6. Free

Castor's message came in the late afternoon, just when I started believing I could have a peaceful evening. I gripped my phone tightly as his words glared back at me. "If you want the divorce, meet me at seven. We'll settle this once and for all. Your lawyer will be here and everything."

I should have known better. I should have sensed that something was off.

But I was too desperate for it to be true, too hopeful that he had finally given up and was ready to let me go. 

So, I pulled myself together, dressed in a white sundress that clung to my curves from the weight I was already gaining, and headed to the address he gave me.

The elegant building was tucked away in the heart of the city, its tall windows glowing with warm light. Inside, the space buzzed with energy. It was a large ballroom filled with high-ranking werewolves from all over. 

Something was wrong.  

My stomach twisted as I stepped inside, scanning the room.

Castor appeared by my side almost immediately, gripping my elbow before I could even think about turning back. "You made it," he said with a cruel glimmer in his eyes. "Good girl."

"What is this?" I asked. "Where are the papers?"

He leaned in, lowering his voice. "This isn't about the divorce, Lila. Tonight's important. We have to make an appearance, and you'll play the part of my loving wife one more time."

"What?" My heart hammered in my chest. "I'm not doing this. I didn't agree to..."

His grip tightened painfully on my arm, and his lips brushed against my ear. "You'll follow my lead, Lila. Or I'll make sure everyone here knows just how difficult you've been. How unfit you are. That's my right, you know. The council won't allow an unfit mother to raise an alpha pup. You wouldn't want that, would you?"

I froze. He had always been good at manipulating me, controlling me, and making me feel like I had no other choice. 

For a moment, the old fear crept back in. But something else stirred, too, something new and far more potent. The alpha blood coursing through me pulsed, reminding me of what I had become. 

I straightened, forcing a smile as I looked up at him. "Fine. Let's get this over with, darling."

He slid his arm around my waist, pulling me close as we made our way through the room. Every step felt like a betrayal, my body moving with his, pretending to be the woman I had once been.

His obedient Luna. 

But I wasn't her anymore.

We walked past clusters of werewolves, their conversations dropping to hushed whispers as we approached. Castor kept his smile in place, charming and confident, as he slowly led me to the center of the room where the elders gathered.

I recognized most of them, powerful alphas from neighboring territories who were here to celebrate the retirement of one of their own. 

That's what this was. 

A ceremony. 

And I had been dragged here like a pawn in one of Castor's many games. He had to look the part, and he couldn't do that without me.

As we approached the elders, I felt the hairs on my neck stand up. Across the room, I spotted Declan Lincoln. My breath caught in my throat as I looked at him. Tall and broad-shouldered, his dark brown hair slicked back, making him look powerful and composed. His blue eyes locked onto mine, and I quickly looked away.

But it wasn't just Declan who made my stomach twist. Selena was standing beside him, her arm looped in his with a big smile plastered all over her face.

Castor caught my look and smirked. "Yeah, Selena's with him. You didn't know she had a brother, did you? And guess what? He's your hotshot lawyer." He leaned closer, his voice dripping with mockery. "Conflict of interest, sweetheart. He won't touch your case now. You've got no one left."

I glared up at him. "I don't care about him. I'm not here for him. I'm here to be done with you."

"You'll never be done with me," he said, tightening his grip on my waist. "You're mine, Lila. You always will be."

We reached the elders, and Castor's smile almost illuminated the damn room as he greeted them, pulling me into the conversation like everything was perfect. I played along, pretending to laugh at their small talk, sipping from the drink he gave me. 

Then Castor nudged my arm on purpose, causing my drink to spill all over my white dress. The cold liquid soaked through the fabric, clinging to my skin. I gasped, looking down as the thin material became almost transparent, exposing the swell of my breasts, which had grown fuller and more tender since the pregnancy.

I turned bright red and saw the triumphant twinkle in Castor's eyes. 

He was trying to humiliate me. He always did this. I had just never noticed it. He used every opportunity to remind me that he was in control.

But something inside me snapped.

I turned to face him, my heart pounding in my ears. "Don't touch me."

The room went silent.

"I'm not your puppet. I'm not your property. I don't care what you say or do. We will never get back together."

Castor's smile faltered, and I saw the shock ripple through the crowd. But I didn't stop. I couldn't.

"I'm done pretending. I'm done playing the role you forced on me. You want a happy wife? You want someone to stand by your side and smile for the cameras? Well, find someone else, Castor. I'm not here for your amusement anymore."

His eyes flashed, his lips curling into a sneer. But before he could say anything, I slapped him. 

Hard. 

The sound echoed through the room, followed by stunned silence.

I didn't care who saw it. I didn't care about the stares, the whispers. All I cared about was that, for the first time, I had stood up to him.

Castor's eyes started to glow with rage as he started breathing heavily. I could feel the pressure in the room shift as everyone watched, waiting to see what would happen next.

"You think this changes anything?" he snarled, stepping toward me. "You're still mine, Lila. You always will be. No one will ever take you seriously, especially not after this."

I squared my shoulders, refusing to back down. "I'm not yours. And I never will be again."

I glanced across the room, my eyes locking with Declan's. He stood there, watching everything. Selena seemed amused as she smirked, her eyes glittering with satisfaction as she leaned closer to Declan.

But I wasn't going to let her, or Castor, win. Not anymore.

 I turned and walked away, my head held high. I could feel everyone's eyes and hear the murmurs as I left the room. But for the first time in years, I felt something I hadn't felt in a long time.

I felt free.

The moment I stepped outside, the cold night air hit me, and I took a deep breath, trying to steady my racing thoughts and emotions. My heart was still racing, my skin still tingling from the confrontation. 

But I had done it. 

I had finally stood up to Castor. Publicly. The perfect powerful alpha facade was no more.