Chapter 3

FREYA

I went to work at the pack hospital. Lizzy was already waiting for me in my office.

Though Lizzy was a witch and not a werewolf, she was widely accepted by the seven packs as one of the best doctors.

“I saw Leo bring Caroline in. What happened? Are you okay?” she questioned worriedly.

I explained what happened, Lizzy’s eyes widening with each word I said.

Finally, when I was done, she shook her head. “Were you able to tell him about the baby?”

“No, and I don't think I will.”

The thought of telling Leo about our pup made my stomach tighten with dread. Who knew if he would ask me to get rid of the baby?

“Why?” Lizzy asked.

“It doesn't matter. I'm getting a divorce. I need to know if you'll take over the research into the drugs while I'm away from Blackclaw.”

Lizzy refused vehemently. “If you leave this pack, I'm going with you. Have you forgotten that we are more like sisters than friends?”

I nodded, my eyes burning with tears. I leaned in and hugged her hard.

Lizzy’s parents had given her to my parents just before they died. They never explained why, or how they knew their death was imminent, but my parents had taken her in, and not once had they ever made her feel that she wasn't family.

Lizzy and I went to work at the labs. I did my best to focus, but thoughts of Leo filled my mind.

Lizzy shook her head. “If you decide to leave, I'll stand by you, Freya. But I heard the council is sending its representatives in two weeks.”

My eyes narrowed. “There's no way, Leo would have told me.”

Lizzy’s lips turned down at the corners. “You mean the same Leo who didn't even tell you he was bringing his mistress into the pack?”

Her question was sarcastic, but it dug at me like barbs. “This is more important than Caroline. If Leo doesn't become Alpha, he could be forced out of the council. The other packs are scared of his power.”

“Who's going to force him? Only Alpha Derek could possibly stand against him, and the other packs detest Derek more than they hate Leo.”

Lizzy was right. Alpha Derek was a Lycan, and currently the strongest Alpha in the seven packs.

I looked away, abruptly standing, my heart heavy. I wished my wolf would wake up, but maybe it was already too late to save my marriage.

I had just three weeks left with Leo. After that, I would be free of him.

Deciding I was done with work for that evening, I went home. After making myself dinner, I undressed slowly, then showered.

I tied a towel around my hair and another around my breast as I stepped out of the bathroom.

My lips parted on a gasp as I saw Leo seated on my bed. His jaw tightened when I walked into the room.

I hurried to pull a robe on, my skin prickling wherever his eyes touched it. My body flushed from my chest to the tips of my ears as he kept staring, his eyes flashing.

His lips curled, his gaze sliding down to the gap in my robe and back up without a shred of apology.

Leo’s voice came out smooth as whiskey. “Why do you look so scandalized? Relax. I've seen all of it before.”

A burning ache lit between my legs at the low rumble of his voice. Heat rushed to my cheeks and burned my ears.

Grateful he had brought it up, I forced the words out even though my throat had gone dry. "Leo. I want a divorce.”

Leo's face didn't change. If anything, his eyes hardened with something close to amusement.

"Divorce." He repeated the word flatly, as though tasting how absurd it sounded. "Because of what happened with Caroline today?"

"This has nothing to do with Caroline."

He tilted his head. “Doesn't it? You assaulted a guest in our home and suddenly you want out of our marriage?”

"Our contract expires in thirty days, Leo. With or without your agreement, we'll be over." I held his gaze.

His lips tightened at the corners. He stood slowly, and I hated how my pulse spiked as he moved closer.

"You're not going anywhere. I gave your birth pack resources when they had nothing. Do you think you can simply walk away from that debt?"

My tongue wet my lip as I struggled to find words to reply. My heart raced fast. I had assumed that debt was wiped off after our wedding.

A slow, burning sensation started under my skin and refused to die down. "What exactly are you going to do about it?"

His eyes met mine, cold and direct. "The council's representatives arrive in two weeks. The Alpha King election follows shortly after. Until it's over, you will stand beside me and act like a devoted wife. After that, you can do whatever you like."

I wanted to refuse. The word was already forming, but I held my tongue. I would need to speak to my father's beta before making any hasty decisions.

I couldn't drag my pack into a war with Leo, one that we would never win. I kept my face carefully blank. “Let me think about it.”

Leo chuckled darkly. His fingers came up to stroke my jaw. “I know you'll agree, Sunshine. I wasn't giving you a choice.”

Despite his harsh words, heat burned a path from his fingers on my skin straight down to my stomach.

"One question, Leo. If I were pregnant, who would the child belong to after the divorce?" I kept my voice light, almost careless.

His hands fell away. "You haven't forgotten the contract, have you? There will be no children, Freya. I hope that question was a joke."

My heart turned to stone in my chest. He backed away as his phone rang. He answered, already moving towards the door, calling Caroline's name softly.

I watched him leave, my heart shredded to pieces. I held my stomach, deciding he would never know I was carrying our pup.