Chapter 36
“You’re dismissed. Go back to your duties.”
Ethan noticed my silence and took it as anger. He followed me out, his steps too calculated, too careful, as if he were preparing a speech.
He figured that keeping Maven happy- his precious Beta–was enough to take the weight of leadership off his shoulders.
“Don’t stress over it. It’s your pack, Alpha. Do what you want.”
He gave a short nod.
As we stepped out, the towering wooden walls of the pack’s headquarters loomed behind us, a symbol of everything he had
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built–everything I had helped him build.
He mentioned I should attend the Moon Banquet that evening, a formal gathering for high–ranking wolves.
I just smiled.
He had already done more than enough.
I didn’t expect Maven to be the one to act first.
Two hours later, I was stuffing clothes into a bag, shoving away every piece of my life here.
Ethan called, voice sharp with irritation.
“Lilah, are you contacting the elders? What the hell is going on?”
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“I’m still Luna, right? That means I have every right to do so.”
“You said you understood me. That you’d stand beside me no matter what. And this is what you meant?”
I squeezed my eyes shut, exhaling slowly.
“It’s just ten million dollars, Ronan. If Maven’s that important to you, just keep ignoring me and hand it over to her.”
“If that’s how you see it, why even bother calling me?”
I hung up.
A second later, texts started flooding in.
“Lilah, apologize to Maven.”
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“The pack is watching. Fix this.”
“You’re making a fool of me.”
I stared at my screen for a moment.
Then, I deleted his number.
By nightfall, the scent of pine and frost clung to the air–sharp, biting. But inside me, my wolf burned, pacing, restless.
Ethan arrived in his SUV.
I stepped out of the packhouse, wearing a deep blue silk gown that shimmered under the dim lights.
Ethan’s golden eyes narrowed, something cold flashing in them–irritation, disapproval, maybe even regret.
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“Why the hell are you wearing that?”
Maven appeared at the entrance, her scent an overwhelming mix of vanilla and jasmine -too sweet, too artificial.
She giggled.
“Oops! I must’ve forgotten to send Lilah the memo.”
I smirked.
“It’s alright. You always seem younger than me, Maven. Maybe it’s the constant flattery from the pack keeping you fresh.”
“With a Beta like you at his side, I doubt I even need to show up anymore.”
Ethan tensed.
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Maven stayed silent as I slid into the SUV’s backseat.
She wasted no time, filling the car with chatter about how much Ethan had done for her, how he’d taken care of her for years, how much he had given.
Ethan’s grip on the wheel tightened, jaw locked, knuckles white.
He didn’t deny a word of it.
We arrived at the luxurious banquet hall, the scent of roasted venison, aged wine, and wolf pheromones thick in the air.
The moment we stepped inside, the servers swarmed Maven, bowing slightly.
“Luna Maven, this way.”
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Ethan pulled me aside into the hallway.
His posture was tense.
“Maven’s just a Beta. That’s it. She works for me.”
“Lilah, it’s our anniversary. Don’t start something tonight.”
I laughed in his face.
“I’m not starting anything, Alpha. Don’t worry.”
I stepped away.
“Go enjoy your night. I have a call to take”
He hesitated before nodding.
Once he was gone, I dialed my lawyer.
Ethan pulled me aside into the hallway.
His posture was tense.
“Maven’s just a Beta. That’s it. She works for me.”
“Lilah, it’s our anniversary. Don’t start something tonight.”
I laughed in his face.
“I’m not starting anything, Alpha. Don’t worry.”
I stepped away.
“Go enjoy your night. I have a call to take.”
He hesitated before nodding.
Once he was gone, I dialed my lawyer.
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“Get it done.”
Thirty minutes later, I entered the ballroom.
Golden chandeliers dripped with light, laughter echoed from every corner, and Ethan stood at the center of it all- untouched, unbothered.
I made my way to my seat.
Maven appeared, beaming.
“Oh, Lilah, I’m so sorry, but you know you’re not getting any younger!”
She winked.
Around us, whispers spread, too quiet to be direct, but loud enough for wolves with enhanced hearing to pick up.
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I sat down, ignoring them all.
Maven lifted a glass.
“Lilah, you’re always so busy, running around, stressing over pack matters. It must be exhausting. You really should take better care of yourself!”
Her gaze flickered over my gown, her lips twitching.
“I’m not drinking” I said. “I’m on medication.”
Ethan frowned.
“Since when? Just have one drink, don’t be dramatic”
Maven poured a glass, the scent of whiskey rich in the air. She shoved it toward me.
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I didn’t move.
“I said no.“”
She pressed the rim of the glass against my fingers, her nails digging into my wrist.
I flicked it.
The drink splattered across her dress.
The glass tumbled to the floor, shattering into sharp, glistening pieces.
Ethan’s eyes darkened, his wolf rising to the surface.
With slow, deliberate movements, he set his own drink down.
“You’re testing me, Luna.”
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“Do you really want to be embarrassed in front of everyone?”
Maven’s eyes welled up, her performance flawless, her trembling perfectly timed.
I leaned back in my seat.
“Did she apologize?” My voice was ice. “What’s wrong, Alpha? Did I offend your precious Beta?”
Ethan’s rage burned hot.
“Apologize. Now!”
“Think about this carefully, Lilah. I can strip you of your title, throw you out. You’ll be nothing but a rogue.””
I tilted my head.
“Great. Let’s get divorced.”
The color drained from his face.
His wolf roared in his golden eyes, but I was already reaching for my coat.
I turned and walked out.
The room tilted.
My vision blurred.
Then–blackness.
I woke up to the sterile scent of antiseptic and herbs.
The pack hospital.
Ethan stood beside me.
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His usual confidence was gone, stripped away, but still, doubt flickered in his gaze- like he thought this was all an act.
His voice was unsteady.
“Lilah, what the hell are you pulling now?”
The room was silent.
Pack elders, warriors, even Omegas stood frozen, waiting.
I felt weightless, my limbs heavy, my wolf silent for the first time in years.
Ethan’s patience snapped.
He grabbed my wrist, yanking me upright. Not rough enough to bruise, but firm enough to demand an answer.
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“Enough. Stop playing games. You think this will stop me from ending our bond?”
“You started this. Maven was just trying to be nice, offering you a drink.”
A growl rippled from one of the elders. Ethan ignored it.
“Dario already checked–your pills don’t react with alcohol. What’s your angle here?”
One of the older warriors stepped forward.
“Alpha, she’s not pretending. That’s real blood.”
Another wolf nodded.
“Yeah… she’s not faking it. She needs
treatment.”
Ethan inhaled sharply
For the first time that night
