Chapter 2

Iris’s POV

I continued when Eric fell silent. “She has the Moonbane Curse, and the healer said—”

Eric interrupted me instantly. “What is this, Iris? Is this one of your schemes? Are you really that despicable that you’ll lie about something like this to get my attention?”

He always believed that I was trying to manipulate him into believing that we were true mates, chosen by the moon goddess herself.

For some reason, Eric couldn’t feel the mate bond. I had always felt it — the sparks, the pull, everything. But Eric said there was nothing. I was baffled because I didn't know if he was lying, or if he really felt nothing.

I could feel his disgust through the phone as he growled at me.

“Don't be such an attention seeker!” He snapped, his voice dripping with contempt.

I gaped. “But—”

He cut me off before I could say anything. “I told you I wanted a divorce. That's all I want you to speak to me about. No more games or schemes. You know that Zara is back.” Eric’s voice was as cold as ice.

My hand shook as I stared at the report before me.

There was no use anymore. Eric never wanted me, even though we were fated mates, especially now that Zara was back, and Evie was dying.

There was no use fighting for a marriage that never existed from the start. The only reason I fought was because of Evie, and Evie was…

I burst into tears again, and Eric released an exasperated growl.

“Iris!” He snapped, believing that I was trying to play my mind games on him.

“Fine!” I gritted through clenched teeth as I wiped my tears sharply. “I'll give you the divorce you want, but I have one condition.”

Eric went silent instantly. It was unexpected, for as long as he knew, I had been unwilling to let him go.

So to hear me agree was a shock to him. He cleared his throat, “What is it?” He asked.

I sniffed, “Spend time with Evie till her birthday, come for her birthday, be the good father she needs. That's all I ask.”

Eric was silent for another moment because he felt that it was a trap.

“Is that all?” He asked slowly, and I nodded. “Yes, that's all.”

He sighed in relief. “Okay then, come to my office and pick up the divorce papers so that you can go through them, and when it's time, you can sign them.”

I smiled bitterly. He already had the divorce papers waiting and ready for me, like he couldn't wait to get rid of me as soon as possible.

Eric had always hated me because he claimed that I tricked him during his weakest moment. It was the night his father died. He had been grieving, drunk, and vulnerable, and I had comforted him. He never forgave himself for what happened between us, and he never forgave me either.

In his mind, I had taken advantage of his heartbreak to trap him, and later used the pregnancy to bind him.

That time, he had still been hoping that Zara might return and get back with him. But his mother had made Eric swear to marry me before she died.

Now that Zara was back, his hatred grew even more.

~

After making sure that Evie was okay, I went to meet Eric at his office without any delay.

Beta Jeremy gave me a sad smile as he saw me approaching. “Whatever you need, do it fast because Zara is coming soon.” He warned me.

I nodded, faking a smile. “Don't worry, Jeremy. I've accepted the divorce. It doesn't matter anymore, I'm done begging for love.”

He looked like he wanted to give me a hug, but controlled himself, instead he gave me an encouraging nod.

As I approached the door, I overheard Eric speaking with someone from inside his office.

“Alpha Eric,” Gamma Marcus said, “Tell me, now that Zara is back, what's the plan?”

Eric replied immediately, “I'll do what I didn't have the chance to do before, I'll make her mine. Now, she has a daughter, Tiffany, and she's really struggling to be a single mother. So she needs all the help she can get.”

I stood frozen at the door, my heart ached as I listened. “Really?” Marcus said, sounding shocked. “What of Iris? She also has a daughter, your daughter.”

Eric's voice became cold instantly. “Don't mention the name of that manipulative bitch, Iris, here again.” He spat.

I bit my lips to stop them from trembling. I had always known he despised me, but hearing it like this, broke something inside me.

“Woah, so you really have no feelings for her? Even after you've been married to her for five years? And you have a seven year old child with her?” Marcus asked.

Eric scoffed. “Feelings? Every day, I wish I never even met her, let alone married her. My mother forced me, she made me swear before she died, all because I manipulated her.”

“I disgust him so much. The only person I have ever loved is Zara. Nothing will change that.”

A tear slipped down my cheek before I could stop it, as my wolf howled in pain in my chest.