Chapter 3

The cramping in my abdomen grew sharper, an agonizing tearing sensation that made me gasp.

I dragged myself to a bus stop, clutching my stomach as I slid onto the metal bench.

A black SUV rolled out of the underground garage, stopping at the red light right in front of me.

Xavier was behind the wheel.

Then my phone rang. His name flashed on the screen.

His voice echoed through his car's speakers, drifting out of his half-open window.

"Hey, babe. The roads finally cleared, so I'm heading home now." His voice was incredibly warm, dripping with that fake, loving concern.

"I got those lemon scones from Magnolia's for you. They're still warm."

Through his window, I watched him reach over to brush a strand of hair from Tessa's face.

Tessa giggled, biting into a scone he was holding out to her.

"Is it good?" he whispered to her, his lips moving silently.

"Xavier," I gripped my phone, whispering.

"What's wrong? Your voice sounds weak. Did you catch a cold?"

"If I told you I was standing outside the Peak Penthouse right now..." I stared at his car. "Would you step out and look at me?"

A beat of slience.

Then, he let out a dry, forced chuckle. "Clara, stop playing games."

"I went to the Forbidden Forest of Death to save you last night." I said.

His laugh vanished.

It was replaced by a cold, harsh growl. "Clara, are you insane? I told you I was safe. Why do you always have to create drama?"

"Do you have any idea how much trouble you almost cost me? You really want the pack elders asking questions about why you were out there alone?"

So that was all he cared about.

Not me bleeding in the woods. Not me almost dying.

Just what the elders would say.

There was nothing left to say. I wanted to hang up—

Then the pain hit.

A full-body seizure of it, white-hot and blinding.

"Xavier, my stomach hurts," I whimpered, curling in on myself as a warm wetness soaked through my pants.

"Then take some medicine. I'm an Alpha, Clara, not a healer." his voice was cold. Too cold.

At the same time, in the passenger seat, Tessa suddenly gasped, clutching her stomach with a dramatic groan.

Xavier's face went completely pale.

"Tessa? What's wrong? Is your stomach flaring up again?"

He didn't even bother to cover the phone. The raw, desperate panic in his voice sliced right through me.

"Xavier... it hurts so bad," Tessa whimpered.

"Don't worry, I'm taking you to the pack hospital right now."

The SUV roared to life, surging forward.

The tires kicked up a wave of muddy, freezing street water, drenching me from head to toe.

The call went dead.

I slid off the bench onto the wet pavement, my vision blurring into a dark, bloody red.

Someone was screaming in the distance, calling for an ambulance, but my mind was already slipping away.

When I finally opened my eyes, the harsh smell of bleach filled my nose.

A nurse was changing my IV drip, her eyes filled with pity.

"I'm so sorry, Clara. We couldn't save your pup."

"You arrived too late. The hypothermia and the sheer physical trauma... it was too much."

I stared at the white ceiling.

So that was it.

I waited for the tears. For the anger. For anything.

Nothing came. I just felt completely hollow.

The nurse sighed softly and slipped out of the room.

I picked up my phone. The screen lit up with messages from Xavier.

"Something came up at the pack house. I won't be home tonight."

"I left the scones in the kitchen. Make sure you eat them."

"Clara, stop giving me the silent treatment. You were the one acting crazy last night."

He was still playing his usual game, expecting me to crawl back the moment he threw me a bone.

I didn't reply. Instead, I opened a hidden folder on my phone.

Inside was all the evidence my private investigator had gathered six months ago.

The lease for Tessa's luxury apartment, the bank transfers, the hotel bookings.

I used to think I would use this to scream at him, to demand answers.

Now, I just felt disgusted.

I called my family's lawyer. "Mr. Vance, prepare the divorce papers."

"Luna Clara? Are you sure? What about the asset division?"

"I only want what belongs to my family. But every single cent he spent on Tessa? I want it clawed back."

After hanging up, I dialed Xavier's number.

He answered almost instantly. In the background, I could hear the steady beep of hospital monitors.

"Clara? Done throwing your tantrum?" His tone was insufferably arrogant. "I knew you'd call."

I looked out the window, my mind clearer than it had been in years.

"Xavier, let's get a divorce."