Chapter 4
It had been four days since I arrived in London. My things were still inside the open luggage. I had not unpacked them. I still hadn’t decided whether I would stay here or move. My mind was still bothered by what I had left behind.
I went inside the coffee shop that I started to grow fond of. It was freezing outside, but the weather didn’t do anything to my broken heart. I ordered my usual tea and sat near the window to read a book.
My phone vibrated, and I didn’t need to check who it was. Axl had been calling and messaging non–stop two days ago. But I didn’t bother to answer any of them.
I needed this time to think and find myself, away from the lies and the painful memories. I was already engrossed in the werewolf romance book I was reading when someone called me.
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“Lianna.”
I stiffened at the sound of my name. I didn’t need to turn to know it was Axl’s voice. And when I did, I saw him at the doorway with clothes damped from the rain. His intense gaze locked on mine, and for a moment, neither of us moved.
“What are you doing here?” I asked immediately.
“I came to find you,” he said with a low voice while moving towards me.
I clenched my fists under the table,
annoyed that he’d managed to track me down.
“How did you even know I was in London?”
Axl shrugged, pulled the chair opposite me, and sat without asking for permission.
“It wasn’t easy, but I wasn’t going to stop until I found you.”
I raised an eyebrow, skeptical of what I
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heard.
“And why would you do that? I left for a reason, Axl. I needed to get away from you, from everything.”
“I know. But you can’t just disappear like that, Lianna. People are worried. I went out of my mind looking for you,” he replied with a gentle but firm voice.
I only chuckled. I find it hard to believe what he was saying.
ce when did you ever care, Axl?”
“Since
“That’s not fair, Lianna,” Axl said quickly and defensively.
“I was a mess these past two days. I didn’t mean for any of this to happen. You know how much I love you.”
I scoffed and shook my head.
“You did a funny way of showing it, then. I watched you propose to another woman, Axl. What part of that screams ‘love‘ to you?”
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Axl winced, as though my words had physically hurt him.
“I was drunk, Lianna. I didn’t know what I was doing. How many times should I say sorry?”
I looked at him incredulously.
“That’s the excuse everyone keeps using!
‘He was drunk.” ‘He didn’t mean it.” Well, guess what, Axl? You still did it. You still looked her in the eyes and called her Lia, like you used to call me.‘
Axl ran a hand through his damp hair and sighed.
“I know. I know it looks bad. But I had been trying to reach you, to explain…”
“I don’t want to hear your explanation,” I snapped, cutting him off. “There‘ s nothing you can say that will change what I saw.”
For a moment, Axl said nothing, his eyes searching mine for something that would
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soften my heart. But when he found none,
he leaned back in his chair and his
expression hardened.
“What about you, Lianna?” he asked quietly.
Axl paused and looked at me with pleading eyes, hoping it would change my mind.
“Is this really what you want? To leave everything behind and leave here in London? Are you really going to let one mistake change the beautiful future we both plan?”
I flinched and my heart raced as I tried to find answers. But the truth was, I didn’t know. I hadn’t figured out what I wanted. All I knew was that I no longer belonged to the Greyland Pack and needed to leave.
“Maybe. I still don’t know what I want. But I know I can’t go back. I know I could no longer go back to you,” I admitted with a shaky voice, trying so hard to control my tears. I had loved him, but it hurts to be
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betrayed and realize that Axl was not who I
thought he was.
Axl‘ s face softened as he tried to plead
even more.
“You don‘ t have to go back right away. You can stay here for a month if you like to heal from my mistakes. But you don’t have to end everything and shut everyone out.”
I sighed. I couldn’t believe this guy was still negotiating when I had finally made up my mind.
“Do you still think that I am just upset and impulsive that is why I am doing this?”
“I’m saying I understand that you are hurt, and you need to process your emotions. Sometimes, pain could cloud anyone’s judgment. I am not in a hurry to schedule the mating ceremony again. All I wanted is for you to make a wise decision and come back.”
Hearing him say those words made my
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blood boil. Axl didn’t know me at all. I
might have not vocalized how much I hated people who lied and cheated, but I certainly had shown through my loyalty and love for him.
“I can’t anymore, Axl. Everything ends the moment I saw you that night.”
I could see through his eyes that Axl was furious and irritated. He didn’t like to come here to beg. It was probably because of shame and ego that brought him here. But love and honesty never showed in his eyes.
“Well, I would give you a few days to decide. Get back to me with your decision before this week ends. But like I said, you are making the biggest mistake, Lianna. Don’t tell me next time that I didn’t tell you.”
Then, Axl immediately stood and headed towards the door without looking back.
