ena'

g in the air

vo

entire room went still, Grandmama Maelis, Elira, the pack members along the walls, all

didn't crack. But

omeone repeats a word in a foreign languag

consummated. There's nothing legally binding us that can't be undon

e, it was not guilt, or regret

ng dramatic

mat

ng his family together while he made promises to another woma

e cut in before I could respond.

r stand, G

Luna of this pack. You will

ng for a legal dissolution of a marriage that was never

n said nothing, the way she alwa

"I don't see why you're making this so difficult. Virella is already her

at her. "

lvira didn't have a

ep your title. You keep your standing. Nothi

u brought her in here and called her your wife, you changed it

N

as flat an

want me. You've made that

the Alpha command, the one that pressed against the air in

nd did no

My father and brother had fallen in battle. My pack had been reduced to ashes.

. My canines

n Virel

audible. One hand pressing to her stomach. Her head dipped

. Just the quiet suggestion of a wo

d before any

ed out of it, something almost soft underneath. He crossed

into his arm. "Just... the stress. I'm s

ok at me when

elis rose from her chair. Elira's helpless expression shifted to concer

t her as though she were t

ched

her, of sleepless nights and endless negotiations, of bleeding for p

ile touch

walked out

and. Let him pretend this marri

not m

have my

ted n

hambers, I set Velvet and Gra

culous. Every asset tracked. Every transaction recorded. Property deeds, investment accounts, pack infrastructure funds, the medical en

d to pa

re-Wedding Finan

the pack's finances. I had read it once, years ago, then set it aside. It had seemed irrelevan

read i

ing behind debts that his family had spent years draping in fine clothes and careful illusions. The estate. The cars. The servants.

m around was my

outstanding debt, covered two years of operating expenses, and established

n. A plan was already

w the full pic

part of it

ing to be ver

eft me-her final gift, though I had never expected to u

w a b

ra

my L

ts, recurring transfers. Nothing moves without my written authorization." I paused. "And

turned, moving quickly-as if afraid I might

llen. But the chill in my chest had s

en try t

would feel the weight of