Chapter 220 New Territory
ROWAN
They probably didn’t get what I said.
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It was silent for what felt like an eternity. My mother was the first to speak, her voice tentative, quivering even.
“Oh, you’re joking, right, Rowan?” she said, her hands wringing together nervously.
That was all it took for the tension to shatter. Elder Harren chuckled under his breath, and then others followed. The sound spread quickly like wildfire, Wilder smirking like the fool he was, even Francis huffing as though the awkwardness had lifted. To them, it must have been some cruel attempt at humor.
But I kept a straight face. Theirughter faltered when I didn’t join them.
Zaria cleared her throat delicately. “We can arrange the wedding,” she said, her tone polite but insistent. “I know you’re still thinking about Ena, but—”
I stopped her right then with a sharp motion of my hand. The sound around me stilled. I stepped back, my shoes grinding into the dirt.
“Do you want me to clear my office?”
The words seemed to stun them. Their faces stiffened, appearing like they weren’t sure if they’d heard me right.
“What do you mean?” my father asked, brows furrowed.
“I’m not kidding<i>,” </i>I said, letting a smirk appear on my lips. “If you don’t want me to be the Alpha, just say so, Dad. Give the title to Wilder.”
I swept my gaze across them, then smiled. “Go ahead. I don’t mind.”
With that, I turned on my heel and began walking away.
“Disgrace!” one of the elders hissed behind me.
Chapter 220 New Territory
<b>Another </b>muttered something about shame. Their words echoed like stones being hurled <b>at </b>my <b>back</b>.
Yet… strangely, I felt relieved instead of tied down. The chains didn’t pull me tighter anymore. Instead, they snapped.
<b>I </b>shook my head at their cries. My father called my name sharply, my mother’s voice wavered with panic, but I didn’t stop. Just then, I felt someone tug at my arm.
“Rowan,” Zaria’s voice came quietly. She had followed after me, and I felt myself growing more exhausted with every passing second.
“Come on,” she muttered, reaching out to my cheek, but I turned away, not giving her the chance. “We can do this together. We can lead the South. You can be with me for that, right?”
Her words made me stop in my tracks. I looked <i>at </i>her and her perfectlyposed features.
My whole life, I had tried to satisfy everyone around me. To live up to the sha of my father’s expectations for Elijah and make my mother proud. Every step I had taken, every sacrifice, had been for them.
But no matter how much I gave, it was never enough.
I turned my gaze past Zaria, past the elders, and for a heartbeat, I caught sight of the children lingering at the edge of the clearing. The future of this pack. Their eyes were wide and filled with confused innocence.
My heart clenched.
I wanted <i>to </i>be someone for them. But if I kept walking this path, I wouldn’t be that
man.
I shook my head.
“I can’t do that,” I said finally.
Zaria’s expression faltered. I stepped away from <b>her</b><b>, </b><b>each </b>stride <b>firmer </b><b>than the </b>
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Chapter 220 New Territory
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However, I didn’t look back–not even a nce.
I kept walking until the clearing gave way to the trees, and the sound of their voices grew distant.
When I reached the docks, the smell of damp wood filled my lungs. A public boat was already untethering from its ropes, preparing to depart.
Without hesitation, I ran. My shoes pounded against the nks, every step fueled by the fire that burned in my chest. Just as the vessel began to drift, I leapt aboard,nding hard against the deck.
The boat rocked beneath me, but it steadied itself quickly.
As it pulled away from the dock, carrying me farther from thend I grew up in, I exhaled, finally allowing myself to breathe.
1
***
I should’ve gotten my things. However, the second I thought about staying longer with my pack, I knew I couldn’t. If I lingered, if I gave them the satisfaction of watching me pack up like some obedient son who still bowed his head to their decisions, I’d lose my mind.
All I had was my wallet and my phone shoved in my pockets. Thank goodness I still have these. At least I wouldn’t starve or end up penniless. That counted for something, right?
I found myself sitting in the corner <i>of </i>the deck, back pressed against the cold wood. The voices of strangers hummed around me,ughter, conversations I didn’t care to decipher, the sound of footsteps shuffling across nks. I kept my head down, but it didn’t matter. Trouble had a way of finding me.
“You’re so handsome,” a voice drawled.
I lifted my eyes just enough to catch the gleam of pale skin, unnaturally sharp
Chapter 220 New Territory
features, and teeth that caught the light just a little too much. Vampires. <b>Two </b><b>of </b>them, lounging like predators on the edge of boredom.
I frowned and shook my head. My lips pressed together in a silent dismissal.
“Aw, don’t be like that,” the other cooed, tilting her head. “We could make the <b>trip </b>interesting.”
Goodness. Even here, even when I had nothing left to give, trouble came sniffing around.
Before, I would’ve basked in it. I would’ve weed the attention and let it distract me from whatever storm was raging inside.
However, all that ran through my mind now was her. Tessa. Tessa, Tessa, Tessa. Every part of me echoed with her name.
No matter where I turned, she was there, stitched into the fabric of my thoughts.
I pushed myself up, moving further across the deck until I stood close to the railing, the open water stretching endlessly ahead. People passed by me, some giving me a curious nce.
A woman, an olddy with a steaming cup of coffee, paused as though she wanted to offer it to me. I shook my head. She gave me a strange look before shuffling off, muttering under her breath.
I almostughed. What the hell was I doing?
The truth was–I’d never been here before. I’d never traveled.
I realized now that my life had truly been a straight line. I didn’t even know the system <i>of </i>these boats<b>. </b>
I only knew where this one was headed.
rc.
<b>4/5 </b>
<b>7:25 </b><b>Mon</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>8 </b>
Chapter 220 New Territory
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<b>I’d </b>heard about it more times than I could count. Cade had told <b>me </b>plenty of timer about it and how it was Arden’s favorite destination.
The boat lurched slightly, slowing. I braced myself against the <b>railing</b><b>, </b><b>my </b>knuckles whitening. The captain’s voice rang out over the noise of the crowd.
“rc! We’re in rc! This is thest stop!”
Around me, people began to gather their things, pulling cloaks <b>tighter</b><b>, </b>hefting bags over their shoulders. Excitement buzzed in the air, mixed with the asional note of caution.
I swallowed hard, staring out at the city as it came into view.
I didn’t know what I was going to do.
But I guessed I’d be here in rc.