Alicia's POV

Blake's brazen betrayal shattered my heart into pieces.

"What do you mean by that?" I demanded an answer from Blake, almost losing my cool.

I stared deep into Blake's eyes, desperate to convey the storm inside me—I had to hear the truth from his own lips, no matter what.

The look he returned was filled with unspoken chill.

"I wasn't planning on doing this right away, but since you're pushing me—"

Blake suddenly tightened his grip on Lilith’s hand and turned to face the crowd.

"I hereby announce that from this day on, Lilith is the Luna of the Shadowfang Pack! She is my mate! Soon, we’ll hold a grand wedding."

The crowd erupted instantly, murmurs buzzing in my ears like angry bees.

"Lilith is the Alpha’s mate? What about Alicia then? They’ve been married for a year."

"But Alicia is wolfless, and the Alpha's never marked her."

"So, is our pack going to have two Lunas?"

Two Lunas?

It was absolutely absurd. And heartbreaking.

Right after Blake and I tied the knot, he left for the battlefield.

We only exchanged rings and didn't even get a chance to have a proper wedding.

I managed the pack for him and took care of his mother, waiting for him for an entire year.

And now that he returned, he didn't appreciate what I had done and even had the gall to demand two wives? It was simply outrageous.

My body began to shake uncontrollably. The moment that should’ve been marked by joyous reunions and happiness with my husband had turned into a nightmare, filled with rage and sorrow.

Even the surrounding air felt suffocating.

I just couldn’t accept his insulting behavior. It felt like he was trampling all over my dignity, pushing me back into an abyss of pain and despair.

"If that’s the case, let’s end our marriage!" White-hot fury and gut-wrenching anguish threatened to consume me. I clenched my fists, forcing myself to keep calm and confront the man I thought I knew but clearly didn’t at all.

"What did you just say?" Blake frowned, clearly shocked by my words.

"I said, I want a divorce!" I snarled with unwavering determination, my gaze shifting between him and Lilith, trying to see through their cruelty and selfishness.

"I don’t agree!" Blake refused immediately, so quickly that even Lilith's eyes widened beside him.

Ignoring her reaction, he let go of her hand and rushed toward me.

"I'm not divorcing you, Alicia!" His tone rang with more conviction than when he had once promised to love only me on bent knee.

"Blake, you betrayed me, turning my waiting and everything I sacrificed into a complete joke. I demand to leave you, whether you agree or not!" I stood my ground, resolute to defend my choice.

Blake’s eyes burned with anger as I challenged him in front of everyone. Without warning, his hand clamped around my wrist like a steel trap—I could feel the bones creak in protest under his crushing grip.

It hurt, but not nearly as much as the pain in my heart.

"Listen up, Alicia! You’re just a wolfless orphan who needs my protection. You have no right to stand up to me, let alone get a divorce. Even if I take Lilith—or other mates in the future—you still remain my wife. Don’t even think about getting rid of me!"

His words shattered the composed facade I was struggling to keep.

For a moment, I couldn’t even tell my emotions—was I more heartbroken or enraged?

His earlier declarations, the sweet promises of love and acceptance despite my lack of a wolf during his pursuit circled in my mind.

I got through the more than three hundred lonely days of separation by believing in those words.

But now, the same man insulted me with my lack of a wolf.

How could the man I loved deeply become this cruel? I couldn't understand.

"Let go!" I struggled against his iron grip, but he wouldn’t budge.

Against his immense strength, I was powerless, struggling in vain to break free.

Moreover, he even tightened his hold as if he wanted to hold me down for good.

"The Alpha King has approved my marriage with Lilith. If you want a divorce over this matter, it’ll be as good as slapping him in the face. Alicia, don’t be foolish!" Blake shamelessly invoked the Alpha King to pressure me.

"Don't worry, Alicia. Even though I’m Blake’s mate, I won’t be mean. We’ll get along just fine, so stop being unreasonable," Lilith chimed in, her voice oozing a veneer of kindness.

"How ridiculous!" I snorted. "You're nothing more than a homewrecker. You really think you have the right to preach to me, huh?"

Lilith’s face instantly fell.

"Lilith is my true mate," Blake snapped, rushing to her defense. "If you keep insulting her, I’ll report to Alpha King and strip you of your status, reducing you to the lowest Omega!"

My eyes widened, not out of fear but because I now fully saw his true colors.

I kept fighting back against his iron grip, even though my resistance was meaningless—a sparrow fighting against a hurricane.

Just when I was feeling desperate, the grip suddenly loosened.

Confused, I looked up and found Axel standing behind Blake, his hand firmly planted on Blake’s shoulder.

Blake tried to struggle, but Axel held an immense, godlike prowess from his inheritance of Kronos’s power. Under Axel’s intense Alpha presence, Blake was simply powerless.

In a fleeting moment, Blake gave in, his defiance folding.

So, was Axel helping me?

I wasn’t sure, but I didn’t hesitate, taking the opportunity to pull back my hand.

At the same time, Axel let go of Blake's shoulder.

"Men shouldn’t lay a hand on women," Axel said drily, his words dripping with contempt. "Alpha King certainly didn’t allow you to hit your wife."

That single remark confirmed my suspicions: Axel was really stepping in for me. I didn’t have time to dwell on it, though. I faced Blake and declared, "I’m going to meet Alpha King."

Things had spiraled to a point where I had no choice. Given that Blake was going to use Kronos as an excuse, I could only get Kronos’s permission to end this marriage.

"No! You’re not going anywhere!" Blake lunged forward, trying to grab me again.

But this time, a solid body blocked his path, shielding me.

Dumbfounded, I stared at the broad back right in front of me. A sudden, sharp ache sliced through my mind.

That was Axel.

But how come his back felt so familiar? It was an uncanny match for the fleeting memory I had earlier.

Before I could make sense of it, Blake’s voice interrupted.

"Alpha Axel, please step aside. I need to talk to my wife," Blake demanded, his irritation poorly concealed under forced restraint.

"But your wife wants a divorce," Axel replied bluntly, standing firm.

"That’s between her and me," Blake snapped, raising his voice.

"I understand. But you have no right to stop her from meeting with the Alpha King," Axel said, turning slightly to meet my gaze. "Alicia, I can take you to the Alpha King. If you’re sure this is what you want, come with me."

Axel’s offer left me stunned once again. Why was he helping me again and again? Seeing him walk toward his car, I followed him without any hesitation.

"Alicia, stop!" Blake’s shout echoed behind me, but it only urged me to move faster.

And so, in full view of everyone, I climbed into Axel’s car and left. Only once we were far from the pack did I finally let out a sigh of relief.

The ride was silent. Despite the strange comfort Axel’s actions gave me, I kept my speculations to myself.

Perhaps he simply pitied me—a woman betrayed so cruelly by her husband.

As we arrived at the gates of Thunderclaw Kingdom’s palace, I paused instinctively.

The last time I was here was three years ago when I attended Kronos’s birthday celebration with my parents.

But now, both my parents were gone.

"Are you scared?" Axel’s voice broke through my thoughts.

I shook my head.

"Thank you for your help," I said, turning to bow deeply toward him. "I’ll repay your kindness."

"I look forward to it," Axel replied with a slight smile. "Go ahead. I’ve got other matters to attend to."

I almost got lost in his smile, but I quickly snapped back to reality, nodded, and entered the palace alone.

Kronos, who was sitting regally on his throne, appeared quite curious as he noticed my presence.

"Alicia? What brings you here?"

I bowed before him and, summoning all the courage within me, pleaded with unwavering resolve.

"Your Majesty, could you please issue a decree allowing my divorce from Blake? I beg you."