As I thought of a plan for what to do with my life now, I walked around the house, the air thick with memories of what could have been. The baby we lost haunted every corner. I thought about Samuel and how he seemed to shift since Samantha entered the picture.

A sense of betrayal welled up inside me. Anger bubbled over, directed at both of them. I had never seen them together, but I could feel their connection. It cut deep.

Samuel and I weren’t mates. That was clear. I understand that now. We didn’t share that bond that tied so many together for life. I didn’t have to stay. I could leave. I could reclaim my life. The thought of it breathed a flicker of hope into my heart, even as the anger still simmered. I thought of packing my things and finding a place where I could start fresh.

Just then, my phone rang, breaking through the storm of my thoughts. I glanced at the screen. It was my father. A rush of mixed emotions washed over me. He was always there, steady and reliable, but I wasn’t sure I wanted to hear his voice right now, so I hesitated.

But I knew I had to answer. I took a breath and pressed the button.

"Dad?" I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

"What’s going on?" He suddenly asked as if he could sense my turmoil.

I felt a lump in my throat. I wanted to tell him everything. About the loss. About Samuel. About the anger, but the words caught.

"Just…thinking," I said finally. "About life, choices."

I could hear him pause on the other end. I knew he’d want to help, but how could I explain the mess I was in? I needed to figure this out on my own first. And maybe, just maybe, I could find a way to let go of the anger and find peace.

"Think no further. Tamara, you need to come home. There’s an important matter with the pack."

His voice was steady, but I sensed urgency beneath it. My heart raced. I had always known this day would come, but I wasn’t ready. The thought of becoming beta filled me with dread. Could I really live up to my father’s legacy as the current beta of our pack?

I remembered all the times I had trained under him. The lessons on leadership, loyalty, and strength. I admired my father, but he made it look so easy. I felt the weight of expectation pressing down on me.

I recalled the stories of past leaders, their triumphs and failures. I felt like an imposter, standing on the threshold of a role I wasn’t sure I could handle. What if I failed? What if the pack didn’t accept me? I couldn’t shake the doubt.

I needed time to think. Everything was happening all at once and it was becoming overwhelming. I wanted to get away from Samuel, but I also wasn't sure if going back home to the pack was the right choice. I didn't want to let my father down again, but the idea of what could happen when I came home was gnawing at me.

"I know this is urgent, Dad, but I have to think about this," I replied, trying to mask the uncertainty in my voice.

He released a sigh of disappointment but didn't argue with my request.

"I'll give you two days to decide, but Tamara, this shouldn't be up for discussion," he warned before hanging up.

Just then I walked into the backyard of the house and stood outside under the moonlight. The air was crisp, filled with the scent of pine. I looked up, the stars twinkling like eyes watching me. I thought about my pack, my family, and how much they were counting on me.

My heart ached at the thought of letting them down all over again. In that moment, clarity washed over me. I realized I had to face my fears because I wouldn’t know how things would end until I tried.

I picked up my phone again and dialed my father’s number. "I’m coming home," I said, my voice firmer than I felt.

Just as I hung the phone up, Samuel walked through the door, looking drained. His eyes were heavy, and his shoulders slumped. I knew he had been working long hours, but I also knew that he was only acting because a few hours ago, he was laughing with Samantha.

I wanted to call his bluff, but thinking that it would be exhausting to argue with him, I decided not to say anything. I watched him drop his bag on the floor and stretch. He smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes.

'I'm tired. Long day. You know how it is," he told me, running a hand through his hair.

I felt a knot tighten in my stomach. I wanted to ask him about his long day with Samantha, but I held back. What good would it do? So, I turned away, pretending to clean up the kitchen, but the scars on my arms and neck that hadn't healed fast enough yet caught his attention as they were still red and angry, remnants of the attack.

"What happened to you? Why do you have those?" he asked, concern creeping into his voice.

"Just a little mishap on my way home. No big deal," I said lightly.

He frowned. "You called me a few times. Was that the reason why?"

"Yeah, but like I said, it wasn't a big deal," I answered with a shrug and continued to clean.

Samuel had always thought of himself as perceptive, so he somehow sensed that something about me felt off today. He watched my every move, absentmindedly letting his fingers tap on his phone.

He knew that even though I answered his question, my voice was flat and devoid of the warmth he expected. It was like talking to a wall, instead of someone who was completely enamored by him. He leaned forward, trying to catch my gaze, but I completely ignored him.

“What’s your problem?” He finally asked, his voice low but firm.

