"Nine o'clock tomorrow morning. Be at the pack council hall on time and sign the divorce papers."

When I got back to our Alpha estate, I saw Brian's text.

I turned off my phone.

I didn't tell anyone. I still needed time to take it in.

I had no idea how I eventually drifted off. All night, my stomach felt as if it were being churned by a blender-a relentless, agonizing twisting. The sharp pain had only intensified since last night.

Was it because my child could feel his father's coldness? Was he staging a silent protest on my behalf?

Staring at the empty bedroom, the realization hit me-Brian never came back all night. So, he's been with Silvia the whole time?

The thought of what they might be doing made the tears start again. How could he just erase everything I've done? I remember the moment he lifted me from the pool of my father's blood-that was when I fell completely in love with him.

For the past three years, I had been entirely at his beck and call. I had managed the majority of the pack's administrative affairs-though I was just an Omega, I was sharp.

From overseeing the orphanage for young pups to mediating internal disputes, managing the pack's finances, and meticulously safeguarding our reputation-I had often worked well into the dead of night. Blackwood's rise to power wasn't solely due to Brian's brute strength; it was built on my labor.

I'd bet my life he would never acknowledge that, though.

It was already nine-thirty. I had to hurry with my morning routine-I needed to end this marriage as quickly as possible.

But when I finally reached the gates of the Council Hall, the sight stopped me cold. Brian was holding Silvia tightly in his arms, cradling her as if she were the most precious treasure in the world.

And just last night, that same chest had been mine to lean on.

It felt like all the air had been sucked out of my lungs-I couldn't breathe.

But what really stopped my heart was what he said next.

"Of course, Silvia, I've always loved you," Brian said, his voice softer than I'd ever heard before. "Even when I was making love to Ashley, it was your name I was whispering in my heart."

At that moment, it felt like my entire world collapsed.

The mark on my neck burned, like someone was holding a branding iron to my skin over and over again. The pain wasn't just physical-it came from somewhere deep in my soul, spreading like wildfire through my veins. My heart felt like it had been shot, shattering into a million jagged pieces that tore through my chest, slicing me apart from the inside.

My face went pale, and my legs could barely hold me up.

So this was the truth. Every heated night, every moment I thought we were close, every time I trembled in his arms and called out his name-he wasn't thinking of me. It was always Silvia.

I was just a replacement. A pathetic stand-in. I caught the flash of a triumphant smirk on Silvia's lips-was she truly ill?

A sharp unease swirled in my stomach, followed by a cramp that nearly doubled me over. No. I couldn't break down here. I couldn't let them see me weak, and I definitely couldn't reveal the secret of my pregnancy.

Clenching my teeth, I forced myself to stay upright, mustering every ounce of strength I had left. Then, calmly, I said to him, "Let's go get this done."

Brian's brow furrowed, his eyes scanning my face with a hint of suspicion. "Why do you look so deathly pale?"

The moment I opened my mouth to respond, Silvia erupted into a fit of coughing.

She spoke up, her voice soft. "Ashley, I know you're being forced into this." She leaned weakly against Brian's arm. "But I've already begged Brian... he's promised to let you keep the lifestyle of a Luna."

Then, her tears spilled over. "Ashley, please... promise me you won't blame Brian for being so cruel. He's only doing this because he's terrified of leaving me with regrets once I'm... once I'm gone."

So considerate.

Every word out of her mouth highlighted how much Brian cared for her, each one a sharp reminder of my place: the clingy wife who didn't want to let go.

Brian stood up, throwing a cold glance my way. "Let's go inside. Don't waste any more time."

He couldn't wait to get this over with, to leave me behind as fast as possible. Six months from now, would he really still entertain the idea of rekindling anything with me?

As I hesitated, Silvia chimed in again, her tone dripping with mock concern. "Ashley, it's not too late to change your mind-" Then she broke into another fit of violent coughing.

I cut her off immediately. "Hesitate? For a jerk who thinks about another woman while we're having sex?" I watched as Brian's face turned angry again.

"Shall we go, Alpha Brian?" I sneered. "Or do you want me to change my mind?"

Fuming, Brian shoved Silvia ahead toward the office.

I followed behind them.

