Chapter 5

“What the fuck is this?” At Kian’s exclamation, one of the omegas that worked in the mansion ran out.

“A – Alpha!” The girl, Dorothy, widened her eyes to more than twice their usual size when she saw Kian at the table. “Alpha, we didn’t know you would be dining with the Luna today.”

“Do I now need permission to dine with my Luna!? Who made this meal?” He growled at her. “Is this your handwork?”

“N – no, Alpha,” she lowered her head. “The head chef made this meal specially for - for the Luna.”

“And where the fuck is this head chef?”

“I will go get her right away!” Dorothy exclaimed as she excused herself.

Knowing that today’s meal wasn’t edible, I wasn’t very interested. I didn’t even have an appetite in the first place.

“You don’t look surprised,” Kian said when it was just the two of us. “Tell me, is this a regular occurrence?”

“I’ve told you before.” I was angry all over again. “I told you that your workers continually disrespect me because of the way you treat me. I told you the chefs kept tampering with my meals but you asked me to deal with it myself.”

The chefs messed with my meals. The cleaners made away with my things and now and then, my dresses developed suspicious holes in them. I yelled to find the culprit, but I never found them.

When I tried to deal with things myself, the workers reminded me that I didn’t have much authority in this pack. I was a mere figurehead. Even the work of the Luna was handled solely by Kian who told me he didn’t trust me enough to delegate any duties to me.

“Why didn’t you deal with it, then!?” He shouted at me. “If someone is messing with your food, you should mete out the harshest punishments.”

“A – Alpha, you called for me.” The head chef came out of the kitchen with her head bowed.

“I tried to.” I looked at the woman and my chest felt tight.

I was hurt inside just from remembering the humiliation I endured because of this man.

When the head chef started to mess with my food, I spoke to Kian and he told me he didn’t have time to deal with my petty disputes so I should handle it myself. My best option was to fire the chef but when I sent her out, she went crying to Kian.

Lara, the chef, was a beautiful woman in her late thirties. She spread rumours that I was jealous of her and paranoid she would entice my mate so I was trying to fire her on a false basis. Because everyone knew Kian was my world, there wasn’t a person who did not believe her. When she cried to Kian that I was fighting with her for no reason, he believed her. He believed her and told me to stop causing trouble.

Now, he had the audacity to look me in the eye and claim I should have meted out punishment? With what fucking authority!?

Goddess, I hated this man. I hated this fucking man so much that it hurt my soul.

“Explain yourself.” He barked at the chef.

She flinched, her shoulders trembling as she twiddled her thumb.

“A – Alpha, is there a problem with this meal?”

“How much do I pay you?”

“Sir, I receive – I receive a generous payment of two hundred and fifty thousand.”

“All for you to make meals for my mate and I. It seems you think I’ve been paying you as a charity case, that’s why a supposed renowned chef cannot make a meal without pouring in a bag of salt.”

“Is it salty? The Luna prefers her meals with a little more salt than most so that may be why…”

“You think I do not know my mate’s preferences?” He growled. “Pack your things and make sure to return the salary you received in the last twelve months.”

“Alpha, what – what do you mean?” She stuttered.

“I’m firing you and collecting the payments you swindled out of me.”

“S – sir!” She fell to her knees.

“Before you cry crocodile tears, know that I am considering throwing your sorry ass into the dungeons for trying to poison my Luna and I with this trash you call food. You have five seconds.”

She scrambled to her feet and fled the dining hall in three seconds.

I watched everything unfold with disinterest. There was no satisfaction in knowing that Lara finally got her karma. There was no satisfaction because, for two years, I regularly skipped meals, unable to deal with the stress and anxiety of what taste I would meet at the table. Her karma was a lot less than the psychological trauma I had had to endure.

“Let’s go to a restaurant. I can’t eat this.” Kian pushed away from the table. “Where would you like to go?”

“Somewhere far away from you,” I responded, also getting out of my seat. “I’m not hungry so do as you please.”

“I’m going to get us something to eat and you better be hungry when I get back,” he said as I walked away.

The first thing I did when I got to my room was to call my lawyer. If Kian wouldn’t divorce me willingly, then we would have to fight but either way, I was leaving.

“Hey, love,” Aaron’s voice filled my ear and my anxieties faded. “I didn’t hear back from you so I was worried your mate may have imprisoned you.”

“Aaron,” I sighed his name. “Did you know Kian would refuse to divorce me?”

“I didn’t know but I know that asshole is a possessive brat. He can’t let go of anything, the control freak that he is.”

“It’s a mess, A. He ripped the papers to shreds and stationed warriors around the house. It’s like what you said. I’m basically imprisoned. This has to be a crime, right? He can’t refuse to divorce me and then keep me prisoner.”

“It is a crime but there are men who the laws do not apply to, the laws themselves,” he chuckled. “Thankfully, you have me. I’ll come over tomorrow so endure for me for tonight, okay?”

“I’m not certain they’ll allow you access to the house,” I warned.

“Allow me to worry about that. Just pack your things and be ready to leave.”

“Alright, you’re the best, A. Literally my lifesaver.”

“Goodnight.” He ended the call with a chuckle.

Aaron was another childhood friend who grew up to be a splendid lawyer. He was the son of Grandpa D’s lawyer. He was also the head of a major law firm and the person who helped me prepare my divorce as meticulously as possible.

If Aaron was involved, things ought to go smoothly.

Or so I thought.