Divorce II

I couldn't help but just stare at the papers. This couldn’t be happening — this should be a dream. No way my husband had just shoved divorce papers in my face after being caught cheating on me with my best friend. Maybe it was a prank, maybe…

“What are you waiting for? Sign the damn papers.” Alex’s voice jarred me out of my reverie. I came back to reality, realizing this wasn’t a dream but very, very real. I stared at the papers and scowled.

“I am not signing anything. Cheat on me all you want, but I am not leaving you. You’ll come back to your senses and realize how much you miss me,” I said. Alex’s face darkened. He clenched his fist and turned to Carmen.

“Honey, leave us for a while. I don’t want you to see how angry she has made me,” he said. Carmen even had the nerve to smile and kiss him before leaving the room. Alex turned back to me angrily.

“Are you crazy? Sign the papers and get the hell out of here,” he growled. I shook my head.

“No.” Alex unclenched and clenched his fists.

“You are crazy. I never realized this before, but I see it now. Sign the papers or I’ll make your life hell,” he roared. I stared at him stubbornly.

“You are making it hell already. But I’m ready to stay,” I said. He snarled. I could tell he was on edge — he was obviously controlling his wolf, and his eyes were starting to turn yellow.

“Don’t piss me off.” His voice was unnerving and deep, like two people were speaking at once. If I wasn’t scared before, I was now. Why was he so angry at me to the extent of almost losing his cool? Was this how much he hated me? How could he hate me this much? I used to think he loved me, or at least felt the tiniest shred of affection in his heart. But now I couldn’t even see the man who used to caress me. All I saw was a werewolf struggling not to maul his wife.

“Please don’t send me away. I still love you, and I always will. I can bear to lose you,” I pleaded. He shook his head.

“Well, I don’t. I don’t love you — I never loved you. Carmen was who I loved all along. You’re just a backup plan, Tori,” he said. It felt like someone plunged a knife into my heart. I was so stunned that I couldn’t even breathe.

I never loved you. Carmen was who I loved all along.

I stared at the papers in my hands and thought of tearing them, but he could just do another. Why don’t I just sign and get this done with? I shook my head. I still couldn’t think of life without Alex. I loved him, even if he had just told me he didn’t love me back.

“Alex, please.” I moved closer and he scowled. “I’ll do anything you want,” I added; his scowl deepened.

“What I want is for you to sign those papers. Then we’re done here,” he said. I shook my head.

“I won’t — you can’t force me,” I said. He smiled, a cruel one.

“Yes, you’re right — I can’t. But I can make you.” He stormed away. The moment he left I fell to my knees and wept. The man I loved did not love me back, and worse, he was now with my best friend. An obvious slap to the face. Nothing had ever hurt like this. Not even when I’d lost my parents.

The door opened and Alex walked in, holding another set of papers. He smirked evilly.

“Sign the papers,” he started. I shook my head.

“No.” He smiled.

“Then I’ll take the company rights and give them to Carmen,” he said, and my heart stopped.

“You can’t… I… I—”

“Yes I can,” he said. There was no point trying to make him see reason. It was obvious his mind had been made up a long time ago. I stared at the paper and held out my hand for the pen tiredly, tears refusing to stop falling from my eyes.

He grinned and handed me a pen. I signed next to his signature and his smile widened.

“Good girl. Perhaps you’ll find a guy who would take trash like you — omegas, maybe. No alpha or even a beta in his right senses would take a rejected crap like you, Tori,” he said. I broke down once I was done signing and stared at his face to see even the tiniest bit of pity or remorse. But when I looked there was nothing. Just the cold weight of his eyes on me.

“Thank you for being smart,” he said and took the papers from my shaky hands. “I’ll drop this at the lawyer’s tomorrow. Then it’s official.” He turned to leave.

“I still love you, Alex. No matter how hard you push me away,” I called after him. He shrugged.

“Like I said, I don’t. Try thinking of the upcoming Red Moon Festival — I’m sure people will have a lot of questions.” He walked away.

After thirty minutes of sobbing, I stood and packed only a few of my clothes into the car. I wasn’t taking anything else. I still loved him, but maybe it was time to move on. Maybe this was the goddess giving me a sign.

“You can do this, Riri,” my wolf said, and I smiled.

“I wish you were right, friend,” I replied and shook my he

ad.

I was done with men. Never again would I fall in love.