Chapter 6

It seemed like no one was home, so I slipped quietly into my bedroom and sank onto the bed. My plan was simple—wait until he was alone, then go to him and tell him the truth.

That I was carrying his pup.

I didn’t even realize when I drifted off. Sleep pulled me under fast, maybe because of the stress, maybe because my body just couldn’t take it anymore. But the peace didn’t last.

A rough shake yanked me out of my sleep.

I blinked, still groggy and disoriented, and saw Zed standing over me, his face twisted in a cold frown.

“What are you doing here?” he snapped, his voice sharp and accusing.

I pushed myself up, heart racing, still trying to shake off the fog of sleep. “What?” I mumbled. “What do you mean, what am I doing here? I live here.”

His eyes narrowed. “I thought I made it clear when I told the guards to throw you out earlier.” His voice dripped with contempt. “So I’ll ask you again—what the hell are you doing in my house, River?”

Well... here goes nothing.

I stood, my legs a little shaky, but I faced him. I reached for his hand, hoping—just hoping—that he might soften even a little. “Zed i-”

But he pulled away like my touch burned him.

“It’s Alpha Zed to you,” he growled.

I inhaled deeply, forcing myself to hold it together. “I need to talk to you,” I said, steadying my voice as much as I could.

“Zed!” a woman’s voice called from down the hallway.

“In here, darling!” he called back without hesitation.

Darling?

The word hit me like a slap. We weren’t even divorced yet, and he was already calling her sweet names—words he had never called me since we said our vows under the moonlight.

My time was running out. Amber would be in the room any second now. I had to tell him. I had to say it before she got here.

I turned to him again, urgency in my voice now. “Please, Zed. Just listen to me. It’s important. Really important.”

“I don’t know how many more times I have to say it for it to finally sink into that thick skull of yours—I hate you, River,” he spat, venom dripping from every word. “And frankly, I never loved you. The only reason we got married was because you made Amber have that accident… Amber is the woman I truly love. She always has been. So the sooner you pick up your damn things and leave, the better it’ll be for all of us.”

I reached out to him, desperate, broken. “But Zed, I—”

He snatched my hand so fast it stunned me, and the pain that followed made me flinch.

“Don’t you ever try to lay your disgusting hands on me again,” he growled, squeezing my wrist so tight I couldn’t hold back a gasp.

“Zed… please… stop. You’re hurting me,” I begged, the words slipping out in a breathy whisper.

“The next time you try that, it’ll be the last time you ever do,” he hissed.

He let go of me roughly, and I stumbled back, cradling my wrist. I rubbed it slowly, trying to ease the throbbing ache he’d left behind, trying not to let him see just how much he’d hurt me—physically and otherwise.

“Oh, there you are.” Amber’s voice drifted in sweetly as she peeked into the room, her face glowing with a sheepish smile before she walked in like she owned the place.

“Hey, darling,” he said, the cold edge in his voice instantly replaced with something soft and warm. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her right there in front of me.

I felt it.

The final crack.

My heart shattered all over again, splintering into pieces too small to ever put back together. At this point, whatever flicker of hope I still had—it was gone. Drowned and washed away by the sight of these two tangled together. My mate. And my twin sister.

I blinked fast, forcing the tears back. I would not cry. Not here. Not in front of them. I wouldn’t give them that satisfaction. Not anymore.

When they finally pulled apart, Amber glanced over at me, then looked up at Zed. “Is everything okay?”

“Yes, of course,” he said smoothly. “I was just about to tell River the good news.”

My brows drew together. Good news?

What good news could he possibly have?

Zed turned to me, a twisted smirk on his face. “I’m sure you’re dying to know,” he said. “So let me put you out of your misery.”

He pulled Amber even closer to his side, pressing a kiss to her cheek like I wasn’t even standing there. “Well, in case you haven’t figured it out already,” he began, smugness lacing his voice, “I plan on making Amber here my Luna.”

My stomach twisted.

“But that won’t be possible,” he added, “until I cut all ties with you.”

He reached over and grabbed a white file from Amber—one I hadn’t even realized she’d been holding—then tossed it at me carelessly. It hit my chest before falling to the floor at my feet.

“Those are the divorce papers,” he said flatly. “Make sure you sign them. You can leave them on the bed… on your way out.”

“I can’t throw my sister out,” Amber said, her voice soft, her face twisted into something that looked like concern. “I know she hurt me, but… do we really have to tell her to leave?”

My jaw clenched.

Because the moment Zed looked away, she flashed me a smirk. A cold, smug, victorious smirk.

This evil bitch.

She was playing him like a damn fiddle. Manipulating him, twisting everything to make herself look like the sweet, forgiving one. To anyone else in the room, it would seem like she was pleading my case.

But I knew better.

“She tried to hurt you,” Zed said, his voice sharp. “And there is no way in hell I’m letting her stay here.”

He turned toward me now, his face as hard as a rock.

“The next time I walk into this room,” he said, “I don’t want to see you. Or any of your things. Do you understand me?”

And with that, he draped an arm around Amber’s shoulders, and together they walked out without another glance in my direction.

The door slammed shut behind them with a final, echoing thud.

It was only then—when I was alone again—that I let the tears fall. 

I lay on the bed and let it all out—every tear, every broken sob that I’d been holding back.

All the love, the loyalty, the support I gave him when she abandoned him… and still, he chose her over me.

What was I even thinking?

I should’ve known it would end like this. I should’ve seen it coming from the start.

And to think—I actually believed that one day, my love would be enough. That maybe, just maybe, he’d turn around and feel the same way I did.

“Such a fool,” I whispered to myself, my voice trembling.

I wanted to tell him. I really tried to. But now… I knew better.

He wouldn’t believe me. He didn’t even see me anymore—not as a mate, not as a person, not as anything. And if I kept pushing, I’d only be putting my little pup in danger.

And that… I couldn’t allow.

He was all I had now. My only family.

My parents? They’d already made their choice the day they turned their backs on me—when they defended Amber, lied for her, and put my life in danger.

Once again, they chose her.

They didn’t care how it made me feel… how it shattered me from the inside out.

But no more.

I was tired. Tired of being weak. Tired of letting people control my life. Tired of carrying the blame for things I never did. Tired of being a damn pushover.

I had a baby to fight for now. A reason to stand tall. A reason to start over.

He was all that mattered.

I wiped the tears from my cheeks and sat up slowly, breathing through the pain.

No more.

I reached for the divorce papers with hands that no longer shook. I signed my name, firm and final. Then, as tradition demanded, I pricked my thumb and pressed it onto the paper, sealing it with my blood.

I didn’t bother to read through it. I didn’t care what was in there. I wanted nothing from him. Nothing at all.

I planned to raise my child on my own. With or without help. With or without a home.

I packed my bags in silence.

Where would I go?

I didn’t know.

I had no one.

But I wasn’t going to let that stop me. Not this time.

I was leaving.