The Alpha’s Final Lesson: I Played Along, Then Left Him Forever Chapter 06
Sera’s face rearranged itself into something easy and light.
“Yeah, she did. She just texted saying she’s studying at the pack library today.”
She’s ignoring you because she’s still mad. She wants you to chase her.”
“You promised today was about us.” She reached over and curled her arm through his.
Ronan slid the phone away. The panic scratching at the back
of his mind quieted under the weight of her logic.
All right. Let’s hit the next one.”
The fireworks started at dusk, right on time.
Color burst across the sky in waves.
Ronan stood in the crowd and watched a spray of green light crack open the dark.
He remembered green was my favorite color.
Once I cooled down, he’d buy me that limited–edition
collectible I’d been begging for.
Then he’d just bring me here. Simple.
He made these plans the way people plan breakfast. Like it was a given.
That certainty lasted until the next morning.
Ronan showed up at my apartment building with
sandwich.
my favorite
He walked upstairs and punched in the six–digit code like he owned the place.
[Beep. Incorrect passcode.]
He frowned. Tried again. Wrong.
The door opened from the inside.
A cleaner stepped out with a black trash bag. “Can I help you?”
Ronan looked past her. The living room was gutted.
The couch cushions were gone.
The towers of study guides were gone.
Even Poppy’s little bowl in the corner. Gone.
The sandwich bag crumpled in his fist. His voice came out
scraped raw. “The girl who lived here: where is she?”
The cleaner turned the lock.
“She moved out, hon. The landlord hired me to clean the place today.”
‘Must’ve been in a hurry. Dropped the keys off yesterday afternoon.”
She moved out. The words hit him like a fist to the sternum.
His ears rang. The hallway tilted.
He didn’t remember getting back to the car.
He called Sera.
“Ronan? Why are you calling so early?”
“Yesterday you told me Zoe texted you. Said she was studying in the library.”
Dead silence on the other end.
“Y–yes. She did.”
His voice went flat as a blade. “Screenshot. Now.”
Sera fumbled. “Oh, I accidentally deleted it.‘”
Sera!
Ronan’s fist cracked against the steering wheel. “Did she text you or not?”
Sera’s voice cracked, thick with tears. “No…”
‘I lied. I just didn’t want her ruining your day.”
‘She’s a grown woman. What’s the worst that could happen?”
Ronan hung up.
She’d lied to his face.
Because of that lie, he’d burned a full twenty–four hours.
Where could I have gone in twenty–four hours?
I couldn’t tell truth from lies. I never could.
If someone took advantage of me, I wouldn’t even know who to turn to.
He tore across the territory to the academy and tracked down my advisor.
My advisor peered over his glasses.
Ronan, looking for Zoe? She didn’t tell you?”
“Tell me what?”
She’s not joining the council. She picked up her diploma
yesterday. Transferred to Ravencrest Pack; she’s no longer one of ours.”
Flew out yesterday afternoon. She’s probably already in orientation.”
Just two days ago, he’d told me, “Train hard. You’ll make it next year.”
And I’d looked right at him and said, “I will.”
The air left his lungs like someone had punched it out.
I hadn’t thrown a tantrum. Hadn’t played games.
I’d followed his script and delivered the performance of a lifetime.
Because that was what he taught me.
He’d taught me to see through the lies. To stop trusting blindly.
And now I’d turned every last lesson on him.