Watching their figures side by side, I felt like an unwanted outsider-I could feel my eyes welling up again.

But I quickly pulled myself together. No point crying over someone who doesn't love you.

The hall was practically empty.

As soon as the staff saw Brian walk in, they scrambled to their feet, nervous. "Respected Alpha?"

"Processing a divorce," Brian ordered bluntly.

The staff froze for a second, their gaze bouncing between me and Silvia before finally landing on me.

"Luna..."

"Just do it," I said calmly, handing over my ID.

Not daring to ask further, the staff hesitated, then started typing away nervously.

The system's beeping filled the silent hall, grating against my ears.

A few minutes later, the staff suddenly stopped, their expression troubled.

"Alpha, according to the system... you and Luna Ashley are both registered as core pack members. Under Wolf Pack Law, Section 72, your divorce request requires a one-month cooling-off period."

Brian frowned hard.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, today you can only submit the application. After thirty days, if both sides still insist on divorce, then the mate bond can officially be dissolved."

Thirty days.

That meant I'd still have to wear the title of "Brian's wife" and watch him flaunt around with Silvia for a whole month.

"Is there no other way?" I couldn't help but ask, the words slipping out despite knowing the answer would be no.

The clerk wiped the cold sweat from his brow, his voice trembling. "I'm so sorry, Luna... these are the rules set by the Council. The system is locked; I don't have the authority to bypass the protocols."

"Ashley, you're so desperate to leave me?" Brian strode over, his towering figure casting a large shadow over me, radiating that typical Alpha pressure. "Are you throwing a tantrum now? I've explained this to you so many times-this is temporary. In six months, we'll remarry, and you'll still be Luna. Who are you putting on this 'desperate to escape' act for? Trying to make me feel guilty?"

He grit his teeth, each word practically pushed out from between them.

I found it laughable. He was the one who forced me to divorce, brought his old lover to humiliate me, and now, when I'm giving him what he wanted, he doesn't like it?

"Brian, you're way too full of yourself. Do you really think I'm some pet who comes and goes at your command? When you need me, I'm your Luna; when you don't, I'm just some placeholder you can discard?"

I stepped back, putting some space between us.

"There's no 'temporary.'" My voice echoed through the vast hall, sharp and firm. "Brian, the moment I sign, we're done. Forever."

Brian reached out, trying to grasp for my arm, but Silvia's frail voice cut through the air. "Brian... the wind is so cold. I feel a chill..."

I didn't stay to witness their intimacy. I turned and strode toward the exit of the Council Hall. I had to get to the hospital. I had to make sure my pup was okay.

I left the office in a hurry and headed straight to the hospital. After everything I went through yesterday, I needed to check on my pup's health.

My best friend, Vicki, slammed her glittery diamond-encrusted iPad onto her desk with a loud thud.

"These brainless idiots," she cursed, her white coat flying behind her as she moved sharply. "They have no clue what's really going on."

I picked up the iPad, but the glare from the screen made my eyes sting.

Social media was flooded with posts about "Alpha Brian's noble sacrifice." The top headline featured a photo of Brian pushing Silvia's wheelchair as they left the office. In the picture, he was gazing at Silvia with such tenderness, his expression full of warmth and care. And as for me? I only got a tiny footnote-"the ex-wife with no wolf spirit finally knows her place and steps aside."

The comment section? Utterly brutal.

"God bless Silvia, she's the true Luna. Poor thing, after all she's been through."

"That Ashley? She should've been gone ages ago. She hogged the Luna title for three years and brought nothing to the pack. I mean, she can't even have kids."

"I heard she dragged out the divorce to grab more money? What a greedy leech."

"Alpha still hasn't stripped Ashley of her Luna title, probably because Silvia's too fragile. I bet he had no other choice."

Every word hit me like a slap, stinging deep.

"Stop looking at it." Vicki snatched the tablet from my hands and turned off the screen. "These keyboard warriors just love spouting garbage online."

I leaned back on the examination table, staring at the fluorescent light on the ceiling. The comments kept echoing in my mind, like venomous snakes slowly gnawing away at the last bit of my pride.

"It's fine, Vicki," I said, my voice oddly calm. "I don't care what those people say. They're irrelevant to me."

