The Name I Should Have Called Chapter 02
Kieran froze, then gave a short, dry laugh. “You did all this just to spite me?”
“Darian left the pack years ago. He probably won’t stick around for long. You really expect me to believe this act of yours?”
He crossed his arms. “When you were fourteen, you told everyone you were going to be my mate. At sixteen, you sewed me a pair of riding gloves by hand. At eighteen, we exchanged tokens.”
“You’ve waited for me for years, Elena. The whole pack knows it.”
He shot Darian a scornful glance. “I can’t believe you’re in on this too. She’s just trying to piss me off. She’ll come crawling back tomorrow to beg for my forgiveness.”
Rage burned in my chest. I didn’t say another word. I took Darian’s hand and walked toward the pack’s meeting hall.
Behind me, Kieran roared. “Elena! If you leave now, don’t expect me to come running after you this time!”
That night, Darian and I secured the elders’ approval to leave in two days for his pack house in another territory.
Before I left, I had to return the token Kieran had given me.
When I walked into the yard, Sloan was sitting with Kieran’s mother, drinking herbal tea.
The moment she saw me, she flinched as if I’d struck her. “Elena, I’m just keeping Mrs. Calloway company. Please don’t get the wrong idea.”
Before I could speak, she called over her shoulder, “Kieran, Elena’s here.”
Kieran pushed the door open, his expression contemptuous. “Look who it is. Our dear Darian’s mate. Why are you so eager to come slinking back to talk to me?”
Nausea churned in my gut.
Mrs. Calloway set down her teacup. “Really, Elena. Sloan’s father is investing in a new pasture. It’s a good thing for the entire pack. Must you be so petty?”
She sighed. “Our pack is raised to be strong and gracious. But you’ve been alone too long since your parents died. It’s made you bitter.”
“Enough, Mother.” Kieran said quietly.
I knew his sudden objection meant nothing. I’d already endured enough humiliation.
I placed the copper bracelet between us. “Here, I’m returning this.”
His face darkened. “If you don’t want it, throw it away yourself. Don’t play your mind games on my territory.”
I turned away. “It’s yours. Do whatever you want with it.”
I didn’t look back.
