Chapter 3

Jeff stopped at the doorway, pulling Arie back beside him. His eyes were cold, distant—like he was looking at a stranger, not his own daughter.

Arie's face, on the other hand, was bright with expectation—expecting me to finally disappear.

"I…"

For a second, I almost told them the truth. But then I remembered what Kael had said yesterday: Forget it. Whatever it is, it's none of our concern.

The words hit me again like a slap. I swallowed my explanation before it could leave my throat.

If I walked away quietly, I could tell myself later that they didn't know—not that they didn't care.

"I've been busy with work at the research institute," I said finally. "I'll be staying there for a while…"

Jeff's glare sharpened. "So when you said you'd never come back, who exactly were you trying to threaten? Talking like that to Omegas—what, do you want everyone to think you're being mistreated?" His voice rose into a roar.

Bran gave a cold laugh. "If you want to leave, then leave. No one's going to beg you to stay."

"Dad, don't say that." Arie's tone was soft, fragile, dripping with false sympathy. "Zoe didn't mean it. Don't say she can't come back. You'll make her sad."

Then she turned to me, smiling faintly. "Don't say things like that, Zoe. You'll make them sad."

"They only ever get sad for you," I snapped.

A flicker of triumph flashed across Arie's lips before she hid it behind a sweet expression.

"Watch your tone!" Bran snapped. "Can't you speak properly to your sister without yelling?"

I said nothing. I turned away, wiping my tears before they could fall. Then I went upstairs and finished packing my suitcase.

By evening, I stood at the door with my luggage.

A sudden downpour hit, blurring the garden outside.

"Hmph. Still here?" Jeff sneered from the couch, newspaper in hand. "All that packing since noon just to make us stop you? What are you waiting for? A little rain shouldn't stop you from leaving."

"At noon, you were so sure you'd never come back," Bran added, eyes cold and mocking. "What happened to all that courage?"

Then he turned to peel an orange for Arie, his expression softening instantly.

Arie walked toward me, her voice gentle. "The rain's heavy, Zoe. Why don't you leave tomorrow instead?"

She reached out a hand, but I knew better. If I took it, she'd snatch it back, burst into tears, and accuse me of forcing her.

"Let her go, Arie," Kael said, pulling her protectively behind him. "If she wants to leave, let her."

Their words stuck in my throat. I bit down hard, gripping the suitcase handle until my fingers hurt, then stepped into the rain.

"Miss—your umbrella—" one of the Omega servants ran after me.

"Don't give it to her!" Jeff's voice thundered from behind. "From this day forward, she's no longer part of this family! Delete her fingerprint from the house system!"

The crash of something breaking followed his shout.

Rain mixed with my tears, blurring everything. I kept walking until I reached the corner, where Leo's car waited.

Leo was the Alpha of the Southern Pack, and the sponsor of the research project. He'd been working for years on a formula to ease the pain of transformation.

He admired my research skills, had invited me countless times before. I'd always refused—until now.

When I finally agreed, he was so pleased he came himself to drive me to the airport.

"I was just about to come get you," he said, popping the trunk and lifting my suitcase. "Why are you walking in the rain?"

"Ha," Kael's cold laugh cut through the downpour. "So that's it. You said you'd never come back because you found yourself a new Alpha."

"Are you moving in with him?"

Leo's jaw tightened. "I'm not her boyfriend. She's going—"

"Leo," I interrupted quickly, shaking my head.

Kael frowned. "Going where? I thought you were heading to the institute?"

"It's nothing. You'll find out soon enough."

By the time he realized what I meant, he was yanking at the car door. "Zoe, get out of the car!"

His expression was fierce—furious—but beneath it, I caught something else. Panic. Regret.

Whatever it was, I didn't want to see it anymore.

Leo started the car and drove off. In the rearview mirror, Kael stood there motionless, rain pouring over him until he blurred into the dark.

At the airport, before boarding, my professor called.

"Your records will be deleted at midnight," he said. "Once that happens, Zoe Harding will cease to exist. Say goodbye one last time."

I stared at my phone for a long time, unsure what to do.

Then a notification popped up—Arie's new post on Instagram.

In the photo, she sat in the middle, glowing. My three fathers stood behind her, smiling down at her like she was their sun.

"It's so wonderful to have three Alpha dads," the caption read.

My throat tightened. The center spot—it used to be mine.

Still, I hesitated, then called anyway.

"Hello? Zoe?" Arie's voice came through, light and cheerful.

"Where are the dads?" I asked quietly.

"Jeff's cooking steak for me, Bran's opening my packages, and Kael's fixing my coat rack," she said sweetly. "You can tell me if you need something—they're busy."

"Arie, come eat. Don't waste time on her," Jeff's voice called faintly in the background.

"Did you need anything else, Zoe? If not, I'm gonna eat now," Arie said. I could hear the smugness in her voice.

"No," I muttered. "Nothing else. Goodbye."

I ended the call, removed the SIM card, and dropped it into a trash bin.

When the plane took off, I looked out the window. The city lights below were blurred by mist and distance.

Goodbye, I thought.