04: Desperate Choice

Elara’s Pov

Chapter 4

"No."

Cassian didn't even look at me when he said it. He just turned back to Seris, his hand resting on her bare shoulder like I had already left the room.

"You can't refuse a divorce," I said, my voice steadier than I felt. "Our contract ends in thirty days.”

Now he looked at me. His eyes were cold. "You really think a contract controls me?"

He rose from the bed, pulling on a shirt. Seris didn't move. She just watched me with that same mocking smile.

"One call," he said, "and your pack loses its funding by morning. By the end of the week, they'll be begging other Alphas to take them in."

My stomach dropped. He wasn't threatening me. He was threatening my family, my pack, everyone I'd left behind when I married him.

"I'm giving you ten minutes to make your choice," he said, then walked into the bathroom. The door clicked shut.

Seris stretched lazily on the bed, she pulled on a robe, before she steps forward, her hand resting protectively over her flat stomach, a curled smile on her lips.

How was she pregnant with Cassian's pup? Had they been having sex when she was still married to her mate? That was a terrible crime and Cassian could lose position as Alpha if the council members are informed of it.

“How long are you going to keep performing and seeking attention from a man?” she sneered with disdain as if she were innocent.

“Everyone knows your pack needs Cassian’s protection, and you can't live without him.” She walked closer and whispered.

“Especially since your useless father died in some minor skirmish. Weakness runs in your blood.” Rage coiled inside me as my hands went into a fist. I could feel the heat from my body.

“He was truly useless, and died a coward.” Seris spat, as she tilted her head like she enjoyed the reaction from me. I didn't think, my hand just shot out and slapped her cheek; so hard and the sound echoed through the room.

She staggered back, eyes wide open with disbelief, a red mark bloomed across her cheek. “You…” she hissed through gritted teeth. “You dare hit me?”

“My father is missing, he is not dead.” My voice cracked, a tear dared to fall, but I forced every ounce of control into it.

It had been three months since my father disappeared near the border. His body wasn't found and there were no witnesses present, but yet everyone had already declared him dead and moved on.

The Alphas didn't care and no pack offered to help.

With the council elections approaching and Cassian leading, they were all busy fighting for power, so searching for a missing Alpha from a small pack was not worth their time.

Seris slowly lifted her hand to her cheek and her face twisted with rage.

“You bitch!” Her eyes burned with hatred and she laughed bitterly.

“Keep lying to yourself, because your father’s corpse has probably been eaten by rogues and his head mounted on their grey walls.” Seris yelled. I snapped, but before I could do anything, she suddenly raised her hand.

“Let me remind you where you belong, a backwater peasant from some nowhere pack, you…” Her hand lifted higher.

“...you’re not even worthy to speak to me!”

“Enough.” Cassian’s voice cut through the tension. For a moment I had forgotten he was present. He stepped forward, grabbing Seris’s wrist before she could strike me and for a brief second, I was relieved, but it disappeared just as quickly as he pulled her into a comforting hug, with his hands on her forehead.

“Too much stress isn’t good for the baby,” he said gently.

His words pierced me and my heart clenched for my own baby as a pang of protectiveness surged.

Seris's anger melted, now replaced by a smug smile. Cassian released her hand. “Go back inside. Let me handle this.”

She opened her mouth to argue…but his tone brooked no disobedience.

She shot me one final venomous look.

“You’ll regret this,” she whispered before walking away, closing the door behind her.

Cassian turned back to me. “Your little performance is over,” he said flatly.

“Go home.” But I took a step forward.

“Cassian…” His presence was threatening.

“The elections are about to start, Elara.” He continued calmly.

“You would do well to follow my arrangements and stay out of trouble.”

I swallowed. “And if I don’t?”

Now his eyes darkened. “Then you’ll get what happens to those who defy me.”

"Behave yourself…like you used to." My throat tightened. “Be obedient. Be sensible. And you'll get

what you want, and your pack safety assured. Remember your mother's hospital bills.” He straightened his sleeves calmly and I felt tears blur my vision.

“What I want?” Cassian didn’t even look at me as he grabbed a tie.

“Fame, Status, Influence.” He said it like it was obvious.

“Everything you married me for.” This time, the tears spilled down my face before I could stop them.

“Fame and status?” I shook my head desperately.

“You know that’s never what I wanted.” He looked at me differently now, and was about to say something when his phone buzzed.

It was the senior beta, Seris's father and without another word, Cassian turned and walked past me, not sparing a glance.

The night air was cold in the hallway, I pulled out my phone and called Beta Henry, my father's old friend.

"Elara?" His voice was strained.

"What happens if I divorce Cassian now?"

There was silence, then. "Don't. You'll destroy us. The pack owes him a fortune. We cannot risk it. Not with the crisis."

“And your mother's condition, she…”

A bitter and resigned feeling settled in my chest. "I understand," I said quietly, and hung up, not letting him finish his words.

I don't know how long I stood in the hallway, but Cassian returned.

“The election is my priority Luna. You will follow my instructions. No excuses. Public appearances matter. Play your part and your family is fine.”

I stared at the man I had spent three years of my life trying to love and please and my voice shook.

Cassian was an Alpha who never compromised for anyone. I took a slow breath.

“After the election, will you let me go?” His eyes met mine.

“Yes, if I have no need of you. You don't think I have feelings for you, do you?” he said with an almost bored tone.

My hand drifted instinctively to my belly, trembling slightly, and I forced myself to speak. The words caught in my throat, but I whispered anyway.

“What if… I got pregnant? After the divorce… who would the child belong to?” The room seemed to shrink around us, and I could feel his gaze slicing through me.

“Have you forgotten?” His voice was low and hard.

“The contract says we can’t have children. And I hope you’re joking.”

I swallowed, a hollow chill spreading through my chest.

“It’s just a harmless question.

”I said. My fingers tighten around the edge of the table.

Cassian’s jaw tightened and he took slow steps toward me, but his voice didn’t rise…it was flat.

“If something like this exists, then the child belongs to no one but me.” he said, like he was pronouncing law.

“Because the mother of the child who broke my agreement would be dead.” A cold shiver ran through my spine at his word.

My trembling fingers hovered over my stomach. I swallowed hard.

I looked at my phone. Then at my belly and the pack that was supposed to be mine.

I made my choice. I picked up my phone and called my lawyer.

"Prepare the divorce papers anyway," I said. "I don't care what it costs."

"Luna, if you do this…"

"I said prepare them." My mind was made up, election or not, I am leaving.