I watched Kieran closely, his expression unreadable in the dim kitchen light. Finally, he gave a single stiff nod.
“Fine. You can have full custody.”
The catch. He agreed so easily.
Not a single denial. Not one word to contradict what I’d said about him and Celeste. He still preferred a family with her, didn’t he?
And the most pathetic part? Some foolish, desperate corner of my heart had still hoped. Still waited for him to say something-anything-to prove our marriage hadn’t been just a prison sentence to him.
I pressed my palms to my stinging eyes. Gods, what was wrong with me?
I couldn’t afford to hope anymore. Not tonight. If I didn’t leave here soon, I’d collapse right here on the cold tiles-
Then Kieran caught my wrist.
He cleared his throat awkwardly, his grip warm against my skin. “We can wait until after the funeral to finalize everything, if you prefer.”
For one dangerous moment, I almost believed him. Almost thought this was kindness.
If only he’d shown me this consideration once in ten years.
I wrenched my arm free. “No need to delay. It’s not like there’s much to dissolve-you never even gave me a mating mark.”
The one thing he’d refused when we married. That, and loving me.
“Your wolf never came,” he’d said that night we got married, his voice carefully blank. “A mating bond would only cause you pain when…”
When we inevitably divorced.
He hadn’t finished the sentence, but we both knew. Just like we both knew the real reason-the mark belonged to Celeste in his mind. Always had.
The bitter truth settled in my chest: he’d planned for this ending from the very beginning.
What difference did it make now? Whether it was pity or premeditation, the result was the same-my neck remained unmarked, my heart remained broken, and Kieran would walk away free.
Kieran’s brow furrowed deeper.
“Seraphina, there’s no need for bitterness. Our marriage was a mistake-I only hope we can both move on.” His voice softened, that hint of pity making my stomach churn. “You deserve-“
“Oh, spare me.” I turned away before he could see how his pity cut me deeper than his anger ever could. “Don’t worry-I’ve saved enough to support myself and Daniel. You’ll be free by tomorrow.”
The shock on his face was almost comical. Had he truly expected me to fight for him? To beg?
Yes, I loved him. I still do.
But ten years of trying to thaw his heart had taught me this: no amount of warmth could melt a glacier that didn’t want to be moved.
And now that Celeste was back? Did he think I’d delude myself into believing I ever stood a chance?
Why crush what’s left of my pride just to feed an Alpha’s ego?
I’d learned my lesson. A decade in this loveless marriage had been enough. I was done fighting for people who never wanted me.
My steps were numb as I climbed the stairs, memories of Kieran flashing like ghosts behind my eyes:
*The bright smile he’d given me when we first met as children.
*Me watching from the shadows when he won his first Hunt.
*The way my heart shattered as he placed the victory garland on Celeste’s head, her lips meeting his in a sweet kiss.
*The blur of liquor glasses when their engagement was announced.
*That catastrophic night that started it all.
*Then-Daniel’s birth, his first steps, every milestone since…
Halfway up the staircase, Daniel’s sleepy voice echoed in my mind:
“You and Dad will always be here, right?”
My heart lurched. Gods. How do we tell him?
I whirled around, my earlier resolve cracking. “How… how do we explain this to Daniel?”
Kieran paused mid-sip of water. “I’ll handle it.”
Of course. He’s already planned for this, too. My fists clenched.
“And you needn’t worry about finances,” he added stiffly. “Daniel is still my son. I’ll cover his expenses-and yours.”
I couldn’t read his expression. After ten years, the view I knew best was still his poker face. But this time, I refused to waste energy deciphering him.
Tomorrow, once the papers were signed, we’d be strangers. As he wished.
I turned without answering.
The bedroom door clicked shut behind me-then the dam broke.
Silent sobs wracked my body as I slid to the floor, the day’s grief finally overwhelming me. Somewhere downstairs, the floorboards creaked.
Kieran was probably already packing. Probably already picturing Celeste in this house, raising my son.
My hand flew to my unmarked throat-where his teeth should have been. Where a mating bond should have sealed us together.
“It’s okay, Sera,” I whispered into the hollow dark, arms wrapped tight around my shaking ribs. “You’ll survive this.”
For my son-I’ll survive anything.
SERAPHINA’S POV
I returned from the lawyer’s office feeling like my soul had been put through a shredder.
Walking through the front door gave me a strange kind of anxiety. Maybe it was because I knew this was one of the last times I would be here again.
I let my gaze roam the foyer, taking in every detail-Daniel’s baby picture on the mantel, the portrait taken of Kieran when he was ordained Alpha, the picture of Daniel and me on his fifth birthday.
There were no pictures of Kieran and me. Shocker.
I headed straight to Kieran’s office. I had left early in the morning, not wanting to run into him and have an awkward conversation about the upcoming divorce. I’d also been avoiding Daniel, I think.
How could I look into those innocent eyes and explain that his family was breaking apart?
“I don’t… get it.”
Daniel’s small, confused voice stopped me outside Kieran’s office. The door was slightly ajar, and I saw Daniel sitting in a chair in front of Kieran’s desk like a visitor. Kieran sat opposite him, looking at our son with a tenderness he never showed me.
He leaned forward and took Daniel’s hands in his. “Mommy and Daddy won’t be living together anymore, champ.”
“But… why?” Daniel’s lower lip trembled. “Don’t you love Mom?”
I tensed. How was Kieran going to answer that? Surely he wouldn’t tell our son he didn’t love his mother. But the only other option was to lie.
Kieran sighed and stood from his seat. He walked over to Daniel’s side and took his hands again, crouching to our son’s level.
“You know, your mom gave me the greatest gift in the world,” he said. He reached up and gently patted Daniel’s head. “You. And for that? I’ll always love her.”
My chest tightened. For ten years, I’d desperately wanted to hear those words from Kieran, and now, there they were-while I held divorce papers in my hands.
But I knew what they truly meant-Kieran only married me because I gave him Daniel. He only tolerated me for a decade because I was the mother of his heir. It was more proof that our marriage was one-sided.
His true, unconditional love was reserved for Celeste.
A choked sound escaped me.
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