I shook my fur once more and padded to the pack home slowly, my mind racing faster than my feet were moving.

My paw kicked at a leaf and I thought more, People are going to know sooner or later. If I was still in my human form, I would have grimaced. I should probably figure out how best to approach that first. Let them find out from me rather than from another.

As I entered the small village proper, I could easily see that it was bustling. People were working outside in the sun, children were playing, and it was plain to see that the people were happy. The air carried phantom salt from the nearby Pacific Ocean and the green scent of citrus leaves. If I do leave, I thought with a mental sigh, I think I'll miss this the most.

"The Luna is back!" called a child, pointing to my approaching form. As quick as a startled rabbit, I was surrounded by at least nine children of various ages, all hugging me and calling my name happily. I was thankful I couldn't really cry as a wolf, and instead gave out big, wet kisses to everyone in reach. Their laughter lit up the part of me that still felt like their Luna. And pierced the part that knew I wasn't.

"Come on you lot," called the Gamma, Warren's brother Jacob, as he waded into the throng and pulled children off of me. "Let poor Luna Allison breathe!"

I gave him a thankful little bow and continued to the pack house. Jacob decided to walk in step with me. "You're home sooner than expected. Did something happen?"

"Yes... and no," I mindlinked hesitantly. "It's hard to explain."

"Everything good between you and Warren?" he asked, quirking an eyebrow. I gave him a sideways glance.

"Peachy," I quipped back with a false levity that I didn't really feel. My ear flicked to the side, and I hoped Jacob thought it was simply me catching a sound and not my tell that I was lying.

"Alright...." replied Jacob, rubbing the back of his neck before opening the door for me. "To be fair I don't blame you for dipping early. I was relieved when Sam and Theresa went instead of Elle and I. Those gatherings are like being dunked in a tank full of starving piranhas."

I gave an amused snort and let my tongue lol out. Ooh, if only you knew the half of it, I thought.

"Anyway, give me a shout if you need anything."

I gave him a nod and slipped into the pack house, closing the door behind me with my back hip. The omegas were all surprised to see me as well and called out their greetings, but by then I was far too tired to actually give much effort so I simply nodded in thanks.

I dug up the last of my energy and bounded up the stairs before turning into my bedroom and closing the door. At last I let myself shift back to human and sank down to the floor.

My room. His room. Our room. My eyes took in the photos on the walls, photos of Warren and I smiling, happy. And now, all of it meant nothing. Relics of our shared past. All of our history, all of our happy moments, our sorrows, our trials and achievements. All wiped away for a new person who will be sharing his bed. She will be the one smiling in the photos, kissing his lips, loving him with her body and soul.

A sob caught in my throat and I shoved my knuckles into my mouth to stifle them, but nothing could stop the searing hot tears that fell.

The silence pressed in, thick and suffocating. For the first time in seventeen years, I had no idea who I was without him.

Reinventing myself from scratch was terrifying.

But staying? Staying would mean watching myself fade out of my own life.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Author's Note:

I promise I love all my characters.

Except Warren.

If he weren't my brain-child, he'd be a chalk outline by now.

Thanks for reading this far! Feel free to drop a comment so I know I'm not alone in wanting to punt Warren into the sun.