I stood outside, staring at the door. I had been standing there for several minutes, debating whether I should go in. I had an appointment, but my nerves had me frozen in place. The receptionist hadn't even let me in yet. I buzzed the intercom once more and waited.
Nothing. I pressed the button again. Still nothing. I sighed in frustration. I needed to meet with Declan Lincoln. I needed to get out of this mess with Castor. The whole city knew the Roman name, knew how powerful Castor was. But I couldn't be scared of him anymore. I was about to turn away when a man walked past me, glancing down at his phone. His tailored suit fit him perfectly, dark against his smooth, deep brown skin. Our eyes met. He stopped mid-step. "Lila?" I blinked, taking in the sharp features of his face. "Luca?" He smiled wide, stepping toward me. "Wow, I didn't expect to see you here. It's been ages." "It really has," I replied, the pressure in my chest easing slightly at the sight of an old friend. "You work here?" "I do." He held up his ID badge, flashing it at the door's scanner. It beeped, unlocking the entrance that had refused me just moments ago. He opened the door and gestured for me to enter. "Senior legal associate now. And you? What are you doing here?" "I'm trying to meet Declan Lincoln," I said, stepping inside the calm lobby. "But they won't even buzz me in." Luca shook his head. "You wouldn't believe how many times that happens. The firm is tight on security, especially regarding powerful clients." "Sounds like Castor," I muttered under my breath. Luca looked at me. "Wait. Castor Roman? The Asshole Real Estate Investor Alpha that owns half that damn city? Damn girl, you bagged a big one." "Soon to be ex," I said. "I'm trying to get a divorce, but no one wants to go against him." Luca's expression darkened slightly as he looked at me. "Lincoln's a tough guy to deal with. He's smart but not the type to take risks. Are you sure this is your best bet?" "I don't have any other options," I replied, still determined. "Castor has his hands in everything. No one wants to help me." Luca sighed, glancing toward the reception desk. "Let me handle this. I'll get you in." He strode over and spoke to the receptionist, flashing his badge and convincing her that I had an appointment. She hesitated for a moment, glancing between us before finally nodding. "Ms. Roman, right? You can go up." "Thanks, Luca," I said with a smile. He nodded. "Good luck, Lila. You'll need it." I made my way to the elevator. The sleek metal doors closed around me as I ascended, each floor bringing me closer to the moment I had dreaded for days. I wasn't just meeting with a lawyer. I was meeting with someone who had the power to help me break free from Castor. I entered a quiet hallway lined with glass walls when the elevator dinged. The door at the end bore "Declan Lincoln" in sharp, silver letters. I pushed open the door. Inside, Declan Lincoln sat behind an enormous mahogany desk, his dark brown hair perfectly styled and his blue eyes sharp as he looked at me. He was tanned and broad-shouldered. His presence filled the room effortlessly. I had read about how he could handle even the messiest of cases, but now, sitting before him, I wasn't as sure. Could he really help me? "Ms. Roman," he said, motioning to the chair in front of him. "Please, sit." I took a deep breath and sat down. "I need help." He didn't respond immediately, just studied me for a moment, then leaned back in his chair. "I'm aware of your situation with Castor Roman. But I'll be honest with you, Mrs. Roman. Taking on a case involving him is... complicated." "I'm not asking for anything complicated," I muttered. "Just a divorce. I'm done being his wife. Done living in his shadow." He cocked his head to the side. "You signed a prenup, didn't you?" I nodded as I swallowed hard. "Yes, but I don't want his money. I just want out." Declan leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on the desk. "I've dealt with men like Castor before. He won't make this easy for you." "He doesn't have a choice," I declared. "I'm not staying with him." "And what's Castor's stance on this?" "He won't let me go," I admitted. "He thinks I owe him something. And now..." I paused, considering how much to say. I couldn't tell him about the pregnancy. Not yet. "Now, he's making demands. He wants me to give him an heir before I can leave." Declan's expression didn't change, but I could see his demeanor change. "An heir, interesting. And you're struggling to get pregnant?" I hesitated. "Something like that." He studied me for a long moment, then shook his head. "Lila, I'd like to help you, but Castor Roman has connections in every corner of this city. I can't take your case without a conflict of interest." "What conflict?" I asked, leaning forward. "Name one." He hesitated but couldn't answer. "So you're just scared of him like everyone else in this town. Got it." I stood, feeling a boldness surge inside me. This wasn't like me, but I couldn't sit here and let him dismiss me. Not after everything. "Thanks for your time, Mr. Lincoln. I'll find someone who isn't