Chapter 3

Scarlett POV Jaxen stared at me for several seconds, then his eyes blinked, more confused than angry. “You want a divorce?” The word sounded strange coming from him. “What the hell are you thinking?” His voice was tired. “What kind of game are you playing now?” A game? Even now, standing there with dried blood behind my ear and barely enough strength to stay on my feet, he thought I was trying to get his attention. “I’m not playing,” I said. I swallowed hard. “I just want a divorce.” He rubbed the space between his eyebrows. I'd seen him do it countless times over the years whenever something made him impatient. “Scarlett, you were kidnapped.” “I know.” “You were unconscious.” “I know.” “You need to see a doctor.” “I know.” “Then stop talking nonsense and get checked.” I looked at him. For years, whenever I tried to talk about us, something more important always came up. A pack meeting. A business deal. A crisis that needed his attention. I'd learned to wait. I thought one day there must be some time for me. I was wrong, totally wrong. Maybe that was why he couldn't understand what I was saying now. He had spent so long assuming I would still be there tomorrow that the possibility of me leaving didn't seem real to him. I’d wanted to spill everything: the phone call, how he brushed me off, and how the second he heard Liliana’s voice, he threw a billion dollars at her like it was nothing. And the way he was holding her tonight. Instead, I said, “I’m serious.” His expression hardened. “Not here.” “Then where and when?” “After you recover.” “After I recover, will you listen?” “Yes.” The answer came so easily that it almost made me laugh. I'd heard it before: When things calm down. After this meeting.Once the company settles. There was always another reason to wait, and somehow I'd always convinced myself that waiting was the same thing as being patient. I opened my mouth. “Jaxen, you...” The ground suddenly shifted beneath me. His hand caught me before I could hit the dirt. His arm came around my back, holding me upright, and his familiar scent filled my lungs. For one weak, stupid second, I wanted to lean against him. My body remembered him before my mind could stop it. Then everything went black. --- When I woke again, I was in the Iron Claw Pack's private hospital. The room was quiet except for the soft hum of the machines beside my bed. I reached up and carefully pulled the oxygen tube from beneath my nose. For a moment, I wasn't completely sure where I was. Then I saw the chair beside the bed. Someone had been sitting there. My half-asleep mind thought someone had. A tall figure. Broad shoulders. Amber eyes. “Jaxen?” My voice came out barely a whisper. I blinked. The chair was empty. I stared at it for a few seconds before letting out a quiet breath. So pathetic, even after everything, part of me was still looking for him. The door opened. Delaney walked in carrying an apple. The second she saw me sitting up, her eyes widened. “Oh, thank God.” She put the apple down and hurried over. “You scared the hell out of me.” I tried to smile. “I’m fine.” “You've been unconscious for three days.” “Three?” She nodded. "The kidnappers have almost all been caught." I looked toward the door. “Where’s Jaxen?” Delaney paused. That pause made me look at her. “He went back to the company.” “What?” “He stayed last night. Beside your bed. All night.” For a second, something warm moved through my chest. But I hated myself for noticing it. Had he stayed all night? Maybe he did care. I stopped myself. "Why?” Delaney sighed. " You are his wife, Scarlett." I looked down at my hands. His wife? Once, those words had been enough to make me feel like I belonged somewhere. They felt strangely empty now. Delaney sat on the edge of the bed. “There’s something else. The news about the k********g is everywhere. People are saying Jaxen paid one billion dollars to save Liliana.” I knew. I'd known before I woke up here. “And ...” She hesitated. "He didn’t pay the ransom for you. He suspected it was a scam." I forced out this little tired smile and was like, “Yeah… to him I’m probably just a joke. Completely worthless.” Delaney reached for my hand. “Scarlett…” “I understand.” “No. You don't have to pretend you're okay.” “I know.” “I just don't want to pretend anymore.” I’d spent years telling myself there was something real between me and him. I just hadn’t figured out how to get to it yet. Like maybe if I tried harder, or if I was a better Luna, or just more patient… maybe if I waited long enough he’d finally look at me the way I always wanted. But tonight I finally got the answer I’d been dodging this whole time. I looked at Delaney and said, “Delaney, I need a favor.” She waited. “Draft my divorce papers. I want to divorce Jaxen.” Then she slowly picked up the apple and set it farther away. “You’re serious.” “Yes.” “You’ve loved that man for ten years.” “I know.” “You spent years trying to become his Luna. You nearly killed yourself trying to make that marriage work.” Tears burned behind my eyes. “I know.” Her eyes turned red. “Then why now?” Maybe I would always love him. That didn't mean I had to keep waiting for him to love me back. “I kept waiting for something to prove that I mattered to him.” I looked down at my empty ring finger. “Tonight, I got my answer.”