Chapter 3

Olivia frowned at me. "Are you stalking us?"

Julian looked at me with disgust. "You’d go to that length to stop me from this?”

He motioned for the Beta to come over and take me away. I hadn’t even gotten to the nurse’s stand to initiate my prenatal checkup yet, and I struggled the best I could to break away from the Beta’s grasp.

“Stop dragging her like that.” I looked up to see Olivia commanding the Beta to let me go.

She has the power to do that? I thought.

The Beta released me, and for a second, despite myself, I felt a wave of gratitude for Olivia.

Then she moved to stand in front of me. While her demeanor was gentle, portraying a ladylike innocence to the others occupying the hospital hallway, there was a dangerous glint in her eyes.

Olivia leaned toward me, acting as though she simply wanted to help dust me off after my altercation with the Beta. Instead, she whispered, "I know who you are, you low-born, gold-digging whore. You have no status. You aren’t good enough for him.”

My mouth dropped open in surprise at her utter audacity. Despite my social status, I was still Julian’s lawful wife, a fact she indicated she was aware of. I stiffened at the disrespect, but knew that as a human I held no ground to make my feelings known.

“How much do you want to him alone? For good?” Olivia asked, tugging on the arm of my shirt. “I'll pay you."

This was too much. “Are you serious? You think you can buy your way out of this? You think you can pay me and take over my life?”

Olivia only smirked. She dug her hand into her purse, then held it out towards me, like a violent dog’s owner offers them a treat. Like a temptation.

Like a bribe.

Without thinking, I lashed out, hitting the card out of her hand. How dare she act as though I could be bought? It was one thing to call me a low-born whore, but another entirely to assume my morals could be bought.

The card spun through the air, the force of my hand sending it through the air in such a way that it hit Olivia’s stomach.

She cried out in pain.

Julian rushed over, glaring at me. "What are you doing?"

Julian went Olivia’s side, rushing to steady her.

“Amber. Leave.” His tone was stern, severe. Julian had never talked to me this way before.

I stood there, stunned, as I watched him comfort and care for Olivia. I watched my husband treat this other woman as though she were some fragile and precious thing, while I was treated like a villain. Like less than a villain, even; like a whore.

I could bear coldness, his neglect, even his contempt. But I can’t stand feeling like I’m the other woman. This is our marriage, isn’t it? No matter how small or hidden, it’s still a marriage. But he broke that with his betrayal. I just can’t take that.

"I want a divorce." I couldn’t hold back the pressure building inside me anymore.

Julian's POV

Divorce?

My wolf refused. NO, Rory growled.

"Calm down, Rory," I reminded him.

She can’t leave, Rory said. She’s so much better than that awful woman.

“Olivia?” I asked him.

Whatever, he returned.

“Look what she’s done, Rory,” I said. “As soon as Olivia showed up, she started causing trouble at the office. She’s never even been to the office before.”

Rory was silent, indignant.

“Amber even followed Olivia to the hospital,” I continued. “She intends to sell the news of Olivia’s pregnancy to the tabloids. It’s all for money.”

I don’t trust Olivia, Rory replied. I feel she’s pretending. Lying.

“But greed is in Amber’s nature. Remember how we got into this mess in the first place?” I reasoned.

Rory grunted. We both clearly remembered. The first time we’d slept together, I’d paid Amber what I thought was a fair wage. However, she’d asked for more, the hefty sum not enough to satisfy her.

The morning after Olivia had broken up with me, I woke up with a headache and a beautiful woman lying next to me. All I could remember was drinking at the bar the night before, but I had no recollection of leaving, of coming home, of this woman.

She looked at me, her eyes wide with surprise and wonder, but I didn’t know her. I couldn’t say it wasn’t a look I’d experienced before at the hand of a star-struck lover. I was the Alpha of Thorn Pack, after all.

I got up to shower, and when I returned, she was still there, waiting with an expectant look. I had no idea what she could be waiting for. Usually, the women I slept with were all to eager to sneak out in the night, at the most leaving their numbers in my phone with a note to call them if I wanted to do it again.

I’d been so distraught, though. Had I? It wasn’t out of the question.

I pulled a pre-loaded card out of my pocket and handed it to her.

"This is for you, " I said.

Her eyes shifted from anticipation to shock, then to sadness. I found this strange. If she really was a prostitute, she’d be used to this exchange by now. My mind raced, scrambling to put together an acceptable apology.

The woman looked down at the card for a moment, hesitating, then taking it from my hand.

So my assumptions had been correct.

She looked up at me, her eyes so wide. "Could you . . . “ she trailed off, then continued, “Could you spare some more?"

Although it turned out that Amber was not actually a prostitute, she did borrow money from me several more times. She always asked for a substantial amount.

Maybe she was with me just for the money, but I was obsessed with her body. Rory was obsessed with her scent.

One day, Amber began refusing my money. When I asked why, she said she wanted to be with me. I was sure she wanted a more stable relationship in order to extract more benefits from me. Despite myself, I desired her body, and her presence had become familiar.

Rory’s insistence also couldn’t be ignored, and I’d always considered him a good judge of character.

I gave her a marriage contract. Admittedly, the conditions were harsh. Our marriage was to be a secret, and no one could know. She accepted my offer without hesitation.

Rory grumbled, "Don’t divorce her. You’ll regret it."

Amber was being unreasonable. She’d never brought up divorce before. This was impulse, a tantrum brought on by the threat Olivia posed as another woman in my life.

A suitable woman, who I could marry in public. Who could be Thorn Pack’s Luna.

“Go home, Amber,” I commanded. “From now on, you aren’t to leave the house without my permission.”

"Did you ever really love me? Even just a little bit?" Amber cried.

I wanted to say no. Our relationship had never been predicated on romance, but convenience. She got to exploit the resources my position as Alpha granted her. I got to use her body, and a live-in housekeeper.

However, Rory roared in protest. I told myself it was just the familiarity of having her take care of me. Love had never been involved.

"We’re just about sex. And money," I spat, clutching to Olivia’s side.

As soon as the words left my mouth, my chest tightened in pain.