Timothy POV

I return from the hospital to a dark house. No lights in the living room. The silence feels wrong—foreign and cold.

"Zara!" I shrug off my suit jacket as I head upstairs.

Usually she's waiting. Smiling. Taking my coat, bringing my slippers. I'll admit it—I like her gentle touches. The way she used to look at me.

IfStella hadn't bled for me years ago, things between Zara and me might've been different. Some drunk shattered a beer bottle againstStella's forehead. The scar's still there, a permanent reminder of what she sacrificed.

That's why I owe her. Why I can't just cut her out.

But tonight, this silence makes me feel like I walked into the wrong house.

"Zara? You asleep already?"

I push open the master bedroom door expecting to see her curled in bed, maybe pretending to sleep to avoid confronting me. But the room's pitch black.

I flip the light switch. The bed's empty.

That damn woman isn't even here.

Night air drifts through the open window. A white paper flutters at my feet. I toss my jacket onto the bed and bend down.

"Divorce Agreement" glares up at me in bold letters.

My heart kicks hard against my ribs.

She's actually doing this?

I scan the document, jaw clenching tighter with each line. Grounds for divorce: infidelity, emotional abuse, irretrievable breakdown. Asset division: none requested, voluntary departure with nothing.

"Childish." I crush the paper in my fist and toss it in the trash. "Absolutely childish."

Havoc stirs inside me, uneasy. 'Something's different.'

'She's bluffing,' I tell my wolf. 'Playing games. Trying to get my attention.'

'Her wolf is strong,' Havoc insists. 'Raven has always been strong. She just hides it. Why does she hide it?'

'She's an omega,' I snap back at him. 'Weak. Low-ranked. That's why there's no bond between us.'

'No,' Havoc growls. 'The bond isn't formed yet, but it will be. Raven is meant for us. I feel it. She's powerful—she just won't show it. Why won't she show it?'

'You're wrong.' I push him down, annoyed. 'And even if you weren't—I didn't choose this marriage. Grandmother forced it on me. I don't want her.'

Havoc goes silent, but I can feel his disapproval burning in my chest.

I grab my sleep clothes and head for the bathroom when my phone buzzes.

Finally. I knew it. She's already calling to apologize—

But the screen showsStella's name.

Annoyance flares hot through my chest. Havoc immediately recoils, a low growl rumbling through our bond.

'Don't answer,' he snarls. 'Her wolf reeks of deception. Lyric is false, manipulative. I don't trust her.'

'She's the Ice Moon Pack Alpha's daughter,' I tell him firmly. 'A true heiress. She sacrificed herself for me. I owe her.'

'You owe her nothing!' Havoc snaps. 'That scar—I've never believed her story. And her wolf—Lyric never feels genuine. Not like Raven. Raven is real, honest, even when she hides her strength. But Lyric? She's all performance.'

'Enough.' I force him down. 'You don't understand human obligations.Stella is a refined lady from a powerful pack. Not like—'

I stop myself, but Havoc finishes my thought with disgust.

'Not like Zara? Not like the "omega" you've dismissed for three years? You're a fool.'

I swipe to accept the call anyway, ignoring my wolf's protest.

"Timothy..." Her voice comes through breathy and weak. "I'm so dizzy. I'm scared. Can you come to the hospital? Please?"

Havoc snarls in disgust. 'Fake. Listen to how calculated that tone is. She's performing for you. Lyric isn't even distressed—I can tell from her voice. But Raven? When Raven was hurt, truly hurt, you never—'

'Shut up,' I snap at my wolf.

Something aboutStella's tone does grate on me tonight. I pinch the bridge of my nose.

"Not tonight," I say, exhaustion pulling at every word. "I'm tired. Haven't even eaten dinner yet. I need to rest—"

"Zara still hasn't come to apologize!" Hurt bleeds throughStella's voice. "She pushed me down the stairs, Timothy. I could charge her with attempted murder!"

'Lies,' Havoc growls. 'I can hear Lyric's satisfaction underneath the fake tears. She's enjoying this. She always enjoys hurting Raven. Why can't you see it?'

"Tomorrow." I force the edge out of my tone. "Zara's not here right now. Tomorrow I'll bring her to apologize. Get some rest."

"She's not there?" Something shifts inStella's voice. Is she... laughing?

I end the call before she can say more.

My eyes drift to the photo on the nightstand—our wedding picture. Zara in a white dress, pressed against my side, smiling like I'd hung the moon. Her eyes sparkle like starlight.

