Chapter 4

Scarlett POV I couldn’t sleep that night. Every time I closed my eyes, I was back in that warehouse: the rope biting into my wrists, the baseball bat lifting above me, Liliana’s pale face, and Jaxen’s voice saying the words he had never once said to me. I’m coming. The next morning, Delaney found me pacing the hospital room. “You’re supposed to be resting.” “I’ve rested enough.” “You were hit on the head.” “I’ll rest after this is over.” She studied my face for a moment. “You really aren’t backing down.” “No.” For years, I had believed the mate bond would eventually fix everything. I had heard all the stories: an Alpha could reject his mate at first. A Luna could be overlooked. Sometimes the bond awakened late, and sometimes love came after the marriage instead of before it. I had built an entire life around those possibilities, always telling myself that if I was patient enough, if I became better, kinder, more useful, more understanding, eventually Jaxen would see me differently. So I became the Luna the pack expected me to be. I attended ceremonies I hated and memorized pack laws until I could recite them in my sleep. I learned every business detail I could get my hands on, stayed awake waiting for Jaxen when he came home late, remembered how he liked his coffee and which shirts he preferred. I even learned not to ask where he had been when he came home smelling of another woman’s scent. I thought one day he would notice all of it. Instead, the distance between us only became easier for him to live with. A knock sounded, and the door opened. Jaxen walked in looking ridiculously hot as always: broad shoulders, solid chest, just completely calm and in control. His eyes moved from me to Delaney, then settled on the folder in her hand. “What is that?” Delaney stepped forward. “Your wife’s divorce agreement.” His expression hardened. “Scarlett.” “I’m serious.” “You’re still doing this?” “Yes.” “After everything that happened?” “Because of everything that happened.” He stared at me. I expected anger, but what I saw instead was almost confusion. Then he took the papers from Delaney, walked to the trash can, and dropped them in without reading a single page. Delaney’s face changed. “Jaxen!” “Not now.” He looked at me. “You’ve had a head injury. You’re emotional. Whatever you think you want today, you’ll regret tomorrow.” “I won’t.” “You always say that when you’re angry.” “I’ve never said this before.” “Stop making this difficult.” I almost smiled. “Difficult?” “You’re asking for a divorce without even understanding what comes next.” “I understand perfectly.” “No, you don’t.” He stepped closer. “You think you’ll walk out of this marriage and everything will magically become easier?” “I don’t expect it to be easy.” “Then what do you expect?” I looked straight at him. “To stop living a life where I’m the only person trying.” Something flickered in his eyes. It disappeared so quickly that I couldn’t tell whether I had imagined it. He looked away. “If you want a divorce, deal with the legal process.” Delaney spoke immediately. “That is what we’re trying to do.” “Then get a competent lawyer.” Her face turned stony. “I’ve been practicing law for twelve years.” “I don’t care.” “Jaxen.” “Leave.” Delaney looked at me. I gave her a small nod. She gathered her things and walked out. The door closed behind her, and the silence that followed felt heavier than the argument. Jaxen stood near the bed. “You really want to do this?” “Yes.” “Why?” After everything, he was asking why. “Because I’m tired.” “Of what?” “Of being married to someone who doesn’t want me.” “You’re imagining things.” “No.” “You’re my wife, my pack luna.” “That isn’t the same thing.” He stared at me, and I could see the irritation building. "You’re making a scene because of Liliana.” I shook my head. “No. Liliana just showed me something I refused to see. That I could disappear from your life and you’d survive just fine.” “Don’t be dramatic.” His tone was pure sarcasm. He reached for my hand and pulled the ring free. “Give me my ring.” The diamond slid from my finger, and he held it. “You’re worried about a ring?” “No.” “Then what?” He slipped the ring into his pocket. “You won’t get my assets. We signed a prenup.” “I know.” “Then don’t make this harder than it needs to be. You’ll leave with what belongs to you.” I gave a quiet laugh. “I have my salary.” “You’ve been living off my money for years. The house. The car. Cards. Your clothes. This hospital room. You’ve never had to think about any of it.” He wasn’t wrong. That was the worst part. I had accepted his money because I thought it was part of our life together. I thought that eventually there would be ours. Apparently, there had only ever been his. Jaxen walked toward the door. “If you want to prove you’re serious, move out.” His hand settled on the handle. “And pay your own hospital bill.” The door shut behind him. I sat down slowly, resting my left hand on my knee. The skin where the ring had been felt strangely light. I stared at my bare finger until my vision blurred. Could I really leave him?