After hiding the divorce file where no other person could see it . I walked slowly toward my wardrobe.

because there wasn't enough strength left in me to rush.My body felt exhausted, Weak like something important had been pulled out of me and never replaced. By the time I reached the bed, my legs gave in. I collapsed onto the mattress and let out a long and heavy breath I didn't even realize how I was holding up

The room was quiet.

I put my hand at the stack of files under my bed, I reached out and pulled one document from the file the divorce papers. My key to freedom 

My hands were shaking as I open the pages one by one. I stopped at the last one where I saw Nelson's signature that he just signed on the paper 

His name sat there boldly, written with confidence. The same strong handwriting he used when signing pack documents, land deals, and contracts that shaped the future of the whole clan 

I traced his name slowly with my fingertip. A bitter smile show at my lips.

He is still clumsy, so careless.

Memories flooded through my mind without warning me

I remembered Nelson in high school, standing by the highschool gate, refusing to move an inch until I agreed to talk to him. I remembered the way he smiled at me like I was something precious.

"I don't care that you're human," he had told me, voice full of certainty."The wolf Goddess doesn't make mistakes. You're meant for me." And I believed him.

I remembered how fiercely he pursued me. How proud he was to call me his. How he promised, again and again, that I was his one true mate . even without a wolf bond.

"I choose you," he whispered the night he proposed. "Now and always."

My chest tightened.

Then another memory followed.

Helen. Nelson mother.

Her eyes had been cold the first time she saw me. Sharp. Measuring. Like she was already judging how long I would last.

She even move close and quietly said to me ,ordinary ware wolf might claim to mate just to one lady for life, but an Alpha male will never be satisfied with just one woman. Especially not with ordinary human. But 

I had stood my ground then

"You're wrong," I said, my voice shaking but firm. "Nelson is different. Our bond is different."

The memory hurt now.

Because I had been so sure that I'm really So foolish.

He wasn't different.

He was exactly what her mother warned me about.

He cheated with a younger wolf girl, careless enough to think I wouldn't notice. He enjoyed it, the secrecy, the vibe, the power of having two women tied to him.

He took her on his business trip and parading her as the new princess and than brought her back here.

Into my home.

My fingers tightened into the bedsheets as the truth settled deeper into my chest.

Slowly, I picked up my phone and took a clear photo of his signature.

I sent it to Helen , he signed it I whispered 

Nothing more, No explanation.

No emotion.

A week ago, we had met privately.

No pack members. No witnesses.

She wanted this divorce handled quietly. She didn't want gossip. Didn't want whispers about her Alpha son being married to a human.

She wanted me gone.

In return, I demanded twenty million dollars.

"One month," I told her calmly. "Then I disappear from his life completely."

She stared at me for a long time before agreeing.

Now, it was real.

One more month.

A knock on the door pulled me out of my thoughts.

My body stiffened.

Quickly, I hid the divorce papers and smoothed the bed. I wiped my face and forced my expression into something calm.

"Come in," I said.

The door opened.

Henry stepped inside.

Nelson's Beta assistant.

He carried himself with respect, holding a gold-plated box carefully in his hands.

"Mrs. Ciara," he said politely. "Your husband asked me to give this to you."

He placed the box on my desk.

I walked over and opened it.

Inside was a diamond set.

Beautiful.

Rare.

Expensive.

I stared at it without feeling anything good.

Instead, my mind betrayed me.

I saw her again.

The short-haired girl.

Wrapped in a bathrobe.

Laughing softly as she held up a similar diamond necklace while Nelson kissed her neck.

Soft lights.

Messy sheets.

Fresh marks on her skin.

My stomach twisted violently.

I swallowed hard.

The bitterness rose in my throat, but I pushed it down. Just 

One more month, I reminded myself.

Just one.

Henry cleared his throat. "The Alpha picked it himself," he added. "It's one of a kind. I hope you'll love it... and cherish it."

I looked up slowly.

Met his eyes.

"Thank you, Beta Henry," I said softly.

Then, after a pause, I added quietly,

"It's just that his loyalty isn't one of a kind."

Henry froze.

For a brief moment, his face showed shock. He clearly understood what I meant, even though he pretended not to.

"I... I don't understand," he said carefully.

"I know," I replied.

Silence stretched between us.

