Chapter 2: "I am not getting a divorce!"

“What do you mean by divorce you?”

Anger overtakes Ulric’s face and he glares at me, his eyes brimming with a low light as he scoffs and paces, running a hand through his hair.

He releases his protest not a moment later.

“This was just a mistake, Sophia! We can get over this, we don’t need a divorce. It would contradict your statement and everyone would think I'm a liar.”

I shake my head and despite my better judgment, I choke out a bitter laugh. He still doesn’t get it.

“We DO need a divorce. 

It’s obvious we do, and don’t worry, we can have the divorce done in private. No one has to know.”

Ulric moves, the action swift and Alpha fast as he stops just an inch from me and roughly growls out, “I am not getting a divorce.”

This is what breaks me.

This is what makes me realize this isn’t going to be as simple as I thought. I stare my husband in the eyes and I swallow the bitterness in my throat away, my voice low and hoarse as I respond in an almost whisper.

“I would have given my life for you, Ulric.”

Pain rages in my heart the moment those words come out and my voice rises a notch.

“I, loved, you! I would have done anything for you! You knew of my life! You knew my past! And yet what did you do?

I threatened people for you, Ulric. 

I separated families. I set up men - innocent werewolf men to serve jail time for your mistakes, for your acts of foolishness. I got weak omegas kicked out of their packs! Forever to be rogues now and hunted by self-righteous men like you. I have had your back every, step, of, the, way, yet….” My voice cracks and I look away, bringing my emotions to a calm “I loved you, and you betrayed me.

You made a joke of our marriage and you treated me like a senseless woman, always getting cheated on and always forgiving the man who cheated on her. Is that all I am to you? The wife you can cheat on and ask to fix things!”

A tight clench appears in Ulric’s jaw but his reply is the same, “I am not getting a divorce.”

I counter bargaining, “You would have the freedom to be with as many women as you’d like.”

Ulric stares me down and growls, “No!”

I offer pleadingly, “You’d have half the company at your disposal, Ulric. You could do whatever you want. You could make a name for yourself.”

Ulric’s answer is the same, that rough selfish growl, “I’m, not, divorcing, you!”

He stalks back to his seat and settles into it, heaving and glaring at me with violet eyes brimming with anger. 

I take one last look at his face. 

One last look at the dashingly sharp jaw and well-formed nose, take one last whiff of his mahogany scent, a scent I would have gone crazy for once, I take one last moment of him to myself before dipping my hand into my bag and pulling out the divorce papers. I drop them on the table and my voice is firm when I speak,

“Here are the divorce papers, Ulric. 

I’ve already signed my part, now I'm giving you twenty-four hours to sign yours.” 

I watch Ulric’s eyes widen lightly at the threat but I continue unfazed, “Sign the papers and save the company… or don’t and come be with me at home while we watch your family legacy burn to the ground. Company shares are already plummeting, Net profits should be at an all-time low by nightfall, your patriarchal Alpha investors will withdraw by tomorrow, and then comes the lawsuit. Trust me when I say that omega female reporter you hit, will sue you for all you’re worth, and if you’re lucky, you’ll get thrown in jail.” I give a fake wince and a look of mock concern “Jail is a rough place, Ulric.

I’ll wait for your decision before tomorrow.”

Ulric’s voice is hard and anger-filled as he asks, “You’ve been planning this haven’t you?”

His eyes are filled with hate when they meet mine, “You’re the one who sent the reporter after us! You’re the one who made me hit her! You’ve been planning my downfall this whole time!”

I feel his snarl ripple through the room, and once upon a time I would have cowered before that snarl. A  month ago I would have blamed myself for what was happening now and I would have done everything in my power to fix it, but not now. 

Not anymore.

I shrug and give him a bored look, 

“I’ll expect your response before noon tomorrow, Alpha Ulric.”

I walk out of the office door with my body quivering but I don’t let my emotions out now. I take the elevator back down the building, walk out the hall and once I'm in the car, my eyes sting so bad I can barely breathe as I burst into sobs.

