Page 117 of Unclaimed Bonds

Once inside my room, I lean against the door, catching my breath, and force the sobs escaping my throat to stop. I immediately start packing. I need to leave. I know Luke. Even after everything I said, he won’t stop. We’ll just fight some more or end up fucking and then fight again.

My door bangs open, and Luke stalks over to me. He wears sweatpants, the bastard. “We aren’t done talking!”

“I have nothing more to say. Get out of my room!” He reaches for me, to pull me to him. “Just stop!” I yell, yanking my arm back.

He combs his fingers through his hair. “I can’t keep doing this.”

“Good! Now get out!” I bark. His jaw tenses, and his hands fist at his sides. From my bag, I retrieve a manila envelope. I planned to leave this for him when I left. I guess it’s now or never. “Here.” I slap the envelope into his chest.

He catches it before it falls to the floor. “What the hell is this?” he asks, removing the documents to read them.

In the two days that I hid from everyone, I collected paperwork for our businesses and signed everything over to him. “What the fuck is this?!” he roars.

Continuing to pack, searching for clothes, I answer quietly, “I meant what I said.”

He glances up from the papers in his hand. “I did this for you!”

“I know, and that is why I’m giving it to you.”

“I don’t want this without you!” His voice cracks, heavy with emotion.

“I want you to take it,” I whisper. I can’t look at him. If I do, I might change my mind, and I can’t afford that.

He shakes the agreements. “You hate me so much, you’re willing to give all of this away?” He tosses the documents onto my bed. “Sell it! Sell all of it!”

I shake my head, and he turns to leave.

Stopping just before the door, he states, “I’m done, Jessica. It’s obvious there’s no in-between for us. I tried. I really tried, but you won’t hear me out.”

My mouth opens, but I can’t form the words. Besides, there is no point in twisting the metaphorical knife any further.

His energy shifts, pushing against my skin. “You leave me no choice,” he threatens.

More tears burn in the back of my throat. I lower my head in submission. If I continue to fight him, it fixes nothing. It only ever leads to more fighting. I gaze up at him through wet lashes.

His face contorts with fury. “I want you out of my house. I want you off my territory, and I never want to see you again!” His last word holds such force that the windows rattle. On his way out of the room, he punches the door off its hinges.

I crumble to my knees and sob.

Chapter 55

It Had To Be Done

LUKE

TWO WEEKS AGO:

March 17, 2025: 3:45 p.m.

Alpha Kings Mansion

Iwatch from my bedroom window as Jessica climbs into her new SUV, taking the pieces of my broken heart with her. I grip the windowsill to prevent myself from running after her. I commit to my decision, and as much as it pains me, I must stay the course. What other choice do I have? She hates me. She fucking hates me.

Footsteps approach from down the hall. “It’s done,” I tell them.

They walk into my room. “I know. We all heard.” My father sighs. “I told you I would take care of it.”

I shake my head. “She needs you and Mom. It’s better this way.” To extricate her from the pack and remove the people she loves in her life would destroy her. I don’t want that. I also can’t see my mother going along with it. She cried when my fatherand Anders decided to remove her from the pack. It wasn’t to hurt either one of them but to force Jessica to understand her situation. She also needs to be on her own, to lead her pack and rebuild it.