Then he bowed his head slightly."Excuse me, Mrs. Ciara."

I nodded.

The moment he left, my shoulders sagged.

I picked up my phone and contacted a luxury resale brand. I arranged for the diamond set to be sold.

Every penny would go to the orphanage outside pack territory which also belongs to my lawyer friend that I have been supporting all the time.

If this marriage was built on lies, I would leave nothing behind that carried his name or guilt.

Later that night, the house was silent.

Nelson didn't come to the bedroom.

I wasn't surprised.

I lay on my side, staring at the dark wall, listening to my own breathing.

No tears came.

I was empty now.

And in that emptiness, I found something I hadn't felt in a long time.

Clarity.

I was no longer his wife in my heart.

Only on paper.

And paper could be destroyed.

One more month.

Then I would leave

Not broken.

But free.

Ciara POV

9:00 AM

The sounds of my alarm wake me up as usual. And I glance at the other side of the bed was cold empty. I stared at it for a few seconds and my chest rising and falling slowly, then I pushed myself up. I didn't really feel disappointed again. That feeling had worn itself out somedays ago. Now, it was just part of my daily routine. As 

I moved through the bedroom quietly, washed my face, tied my hair back, and headed into the kitchen. As I prepared breakfast as the same way I always did toast some bread ,and eggs with my black coffee. Out of habit, I set two plates on the counter as I paused.

Then I slide one plate back into the cabinet. No point in pretending anymore 

Nelson hadn't come home or had breakfast at home for a while. I hadn't expected him to. So I ate my meal standing up, i barely taste the food. My body felt light, hollow, like I was moving through air instead of time. When I finished, I washed the dishes, wiped the cabinets  and grabbed my bag heading to the office it just another day in a broken marriage.

The underground parking garage was quiet when I got there. My heels echoed loudly against the concrete floor as I continue walking toward my car. I pressed the unlock button, reached out for the handle and froze.

A sleek black SUV parked a few rows away suddenly start

Running.

The engine purred low and smooth, like the driver is on emergency 

My eyes lifted without permission.

Through the tinted back window, I saw him.

Nelson. Relaxing against the leather seat like a king on a throne.

And pressing against him was 

a girl with short hair and a soft, round face. Young fresh floral laughing at something as he whispered into her ear. Her slim body leaned into him without hesitation, like she belonged there.

and I didn't.

My chest tightened sharply. Then a shout come out all of suddenly 

"Alpha Nelson!" Beta Henry's voice cut through the air, sharp with panic.

Tires screeched.

The SUV jerked to a stop.

But it was already too late.

Nelson looked up.

Our eyes met through the thick glass.

His face darkened instantly, flashing black with irritation and something close to anger.

Mine didn't change at all.

I felt nothing.

No shock.

No tears.

Just a dull, dead stillness.

Across that silence, the girl finally noticed me.

She followed Nelson's line of sight, her eyes landing on my face.

For a brief second, curiosity flickered across her features.

Then-

She smiled.

And instead of pulling away, she wrapped her arms around Nelson's neck, pressing closer, her lips brushing his ear as she whispered something I couldn't hear.

But I didn't need to.

The partial mate bond flared in my chest, sharp and cruel, like someone had poured acid straight into my veins. My eyes burned. My lungs struggled to pull in air.

This wasn't private.

This wasn't a mistake.

She was challenging me.

Publicly.

Claiming her place.

My fingers trembled on the car door.

Every instinct screamed at me to march over there, to drag her away, to remind her who I was.

But I wasn't a wolf.

I was just a human.

A foolish woman who had believed in forever.

I tore my gaze away, got into my car, and slammed the door shut. My hands shook as I started the engine.

I didn't look back.

I drove out of the parking lot with my jaw clenched tight, my vision blurring, my heart pounding painfully against my ribs.

I missed the turn to the company.

Didn't care.

I drove aimlessly for nearly an hour, letting the city blur past me. When my chest finally felt steady enough to breathe again, I turned the car around.

And went home.

The apartment was quiet when I arrived.

Too quiet.

I dropped my bag on the couch and kicked off my shoes. I barely had time to take two steps toward the bedroom when movement outside the window caught my eye.

Headlights swept across the concrete below.

Nelson's car pulled into the garage.