Eight years.

My tears gush so violently that I have to lie down. My head spins, my lips quiver, and my body trembles from the force of my sorrow.

Eight years! 

I have loved him for eight years! 

I have been by his side, I have supported him, I have taken the backstage. I gave Ulric eight years of my life, of my youth! Eight precious years I could have used to become the woman I wanted if not for him. 

I’ve lived eight years of watching him make mistakes, watching him take credit for my ideas, watching him use me. I endured eight years of all that… for this.

My chest shudders from the force of it, stars appear behind my eyes each time I blink, I fold in on myself, wrapping my arms around my stomach and trying to catch my breath.

It’s okay.

I always expected push would come to shove one day - 

fresh tears leak from my eyes and roll across my nose and onto the car seat because I hoped… I hoped this wouldn’t happen. 

I hoped I wouldn't have to divorce my husband.

What will I tell Ravenna? What will I tell our daughter who still loves her father fiercely?

“Sophia.”

I bolt up immediately, wiping at my tears briskly in case it’s him. He can’t see me crying. 

The sound of hurried knocking from the tinted glass windows makes me compose myself quicker and my name comes again, “Sophia. Open the door.”

I wipe at my eyes, push my hair back, and open the door. Fresh tears replace the already-cleaned ones immediately as I see who’s there. 

It’s not Ulric…. 

It’s Zach.

The older man stares at me with a concerned look on his face yet all I can do is cry. I burst into a sob, bury my face in my hands, and I cry. Zach asks shakily, 

“What’s wrong Luna Sophia?”

The concern in his voice makes me tremble as I try to contain my sorrow. I can feel him restraining himself from touching me, remembering the power difference between us, but his concern is enough. The fact that someone else is concerned for me calms me down lightly. I take deep breaths, restrain my tears and assume a composed air. I meet Zach’s concerned look and nod, sniffling as I reply hoarsely, “I’m fine… 

Everything’s fine.”

Zach nods though he’s looking at me skeptically, and when he asks where to now? I say the house. 

I might as well start to pack my things.

We drive off and go back to the Spineridge mansion. I take one last look at the sprawling lawn and glorious fountains. I’ll have to look for a house soon enough for me and Ravenna. She’ll be back from school in a few weeks.

Sorren is waiting for me at the entrance with a weird look on her face when I get down, she begins abruptly, “Welcome back, Luna. Miss Violet was here earlier,… downstairs I mean. She said she wanted to see you urgently but I said you weren’t home right now…. She didn’t listen to me and she’s upstairs now, in your private office.”

Surprise and confusion cloud my features because Violet and I have worked together for a long time. She knows she can always contact me through the mind-link. I had her aura linked with mine just because of that.

I can see the worry on Sorren’s face when she looks at me so I try to calm her down and reassure her, I offer dismissively, “It’s probably something urgent. I’m sure it’s fine.”

Sorren nods and I walk past her, going up the stairs and heading to my office. 

My mind experiences a bit of relief at the fact that Violet’s here. Maybe now I can have someone to talk to and unload all that’s on my chest. 

I promised myself I’d be strong for this, that I’d do what’s necessary, but I’m not so sure of that anymore at this point.

It hurts. 

I didn’t expect it to hurt this way but it does. 

The moment I get into my office, I know something’s wrong. What I meet halts me in my tracks.

Violet’s sitting in my chair, wearing the diadem meant for the Luna of the Spineridge pack and smiling at me sultrily. Her eyes gleam and her voice is taunting as she asks,

“Won’t you welcome the new Madam of the house properly, Sophia?”

At first, I think it’s a joke. 

I chuckle because Violet’s always joking with me. I’ve known her for more than eight years now, she makes untimely jokes like this sometimes,

Yet the more I stare, the more something seems to click in my head. Violet raises her hand to curl a strand of her hair around it and I see why the gold bracelet looked so familiar on the TV now.

It’s because……. it’s hers.

Violet’s the one sleeping with Ulric.