Forced Beginnings

No Longer Mrs. Cooley: The Architect's Return

Xiao Xiaosu

I went to the City Clerk’s office for a routine copy of my marriage license to finalize a trust fund audit. I expected a simple piece of paper, but the clerk’s pitying look told me my entire life was a lie. "The license was never finalized, Ms. Oliver. In the eyes of the state, you are single." The three-hundred-guest wedding at the Plaza and the Vogue features meant nothing. My husband, Gray Cooley, had intentionally filed the documents with a "procedural defect" so he could discard me without a legal divorce. Moments later, an iCloud invite titled "Our Little Secret" popped up on my screen. It was a photo of my best friend, Brylee, holding a positive pregnancy test at our Hamptons estate. Gray’s text to her was the final blow: "Happy anniversary, babe. This baby is the best gift. Once the trust unlocks today, we’re done with the charade." I soon discovered they were even stealing my career, reassigning my architectural masterpiece to Brylee while preparing my eviction notice. Gray's mother called me a "barren mule" in a leaked recording, mocking the infertility I suffered after saving Gray’s life in a construction accident. I wasn't a wife; I was a three-year placeholder used to secure his inheritance. How could the man I bled for treat me like a disposable prop? How could my best friend carry his child while pretending to comfort me through my darkest moments? The betrayal burned until it turned into a cold, hard stone of fury. I didn't cry. Instead, I walked into the penthouse of the Barretts, the Cooleys' most powerful rivals. I signed a marriage contract with Kane Barrett, the man the tabloids called the "Beast of Wall Street." "I want a wedding," I told his father, my voice steady and lethal. "Bigger than the one I had with Gray." If they wanted me gone, they would have to watch me become the woman who owns their world.

Modern Revenge Divorce

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Kane POV

How long have I been running? I don’t remember. However, I can’t stop now. I have to keep going. I have to get as far away from there as possible.

My paws pound on the forest floor as I dash around a tree and over a fallen log. With each step, my legs cramp a little more, but I can’t pay attention to it now. I have to get away.

With sheer determination in my eyes, I focus my attention on the terrain ahead. My escape almost came to a crashing halt a few minutes ago when I took my eyes off of the path ahead and I almost slammed into a tree trunk. Good thing my wolf has good reflexes.

I still can’t believe that I could be this stupid. What was I thinking?

Oh, yeah. I was hoping that when my mate turned 18 and could finally sense my presence that he would love me and claim me. What a joke?

I’ve known since my 18th birthday, which has been two years now, that the one person that I’ve hated for these last few years is my mate. However, being the coward that I am, I didn’t tell him. Well, it didn’t help that he would continuously tease and belittle me.

Plus, I didn’t have enough courage to walk up to the alpha’s son and announce that he is my mate. Everyone would have laughed at me, so I kept my mouth shut.

However, I never would have expected what happened a few days ago. My heart aches just thinking about it. No. I have to forget. I have to move on.

My wolf whines. Even though my mate didn’t mark me, my wolf already knows who our true mate is and still wants him. However, that will never happen now.

Ugh… I have to keep going.

As I dash over a crest of a hill, my eyes suddenly lock onto the glow through the trees on the horizon. Yes. I have finally made it to a big city. They should have a bus station here and I can go as far as the bus will take me. Now, I just have to blend in with the humans and not be discovered. I can do this.

I suddenly have a spring in my step, and with a renewed energy, I bolt ahead. I should be able to make it to town before morning. All I need to do is to find something to eat and a place to clean up. Then I will start my new life.

***

I settle down into the back seat on the bus. For the first time in the last two years, I finally have hope. My heart still aches, and my wolf still wants to go back to our pack, but I know that that isn’t possible now. However, I’m sure that my father is looking for me, and that is why I have to get as far away from my pack as possible.

I’m sure that my father has tried to contact other packs, but I can’t have them find out my real name. From now on, Kane is gone. He died the moment I left my pack.

The only person that is left is the new one that I have created. Welcome to my new life, Blake.

I sigh as I turn my head and look out the window. There are so many uncertainties about the future, but I can’t let that control my life. For once, I need to live for myself. Not for my parents. Not for my mate. Not for the family name. No. I will only live for myself now.

I hope the Moon Goddess is on my side now. If she is, she will guide me to the place that I need to be and to a place where I can heal. Someday, I will be 100% again. Only then, I will be able to come out of hiding, but not before.

I don’t even know if there are werewolves where I’m going. My father has never talked about this area before. Well, it is rather far from my pack, but my pack has never dealt with any werewolf packs in this area. So, I can only assume that there isn’t any out this direction, which is why I’m heading there. From now on, I will live as a human.

I have gone to college for a couple years. However, now, I won’t be going back, which surprisingly, I’m fine with that. Well, I’m sure the fact that my mate is starting there this next semester is helping with me not wanting to go there.

Ugh… I have to stop thinking about him.

As the bus begins to move and head down the road, I continue to watch the scenery as it slowly begins to blur past, and for the first time in my life, I think about what I want to do with my life. I have nothing holding me back now.

First thing is that I have to get a job, and then I can maybe think about going back to college. Is there even a college around this area? I’m sure there is. I will have to look into it when I get there.

As I continue to think about the possibilities, my eyelids slowly close and sleep quickly consumes me.

***

“Hey. Sir. You need to wake up. We are at the end of the line.”

What? Someone nudges my shoulder as my eyes slowly flicker open. Oh, my body is stiff. How long have I been sleeping?

SHIT!! Did I miss my stop?

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