My stomach sank, twisting with a mix of dread and slow-burning anger.

I turned away from the window and walked straight into the bedroom.

The walk-in closet felt too small, too tight. I stood in front of the glass cabinet and reached for the diamond necklace he'd given me last month.

Another apology wrapped in glitter.

Another lie.

I unclasped it slowly, letting it slide into my palm.

Before I could put it away-

A wall of muscle pressed suddenly against my back.

I stiffened.

The familiar cold scent wrapped around me, sharp and suffocating. Once, it had meant safety. Comfort.

Now, it made my skin crawl.

Nelson braced his hands on the glass cabinet on either side of me, caging me in. His reflection stared back at me from the mirror, eyes dark, expression unreadable.

"Are you angry?" he asked.

That tone.

Commanding.

Possessive.

The tone that had once made my knees weak.

I didn't look at him.

I placed the necklace carefully back into its box, my movements slow and deliberate.

"For what?" I asked calmly. "I thought she was your sister. Why should I be mad at you and your so-called sister?"

The air shifted.

Nelson went still.

His wolf stirred beneath his skin, assessing, listening.

He watched me for a long moment before speaking again, his voice carefully controlled.

"The Ned family is interested in collaborating with us on the Star Energy Project," he said. "I've been in discussions with Davin, their eldest son. The girl you saw is his sister."

I turned then.

Slowly.

Faced him fully.

"So," I said quietly, "you need to get cozy with his sister to secure his business?"

My gaze sharpened.

"Is that how the powerful Alpha Nelson handles his deals now?"

His jaw tightened.

"I'm trying to explain," he snapped. "So don't assume everything bad about me. And stop being sarcastic."

A bitter laugh escaped me before I could stop it.

"There's nothing to explain," I said. "If you're tired of me as your wife, I don't mind stepping aside. Let her come in. Make her your new Luna."

I turned to leave.

The next second, his hand closed around my wrist.

Hard.

He yanked me back against him.

"Did you mean that?" he growled, eyes glowing faintly red.

I looked up at him.

Unflinching.

"If you want a divorce," I said clearly, "I can give it to you."

His wolf surged.

The room filled with pressure, thick and heavy. His face flushed, anger rolling off him in waves I could almost taste.

"Don't even think of leaving me," he snarled.

I inhaled slowly.

I had already set plans in motion.

But I didn't say that.

Instead, I whispered, "You're hurting me."

His grip loosened instantly.

He stepped back like he'd been burned.

For a moment, something like guilt flickered in his eyes.

Then it vanished.

Without another word, he turned and walked out, slamming the door to his office behind him.

The sound echoed through the apartment.

I stood there, rubbing my wrist, staring at the empty space he'd left behind.

My heart was calm.

Too calm.

And that scared me more than his anger ever could.

Because calm meant I was already gone.

That night, I packed another small box.

Quietly.

Carefully.

One more month.

And then I would leave.

Nelson POV

I bang the door to my home office the minute I stepped inside.

The noise of the door closing echoed through the room, banging on the walls, angrily . The noise give me a certain sense of satisfaction. It matched the storm raging inside my chest.

I stood still there for a few seconds, breathing hard.

My thoughts were racing. all my best efforts to rest, my thoughts would not slow down. Simply racing in circles, painful and sharp, like a sharp object rubbing against my skull. Even though I can't thought of anything, I can sense that something is off, and I detested that feeling .

I turned away from the door and began restlessly moving around the room, long work from one end to the other. My fists tightened, then opened , then close again. A lot of questions running through my mind freely like a runway.

Why didn't she react?

That single question kept ringing in my head.

Why wasn't Ciara angry?

I stopped walking and frowned.

Any normal wife would have caused a scene. Any woman who truly cared would have been jealous, cried and shouted, accused me, or at least demanded an explanation.

But Ciara did none of that.

She stood there calmly, her face was unreadable, her voice steady like

too steady.

And I was more upset by that composure than I ever was by anger. I shook my head and gave a little scoff. "What's the real issue with her?" I said in a whisper.

Did she really believe my explanation?

Did she truly accept that Flora was just like a sister to me?

For a little moment, doubt creep into my my mind . A small, unease doubt.

But I pushed it away quickly.

Of course she believed it.

Ciara always believed me.