afraid to stand up to him." I turned to leave, my entire body trembling from the adrenaline coursing through my veins. I wasn't sure if I was being brave or stupid, but it felt good to stand up for myself finally. As I stepped out onto the street, I didn't get far before I saw him. Castor stood across the sidewalk, his eyes fixed on me. I could feel his anger from where I stood the second he saw me. He crossed the street in long, determined strides, and I only had a moment to brace myself before he grabbed my arm. "You think you can just go to a lawyer? This close to my office, Lila?" he snarled, yanking me toward his building. "Trying to sneak around behind my back? You're not leaving me, Lila. Not until you give me what I want. I thought I'd made that clear." I struggled to pull free, but his grip tightened around my wrist, and I was yanked more each time I resisted. I looked around. People stared, but no one dared to help. Castor had that effect on people. Fear. Power. No one would stand against him, not even for me. "You're hurting me," I said through gritted teeth. He leaned down, his face inches from mine. "You'll come home with me right now, or I swear, I'll make your life a living hell. You think you can embarrass me like this? Go to a law firm in the same damn town, Lila? You're my wife. My property. And you'll do what I say now." "Let go of her." Castor froze as his head snapped up. Declan Lincoln stood on the steps of the law firm, his eyes locked on Castor's hand around my arm. "This is none of your business," Castor said, his grip tightening until I yelped. "It is now," Declan said, confidently walking down the steps to where we stood. "If you have any issues with my client, Mr. Roman, you can take them up with me. But you will not touch her again, or I will have you arrested." I stood there, stunned, as Declan reached out and pulled Castor's hand from my arm with surprising ease. Castor just glared at him. "You're making a mistake," Castor growled, stepping back. "This isn't over, Lila." With one last threatening look, he turned and stormed down the street back to his office. Declan stood beside me, staring at him until he was out of sight. "Are you all right?" I nodded, though I wasn't sure if I believed it. "I will be." He nodded. "Good. Because this isn't going to be easy, Castor Roman doesn't back down. But neither do I."Castor's message came in the late afternoon, just when I started believing I could have a peaceful evening. I gripped my phone tightly as his words glared back at me. "If you want the divorce, meet me at seven. We'll settle this once and for all. Your lawyer will be here and everything." I should have known better. I should have sensed that something was off. But I was too desperate for it to be true, too hopeful that he had finally given up and was ready to let me go. So, I pulled myself together, dressed in a white sundress that clung to my curves from the weight I was already gaining, and headed to the address he gave me. The elegant building was tucked away in the heart of the city, its tall windows glowing with warm light. Inside, the space buzzed with energy. It was a large ballroom filled with high-ranking werewolves from all over. Something was wrong. My stomach twisted as I stepped inside, scanning the room. Castor appeared by my side almost immediately, gripping m
(LINC POV) I watched from across the room as Lila slapped Castor hard, loud enough to make the entire banquet hall fall silent. The crowd parted, murmuring in shock as she stormed away, her white dress stained and clinging to her body. Castor stood there, frozen, his face contorted with anger, but he didn't follow her. Not this time. He knew better.I couldn't tear my eyes away from her as she pushed through the crowd and disappeared through the doors. She was different from the women I was used to seeing in these circles.She was strong, bold, and unpredictable. As she made clear, she didn't back down even with her husband, her soon-to-be ex-husband.I had come here tonight expecting nothing more than the usual pleasantries, the familiar politics of pack life. But Lila? She had turned everything on its head in a matter of seconds. Castor had miscalculated if he thought he could control her forever.I excused myself from the conversation I had barely been listening to and made my w
Linc had given me a lifeline, and I knew I had to take it, but walking into yet another law firm felt like admitting how tangled my life had really become. I stood outside the building, staring up at its sleek glass façade, fighting the instinct to turn around and run. But I couldn't keep running from this. Castor had to be dealt with, and I couldn't do it alone.I took a deep breath and stepped inside. The receptionist didn't even glance at me twice this time as I told her I had an appointment. She buzzed me through, and before I knew it, I was sitting across from a lawyer who looked like he belonged in some glossy magazine. Everything about her was polished, from her pantsuit to how her hair was styled. She reviewed the paperwork I'd brought."So, you're the one Lincoln recommended," she finally said, setting the papers down.I nodded. "Yes. I assume Mr. Lincoln already told you about my situation."The lawyer smiled. "I know enough to understand this will be a tough case. Castor
