Chapter 4

Faye's POV

My cheeks flushed at once. I softened my voice and whined playfully, "Dad—why are you bringing this up all of a sudden? Besides, legally speaking, I'm still married."

The words had barely left my mouth when I thought to myself: Dad, if only you knew — I slept with a stranger last night, just to get back at Aiden. Then the image of that passionate entanglement with the man surfaced in my mind. My ears burned, my heart raced, and I just wanted to change the subject.

"I know, I know." He chuckled — actually chuckled. "Handle your business first. Whatever you need, I'll support you. Money, lawyers, muscle — name it."

"I need the southern investors to pull out of Aiden's pack," I said. "Every single one."

The line went quiet for a beat. Then my father laughed — not warm, not kind. The laugh of a man who could crush a mid-tier pack with a phone call and considered it a light afternoon. "Done. I'll make the calls within the hour."

A new voice came on — deeper, younger, and so familiar my eyes burned. "Faye?"

"Rylan." My brother. I hadn't heard his voice in three years, and it hit me like a wall.

"I'm heading north in two days for the Alpha Cooperation Summit," he said. "I'll come get you personally." His tone darkened. "And this Blackfang — when I get there —"

"Don't." I almost smiled. "I want to handle him myself. He's attending the summit. I want to destroy him in front of every Alpha in the North."

A beat of silence. Then Rylan laughed — sharp, proud, the same laugh our mother used to have. "That's my sister. Tell me what you need."

We planned for twenty minutes like we'd never been apart — the timing, the logistics, which alliances to pull. When I hung up, my hands had stopped shaking. For the first time in three years I felt like I had ground under my feet.

My phone rang again. Aiden.

He didn't bother with hello. "Where the hell were you last night?"

I laughed coldly. "Mind your own business." Then, in a flat voice, I added, "I want a divorce."

Silence. Then a short, disbelieving laugh. "Faye, stop playing games. Did you pick up the dry cleaning for the summit dinner? I need my navy suit pressed, and the gift baskets for the southern delegates need to be —"

"I said I want a divorce."

"You're being ridiculous." His voice hardened. "You're an Omega orphan with no family and no pack. Where exactly do you think you're going to go?"

"You'll have the divorce papers shortly. I suggest you read them carefully."

"Faye —"

"And hire a maid for the gift baskets. Sorry, you'll have to find someone else to do your work."

I hung up and blocked his number. My fingers were steady. My wolf was wide awake behind my ribs, pacing, ready.

Aiden called back from a different number. I blocked that one too.

I took the black card my father had reactivated that morning, and drove to the luxury district. I needed a dress for the summit dinner—something that would make every Alpha in the room turn their head.

As I drove past streets I used to know by heart, I suddenly remembered how I'd lived these past three years. To be a "good Luna" who thought about Aiden and his growing pack, I'd learned to shop in discount sections, convincing myself that plain happiness was worth more than silk and diamonds. But every penny I saved for him had gone to Julia instead.

Luckily, that pitiful, foolish housewife was gone.

I stepped into Maison Valeris and had just picked up a new-season gown when I heard a familiar voice.

"Darling, doesn't this look good on me?"

Aiden. He was standing a few meters away, with Julia Frostclaw hanging on his arm, beaming with an eager, approving smile I hadn't seen in ages. Julia was spinning in front of a mirror in the season's newest dress, and Aiden nodded along like an obedient escort.

For a moment I froze—then gave a cold, bitter laugh to myself. Of all the places, they had to show up here. These two shameless bastards really had no shame.

Julia spotted me first. She blinked, then quickly composed herself—letting go of Aiden's arm and gliding toward me with practiced grace.

"Hello," she said, flashing a carefully crafted smile. "I'm Julia. I'm sure Aiden has mentioned me, hasn't he?"

Except he hadn't.

He'd just kept her photos and letters in that box, thrown it in the trash in front of me, then quietly fished it back and hidden it away.

Aiden stepped forward, planting himself between us and frowning at me. "Faye, what are you doing here? Didn't I tell you to prepare for the summit dinner?"

"I told you on the phone," I said. "You'll get the divorce papers soon. You no longer have any right to tell me what to do."

"You're bluffing." Aiden crossed his arms. "What are you even doing here?"

"Please. Don't fight over me." Julia put on a look of mock guilt, her acting almost convincing—but I only found it pathetic. "Aiden told me about you. I've always thought that for an omega with no one in the world, it's important to treat yourself once in a while."

"Interesting." I didn't flinch, letting my gaze sweep over their revolting little display. "I'd say the woman who's more like an orphan is the one who didn't return to her own place after divorce, but couldn't wait to crawl into someone else's husband's bed."

Her smile froze. Her face twisted, but she still tried to keep up that innocent look. "How can you say that—"

"I assumed if you two had the guts to do something so shameful, you wouldn't mind people talking."

Just then, a salesclerk approached, clearly uncomfortable with what she was witnessing. I didn't want to let these two ruin my mood any longer. I turned to her. "The Valenthier gown in the window—the midnight blue one. And the matching earrings."

"I'm not buying that for you," Aiden said coldly.

"Did I ever say I needed your lousy pocket change?" I shot back, then turned to the clerk. "Wrap it up. I'll pay with my card."

"Where did you get the money?" Aiden looked me up and down with that familiar condescending tone. "Your limit isn't enough for anything here."

He spoke with absolute certainty, like he was scolding a child. In his mind, I was still the penniless orphan who couldn't survive without him.

I didn't bother explaining. I pulled the black card from my bag and handed it to the clerk. Her eyes widened the instant she saw it. Without a word, she turned and went straight to fetch the gown.

Aiden stared at the card, his expression shifting. "Wait—what card is that? Faye, where did you get it?"

"I don't owe you an explanation."

Julia frowned and turned to Aiden for validation. "It seems your wife isn't as gentle and good-mannered as I'd heard."

Then she looked at me, her eyes dripping with theatrical pity. "Vanity isn't a good thing. Spending so much money on something that doesn't suit you will only make you look more out of place in the end."

I glanced at her and let out a laugh. "Oh, you just described yourself perfectly."

Aiden's voice cut in, laced with irritation. "Faye, what the hell are you—"

I didn't even bother with him. I signed the receipt, took the garment bag—the gown worth more than the car Aiden drove—and walked past them both.

Behind me, Aiden was still calling my name. I didn't turn around. Let him wonder.