Alpha Wilson’s POV
I woke up with my head pounding, my throat dry and sore from what I could only guess was a combination of too much alcohol and too many angry words the night before. The sunlight streaming in through the window stabbed at my eyes, making the hangover even worse.
Groaning, I sat up and rubbed my temples, trying to piece together everything that had happened.
The last thing I remembered clearly was sitting with Rolan, pouring out my soul like a lost child. I had wept in front of him, letting my frustration and confusion over Kiara spill out in a way I never had before.
The mating bond had been so strong, its pull undeniable, and yet, I had fallen for the wrong person. It wasn’t Kiara who was wrong for me, it was me who was wrong for her.
I glanced around the room. Kiara’s handbag was on the chair, and her shopping bags were neatly placed near the wardrobe. She had been here, but she was gone now. I felt a pang of regret twist in my chest. I didn’t even have the courage to face her this morning.
I needed to leave.
Slowly, I forced myself out of bed, my body aching from the weight of the alcohol and the emotional exhaustion. I began packing a small bag. Clothes, wallet, keys, it all went in without much thought.
As I zipped up the bag, I grabbed a pen and a piece of paper from the desk, scribbling a note that felt cold and impersonal even as I wrote it.
“Kiara,
I’m leaving for a while. I need some space. Please don’t look for me. I hope you find what you’re searching for.
Wilson.”
It was a lie. I didn’t want her to find someone else. I didn’t want her to move on. The truth was, I couldn’t face her, not after what I had seen. The memory of her with Eric, that look in her eyes, haunted me. Maybe I was jumping to conclusions, but the pain was too raw to see it any other way.
With the note left on the bed, I grabbed my bag and left the room, the palace corridors eerily quiet. No one saw me leave, and for that, I was thankful. I wasn’t in the mood to explain myself or answer questions.
The last thing I needed was someone convincing me to stay when I had already made up my mind.
My first stop was the hospital. Ashley needed to know what was going on. She was carrying Caleb’s child now, and I couldn’t leave without making sure she’d be okay.
My mind wandered back to all the times I had tried to protect her, but I realized now that it was Caleb who was her true protector. I had to let go.
When I arrived at her room, she looked up from her bed, her face lighting up with surprise and concern. “Wilson? What’s going on? You look terrible.”
“I feel worse than I look,” I muttered, sitting down beside her. I glanced at the monitor beeping steadily next to her bed, the rhythmic sound a small comfort in the midst of everything.
“You’ve been drinking,” she said, her tone a mix of accusation and worry.
“Yeah, I’ve been drinking.” I sighed, running a hand through my hair. “And I’m leaving, Ash.”
She frowned, confusion clouding her features. “Leaving? Where are you going?”
“I don’t know yet. I just… I need to get away from here. I need some time to think.” I looked down at my hands, feeling the weight of the decision. “You’ll be safer with Caleb anyway. You’re having his child, Ash. You need to focus on that now.”
She was silent for a moment, her eyes searching my face for something. “What about Kiara?”
I stiffened, the mention of her name stirring the hurt I had been trying to suppress. “She’s made her choice,” I spat flatly, the bitterness in my voice unmistakable.
Ashley sat up straighter, her expression serious. “Wilson, don’t jump to conclusions. You need to talk to her, not just run off because you think you know what’s going on. Maybe there’s more to the story.”
I shook my head, leaning back in my chair. “I saw her, Ash. I saw her with Eric. And the way she looked at him… it’s obvious. She chose him.”
Ashley reached out, placing a hand on my arm. “You don’t know the whole story. You can’t just leave without giving her a chance to explain.”
“I don’t need an explanation,” I answered through gritted teeth. “I’ve seen enough. I know how this ends, Ash. It’s over.”
She stared at me, her eyes filling with tears. “Wilson, please… you’re doing exactly what I did with Caleb. You’re pushing her away because you’re afraid. Don’t make the same mistake I made.”
Her words cut deep, but I couldn’t let them change my mind. I had already decided. Standing up, I bent down and kissed her forehead. “Take care of yourself, Ash. And take care of Caleb. He’s the one who’s going to be there for you now.”
Tears streamed down her face as she whispered, “I’ll miss you, Wilson.”
I forced a smile, though it felt hollow. “I’ll miss you too, but this is something I have to do.”
Without another word, I turned and left the room, the sound of my sister’s soft sobs lingering behind me. It was harder than I had expected, leaving her like that. But I knew I couldn’t stay.
I walked out of the hospital, my heart heavy with the weight of everything I was leaving behind. Kiara, Ashley, the palace… all of it seemed so far away already, even though I hadn’t taken more than a few steps.
As I made my way to the exit, I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. This was the end before the beginning, and I had no idea what lay ahead.
But I knew one thing for sure: I couldn’t stay here. Not anymore.