But even I knew I was lying. When the whole world points fingers at you, it's nearly impossible not to care.

Vicki studied my expression carefully-she knew me too well. "Ashley, listen. Even though Silvia might become Brian's wife, technically she's not yet. And think about it-Brian still hasn't officially removed you as Luna. Maybe if you told him the truth, told him about the baby, things could turn out differently. Plus, Brian's grandmother always adored you."

I thought of her warm smile, her gentle words that used to comfort me: "Ashley, you are the kindest soul I've ever met. Brian needs a Luna like you."

But that was all in the past now.

"No," I cut Vicki off, the denial escaping my lips almost instinctively. "We're divorced now. His mind is all about Silvia. I don't want my child growing up in a toxic family."

I couldn't stop the memory of Brian's words from resurfacing-"Even when I was making love to Ashley, it was your name I was whispering in my heart."

That sentence, like a dagger, was still lodged deep in my heart.

"Brian said he doesn't love me, Vicki. He even said..." My throat tightened, and my voice trembled slightly. "He said that even in bed, he wasn't thinking of me."

Vicki's face turned dark with anger. "That bastard!"

"If he finds out about this baby, he'll either see it as a burden or fight me for custody, only to dump the baby on some nanny. This child is mine. Only mine."

Vicki stayed silent for a moment, then asked softly, "So, are you going to leave?"

I had wrestled with this question all night. Leaving would mean cutting ties with everything here-my carefully decorated room, the orphanage I poured my heart into, even the people I once thought were friends. But staying? Staying meant enduring endless humiliation and rejection.

"I have to leave." I nodded firmly. "For my pup's sake, I need to stay as far away from Brian as possible."

"Where will you go? Your uncle's territory?" Vicki frowned. "Ashley, your uncle doesn't seem like someone you can trust. And with the Silvermoon Pack practically under his control now, going back might just be even more dangerous."

I stayed quiet. Vicki was right. My uncle never liked me. If it weren't for my father's reputation back when he was alive, I'd have been kicked out of the Silvermoon Pack long ago. Now that I've lost everything, going back would only make me an easy target.

Right then, the image of that man-as dangerous and feral as a beast-flashed through my mind again.

No. No matter what, I would never step foot into another Alpha's territory again. I had a second option. As soon as I moved out of the Alpha Commissioner's residence, I would start re-mapping my future.

"It's okay, Vicki. You know me," I said, offering her a small, reassuring smile. "I always find a way to get back on my feet."

Vicki let out a deep sigh and grabbed the ultrasound machine, squeezing a generous amount of cold gel onto the probe.

"Alright, lie down. Let's see how your little one is doing."

Smiling softly, I lay back on the exam table, though I flinched at the sudden chill of the gel as the probe moved across my belly.

A blurry black-and-white image flickered onto the monitor, accompanied by the steady, rapid thumping of a heartbeat that filled the room.

Thump, thump, thump.

It was the most beautiful sound I'd ever heard.

Vicki's eyes stayed fixed on the monitor, and her brows relaxed as she gave me a small, professional smile.

"Look here, Ashley." She pointed at a small glowing dot on the screen. "Your pup is developing perfectly. And..."

She paused momentarily, then turned up the volume slightly.

"Can you hear that? This heartbeat is much faster and stronger than a human baby's. You've got one healthy little wolf pup in there. Even though you don't have wolf traits yourself, Brian's Alpha genes are seriously overpowering."

I stared at the tiny life on the screen, my eyes stinging with warmth.

This is my child, my blood. My family.

No matter where I end up or what I decide, this little life will be my driving force.

Vicki set down the probe and handed me a few tissues to wipe my stomach.

"Ashley, you need to think this through," she said seriously, her gaze steady. "You don't have a wolf spirit, and your body is just that of an ordinary human. Carrying a werewolf baby will be really tough on you. It's going to drain so much from you. And raising a little wolf pup as a single mom... you can't even imagine the challenges."

"I can do it." I sat up, crumpling the tissue in my hand. "Vicki, I may not have a wolf, but that doesn't mean I'm weak."

Vicki held my gaze for a moment, then finally nodded.

