5. You Love Me

Eira’s POV

Lying on the bed for hours, knowing the Alpha of the North was in the house, felt like an eternity. He had visited, yet I had no idea what he wanted. At first, I thought there must be some grand occasion that had brought him here.

However, there had been no sound of music or celebration, which only meant one thing—he was here for something else. A deal, perhaps?

Since I wasn’t allowed to greet the guest, I could only assume Kieran had introduced Vanessa as the Luna of the pack. It made sense—he’d want to hide the fact that he had locked his wife in the attic with an injured head.

The possibility of that scenario played over and over in my mind when the door clicked open. Startled, I jumped off the bed and turned to see who it was. To my dismay, it was Kieran. His gaze swept around the attic, his expression filled with distaste.

“I had no idea the attic was this shabby,” he commented, his eyes finally settling on me. “I also can’t believe a shattered woman like you would stay here without making a fuss.”

His words hit like a slap, but I refused to show weakness. Glaring at him, I sat back on the bed, keeping my posture upright and dignified.

“What do you mean by ‘shattered woman’?” I shot back. “This is nothing compared to what I endured in your pack.”

His face twisted into a frown, clearly not expecting my sharp response. Did he think I would grovel at his feet after everything he had done?

“You!” he snarled, taking several long strides until he stood directly in front of me. “It is our pack, not just mine.”

I scoffed. “No, it stopped being mine the moment I realized you were cheating on me with Vanessa—and got her pregnant. I no longer belong to the pack. You should just hurry up and make her the Luna. Let your barren Luna go.”

“I’m not getting a divorce, nor am I accepting your rejection,” he declared, his tone firm and unyielding. He leaned closer, gripping my chin with his hand. “I’m still your husband, Eira. I love you. I can’t let you go.”

I stared at him—the man I once loved. His expression was just as manipulative as it had been in the past. But now, it didn’t affect me. Not anymore.

“Hah!” I scoffed, slapping his hand away. “You’re disgusting. You betrayed me, and now you stand here claiming to love me. Do you even hear yourself?”

For a brief moment, a flicker of hurt crossed his face. But it didn’t soften my resolve.

“Who the hell hits their wife and then claims to love her?” I demanded, my voice sharp with fury.

He ran a hand through his hair, clearly frustrated. Yet there wasn’t an ounce of regret in his expression.

“I love you, Eira,” he said again, reaching out to take my hand. He raised it to his lips, but I recoiled, yanking my hand away as disgust churned in my stomach.

“If you love me, do you not love your mistress?”

He hesitated before shaking his head. Then, his lips curled into a twisted smile. “How can I not love her? She’s carrying my child. She’s important to me, just like you are. I love both of you. Why can’t you understand that and accept her as part of our family?”

His words sent a sharp pain through my skull. Was he serious? I couldn’t believe I’d married someone like him.

“And get blamed for things I didn’t do?” I snapped. “No, thank you. It’s better if you just let me go and stay with your mistress. I’ve already rejected you.”

As soon as the words left my mouth, his eyes darkened. In an instant, his hands cupped my face, forcing me to meet his gaze.

“You love me,” he said with conviction, as though trying to convince himself. “You would never reject me. You’re just angry because I got Vanessa pregnant. If it’s about succession, I’ll make your child the next Alpha of the pack. You’re the Luna, after all, and she’s just a mistress.”

Disgust rippled through me. Once, I had dreamed of having Kieran’s child—wished for a baby who looked just like him. Blonde hair, green eyes, a spitting image of the man I once thought was perfect.

But now, the mere idea made me feel sick.

“I don’t want to have your child,” I said coldly. “That was a dream of the past. I’m no longer interested. Besides, we’re getting a divorce.”

“You love me,” he repeated, his voice softer, almost desperate.

“To be honest, I’m shocked I ever loved someone like you,” I said, my words sharp and cutting.

Kieran’s jaw tightened as his hands gripped my shoulders, his knuckles whitening with tension. I tried to pull away, but his grip was firm—too firm.

“You’re lying,” he hissed, his voice dropping an octave. “I know you love me. You can’t just stop loving someone overnight. You’re just angry, Eira. You’re hurt. But deep down, you still want me.”

His words dripped with self-assurance, but I could see the desperation lurking behind his gaze.

“No,” I said firmly, my voice unwavering. “I don’t love you anymore, Kieran. Stop deluding yourself.”

He ignored my words, leaning in closer, his breath brushing against my face. “If you really don’t love me, why haven’t you fought harder to leave me? Why haven’t you rejected me in front of the council? You’re still here because you’re mine, Eira. You belong to me.”

Rejected him in front of the council? Had he even given me the chance to leave the house, let alone go to the council?

My stomach churned at his words, but before I could respond, he grabbed my face roughly, his lips crashing against mine.

I didn’t react.

I didn’t push him away. I didn’t scream. I didn’t fight.

Because I felt… nothing.

His lips moved against mine, desperate and forceful, but there was no spark, no warmth, no anger. Just an empty void where my love for him used to be.

When he pulled back, his breathing was heavy, his face a mix of frustration and confusion. “Why… why aren’t you reacting?”

I stared at him blankly, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand. “Because I feel nothing for you, Kieran. Nothing. Whatever love I had for you died the day you betrayed me. You can’t force me to feel something that’s no longer there.”

His hands trembled as they fell away from my face, his expression hardening. “You’re lying,” he said again, though his voice wavered slightly this time.

“I’m not lying,” I replied, my tone cold. “You’re holding on to a fantasy that doesn’t exist anymore. The woman who loved you, who would have done anything for you, is gone. And you were the one who destroyed her.”

He staggered back a step, his lips parting as though he wanted to say something, but no words came out. For the first time, I saw doubt in his eyes—doubt that he could win me back, doubt that I could ever forgive him.

“I don’t believe you,” he whispered after a long pause, his voice shaking. “I won’t let you go, Eira. You’re my Luna, and I’ll make you see that we belong together.”

I stood from the bed, my posture stiff and unyielding. “You can’t make me feel something I don’t, Kieran. You can keep me locked up here, you can try to manipulate me, but it won’t change the truth. I don’t love you. And I never will again.”

He stared at me, his face contorted with anger and pain. For a moment, I thought he might lash out, but instead, he turned on his heel and stormed out of the attic, slamming the door shut behind him.

I released a shaky breath, my knees buckling as I sat back down on the bed. My heart was pounding, but not from fear. It was the relief of knowing that, no matter what he tried, I was no longer the same woman who had once been blinded by his charm.

Perhaps it was because I had been locked up for a long time.

He might have left now, but I had no idea what he might do later on. I needed to find a way to get out before he did something worse.