[5]

Alaric’s PoV

“I want a divorce.”

Those words kept ringing in my head. Divorce? She dared to demand a divorce from me?

How dare Cassandra say that, as if I’m the one at fault?

“Does she not realize how filthy her behavior has been?” I growled under my breath, fists clenching until my knuckles ached. I stood in the secretary’s office, refusing to share the same space with that wretched woman. My jaw tightened, my teeth grinding audibly. “She’s the one who cheated, the one who betrayed my love, but now… she’s the one asking to be free of me?”

Damn these memories. They burned themselves into me—the night we made our vows beneath the moonlight, her dazzling smile, the face I couldn’t look away from, the gentle, loving gaze I thought belonged to me alone. I once believed Cassandra Vale was everything in my life.

But ever since those photos—those cursed photos Lyra showed me—I’ve been living in hell. At first, I didn’t believe it. I couldn’t. My Luna could never do something that lies behind my back. But over time the truth became undeniable. Cassandra was playing with fire, betraying me shamelessly. The evidence piled up. It wasn’t just one or two people whispering—everyone said she spent her time with that man.

And then… she became pregnant?

Moon Goddess. I never thought Cassandra was capable of something like this. But the seed of doubt had already taken root in my heart, and I’m certain now—beyond any doubt—that child isn’t mine. The moment I saw the child, I felt no bond with her. Even my bond with Cassandra... it‘s also false. I discovered the truth after digging deeper, after investigating every detail.

Damn it. Damn it. How much has that woman deceived me?

With a sweep of my arm, I sent every file on my desk flying. Papers scattered across the floor, pens and folders clattering after them. My chest heaved, full of rage.

“Bitch!”

I grabbed the nameplate etched with my title—CEO of Olium Corp—and hurled it at the wall. It split clean in two, the plaster cracking where it struck. I didn’t care. My anger hadn’t even begun to cool.

The door creaked open. My eyes snapped toward the intruder, sharp as blades.

“Alpha Alaric,” a soft, lilting voice said. She stepped inside slowly, confidently, brown eyes unflinching as they met mine. “Are you… all right?”

What a ridiculous question. I let out a harsh snort. “You can see for yourself. How could I possibly be all right when my Luna has betrayed me?”

Lyra moved closer, her eyes shimmering as if she shared my pain.

“Forgive my sister’s mistake, Alpha Alaric. Perhaps… she lost her way. When I left her earlier, I saw how she regretted what she’d done. I think she still lo—”

“Love?” I cut her off, my voice a mix of bitter laughter and a low growl. “What kind of love makes her carry another man’s child? Do you want me to keep my eyes closed? To ignore the evidence, you worked so hard to bring me?”

Lyra fell silent, lowering her gaze at last. “I only don’t want you to hurt yourself with your anger, Alpha Alaric. You still deserve to be loved—even if it isn’t by her.”

Her words weren’t wrong, but somehow, they slid under my skin, soothing me even as they stoke the embers of my rage. I stared at her without hesitation. Lyra resembled Cassandra so much, yet she was different—softer, more obedient… and Moon help me, even more beautiful.

As the space between us closed, I reached for her arm.

I yanked Lyra into my embrace.

“I’m sick of it, Lyra,” I whispered against the curve of her neck. “Sick of every damn lie Cassandra has spun.”

The soft perfume clinging to her skin filled my senses, luring me deeper the more I breathed her in. She never pulled away from my touch—never once resisted me. From the lightest kisses I pressed to her throat to the ones I trailed lower, across the delicate line of her shoulder blade, she accepted it all.

“If you need somewhere to pour it all out…” Lyra’s voice trembled. “I—I’m here.”

I gripped her face, crushing my mouth against hers. It wasn’t tender, it was rage and desire tangled together, a desperate attempt to erase the ghost of Cassandra from my mind. My hunger devoured her, demanding she follow my rhythm, my pace, my need.

Clothes fell away. Skin met skin. Until—

“Ahh! You’re incredible, Cassandra.” The name tore from my lips as I pulled myself from her body, chest heaving with the aftershocks.

Her eyes widened. “Did you… just call me Cassandra?”

Damn it. A mistake. But instead of denial, I forced out, “Forgive me.”

Lyra smoothed her shirt, tucked strands of hair back in place. Her smile was faint, tinged with something I couldn’t quite read. “You don’t need to apologize, Alpha Alaric. The one at fault… is my sister, Cassandra.”

Her words slid like poison into my thoughts, feeding the fire already burning in my chest. I clenched my jaw. I swore—I wouldn’t let Cassandra Walk away so easily. Not after all this. She would pay. She would pay dearly.

“But my Alpha,” Lyra murmured, her sweet smile returning as her fingertips traced lazy circles over my chest. “Can I trust your word? Once you divorce Cassandra, you’ll marry me instead. Let her and her bastard child rot together, while we—”

“Where is that bastard child?” I snarled, fury ripping through me.

Lyra froze, lips parting as if to answer, when a heavy knock thundered at the door. Beta Cassian and Gamma Russel strode in, faces drawn tight with urgency.

“What is it?” I asked, clearing my throat, trying to mask the raw edge in my voice.

“Alpha Alaric,” Cassian said quickly. “The deal we secured at the start of the year with Grind Ltd—it’s been stolen by Holdem Group. They claim our offer couldn’t compare. Worse, Holdem knew every step of our plans.”

My eyes narrowed. “What are you saying?”

This time Russel spoke, his voice grim. “It’s not just that. Our energy reserves have been sabotaged. Most of them were destroyed. We’re still investigating, but the evidence points to deliberate betrayal.”

My muscles coiled, every vein in me tight with rage. “Who was it?”

Cassian and Russel exchanged a weighted look. Then Cassian, careful as if walking into a wolf’s jaws, spoke. “We caught the group responsible for attacking the storage house. And one of them confessed, Alpha Alaric. He said something… you won’t want to believe.”

“Spit it out, Cassian! Stop circling around!” I roared.

Cassian flinched, then blurted out, “He claimed he got the information from your wife. From Luna Cassandra Vale of SilverFang.”

Lyra gasped, clutching the sofa for balance. “No… No, that can’t be true, Cassian! Cassandra would never—”

“I didn’t want to believe it either, but…” Cassian pulled a folder from his blazer, sliding it across to me. “When the proof is this clear—what else can I say?”

Inside there were photographs. Cassandra, meeting with strangers, wolves I didn’t recognize. One by one, I scanned them, fury mounting with every image.

“Bring her to me,” I growled, voice raw with barely contained violence. “Now. Bring her to me!”