boundaries; I couldn't save a whole pack under siege.
The decision crystallized.
Under cover of darkness, while the pack slumbered, I gathered my meager belongings and slipped away. One backward glance would've shattered my resolve.
At the train station, I purchased a ticket south—to the perpetually frozen territories where no wolf would think to search. The bitter cold suited my purpose perfectly. I needed to vanish completely.
The train ride brought an unexpected encounter—an elderly peddler hawking handmade charms. A simple gray-stone pendant caught my eye.
"Conceals things," she rasped, her milky eyes knowing. "For those needing to disappear."
I didn't question her insight. Emptying my pockets, I clasped the necklace and felt immediate warmth, the air around me subtly shifting.
When the train halted in a snow-locked hamlet, Lyra the Healer-Luna ceased to exist. In her place stood a nameless stray, desperate to blend in.
A rented room and a job at a tiny café became my new reality. The human customers treated me normally—no reverence, no fear. Just decent tips and casual smiles. For the first time in years, I almost believed I could be ordinary.
But nights betrayed me. Behind closed eyelids, Zephyr's face materialized. Lilith's laughter rang in my ears, her tiny voice calling "Mommy" twisting my heart. During lulls between coffee orders and wiping counters, the temptation to return nearly overwhelmed me.
Yet I stayed. This exile wasn't for my sake—it was armor for them.
Months passed in the frozen quiet. The necklace held my secrets, and the rhythm of mundane life almost convinced me I'd escaped my past. The betrayals, the bloodshed—they faded like bad dreams.
But tranquility is always temporary, isn't it?
The café bell chimed one quiet evening as I polished the counter. I looked up with automatic cheer—only to feel my heart plummet.
Celeste.
My sister stood framed in the doorway, smugness radiating from her designer coat. Her once-swollen belly was conspicuously flat.
I gripped the cleaning rag like a lifeline. How had she found me? As I considered fleeing, she sauntered in like she owned the establishment.
"Well, well," she drawled, venom lacing every syllable. "My flawless big sister, reduced to slinging coffee in this dump. The baby?" She patted her stomach. "Gone. Useless once Xavier became obsessed with you again."
I squared my shoulders, refusing to show weakness. "What do you want?"
Her grin turned predatory as she clicked closer. "Just delivering news."
Dread coiled in my gut. Whatever came next would break me.
"Zephyr's pack," she purred, savoring each word, "is finished."
The words didn't compute. "What?"
She tilted her head mockingly. "Xavier and I handled it. Banished them all. Zephyr, Lilith—" her lips curled, "—eliminated."
The room tilted. My knees buckled as my lungs seized. "Liar," I choked out.
Celeste's laugh was arctic. "Why bother? Watching Xavier dismantle his rivals was... exhilarating."
Hot tears betrayed me. My baby's smile, her trusting hands—gone. Zephyr, who'd sworn protection—dead because of me.
"You monster," I spat through shattered sobs.
Her smirk faltered. "Don't act shocked. You abandoned them. This blood is on your hands."
Something inside me snapped. I launched across the counter, tackling her to the floor. My fists rained down, fueled by volcanic grief.
"You murdered them!" I shrieked, smashing her skull against tile. "Took everything!"
She clawed at me, managing to shove me off. "The—"
I didn't trust myself with an entire pack's fate resting on my shoulders. What if this was just the opening move? Would Xavier send more rogues? Something worse? Zephyr might be my second-chance mate, but I refused to let his pack pay the price for my existence. And Lilith—precious Lilith. The mere thought of harm coming to her...
That wound on Zephyr's back wasn't just an injury—it was a message. Xavier wouldn't stop. My healing gifts had boundaries; I couldn't save a whole pack under siege.
The decision crystallized.
Under cover of darkness, while the pack slumbered, I gathered my meager belongings and slipped away. One backward glance would've shattered my resolve.
At the train station, I purchased a ticket south—to the perpetually frozen territories where no wolf would think to search. The bitter cold suited my purpose perfectly. I needed to vanish completely.
The train ride brought an unexpected encounter—an elderly peddler hawking handmade charms. A simple gray-stone pendant caught my eye.
"Conceals things," she rasped, her milky eyes knowing. "For those needing to disappear."
I didn't question her insight. Emptying my pockets, I clasped the necklace and felt immediate warmth, the air around me subtly shifting.
When the train halted in a snow-locked hamlet, Lyra the Healer-Luna ceased to exist. In her place stood a nameless stray, desperate to blend in.
A rented room and a job at a tiny café became my new reality. The human customers treated me normally—no reverence, no fear. Just decent tips and casual smiles. For the first time in years, I almost believed I could be ordinary.
But nights betrayed me. Behind closed eyelids, Zephyr's face materialized. Lilith's laughter rang in my ears, her tiny voice calling "Mommy" twisting my heart. During lulls between coffee orders and wiping counters, the temptation to return nearly overwhelmed me.
Yet I stayed. This exile wasn't for my sake—it was armor for them.
Months passed in the frozen quiet. The necklace held my secrets, and the rhythm of mundane life almost convinced me I'd escaped my past. The betrayals, the bloodshed—they faded like bad dreams.
But tranquility is always temporary, isn't it?
The café bell chimed one quiet evening as I polished the counter. I looked up with automatic cheer—only to feel my heart plummet.
Celeste.
My sister stood framed in the doorway, smugness radiating from her designer coat. Her once-swollen belly was conspicuously flat.
I gripped the cleaning rag like a lifeline. How had she found me? As I considered fleeing, she sauntered in like she owned the establishment.
"Well, well," she drawled, venom lacing every syllable. "My flawless big sister, reduced to slinging coffee in this dump. The baby?" She patted her stomach. "Gone. Useless once Xavier became obsessed with you again."
I squared my shoulders, refusing to show weakness. "What do you want?"
Her grin turned predatory as she clicked closer. "Just delivering news."
Dread coiled in my gut. Whatever came next would break me.
"Zephyr's pack," she purred, savoring each word, "is finished."
The words didn't compute. "What?"
She tilted her head mockingly. "Xavier and I handled it. Banished them all. Zephyr, Lilith—" her lips curled, "—eliminated."
The room tilted. My knees buckled as my lungs seized. "Liar," I choked out.
Celeste's laugh was arctic. "Why bother? Watching Xavier dismantle his rivals was... exhilarating."
Hot tears betrayed me. My baby's smile, her trusting hands—gone. Zephyr, who'd sworn protection—dead because of me.
"You monster," I spat through shattered sobs.
Her smirk faltered. "Don't act shocked. You abandoned them. This blood is on your hands."
Something inside me snapped. I launched across the counter, tackling her to the floor. My fists rained down, fueled by volcanic grief.
"You murdered them!" I shrieked, smashing her skull against tile. "Took everything!"
She clawed at me, managing to shove me off. "The—"
End of The Crippled Wife They Tried to Erase Chapter 11. Continue reading Chapter 12 or return to The Crippled Wife They Tried to Erase book page.