Clara’s POV

I never imagined that the man I loved, the one I trusted above all, would be the one to destroy my world. The night air was sharp, the kind that made your skin prickle, but it didn’t compare to the chill inside me. I stood there, right in the middle of the forest, heart hammering in my chest, feeling like I had no place left to turn. The weight of the betrayal crushed me. My whole world was spinning, and the one person who was supposed to be my constant, my mate, had turned out to be my undoing.

The cold was biting, but the emotional storm inside me made the chill seem like nothing. I wasn’t just running from the life I’d known—I was running from the man I thought I would spend forever with.

Logan Blake, the heir to the Ironclaw Pack, stood behind me in the darkness, his voice now cracking under the weight of his guilt. “Clara, come back. Please.”

I didn’t answer him. I couldn’t. My legs were like lead as I forced myself forward, pushing through the trees. I wasn’t going back to him, to his lies, or to a life of political games and heartache.

"You don't get to fix this, Logan," I finally said, my voice breaking but firm. "You used me. All this time, I was nothing more than a pawn in your political game."

The silence that followed felt endless. I didn’t dare to look back. I couldn’t. I couldn’t let him see the tears I’d shed for him, the betrayal that stung deep in my soul.

For a moment, there was no sound—just the thudding of my heart, loud and wild in my chest. The only thing that broke the silence was the sound of Logan’s steps as he took one step closer to me. His voice followed, desperate, like he couldn’t bear to lose me completely. "Clara... please... don’t go. I need you."

My stomach twisted. I wanted to scream, to lash out, but all I could do was keep walking. Keep putting distance between us.

His voice broke through the night again. “I didn’t mean for this to happen. I didn't mean to hurt you.” The words were soft now, regret dripping from each syllable.

I stopped. I wanted to keep walking, but my body froze, caught between anger and hurt. "You didn't mean to? You’re the one who set all of this in motion! You didn’t care about me. Not really. You just saw an opportunity to use me for your pack’s power."

The words tasted bitter as they left my mouth. How had I ever thought I could trust him? How could I ever believe that he would put me first? The only thing that mattered to him was his place in the pack. Everything else—me, my feelings—had never been more than a tool to him.

There was silence for a moment, and I felt the cold breeze bite into my skin as I wrapped my arms around myself, trying to hold onto whatever little strength I had left.

When Logan spoke again, his voice was quieter, more fragile. “Clara, I’m sorry. Please… I know I messed up, but I can fix this. I swear. I never meant for you to get hurt.”

My throat tightened as his words sank in. Did he truly believe that an apology could rectify all that had occurred? Did he think I could just forget the way he had discarded me like I was nothing?

“You can’t fix this,” I said, my voice barely a whisper. “You broke me, Logan. I trusted you with everything I had. I gave you my heart. And you… you used me to further your own power. You knew this whole time that you didn’t love me. I was just a tool for you to use. Don’t act like it’s something you can fix now.”

I could feel his presence behind me, his breath heavy as he struggled to find the right words. “Please... Clara, I swear, I never wanted to hurt you like this. You’re my mate, my future. I never wanted to lose you.”

I wanted to believe him. I really did. But how could I? After everything? After finding out that I was nothing more than a piece in a game I didn’t even know I was playing?

“Your future? Your future? You never cared about my future, Logan! You only cared about yourself and about the power you could gain. You don’t get to just walk in and apologise for everything you’ve done. I’m done.”

There was a long pause. I could feel his gaze on me, even without looking back. It burnt like a thousand needles against my skin.

“Clara, please... just come home. Come back to me. We can fix this. I swear I’ll do whatever it takes.” His words were so raw— so vulnerable. But they felt like a trap. His apology wasn’t enough. It wasn’t enough to undo the hurt, the lies, and the betrayal.

“Home?” I laughed bitterly, shaking my head. “You don’t get to call that place my home anymore, Logan. You turned it into a prison. A place where I wasn’t even allowed to be myself.”

“I’m sorry. Please…” His voice cracked, and I could hear the desperation in it, but it wasn’t enough.

“You’re sorry now? What about when you were lying to me every day? What about when you were keeping secrets and playing games? Was that sorry, Logan?” My hands trembled at my sides, my fists clenched tight as the anger surged through me.

I didn’t look back. I couldn’t look back. It would only make this harder.

The rogue village was just a few miles away now, but the nagging feeling inside me made every step feel like I was leaving behind a life I had no choice but to abandon. Was I really making the right decision? Could I ever forgive myself for leaving? Was this the right choice for my unborn child? I had so many questions, but none of them had easy answers.

“Clara”, Logan’s voice broke through the silence again, almost a whisper. “I can’t live without you. Please don’t leave me.”

For a moment, I felt like I was breaking in two. The weight of his words pressed down on me, heavy and painful. I closed my eyes, my heart aching in my chest, but I kept moving forward.

I couldn't go back. Not after everything.

“You already broke me, Logan. You don’t even realise it. I’m done.”

I didn’t turn to look at him. I couldn’t. There was nothing left to say.

I kept walking, my breath coming in shallow bursts as I hurried toward the village. The further I went, the more the world seemed to close in on me; the more the doubts grew. What was I really running toward? Was this escape going to lead to freedom, or would it just be another cage?

I couldn’t afford to go back. Not even for him.

Would Logan chase me? Would he realise the depth of what he had lost, or would he move on to someone else, as he always has?

I didn't know.

But I couldn’t let myself wonder about it for too long. I had to keep going, for my sake and for the baby. There was no turning back now.

With that, I disappeared into the night, and the only sound was the crunching of leaves beneath my feet. Would he follow? Would he give up?

I didn’t know.

But I couldn’t stop now. I was too far gone.