I pick up the frame. My thumb traces the curve of her lips.

I've always known Zara's beautiful. I've just never said it out loud. I save my compliments forStella.

But the longer I stare at the photo, the more restless Havoc becomes.

'Look at her,' Havoc urges. 'Really look. Can't you feel it? Raven's presence in this photo—she was so full of hope. So strong. She could have been—'

'Could have been what?' I cut him off harshly. 'An omega is an omega. The lowest rank. That's all she'll ever be.'

'You're blind,' Havoc snarls. 'Raven is hiding something. Something powerful. I've felt it since the day we met her. The bond will form. It just needs time—'

'There is no bond!' I slam the photo frame down. 'Stop this nonsense.'

'Call her,' my wolf urges, ignoring my anger.

'No.'

'Something's wrong. I can feel it. Raven is... different tonight.'

"She's fine," I mutter aloud. "Just being dramatic."

But I'm already reaching for my phone, pulling up her number. I hit call before I can talk myself out of it.

"The number you have dialed cannot be reached—"

She blocked me.

That woman actually blocked me.

Rage surges white-hot through my veins. Havoc doesn't snarl like I expect—instead, he whines. Low and anxious.

'Raven blocked us,' he says, and there's something like pain in his voice. 'She's never done that before. She's always accepted our presence, even when you ignored her. Why now? What changed?'

'She's playing games,' I snap.

'No.' Havoc's voice is certain. 'This is different. Raven isn't playing. She's... letting go.'

The thought sends an uncomfortable twist through my gut. I nearly hurl my phone across the room.

My face must look murderous. My heart's pounding too fast. This isn't like her. She's slipping out of my control, and I don't like it.

I storm downstairs and grab the landline, dialing her number again.

This time it rings.

Relief loosens the knot in my chest. See? She's not serious. Just playing hard to get.

"Done with your tantrum?" I keep my voice cold, edged with authority. Alpha command bleeds through whether I mean it to or not.

"Did you sign the divorce papers?" Her voice comes through flat. Detached.

Cold.

I freeze. "What?"

"The papers, Timothy. Did you sign them?"

That's not—she's supposed to—

"What do you want?" I soften my tone slightly. "Name it. Ten thousand? Is that enough?"

That's how this usually works. I leave her forStella, she sulks, I throw money at the problem, and everything goes back to normal. She never actually buys anything. Just likes knowing I'm willing to pay.

"I want a divorce." Her voice doesn't waver. "Timothy, I don't want a single cent of your filthy money."

My jaw locks. "What are you playing at?"

"I'm giving you one last chance," I say, dragging authority into every syllable. "I'll forget this happened. Come home and apologize—"

"Timothy Sterling, are you senile?" She laughs. Actually laughs at me. "Let me make this crystal clear: I want a divorce. Divorce. Do you understand the word?"

"Now you want a divorce?" Fury rises hot and fast. "Who was begging to marry me three years ago?"

"Technically, your grandmother," Zara shoots back. "I saved her life. She demanded you marry me. But I'll admit it—I was blind. I made a mistake."

'She's not bluffing,' Havoc says, and now there's genuine alarm in his voice. 'Raven has made her decision. I can feel it through the phone line. She's done submitting. Done hiding. She's—'

'Shut up,' I snarl at my wolf.

"You made a mistake?" Something dangerous coils in my chest. "Fine. Come to the hospital. Apologize toStella. Then I'll sign."

"You said it yourself." Her response is immediate. "One hour. Bring the papers. Meet me at the hospital."

The line goes dead.

I slam the phone down hard enough to crack the cradle.

"Damn woman," I snarl.

I storm back upstairs and fish the crumpled divorce agreement out of the trash. My hands smooth the wrinkles with more force than necessary.

She won't go through with it. She's been living off me for three years like a parasite. The second I call her bluff, she'll panic. She'll drop to her knees and beg me to take her back.

I'll make sure of it.

But Havoc doesn't whine anxiously like before. His voice comes through clear and cold.

'You don't understand,' he says. 'Raven was never weak. She was waiting. Hoping. And now she's done. When we see her at the hospital, you'll see what I've been trying to tell you. She's been hiding her true strength all along.'

'She's an omega,' I insist.

'Is she?' Havoc asks quietly. 'Or is that just what we assumed? What if we were wrong about her from the beginning?'

I ignore him.

She will come back. She has to.