Lahat ng Kabanata ng Alpha, Let's End This Bond!: Kabanata 51 - Kabanata 60

Aria -I didn’t mean to go back upstairs.That was the lie I told myself as I stood in the hallway, staring at the master bedroom door like it might bite me if I got too close.Five minutes. That was all.I just needed five minutes to grab the tablet I’d left on the dresser earlier. After that, I’d be gone before anyone could pull me into a conversation or an argument.The universe laughed at that plan.The door was ajar.I pushed it open with my shoulder, already bracing myself—and stopped short.Luca was hunched over the edge of the bed, one hand clamped hard over his stomach, the other bracing against the mattress.His breath hitched, shallow and weak. He wasn’t seeking sympathy with his silence; he was simply too depleted by the agony to do anything but endure it.For half a second, I just stood there.Then my body moved before my pride could stop it.“Hey,” I said, sharper than I meant to. “What’s wrong now?”He didn’t answer.That scared me more than I wanted to admit.I crossed

Aria -If I’d learned one thing over the past few weeks, it was that people loved saying divorce was easy when it wasn’t their marriage cracking apart.We were sitting in a quiet corner café that smelled like burnt espresso and fake vanilla candles.Rain tapped lazily against the window. The gloominess was just enough to turn the city gray and reflective.Wynne had her laptop open, her fingers busily tapping the keyboard to input my case.“So,” she said, not looking up, “tell me your terms.”“I leave with nothing,” I said without hesitation. “No property and money. I won’t fight custody.”Her fingers paused mid-tap.I kept going before she could interrupt. “I just want one visitation day a week. No emotional bargaining later.”That finally made her look up.Her brows knit together, lips parting slightly with calculating look.“Aria,” she said slowly, “you’re legally entitled to—”“I don’t care,” I cut in. My voice stayed calm, which surprised even me. “I’m not trying to win. I’m tryin

AriaThe room still smelled faintly of rain and paper dust. Torn edges of the divorce agreement were gone—swept away by someone who didn’t want to deal with the evidence—but the feeling they left behind clung to the walls like smoke.I stood by the window, towel wrapped around my shoulders, hair damp and heavy down my back. Outside, the garden lights glowed soft and golden, like nothing ugly had happened inside this house tonight.Luca came in without knocking.I didn’t turn around.“You done sulking?” he asked.I spun. “Sulking?” I laughed sharply. “You tore up my divorce papers and splashed me with mud like I was roadkill. And you think I’m sulking?”His jaw tightened. “You’re exaggerating.”“Oh, right,” I said. “I forgot. Your version of events is always… cleaner.”He took a step closer. The space between us shrank until I could feel his heat, that familiar pressure that used to mean safety and now just felt like a warning.“What do you want, Aria?” he asked.I met his eyes but I d

LucaRowan was slumped in the seat next to me, clutching my phone in a white-knuckled grip. He was three sheets to the wind, his tie undone and dangling like a noose."Ivy, just... just shut up and listen for once!" he roared into the phone. He was slurring, his head lolling back against the headrest. "I’m tired, okay? I’m so damn tired of the lawyers and the shouting."I stared out the window at the passing city lights, trying to give him some privacy in the cramped space, but it was impossible. Ivy’s voice was a tinny, jagged screech coming through the receiver."Oh, you're tired?" she snapped. "Try being the one hiding in a hotel room because your 'perfect' husband image has broken, Rowan!"Rowan let out a jagged, pathetic laugh. "Fine. You want the kid? Keep the baby, Ivy. I give up. You can have it."The silence on the other end was so sudden it felt heavy. I glanced over. Rowan’s eyes were glassy, staring at nothing."What did you just say?" Ivy’s voice was quieter now, stripped

AriaI stepped on the polished concrete of Vanguard Realty with the frantic beat of my heart.The interview.It felt like an eternity ago, but it was only a few hours. I still couldn’t believe it.“Welcome aboard, Aria. We’re thrilled to have you join Vanguard,” said the HR manager, a woman with a tight, professional smile without any kindness and warmth. “You’ll start next Monday.”The woman gave me I’d walked out of there feeling lighter than air, almost dizzy with relief.During the interview, I hadn’t dodged questions about my family. When they asked about my marital status, I simply said, “I’m married with two children.”Just plain, simple, and honest. And they hired me anyway.It was a miracle. A tiny crack in the prison wall Luca had built around me.I was buzzing, practically floating back to the bus stop. The rain had cleared, leaving the city air smelling fresh and vibrant.This was it. My fresh start.I got off the bus near the pack territory, the high-rise buildings slowly