Chapter 37 Chased Out
I stayed in the restaurant for a while before leaving. As I walked down the street heading to my apartment, the sun was already high in the sky. I wrapped my hand over my chest, thinking of what to do.
It was clear that I was left alone. Layla didn't care how I was doing after the fight. I didn’t know if she would ever pick my call or reply to my text.
Shoving my phone back into my pocket after being tempted to call her, I walked down the walkway toward the lane that led to my apartment.
I kept turning every second to look behind me, checking if I was being followed or if there's any rattling in the bush. My heart hammered hard in my chest as I kept walking.
When I finally got to the house, I pulled out my keys from my jean pocket and reached for the door, but it was locked. I twisted the knob several times, wondering if I had somehow switched my keys with someone else’s that looked the same.
I tried it again, for the sixth time, and pushed the door harder, but it was still locked. This was strange. There was no way anyone would mess with the lock.
I leaned closer, looking carefully at the knob. That was when I noticed it—it had been changed. My heart skipped. I brought out my phone to text Layla when I heard footsteps behind me.
I turned and saw Mrs. Lena, the owner of the house.
I remembered when Layla and I first moved in years ago. She had told us her rule about changing locks when rent was not paid on time.
But my rent wasn’t due yet. I still had at least two more weeks.
“Mrs. Lena, someone changed the lock on my door,” I said, turning fully to face her.
“Yes, I changed the lock,” she replied with an irritated look. “I expected you and your sister to pay the rent before the due date, but you haven’t.”
“Mrs. Lena, I’m working toward the payment,” I said, my voice shaking. “I promise I’ll pay this weekend, I—”
“I know,” she cut me off, stepping closer. “I advise you to use the money you want to give me to find somewhere else. I’ve given this place out.”
The words hit me like a slap.
My heart broke into tiny pieces. My legs felt weak. “Please,” I whispered before I could stop myself. I didn’t even know what else to say. I just stood there, begging without words.
“There’s nothing I can do,” she said firmly. “If you or your sister were around when I came to change the lock, I might have considered it. But now it’s too late. The people who bought it will be here soon.”
My eyes burned as tears gathered. I couldn’t think. Everything felt loud and empty at the same time.
“I’m sorry,” she added, her voice softer now. “I told people to pack your things. They’re in the garage. You’ll need to take them before tomorrow. The new owners will come.”
With that, she turned and walked away.
I stood there, frozen, watching her back disappear. It felt like my whole world was crashing down.
The only person who would understand was Layla.
I remembered how we got the apartment in the first place. It was Layla. She talked to the landlady, then got close to her son. That was how we managed to pay half and move in.
My hands shook as I pulled out my phone. My fingers hovered before I dialed Layla’s number.
It went straight to voicemail.
I tried again. Voicemail.
My chest tightened. That could only mean one thing, she had blocked me.
The pain came fast and hard. My knees gave out, and I fell to the ground. Tears poured down my face as I cried, my body shaking. I didn’t know what to think anymore.
I didn’t want to disturb Cora. She had been helping me for days, and she was probably at work, tired and busy.
I dragged myself to a small pavement at the corner of the house and sat there, hugging my knees. My things were stacked somewhere behind the garage like I no longer mattered.
I cried quietly, feeling so alone. I hated myself for how everything was going wrong. First, the news of my pregnancy. Now, being chased out of my home.
It felt like the Moon Goddess herself was punishing me.
I lifted my face to the sky, my tears soaking my cheeks. “What did I do wrong?” I whispered, my voice breaking.
Time passed without me noticing. The sun dropped lower, and shadows stretched longer. The air grew cold. Night was coming.
Fear slowly crawled into my chest.
I glanced toward the woods at the back of the house. The trees stood dark and still, but I could feel them watching. My heart raced as old memories surfaced—glowing eyes, sharp growls, the sound of paws on dirt.
What if they came back?
My fingers tightened around my phone. I was about to call Cora when it rang.
I looked at the screen, to see that it was Warren calling.
I didn’t pick up.
It rang again.
With a tired sigh, I answered. “Hello.”
“Diana,” he said quickly. “Where are you? The doctor said you left the hospital.”
“I left,” I said softly. “I’m home. I’m fine.”
There was a pause. “Why is your voice sounding that way, are you fine?" He asked, his voice laced with worry and I wondered why he seemed to care.
I didn't want to be tagged as a mistress or accused of trying to get another person's mate attention.
"I'm fine, thanks for calling," I muttered into the phone and ended the call before he could offer a word.
I stayed there, hugging myself as the cold crept into my bones. The moon slowly rose, pale and round, watching me.
Then my phone rang again and I looked at the screen, when I saw it was Cora a wave of relief washed over me as I picked the call.
“Diana!” her voice came through. “I just left work. I want to come see you at home.”
My throat tightened. “Cora… I don’t have a home anymore.”
“What?” she shouted. “What do you mean you don’t have a home?”
I stared at the dark woods as a low howl echoed in the distance, sending chills down my spine.