Chapter 2: The Divorce

Aria's POV.

I waited in our bedroom until midnight.

I had changed into the blue dress. I had practiced what I would say a hundred times. I had even bought his favorite whiskey and set it on the dresser.

When I finally heard footsteps in the hallway, my heart started racing.

The door opened.

Kyril walked in, and my breath caught like it always did. He was so handsome it hurt. Even then, even after everything, I still felt that pull toward him.

But he wasn’t alone with his thoughts. I could smell her perfume on him. Sienna’s expensive, flowery scent clung to his jacket.

He stopped when he saw me. “You’re still awake.”

“I wanted to talk to you.” My voice shook despite my best efforts.

“I’m tired, Aria.” He moved past me toward the closet, already pulling off his jacket. “It’s been a long day.”

“Kyril, please. This is important.”

“Everything is important to you.” He sounded frustrated. “Can’t it wait until morning?”

“No, it can’t.”

Something in my tone made him pause. He turned to look at me, really look at me, for the first time in weeks.

For a moment, I thought I saw something in his golden eyes. Concern? Curiosity?

But then his phone buzzed. He glanced at it, and his expression softened in a way it never did for me.

Sienna. It was always Sienna.

He typed a quick response, and my courage crumbled.

“Actually,” I heard myself say, “maybe it can wait.”

“Good.” He pocketed his phone. “I have something to discuss with you anyway. Tomorrow night, after dinner.”

My stomach twisted. The lawyers. The divorce papers.

“What about?” I managed to ask.

But Kyril was already walking toward the bathroom. “Tomorrow, Aria. I’m exhausted.”

The door closed behind him, and I heard the shower start.

I stood there in my blue dress, feeling foolish and pathetic and so incredibly alone.

My hand covered my stomach again, protecting the tiny lives growing inside me.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered to them. “I’m so sorry your father doesn’t want us.”

I changed into my nightgown and climbed into the big, empty bed.

Kyril came out of the bathroom thirty minutes later. Without a word, he grabbed a pillow and a blanket and headed for the door.

“Where are you going?” The question escaped before I could stop it.

He paused at the door, not looking back. “The guest room. I can’t... I just need space tonight.”

And then he was gone.

I stared at the closed door for a long time.

Then I pulled out my phone and opened the photo gallery. I looked at the ultrasound picture I had taken a photo of.

Two babies. His babies. Growing inside me.

And he’d rather sleep in a guest room than share a bed with me.

I cried myself to sleep, like I had so many nights before.

The next morning, I woke up feeling sick.

Morning sickness had been brutal lately, but I had been hiding it well. I made it to the bathroom just in time and spent fifteen minutes emptying my stomach.

When I finally emerged, pale and shaky, Clara was in the bedroom changing the sheets.

“You alright, dear?” She looked genuinely concerned.

“Just a stomach bug,” I lied.

“Hmm.” Clara studied me carefully. “You know, my sister looked exactly like you do right now when she was pregnant with her first.”

I froze.

“Your secret’s safe with me,” Clara said quietly. “But you should tell the Alpha soon. Before someone else notices.”

“How did you—”

“I’ve worked in this house for thirty years. I know the signs.” She finished with the sheets and moved toward the door. “For what it’s worth, I think those babies are lucky to have you as their mother.”

She left before I could respond.

I spent the rest of the day in a daze. Kyril didn’t come home for lunch. He didn’t call. I was completely alone with my thoughts and fears.

By the time evening came, I had made up my mind.

That night, when Kyril wanted to talk about divorce, I would tell him about the pregnancy first. I would make him understand that we were going to be parents. That changed everything, right?

It had to change everything.

I was in the kitchen helping Clara with dinner prep when I heard the front door open. My whole body tensed.

Kyril’s voice echoed through the foyer. “Mother, I don’t want to discuss this right now.”

“We will discuss it, Kyril. This is important.”

They were both there. Luna Margot and Kyril together.

My stomach churned with anxiety.

“Aria?” Kyril called out. “Are you home?”

I dried my hands and walked toward the foyer on shaking legs.

Kyril stood in the center of the marble floor, still in his business suit. He looked tired. Luna Margot stood beside him, her face unreadable.

“Hi,” I said softly.

“We need to talk.” Kyril’s voice was flat. “In my office.”

“Actually,” Luna Margot interrupted, “I think we should all talk. Here. Now.”

“Mother—”

“Now, Kyril.”

Something in her tone made my blood run cold.

Kyril sighed. “Fine.” He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a large envelope.

My heart stopped.

“Aria,” he said, and his voice was completely emotionless. “I’ve been trying to find the right time to do this, but there is no right time.”

He held out the envelope.

I didn’t take it.

“What is that?” I whispered, even though I already knew.

“Divorce papers.” He said it so simply, like he was discussing the weather. “Our arrangement isn’t working. It’s time to end this.”

The room spun.

“Kyril—” I started.

“I’ll be fair,” he continued, as if I hadn’t spoken. “You’ll receive a generous settlement. Enough to live comfortably for the rest of your life. Your father’s pack debts are already paid, so you won’t need to worry about that.”

“I don’t care about money—”

“What do you care about then?” For the first time, emotion broke through his mask. Frustration. Anger. “You’ve been miserable for three years. I’ve been miserable. Why drag this out?”

“Because I love you!” The words burst out of me.

Silence.

Kyril stared at me like I had said something in a foreign language.

Luna Margot actually laughed.

“Love?” Kyril finally said. “Aria, we were forced into this marriage. There was never love. You know that.”

“Maybe not for you,” I said, tears streaming down my face now. “But I loved you. I’ve loved you this whole time. I tried so hard—”

“I’m with Sienna now.” His voice was cold again. “Officially. We’re together, and I won’t hide it anymore.”

Each word was a stab to my heart.

“She’s pregnant, Aria.” Luna Margot delivered the final blow with obvious satisfaction. “With his heir. The heir he should have had with a proper Luna, not a half-breed mistake.”

The world stopped.

Pregnant. Sienna was pregnant with his baby.

While I was pregnant with his babies.

He had gotten us both pregnant at the same time.

I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t think. I couldn’t—

“Sign the papers,” Kyril said, pushing the envelope toward me again. “We’ll make this as painless as possible. The wedding is scheduled for next month.”

Wedding. He was marrying Sienna next month.

My hand moved to my stomach, a protective gesture I couldn’t control.

Kyril’s eyes followed the movement. For a split second, something flickered across his face.

“Are you—” he started.

“Nothing,” I said quickly, dropping my hand. “I’m nothing.”

I snatched the envelope from him.

“I’ll sign them. You want to be free? Fine. You’re free.”

I turned and walked up the stairs with whatever dignity I had left.

Behind me, I heard Luna Margot say, “Finally. That girl was a stain on this family.”

I made it to the bedroom before I collapsed.

I sat on the floor, clutching the envelope and my stomach, and I finally understood the truth.

Kyril would never love me.

Even if I told him about the twins, nothing would change. He would marry Sienna anyway. And Luna Margot would make my life hell. She might even try to take my babies or force me to...

No.

I wouldn’t let that happen.

I pulled out the ultrasound picture and stared at those two tiny blobs.

“I’m getting us out of here,” I whispered. “I promise. I’ll protect you. Even if your father doesn’t want us, I’ll protect you.”

I stood up and started packing.