six

The following morning arrived far sooner than I wanted.

The doctor completed one final examination before handing me several bottles of herbal medicine. His expression was unusually serious, making my heart tighten even before he spoke.

"Your pup is safe, Luna, but your pregnancy is extremely fragile now. Emotional stress nearly cost you everything yesterday. If you want this child to survive, you must avoid anything that causes you pain."

I lowered my eyes to my stomach and gently rested my palm against it.

"I understand."

Only after I assured him several times did he finally allow me to leave.

Instead of asking the driver to return to the Alpha Mansion, I quietly gave him another destination.

"The Pack Legal Office."

The driver glanced at me through the rearview mirror before silently obeying.

Half an hour later, I stepped into the office of Attorney Harold, the oldest legal adviser in the Blood Moon Pack. He had watched Darius and me exchange our vows three years ago, and he had prepared countless official contracts for the Alpha.

He looked genuinely surprised to see me.

"Luna Valerie. I wasn't expecting you."

I forced a tired smile before sitting opposite him.

"I need your help."

"Anything within my ability."

"I want you to prepare divorce papers.” His smile disappeared instantly.

For several seconds, he simply stared at me before letting out a slow sigh.

"I'm sorry." I frowned.

"What do you mean?"

He lowered his voice.

"The Alpha gave orders last night that if you ever requested divorce documents, no lawyer within the Blood Moon Pack was permitted to prepare them."

I felt my fingers slowly tighten around my handbag.

"He expected this?"

Attorney Harold nodded helplessly.

"He said any lawyer who assists you will immediately lose his position.” A bitter smile touched my lips.

Even my right to leave had already been taken from me.

"I understand."

I thanked him quietly before leaving.

The moment I stepped outside, I stopped beneath a large oak tree and scrolled through the contacts on my phone until my finger rested on a familiar name.

Ethan Cole.

We had attended the Royal Medical Academy together before he transferred to study law.

The call connected after the second ring.

"Valerie?" he asked in surprise.

"I need a favor."

"Tell me."

"I need divorce papers." There was a long silence.

Finally, he spoke.

"I'll prepare them immediately."

"Thank you."

"You never have to thank me."

Less than an hour later, the completed documents arrived through a trusted courier.

I carefully placed them inside my handbag before finally returning to the Alpha Mansion.

The servants greeted me respectfully, though their eyes carried obvious sympathy after yesterday's humiliation.

The head maid, Martha, hurried toward me.

"Welcome home, Luna."

"Thank you."

"The Alpha left early this morning with Miss Selena to inspect the southern training grounds."

The words no longer hurt as much as I expected.

Instead, I simply nodded.

"Before leaving, Alpha Darius asked me to remind you that several important documents are waiting in his office for your review."

A quiet laugh escaped me.

Even after accusing me in front of the entire werewolf world, he still trusted me to organize every confidential file that reached his desk.

"I'll take care of them."

Inside his office, everything looked exactly as it always had.

Reports.

Contracts.

Alliance agreements.

Financial records.

I arranged every document according to urgency before quietly slipping the divorce agreement into the middle of the stack.

When everything was perfectly organized, I stepped back.

Almost an hour later, the office door opened.

Darius walked inside while removing his gloves.

"I don't have much time."

"The files are ready."

"I knew they would be."

He sat down without asking a single question.

Exactly as he had done for the past three years, he trusted me completely.

Page after page received his signature.

Trade contracts.

Border reports.

Warrior promotions.

Funding approvals.

Then the divorce agreement.

Without reading a single line, he signed it and immediately continued to the next document.

When he finished, he closed the file.

"The elders are waiting."

Before he could leave, Selena appeared outside the office.

She smiled gently.

"Darius."

His expression softened the moment he looked at her.

Then he turned back to me.

"You still owe Selena an apology."

I remained silent.

"She convinced the elders not to press charges against you. Kneel and apologize. End this unnecessary conflict."

For a brief moment, I wanted to refuse.

Then I remembered the doctor's warning.

My child needed peace.

Nothing else mattered.

I slowly walked toward Selena before lowering myself onto both knees.

"I'm sorry," I said quietly.

"I'm sorry for everything that happened."

Selena hurried forward with practiced concern.

"Valerie, please stand up. I never blamed you."

She helped me to my feet while Darius watched with approval.

"I'm glad this misunderstanding is over," he said.

Without another word, the two of them walked away together.

The office became silent once again.

I returned to the desk.

My hands were surprisingly steady as I picked up the divorce agreement.

His signature was already there.

I signed my own name beneath it.

Valerie Ashford.

The marriage was over.

Only Darius didn't know it.

I folded the document carefully before hiding it inside the drawer beneath several old medical journals.

No one would ever think to look there.

As far as everyone else knew, I was still Alpha Darius's Luna.

Only I knew the truth.

That evening, I returned to our bedroom and looked at the shelves where my old medical books had remained untouched for three years.

I picked one up and brushed away the dust covering its surface.

Healing had once been my dream before I sacrificed everything for love.

Perhaps it was time to become Valerie again.

I opened my phone and searched for one last number.

Professor Harrison..My former mentor.

The call connected almost immediately.

"Valerie?"

Tears filled my eyes.

"Professor..."

"My child." His warm voice had not changed.

I closed my eyes and smiled through my tears.

"I'm ready." I paused

"I'm ready to come back."

"I'm ready to take my place again."

Silence filled the line before she answered with unmistakable joy.

"I've been waiting three years to hear those words."