"Alright, if that's your decision. As your friend and doctor, I'll support you. But there's one condition-you have to come for regular check-ups. And if your body can't handle it, you have to listen to me, no arguing. You know there's that nasty flu going around-"

"Deal."

After the exam, we talked a bit more about what I should keep in mind during pregnancy. Vicki prescribed me some vitamins and reminded me to get plenty of rest and stay calm as much as possible.

Walking out of the hospital, I felt a little lighter inside. At least the baby was healthy, and that gave me the strength to keep going.

On the drive back to the Alpha Manor, a plan began to take shape. I could move into the apartment near the orphanage-they were short-staffed due to a recent flu outbreak and desperately needed help.

It was where I had lived before the marriage. I had exactly one month to arrange everything: to find a new pack and to slip away quietly, before Brian could even realize I was gone.

As I parked the car in the driveway, I took a deep breath. This could very well be one of the last times I returned as the lady of this house. The thought was bittersweet, but I'd already made peace with it.

But as I stepped into the Alpha Manor, the scene in front of me froze me in place.

The staff were tossing my things out of the master bedroom. Brian had told me Silvia wouldn't take over my room.

But now, my clothes, my books, and the hair clip Brian had once bought me were tossed out like trash, scattered across the lawn.

I stared at the clip. It was snapped in two, crushed under an old sweater as if it had never been worth a thing. Brian had merely picked it up on a whim after an Alpha conference; it was a mere afterthought to him. But that day, I had cradled it in my hands for so long, believing it was the first time he'd truly thought of me. To me, it was more precious than any luxury.

Now, seeing it splintered in the dirt, it felt like a reflection of myself-discarded.

"What were you doing at the hospital?" Brian suddenly lunged forward, his grip tightening around my arm. There was no concern in his eyes, only suspicion.

I tried to shake him off, but his strength was overwhelming. "We just signed the divorce papers, Brian," I replied coldly. "You should worry about your future wife, not an Omega who will be out of your life soon enough."

"Oh my, Ashley, you're back." Silvia rolled her wheelchair toward us, her eyes glancing over my belongings strewn on the grass. She wore a mask of fake guilt. "I'm so sorry, Ashley. Brian insisted I needed a room with better ventilation for my recovery. You know how stubborn he can be."

She sounded as if she were already the true Luna.

A wave of nausea surged from my stomach to my throat. I waved a dismissive hand, finally shoving Brian away. "Don't bother," I said icily. "I don't plan on staying in the Alpha Residence anymore."

I turned to leave, but Brian didn't let me go. He slammed me into a guest room, pinning me against the wall. His gaze was feral, filled with a rage that looked ready to tear me apart.

A violent shudder ran through me-

Brian's POV

"What is she saying?"

A sudden jolt of panic surged through me at Ashley's cold, final tone. It felt as if she were actually slipping through my fingers. Did she hear what I said to Silvia this morning? It was just a comfort to a dying woman-doctors said emotional stability was key for Silvia's recovery.

But Ashley's face was deathly pale, and her frantic urge to leave only fueled my rage. Silvia was right; Ashley was likely just terrified of losing her status and playing the guilt card. She's just an Omega-no power, no money. How dare she even dream of leaving the pack?

I gripped her arm, my eyes searching hers, desperate to decipher what she was thinking. Why do I care so much about her feelings? Could I have fallen for her, just as Silvia said? No. Never. Not in this lifetime.

Two hours ago, on the drive back, Silvia's hand had rested on mine. I'd instinctively wanted to pull away, but I stopped, seeing how frail she looked.

"Brian, are you worried about Ashley?" Silvia had asked, her eyes brimming with tears. "Or... are you in love with her?"

"No, don't be ridiculous. You're the one I love, Silvia," I'd snapped. "I could never love a selfish, weak Omega. No one is as brave as you were when you took that hit for me."

Silvia's eyes flickered, but I brushed it off. She sighed, "Brian, I bet Ashley is just anxious about losing her financial security. I'm sure she'll eventually understand everything you're doing."

"After all, I only have six months left... No matter how much I show my love for you, I can never have you forever." Silvia's chest heaved violently, her tears falling even harder. "Now, Ashley's attitude is making me feel like a goddamn villain!"

