4. A Difficult Time

After the fight with Castor, I drove aimlessly through the streets. I couldn't believe how quickly everything had fallen apart. 

Castor's betrayal had broken my heart, but his demand that I give him his heir before he would even consider a divorce was the final blow. I wasn't a breeder, and he wasn't about to treat me like one.

 I couldn't stay with him, couldn't bear to live in that house knowing what he had done and what he thought of me. But leaving him wasn't as simple as walking out the door.

This baby was guaranteed to be Alpha. That meant if I didn't do this right, he could take the baby from me and no one would look twice. He had more claim over the baby than I did as far as the council and any werewolf was concerned. I didn't stand a chance if I didn't get human law involved here.  

Werewolf law leaves little space for women beyond pregnancy. Their worth is measured by the pups they produce and the bloodline they strengthen. Once a child is born, he is often handed off to the father. Unlike humans, the father's influence is considered the defining factor in the child's upbringing. Women are left as mere vessels in the process. 

Castor texted me, warning me I'd be left with nothing if I tried to leave him.

I didn't want to believe it, but I knew he was right.

He kept texting, the messages becoming more hostile with each one. The initial pleas quickly turned into threats. "If you think you can divorce me, you're dreaming. You're too naive, Lila. You'll leave with nothing. Including my baby. Is that what you really want?"

He made it sound like leaving him was a death sentence. If I left, I would have nothing. No money, no home, no support, no rights to my own children. I would be in debt, drowning in legal fees, with no way to start over. With no way to fight him for custody with the council or in the regular courts. 

He'd pinned me down, and I'd never even realized it. 

Despair washed over me. I couldn't return to Castor, and I couldn't live with my parents like a child anymore, either.  

Not if I wanted to look like a fit mother.

I had to find a way out of this mess, and fast. There was no way I could let Castor win after everything he'd done.

I wiped my tears and opened my phone, searching for divorce lawyers in Augusta. I needed someone who could take on Castor and help me fight for what I deserved. Someone who would understand both werewolf and human law. I scrolled through the search results, scanning the names and reviews. One name kept coming up repeatedly.

Lincoln, Greer, and Associates.

The firm was well-known, with a reputation for being ruthless and effective. But it was one name in particular that caught my attention. Declan Lincoln. He was the founding associate who had never lost a case. The reviews were glowing, praising his tenacity and willingness to fight for his clients. People said he was a shark who would do whatever it took to win. 

That was precisely what I needed.

I couldn't find a single bad review about him. Every article and every testimonial painted him as the perfect lawyer. 

Intelligent, powerful, and relentless. 

He was known for taking on the most challenging cases no one else would touch and winning. 

I trembled as I bookmarked his contact information.

But it wasn't just his reputation that drew me in. There was something else, something I couldn't quite put my finger on. He was obviously a wolf. It was easy to spot other wolves in the human world as long as you knew what to look for. I looked at the council's documents, and he was listed as a consulting attorney. 

Perfect. 

Past that, his background was a mystery, with rumors about his connections to wealthy and powerful families, though no one seemed to know exactly where he came from. I couldn't shake the feeling he was the key to my survival.

I had to meet him. If anyone could help me escape this nightmare, it was him. Everything I had read told me he was the best. And right now, I needed the best.

 I didn't have a plan yet, but I was beginning to see a way out. I wasn't going to let Castor destroy me or let him take my baby. My baby. He forfeited his right the second he cheated. The second he made me the other woman while feeding my lie and lie.

 I would fight back, and I would win. Somehow, I would find a way.

When I returned to my parents' house, I went straight to my room. 

I sat on the edge of my tiny childhood bed, staring at Declan Lincoln's contact information. I had to call him. I had to know if he would take my case. But the longer I sat there, the more doubt crept in. What if he turned me down? What if he didn't think I had a case? Castor was powerful, and I knew he would use every resource he had to crush me. 

I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I couldn't let the fear paralyze me. I had to do something. I couldn't just sit here and let him win. I opened my phone and dialed the number.

"Lincoln, Greer, and Associates," a woman answered. "How can I help you?"

"Hello, my name is Delilah Roman. I need to speak with Declan Lincoln. It's urgent."

"May I ask what this is regarding?" 

"It's a divorce case." I hate how saying it out loud sounded. "I need his help."

There was a brief pause. "Mr. Lincoln is very busy, but I can take down your information and have someone get back to you."

"No, I need to speak with him directly," I insisted. "Please, it's essential."

"Let me see what I can do," she said. "Hold on a moment."

I waited, my heart pounding as I listened to the hold music. 

Finally, the music stopped, and the woman came back on the line. "Mr. Lincoln can see you tomorrow at three o'clock. Does that work for you?"

"Yes, thank you," I said in relief. "That's perfect."

She gave me the address and ended the call.

I sat there trying to process what had just happened. I had an appointment with Declan Lincoln, the best lawyer in Augusta.

 It wasn't much, but it was a start. It was the first step in taking back control of my life.