The Unclaimed Luna

Breaking point

(Darius)

'She’s carrying our pup, Darius. This is your fault for stressing her out.' Kael said. I ignored him since I didn’t need his commentary right now.

“I can’t stay here anymore. I have to leave,” Emma’s voice was quiet. She was planning to leave. Leave me. Leave the pack. Take my pup with her.

Kael’s voice was sharp in my head. 'Stop her. Now.'

I pushed the door open without hesitation, not bothering to knock. The doctor turned to look at me in surprise, but I didn’t care. My eyes were locked on Emma, who was sitting up on the bed, swinging her legs over the side.

Her movements froze the moment she saw me. Her wide eyes met mine, and I could see the flash of guilt there before she quickly masked it. “Darius,” she said softly, almost like she was testing the waters.

“You’re not going anywhere,” I said.

Her hands clenched the edge of the bed, and she straightened her shoulders, trying to look defiant. “You can’t stop me.”

I took a step closer, my jaw tight. “Watch me.”

The doctor cleared his throat, glancing between us. “I think I’ll give you two some privacy.”

Neither of us acknowledged him as he slipped out of the room, closing the door behind him.

Emma crossed her arms over her chest, her chin tilting up. “I’m serious, Darius. I’m leaving. I can’t do this anymore.”

“You’re not leaving,” I said firmly, taking another step toward her.

She slid off the bed, standing her ground. “I’m not staying here just to be ignored, just to be treated like I don’t matter. I’m done.”

Her words stung, but I forced myself to keep my expression calm. “You think you can just leave? Take my child and disappear? Do you have any idea what that would mean?”

Her eyes narrowed, her lips trembling even as she tried to look strong. “It’s not like you care about us anyway. You made that clear enough.”

The accusation in her tone hit harder than I expected. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“You're in love with Lauren, not me. Everyone knows this Darius. I can't stay here regardless of what you say.” Why did she have to be so stubborn? I marked her for a reason and I'm not going to let her go without a fight.

Kael growled in my mind, his anger mixing with my own. 'Fix this,' he snapped.

“You’re my responsibility,” I said through gritted teeth. “And that means you’re not going anywhere.”

Emma’s face crumpled, but she quickly blinked back the tears that threatened to fall. “I don’t want to be your responsibility, Darius. I want to be more than that. But I know now that’s never going to happen.”

Her words twisted something inside me, a feeling I couldn’t quite name. The thought of her leaving—of her taking my pup—was like a punch to the gut.

“I won’t let you leave,” I said again, my voice softer this time.

Her shoulders slumped, and she looked away. “You can’t keep me here,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “I’ll find a way to leave.”

I reached out, grabbing her wrist gently but firmly. “Try it,” I dared her. “See how far you get.”

Her tears spilled over them, and they cut deeper than I expected. She looked so small, so fragile, and I hated that I was the reason she felt this way.

“Why are you doing this?” she asked, her voice breaking. “Why do you care if I leave, Darius? You don’t even want me here.”

I opened my mouth to respond, but no words came out. Kael snarled in my mind, his voice dripping with frustration. 'Tell her the truth!'

But I couldn’t. The truth was messy and complicated, and I didn’t even know how to put it into words. Instead, I stood there, silent, as Emma’s tears continued to fall.

She shook her head, turning away from me. “You don’t care,” she whispered. “You just don’t want to look bad to the pack. That’s all this is.”

“That’s not true,” I said, though even I wasn’t sure if I believed it.

She let out a bitter laugh, her shoulders shaking. “It doesn’t matter. None of this matters. You’ve already made up your mind about me. I’m just the mother of your child. Nothing more.”

Her words stung more than I wanted to admit. I stepped closer, closing the distance between us. “You’re not leaving,” I said again, my voice almost a whisper.

She turned to face me, her eyes red and puffy. “You don’t own me, Darius. You don’t get to decide what I do.”

I reached out again, this time cupping her cheek. She flinched at first but didn’t pull away. “You’re carrying my pup,” I said softly. “That means you stay.”

Emma pulled back, her glare was intense. “Fine. I’ll stay. But only until the baby is born. After that, I’m gone.”

Kael growled in my mind, but I ignored him. I didn’t know what to say to her, didn’t know how to fix the mess I’d created. But I couldn’t let her leave. Not now. Not ever.

“Why are you like this?” she asked, her voice trembling. “Why can’t you just let me go?”

Because I can’t, I wanted to say. Because the thought of you leaving tears me apart in ways I can’t explain.

But the words wouldn’t come.

Emma shook her head, stepping back. “I’m done, Darius. I’m done trying to make this work.”

She turned toward the door, her hand reaching for the handle. Something inside me snapped. Before I could stop myself, I grabbed her arm and spun her around.

Her wide eyes met mine, her lips parting to speak, but I didn’t let her. I closed the distance between us in one quick step, my hands cupping her face as I slammed my lips against hers.

Her muffled gasp was the last thing I heard before everything else faded away.