She was gentle by nature. Kind. Patient. The type of woman who swallowed her pain and smiled through it.

The perfect wife of a powerful Alpha and CEO.

She knew her place.

A slow smile appeared on my lips as an understanding settled in.

Ah.

That was it.

She was not calm because she did not care.

She was calm because she was scared. And 

Afraid of my anger.:::::::::;:::

Afraid I would get tired of her.

Afraid I would chase her out and replace her with Flora.

The thought pleased me.

I straightened my back, my confidence slowly returning.

Yes... Ciara was scared.

She didn't dare fight for me. She didn't dare demand anything. She didn't dare act like a real Luna, marking her territory and challenging another woman.

She wasn't strong enough for that. I chuckled quietly. I addressed the empty room, saying, "She doesn't even know how to throw a tantrum." "What a lackluster woman." Even yet, my smile dimmed a little. There is one thing she must never do and one thing she must never even consider.

Leaving me or Divorce.

The tought of it alone made my wolf gene shook violently under my skin. A growl rumbled in my chest for a while before I could stop it.

No.

That can never happen.

Ciara leaving me was completely impossible.

Her life was built around me .

Everything she had her comfort, her security, her position in this world came from being my wife.

I was the Alpha.

I was the provider.

I was the center of her world.

Without me, she was nothing.

I had given her everything.

Diamonds that sparkled brighter than most people's futures. Gold jewelry worth more than years of salaries. Expensive clothes. A respected name.

She lived in luxury because of me.

She enjoyed power because of me.

She could walk with her head held high because she was Mrs. Nelson . .. wife of an Alpha, wife of a CEO.

She couldn't leave.

And if she ever tried...

My eyes darkened.

...I would destroy everything she held dear.

I would make sure she regretted even thinking about it. That was my promise.

Yet, even as I convinced myself of all this, a strange unease settled deep in my chest.

Why wouldn't her calm expression leave my mind?

Why did her cold voice echo so clearly in my ears?

"If you want a divorce, I can give it to you."

I clenched my jaw.

She was bluffing.

She had always been like that-quiet but dramatic in her own way.

Ciara didn't have the courage to walk away.

She needed me too much.

As I stood there, lost in my thoughts, my phone suddenly rang.

The sharp sound cut through the silence of the room.

I frowned slightly and reached into my pocket, pulling it out.

My expression changed the moment I saw the name on the screen.

Sugar Baby 💋

A smile slowly spread across my face, genuine this time.

I answered the call.

"Hello?" I said, my voice softening immediately.

A sweet, youthful voice flowed through the speaker.

"Nelson," she said playfully, dragging my name in a way that made my lips curve upward. "Your sugar baby is bored."

I leaned back against the desk, feeling the tension in my body ease.

"Is that so?" I asked lightly.

"Yes," she laughed. "I want us to grab a drink. Me, you, and some friends. We're already at the Marathon Exclusive Bar."

I didn't hesitate for even a second.

"Okay, baby," I replied smoothly. "No problem. I'll be there soon."

"Good," she said happily. "Don't keep me waiting."

The call ended.

I stared at the phone for a moment before slipping it back into my pocket.

That was more like it.

That was the life I enjoyed.

No questions.

No heavy emotions.

No silent accusations.

Just youth, beauty, and admiration.

I pushed myself away from the desk and left the office, heading straight to the bedroom.

Ciara wasn't there.

Of course she wasn't.

I stripped off my clothes and stepped into the shower. Hot water poured over my shoulders, steam filling the room. I closed my eyes, letting the water wash away the last traces of irritation.

Women like Ciara needed reminders.

They needed to be reminded of who held the power.

And tonight, I wasn't in the mood to explain myself to anyone.

After showering, I dressed carefully. A dark shirt that fit perfectly. Tailored trousers. An expensive watch.

When I looked in the mirror, I saw exactly what I expected control 

A man no woman would dare abandon.

I adjusted my cuffs and smile at my reflection.

"Where can you even do without me?" I said to myself 

I picked up my keys and walked out of the room without looking back.

Ciara was in the living room when I got there on her phone talking to who I don't know but I'm it just one of her female friends.. I waves to her and said I'm going out with the guys, when I got back we can plan a couple trips to Paris by weekend like you always wanted and I left the room