"Gabriel, it's me again. I've been calling and leaving you messages for the last three months and you still haven't called me back. What I want to talk to you about has nothing to do with our relationship or lack of." I stared down at Kennedy as she sighed deeply in her sleep, cuddling close to her blanket as she occupied her crib.
"It's important and I need to speak to you about it, I can't keep leaving you voicemails when we both know you've heard them all. It's not something I want to discuss with you over text. Please Gabriel, if you have any respect for me and our wolves, you will call me back."
I stroked my daughter's head, lightly brushing my fingers across her smooth skin. Her features the same as her fathers, making my heart ache.
I gulped, my mouth becoming dry suddenly overwhelmed with my emotions as I spoke my next words. "I won't call you again and if you can't pick up the phone and call me back to find out what's so important, then that will be it. I won't bother you again."
I ended the call after that, I had been trying to contact Gabriel for months. A week after Kennedy was born, I realised that I couldn't allow my fears and my hurt from Gabriel's rejection to reflect onto Kennedy.
They could have a relationship without Gabriel and I having one, he was her father, and he had a right to know but he obviously wanted to ignore me, not wanting to hear what I had to tell him.
I had even showed up at the border of his territory on three occasions, but each time his Third in Command had told me that Gabriel didn't want to see me, that he would escort me back to my territory and to not return.
My heart seemed to shatter into more pieces whenever I thought of him, when he wouldn't pick up my calls and at the thought that he must truly loathe me.
I had left him countless voicemails and text messages; I had asked Dylan for his mobile and office phone number. He just didn't want to know what I had to say, and he didn't want to know me.
He had made that very clear when he rejected me that night over seven months ago.
He never did call me back.
~*~
I had decided once Kennedy was six months old that we needed a change, going back and forth between The Blood Walker's pack and my aunties pack in Austin, Texas was exhausting with a young baby.
I needed to set up home and begin studying, working, and getting into a routine.
I couldn't move around forever, I needed to set up home somewhere.
My heart couldn't bear the thought of staying in California any longer, my wolf couldn't accept that our mate didn't want us. She constantly had the urge to find him, to beg and plead him for forgiveness.
Neither of us could understand his reasoning for the rejection, but I refused to beg for him. I hadn't done anything wrong and I told him that if he walked away, I wouldn't follow.
I wouldn't chase him and no matter how much my head and my heart desperately wanted him, I couldn't.
Moving to Texas was a new start, a fresh start away from Gabriel and the drama that was brought with it. My aunty had always told me that I was welcome there.
Telling Julian, Grace and Dylan was the hardest part, I couldn't stop the tears that fell down my cheeks. Grace held onto me tightly and made me promise that we would visit often, that she would call me every few days.
It was clear on their devested faces that they felt the same as me, but they understood why, and I was thankful for that.
"I have the plane tickets booked for Friday, gives me a few days to pack and get everything ready." I said, my voice still a little raspy. "I'm going to miss you all so much and so will Kennedy."
Grace smiled sadly at me, reaching out to give me another hug holding onto me tightly. "Ok sweetheart, we will help you pack everything and anything you can't take with you we will have it delivered. You and Kennedy will always have a home here, don't forget that."
When she pulled back, Julian appeared behind her, his hands-on Grace's shoulder as he rubbed little circles into her back trying to comfort his mate who couldn't stop herself from being emotional.
Dylan was furious and hurt at first, he couldn't see why I had to constantly suffer for Gabriel's actions. He had told me countless times that he wanted to go over to his territory, but each time I had to force him to calm down.
Some battles, I had to fight on my own and this was one of them.
Only last month had Dylan discovered his mate, she was a wolf from Gabriel's pack, she had been tracking a scent across the border where Dylan and Chase had been searching for a rogue who continuously entered our territory.
Dylan and Sophia were perfect for each other and I couldn't help but smile every time I was around them both. I guess Dylan realised that he would never feel the pain of rejection since he had found his happily ever after which was why he didn't fight or contend my move as much.
Over the next few days, we spent time as a family, doing all the usual things we would do. Julian treated us with a takeaway and a few movie nights.
They had all helped me pack and sort out all the little bits that needed to be done before I moved. Reed had arranged my transfer to the Nightshade Valley Pack, whose territory would be my new home and hopefully my serenity.
On Thursday, I said my goodbyes to all my close friends. Saying goodbye to Chloe and Elle was the hardest especially with Chloe near the end of her pregnancy, her hormones all over the place.
We went out to eat and then came back home and looked through old photographs and video recordings. We just sat there laughing and joking, discussing all the crazy and hilarious memories that we had all shared.
We laughed and cried especially a hormonal Chloe.
The next day, creeped up too quickly, much faster than I wanted it too. I sat in bed for a few hours wondering whether I was making the right decision.
I pushed away any negative thoughts and got up, showering, and brushing my teeth before walking into Kennedy's room and getting her ready for the day.
All my friends along with my old Alpha and Luna arrived at the house to wish us good luck and to say their goodbyes. I hugged them all tightly, sadness hitting me all at once as I left the pack that I called home, who would always be my home.
Julian and Dylan had helped with packing the car with a few suitcases and strapping Kennedy safely within her car seat. Julian, Grace, and Dylan were going to drive us to the airport.
The drive there was quite quiet, we were all deep in thought, our minds elsewhere.
My name being called pulled me out of my trance, having me looking around to notice that we had arrived at LAX airport.
I got out of the car, carefully bringing Kennedy with me, carrying her in my arms as I passed her to Grace who couldn't stop showering her with so much love.
I hugged Julian and Dylan tightly, not wanting to let either of them go as Grace passed Kennedy to Julian while we both cried, Grace had been a mom to me, as well as Julian taking on the role of my father.
Leaving them felt as if I were losing my parents all over again, even though I knew I would see them again. "We love you both so much," Grace sobbed, trying to hold herself together but failing miserably. "You better call and text me all the time. Don't leave it too long to visit and I promise we will come to see you both soon."
Before I could reply, Julian stepped closer, Kennedy still laying peacefully within his arms. "You've be the daughter than we never had, and we wouldn't change you or Kennedy for the world. If you ever need us, we are only a phone call away."
I had to bite my bottom lip, smiling sadly at Julian as I hugged him tightly once again before turning to Dylan. "I'll miss you."
"I'll miss you too, Lara." He replied, keeping his reply simple, his eyes telling me all I needed to know.
"Right, we should get going. Our flight leaves soon."
After our final goodbyes, I push Kennedy through the airport with an airport employee kindly offering to push my suitcases into border security.
Once we made it through with both our passports checked, we waited for our flight to start boarding.
I sat down with Kennedy in my arms waiting for the terminal doors to open. I stared down at my daughter who was giggling, "I guess, it's just you and me baby girl." I whispered as I placed a kiss on her forehead.