"You're not!" I wiped her tears. "I'll make her apologize to you."

"No! Brian, never do that. You know your attitude is the only thing I care about," Silvia said, quickly grabbing my arm.

I lowered my voice. "I promise you, in just one month, you will be my wife."

Silvia grew tired and fell asleep in my arms. Looking at how kind she was, my anger flared again at the thought of Ashley's attitude.

Why couldn't she just accept this gracefully? Right now, I was only asking her to step back temporarily-it was only for six months.

Once Silvia passed away peacefully, I would marry Ashley again, even giving her a grander wedding as compensation. She would still be the Luna of the Alpha Manor, still enjoying all the privilege and wealth.

Not only was she unhappy, but she also acted as if I had betrayed her.

She knew exactly why we were married.

Back then, her father had been killed by rogue wolves, and her mother chose to abandon her and leave on her own. My grandfather was close friends with Ashley's grandfather, and he ordered me to help her.

At that time, Silvia had just left me. When I saw Ashley looking like a fragile glass ball, I immediately picked her up off the ground.

I promised her, "You'll be the Luna of Blackwood Pack. No one will ever hurt you again." She cried in my arms until she fainted.

After she woke up, we performed the marking ceremony, but I told her clearly that this was just a business deal-I needed someone to fill the position of my Luna.

She still accepted it happily. She took meticulous care of me every day. I told her she didn't need to do those things, but she insisted. Our sex was passionate; every time I saw her just sitting there, my dick would get hard.

No, I can't keep thinking about Ashley. It must be my own attitude that gave her the delusion that she could refuse an Alpha.

As the car came to a stop, Silvia looked at me with an exhausted face, her voice soft and pleading: "Brian, can you carry me up? I can't hold on much longer."

"Of course." I picked her up and pushed open the manor doors. I grabbed a servant. "Which room has better ventilation?"

The servant looked at me in a panic. "Alpha, the master bedroom has the best ventilation."

I frowned immediately. I had promised Ashley I wouldn't move her out of the master bedroom. But Silvia suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood. "Silvia! Get a doctor, now!" I roared at the servant.

Silvia grabbed me instantly. "No, Brian, I don't want to hear any more hopeless medical advice. You know I've tried so many doctors already. Please."

I looked at the servant and said coldly, "Go to the master bedroom and move all of Ashley's things out." I noticed Ashley hadn't returned. Where did she go?

"Where is Luna Ashley?" I asked.

"Luna Ashley went to the hospital," the servant replied.

I immediately recalled how pale she had looked. Was she actually sick? I instantly mind-linked my Beta. "Go find out why Ashley went to the hospital."

When she got back, I had to warn her that I would no longer tolerate her willfulness, or I would cut off her financial support.

Before the Beta could even leave, Ashley had already returned to the estate.

I rushed to the door and grabbed her immediately. "What were you doing at the hospital?"

Ashley tried to shake me off, gritting her teeth. "We just signed the divorce papers. You should worry about your future wife, not an Omega who will be out of your life soon enough."

"Oh my, Ashley, you're back." Silvia rolled her wheelchair over, glancing at Ashley's personal belongings scattered on the ground. She said guiltily, "I'm so sorry, Ashley. Brian insisted I needed a room with better ventilation for my recovery. You know how stubborn he can be."

Ashley's gaze was fixed intently on her belongings. I saw a broken hair clip-one I had brought back once after an Alpha conference. I hadn't thought much of it; I just thought it wasn't expensive and was easy to buy.

I remembered how passionate Ashley had been toward me that night, as if it were a luxury item worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. She was an Alpha's daughter; she had seen plenty of luxury goods, but her eyes that day looked as if she had received something more precious than anything in the world.

I had enjoyed her "services" that night, and I didn't even remember the hair clip. Suddenly, the look in her eyes turned shattered-

"Don't bother," Ashley said, snapping out of my grip and speaking coldly. "I don't plan on staying in the Alpha Residence anymore."

"What are you saying?" I grabbed her wrist again. "Are you throwing another tantrum?"

The resolve in her eyes was exactly the same as when she signed the divorce papers. No, I absolutely would not allow her to move out. She was an Omega; she could be attacked by rogue wolves at any moment.

