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
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