"I don't have one." I shrugged again—a gesture that felt like a dismissal.

"Oh, really? Because it looks to me that you're upset about something," he said, scowling for good measure.

"If that's what you want to believe, then that's what you want to believe," I told him, staring at him directly in the eye.

Just as he was ready to push harder, his phone vibrated on the table. He glanced at it and immediately looked relieved by the distraction.

"I’ll take this."

Samuel hurriedly walked toward our home office and locked himself in as he took the call. Emotionally drained and mentally exhausted, I trudged toward the bedroom with heavy footsteps. The weight of the day pressed down on me like a thick fog.

Each step felt like a reminder of my chaotic life, but as I passed the office, I heard Samuel's voice. It was sweet and soft, almost like a lullaby. My heart sank because it didn’t take long for me to guess who was on the other end. Samantha.

She was everything I wasn’t. Charming, fun, and apparently, the center of Samuel's attention as of the moment. I felt a surge of anger mixed with sadness. Hearing him talk to her, the laughter in his voice shattered my resolve. I was done.

I was ready to escape. Home felt like a place of safety, a refuge from the mess my life had become. I didn’t care how upset Samuel would be. I needed to prioritize myself for a change, so I pulled out my phone for the final time and texted my father. 'I’m coming home sooner than we talked about.' It was a simple message, but it held a weight of its own.

Morning came, bringing clarity. I packed a small bag, ready to leave. I felt lighter already. The decision to go home ignited a spark within me. I was tired of being the one left behind. I wanted to go back to a place where I could start anew, where I could find out what Tamara wanted, apart from the shadows of Samuel and the baby I could've had.

I walked into Samuel's office to tell him that I was leaving. But as I stepped through the glass doors, I felt the air shift. People were whispering. Their eyes darted toward me like I was a puzzle they couldn’t figure out. I tried to shake it off.

As I walked further to Samuel's office, I bumped into Ashley, Samuel’s secretary. She was usually a beacon of support for me. But today, her face was tight, her smile forced. It seemed as if she didn't want me to be here.

"Hey, Tamara," she said, her voice low and shaky. I could sense there was something more beneath her words. "What brings you here?"

I took a deep breath, wondering what the hell was going on. "I need to talk to Samuel. It's urgent."

I glanced around the office, noticing the way others stiffened, their conversations halting immediately when I approached. "What’s going on, Ash? You look worried, and why is everyone staring at me?"

Ashley hesitated, looking back toward Samuel's office. "I don’t know how to say this."

She bit her lip and looked as if she wanted to run away, but couldn't. She then pulled me aside and leaned closer. "There have been strange things happening here. Samuel’s been acting… different. People say he’s been having an affair with someone here in the office."

"And that's not all. Everyone thinks you guys broke up, so we're surprised to see you here," Ashley admitted.

"An affair huh? With who?” I pressed, even though I already knew who it could possibly be.

"I can't tell you, but you shouldn't go inside his office," she warned.

"Why?" I asked.

When Ashley didn't speak, I decided I had to confront him. I pushed past Ashley, heading toward his office. I needed to see for myself why I was being asked not to disturb him now. I didn't care if he was in a meeting or doing something important. I barged right in without knocking, the door creaking open with a loud bang as it hit the wall.

I stepped into the room, my heart racing. It was like walking into a scene from a story I never wanted to read. Samuel stood there, caught in a moment he clearly didn’t expect me to walk in on. Samantha was perched on his desk while Samuel stood closely in front of her.

The moment their eyes landed on me, Samantha's expression was a mix of surprise and annoyance, realizing who I was, she immediately pushed Samuel away, like a child shoving a toy back into the box.

I crossed my arms and stared daggers at both of them. It wasn't surprising to see them this way anymore, but what I was upset about was the fact that he didn't have to cheat on me. He could've just said he wanted to get out of the relationship instead of embarrassing me like this. Samantha slowly slid off the desk, her demeanor shifting from playful to serious.

"Tamara, wait. It’s not what it looks like," Samuel stammered, his voice rising in pitch when he saw the look on my face.

But I didn’t need him to explain. I had seen enough. I didn’t care about their antics anymore. The tension hung thick in the air, and I raised my hand to silence them. He immediately shot his mouth and didn't say another word. Just like that. I could see the confusion in Samuel’s eyes and the irritation in Samantha's. But I wasn’t here for their drama. I had come to discuss something crucial; my freedom.

"Samuel, I don't need to hear what your excuse is for getting caught in a compromising position. I'm here because we need to talk," I said firmly. The words hung there, waiting for a response.