Chapter 3

I slammed the door.

Shortly after, Kael walked in. This had been our ritual for years. He'd let anyone humiliate me in public, and he'd apologize to me in private.

"Aurelia, what was that out there?"

"What was that? She humiliated me."

"I expected you to be more mature. It's Lyra. Obviously, she'll feel threatened. That's the only reason why she said those things to you."

"I should be the bigger person to your mistress?" I stared at him. "I'm starting to think that you did it on purpose."

He sighed heavily, tired, as if exhausted. "I come back home after risking my life fighting rogue wolves. I almost died, and my welcome back is…" He looked at me. "You won't even look me in the eyes, Aurelia. You've been acting like a child since you got here."

Oh no. He did. He said that. He wasn't going to play that card on me.

"And I stay here all day, faithful to you, and I wake up and my husband comes home with a mistress." I laughed bitterly. "How does that sound, hmm? You swore an oath to the Moon Goddess, to me, to the entire pack, and you broke it by getting that woman pregnant and bringing her into our house."

I walked towards him, pointing a finger accusingly. "What happens next?" I stepped closer. "Hmm? Do you plan to sleep with her again? Make her Luna and kick me out? Tell me. I need to know. Tell me, Kael."

"Aurelia, stop."

"No. Tell me, Kael."

"Aurelia—"

"Kael, tell me."

"We haven't had a child for years." He paused. "Five years. You think the elders don't talk? You think we haven't had talks about the pack's stability? Everyone knows they're talking behind our backs. I don't know if you see it, but the elders see it as a failure of duty." He swallowed. "And besides, Lyra is a warrior, and the child she bears will be strong. People will talk. Don't you think that's a good thing?"

"I'm pregnant."

I gasped and closed my lips. I hadn't... I hadn't meant it. I wasn't supposed to tell him like this. We were supposed to be happy when I told him.

"What?"

"Aurelia, now is not the time for jokes." His expression hardened. "This is serious. Can't you see this?"

"I am pregnant." I said it again. "I am pregnant."

"Aurelia, we've tried for five years. You can't be pregnant."

"Kael, what the hell? You don't think I can be pregnant?" I stared at him. "I am pregnant." I said it again. "Why can't you just believe me?"

He was silent.

"If I am pregnant, will you send Lyra away?" My voice broke. "Since our childlessness is the problem?"

"Aurelia, I can't abandon my child." His words made my heart sink. "Even if I chose you, you're an Omega. Your wolf hasn't been awakened. We don't even know if you have a wolf." He looked away for a moment. "Lyra's child will always be stronger." His voice was quieter now. "That will forever be a conflict I can't ignore."

He chose her. So this was what he wanted. He couldn't have both of us.

"Well, since that's how you feel about us…"

"Aurelia." He stepped closer. Tears were dripping down my cheeks.

"I want a divorce." I stepped back. "Stay away from me."

He inched closer to me.

"If you want to protect Lyra so much, then I want a divorce." My voice trembled. "I don't want to be part of whatever this is anymore. I want nothing to do with you."

His hands were— His fists were tighter. His knuckles turned white. Was he going to—

"No. No, no, no, no." I shook my head. "Yes. Yes, yes, yes. I can get a divorce."

"Aurelia, why would you want that?"

"You're asking me to do the impossible. I can never divorce you." His voice hardened. "You will always be my Luna. Do you hear me?"

I heard a knock on the door. It was Torin. I scrambled away from Kael. I still wanted to keep social decorum and composure, to show that we weren't fighting for the entire household to hear. Torin looked worried.

"It's Lyra's father. He's here to see you."

Torin left shortly after. Kael stared at me. For a long moment.

"We're not getting a divorce," he said with finality in his tone.

"Yes, we are," I said.

"No. No, Kael said. "We're going to talk it out like we always do."

He headed for the door. "You're going to stay here. Not until I come back. Don't you dare move."

"You can't tell me what to do." I followed him towards the door. "Kael. Kael, where are you going?"

He was too fast. He reached the door before me and closed it.

"Kael, did he just lock me in?"

I kept banging on the door. "Kael, how dare you! Kael!"

My anger turned into pleas, then hot tears. He locked me. He had never locked me. I'm a prisoner of my own marriage. I slid down by the door and sat there. I kept my ear by the door so I could know if he passed. Two hours passed. I was starting to get angry. Then I remembered something. I hadn't eaten since yesterday. I hadn't eaten. I rang the bell for a handmaid or maid to come to my aid. No one came. I could hear footsteps outside, but they wouldn't come when I called.

I called out from the door. "Guards!"

"Yes, my Lady."

"Open this door this instant. I want—"

"We can't. We were given strict orders not to let you out."

"By who?" "Kael?" I retorted. "How dare he leave me here?"

Did he know who I was? I was his wife. His Luna. His mate. Yet he had locked me inside my own room. I heard the footsteps slowly fade away. I lay down on the floor. I was hungry. If I didn't eat sometime soon... I caressed my stomach.

"My baby…"