Maria.

I couldn’t believe it. They had already gotten their Luna-to-be pregnant...and yet, here they were, on their knees, begging me to stay.

The audacity.

The hypocrisy.

It made something inside me twist in disgust.

What exactly were they?

Because at this point, calling them cruel or ruthless didn’t even begin to cover it.

They were devils in human form.

No—worse than that.

My gaze lingered on them, one after the other, waiting... expecting them to finally take the hint and leave the room so I could pack my things in peace and walk out of this forsaken pack for good.

But they didn’t move, not immediately after I had asked them to.

And in that heavy, suffocating silence, I didn’t even realize when I leaned closer, when my body instinctively sought comfort.

Until I felt it.

Noah.

His arms wrapped securely around me, pulling me gently into him as his hand moved softly against my back, caressing in slow, reassuring strokes. It was subtle but grounding.

As if he understood exactly what I needed without me saying a word.

"If you won’t leave," Noah’s voice cut through the silence, calm but firm, "then feel free to watch."

There was something in his tone, something final, that meant he didn’t care anymore—about them, about their reactions or about anything except getting me out of there.

Without waiting for a response, he guided me gently toward the bed, helping me sit down before stepping away.

And then, he started packing my things just like that—no hesitation, no questions.

And truthfully, there wasn’t much to pack anyway— just a few dresses, some personal things.

Nothing that held any real attachment.

Nothing that would make leaving harder than it already was.

I watched him silently as he moved around the room, picking things up, folding them with surprising care, placing them neatly into the bag. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

And then, It hit me, when I saw from the corner of my eye what exactly he was packing.

My face flushed instantly, heat rushing up my cheeks as realization dawned.

He was packing everything.

Even my underwear.

I quickly looked away, suddenly very aware of the situation, unsure whether to feel embarrassed or annoyed.

But Noah didn’t react, didn’t tease and didn’t make it awkward. While packing that, he deliberately tilted his body to cover it and then he simply continued, as if it was the most normal thing in the world.

And somehow...that made it even more overwhelming.

A few moments later, he was done.

He zipped up the bag and turned toward me, walking back to where I sat.

There was something soft in his expression now, gentler and quieter.

He stopped in front of me, the bag still in his hand, before leaning down slightly, as his lips brushed against my forehead in a soft kiss.

"Let’s go, love," he said, his voice low and steady.

Then he extended his hand toward me, waiting for me to take it.

Gosh...At that moment, I truly felt like a queen.

There was no other way to describe it.

The attention, the tension, the way everything seemed to revolve around me, it was overwhelming, yet strangely empowering. And I couldn’t help but notice the expressions on the quadruplets’ faces.

That smug look.

That disbelief.

That silent resistance.

It only made everything more intense.

Without hesitation, I slipped my hand into Noah’s and allowed him to pull me up gently to my feet. His grip was firm, reassuring, like he had already made up his mind and there was no turning back.

And as if he needed to make a point...no, as if he needed them to see it clearly...his arm wrapped tightly around my waist, pulling me close against him.

In a possessive yet protective and deliberate manner.

But just as quickly as it happened...A low growl ripped through the air.

Adrien.

Before I could even process it, he moved, fast, too fast for me to react properly. With the aid of his wolf, he closed the distance instantly and snatched me away from Noah, pulling me flush against his chest.

My breath hitched sharply.

"Adrien, what are you..." I started, but the words barely left my lips before he leaned in, his intention crystal clear.

He was going to kiss me.

Instinctively, I tilted my head to the side, his lips brushed past mine, missing their target.

A frown settled on my face immediately, irritation rising as I placed my hands against his chest and pushed him away.

"Alpha Adrien, I would advise you to refrain from such acts," I said firmly, my voice steady despite everything.

I paused briefly, meeting his gaze, those striking purple eyes filled with something I refused to acknowledge.

"I’m getting married soon," I added, letting the words land exactly where they were meant to.

Then, without waiting for a response, I turned away from him.

Noah was already there, still waiting, after he had recovered from what just happened. A faint, satisfied smile playing on his lips as he reached for me again, his presence grounding me instantly.

He took my hand and guided me toward the door, his movements calm, controlled. He reached forward and turned the handle, opening it for me.

But I didn’t step out, not immediately. It wasn’t hesitation, not even close.

I just wanted to see it and to take it in fully—The dread, the disbelief, the silent storm brewing behind their eyes.

Slowly, I turned back, a small smirk forming on my lips as I let my gaze sweep across all four of them one last time.

"Farewell, Alphas," I muttered, my tone light but cutting, I paused just enough for the weight of my next words to settle. "May we never meet again."

And with that, I turned away for good.

I held onto Noah, and together, we stepped out of the room. The door behind us felt like the closing of a Chapter.

A heavy one.

A painful one.

I let out a deep breath as we walked down the corridor, each step taking me further away from everything that had once held me captive.

And closer...to something new—A new life, a new beginning, a new future.