My true inner thought was that it felt as if once she left, she would never come back. I tightened my grip and immediately dragged her to the guest room next to the master bedroom. Without a second thought, I slammed her against the wall.

I hissed at her, and she shuddered. Angrily, I bit her lip. She had to be punished.

Ashley's POV

In the room, I watched Brian's behavior in shock. The familiar scent on him left me dazed, and I couldn't suppress a moan. Only last night, our kisses had been just as heated as this, but my reason told me his first love-his fated mate-was right outside this door.

In an instant, all my sadness and heartache transformed into a towering rage. So, I bit down hard on his lower lip.

The taste of blood instantly filled my mouth.

"Argh-"

Brian let out a muffled groan of pain and instinctively loosened his grip on me.

Now!

Using all my strength, I raised my hand and gave him a resounding slap.

Slap!

The crisp sound echoed through the empty living room.

Brian's eyes widened, and a second later, he angrily tried to grab me again.

"Alpha Brian," I gasped, my words coming out one by one, "Why are you doing this? Do you regret me divorcing you? Have you fallen in love with me?"

Brian immediately backed away, sneering coldly, "Do you really think I can't let go of your body? It's just my wolf's lingering interest in his marked female. Don't mistake this for love-that is something that will never exist."

A cramp-like pain suddenly flared in my stomach. He had no idea how cruel his words were. It was like the man you loved most was negating everything you felt.

I felt as if the floor had been pulled out from under me. I had to grab the doorknob to steady myself, then I looked up and feigned composure. "Wonderful, Alpha Brian. After all, your love means absolutely nothing to me."

The air seemed to freeze. Brian's eyes turned red. But he finally let go of me. "Good. Otherwise, I would have to clarify that I don't love you, not even a little bit."

A black hole. I felt like I was falling into a black hole again. When Brian personally spoke the truth that he didn't love me, it still hurt. I nearly collapsed to the ground.

"Can I go now?" I gritted out.

"That will never happen! You're staying here!" Brian roared. "You know that as an Omega alone outside, you'll be attacked! You'll be kidnapped! You'll be a waste of the pack's security resources."

My heart was already numb with pain. I took a deep breath and said, "Reject me, and I will no longer be the pack's responsibility."

"I know what you're plotting. You want to use pack gossip to attack Silvia. You want everyone to think Silvia is a villain because you were kicked out of the Alpha Manor while she's sick," Brian said coldly.

I lost all my strength; my mind went blank. No matter what I did, I would be brutally humiliated by him. This was the difference between being loved and not.

I touched my lower abdomen, just about to say I was only moving out temporarily, when Brian's tone suddenly softened. "The master bedroom is more suitable for Silvia's recovery," Brian explained. "I'll have the servants prepare a new bedroom for you on the west side of the second floor. The conditions are identical to the master bedroom."

"I agree," I heard my voice trembling, but I struggled to control it. "But I have to move out now."

Brian's eyes turned red again. Before he could explode once more, I quickly explained, "The orphanage has been very busy lately. Flu season is here, and the children need care. I need to stay in my own apartment so it's easier to look after the sick kids."

Brian's brow furrowed. "You don't need to. You can drive there."

I nodded. "No. I'm worried I'll bring the virus back home. That would be dangerous for Silvia's recovery."

"Cough... cough, cough..."

Just then, Silvia's signature frail coughing sounded from outside the door. She seemed to have overheard our conversation.

"Brian..." Silvia's weak voice came through. "Ashley is right. My immune system is very fragile right now. If I catch the flu, I might..."

She didn't finish, but the meaning was already clear.

Brian's expression became complicated as he looked from me to Silvia outside the door, seemingly weighing his options.

"Only temporarily," he finally said through gritted teeth. "When the situation at the orphanage improves, you must come back. That is an order. If you dare to use this as a chance to escape, I will personally hunt you down. Don't forget who you are, Ashley-you belong to the Blackwood Pack forever."

I ignored him. A lot can change in a month. Moreover, Brian doesn't know that I am the owner of a gallery that frequently hosts Alpha councils. I can use this opportunity to find a pack that truly suits me.

I picked up my luggage and drove toward the apartment near the orphanage.