I spent days searching for a job. Each morning, I woke with a knot of anxiety in my stomach, knowing that I would face another round of rejections. The world outside Castor’s grip was cruel, and I had never realized how dependent I had been on him. The rejection was hard to take. I didn’t have a degree, and my resume was little more than a blank page. Most companies barely let me finish speaking before they cut me off. Some knew who I was the second I introduced myself.“Lila Roman? Castor Roman’s wife?” The interviewers would stare. They didn’t say it outright, but I could tell they were afraid. Afraid of hiring someone tied to the most powerful Alpha in the city.I wasn’t a person to them.I was Castor’s property, even if I was trying to leave him. No one wanted to be caught in his orbit. No one wanted to take the risk.I tried to hold onto hope. I couldn’t go back to Castor, not after everything. But the weight of the rejections piled up, making me feel smaller each day. I wasn’t
It was my third week working at the diner, and I had settled into the job as much as possible. The early morning rush was relentless every single day, and the nausea hit harder some days than others. My breasts and back ached constantly, and my feet were sore from standing all day, but I forced myself to push through. I needed this job. The symptoms just reminded me of why I was pushing so hard.I wiped down the counter, my thoughts drifting to Cast. Even after everything, his influence refused to leave me alone. The whispers around town and the way people stared when they recognized me came back to him. The ex-Luna, now just a cook in some dingy diner.That's what they saw. What they whispered.As I scrubbed harder, trying to focus on anything else, the door slammed open against the wall as it was forcefully opened. The force of it startled me, and I didn't need to turn around to know who had just walked in. My parents had found me. I froze.“Delilah Montez Roman!” My mother's vo
CAST POVThe memory of Lila's face that day haunted me. She looked at me, eyes steady, as she told me she was leaving. At first, I couldn't believe it. I thought it was just a phase, that she'd come back, see reason. But she hadn't. And the longer she stayed away, the more I panicked."Mr. Roman, the Blakely contract needs your signature," Maya, my assistant, called from the doorway.I barely glanced up. "I'll get to it later." It came out harsher than I intended, but I didn't care. The frustration was too much. Maya knew better than to push when I was like this.I heard the door click shut behind her as she left me alone with my thoughts.I stood and started pacing the length of the office. I couldn't get Lila's face out of my mind.The cold, determined way she'd looked at me before walking out. At first, I thought she was bluffing, that she'd return.She had to, she was my fated mate.My Luna.But she didn't, and that's when the panic set in.Slamming my fist on the desk, I let the
Browsing through the maternity section made everything feel surreal. Tiny outfits hung on racks, each a reminder of the life growing inside me. I trailed my hand over a little onesie, imagining my baby wearing it. I hadn't planned on being here, in this aisle, pregnant and alone, but here I was. And somehow, despite everything, I was managing. "Look at this one," Indy said, holding up a pair of tiny overalls with a smile. She had been my rock through all of this. We were in Statesboro, far enough away from Augusta that I let myself relax a little. No one knew me here. No one would look at me and see Castor Roman's runaway Luna. I could just be Lila, a pregnant woman preparing for her baby. "Those are adorable," I said, reaching out to feel the fabric. It was soft, so perfect for a newborn. I imagined my baby in them, snuggled in my arms, safe and warm. For a moment, the reality of my situation faded, and I allowed myself to feel happy. Indy nudged me with her elbow. "You're
The phone vibrated on the kitchen counter, the lawyer's name flashing across the screen. "Hello?"There was a pause, longer than it should've been. I could feel it coming. Bad news."Mrs. Roman, I'm sorry. I can't continue with your case." "What? What do you mean you can't continue?""I'm dropping it. There's... too much at stake for me. For my firm. Castor Roman has too much influence. No one is willing to go up against him. No one. I'm even struggling to get basic things from the clerks."I leaned against the counter as the room started to spin. "So you're just giving up? After everything I've told you?""I'm not giving up, Lila. It's not about that. It's about survival. I can't risk this. And, if I'm honest with you, I don't think any lawyer in this city will take your case. He's just too powerful."Castor. Castor is always controlling something. "So that's it? He wins because you're scared? You're just letting him take everything from me?""You're smart, Lila. You knew this was