Her Undestined Alpha

Chapter 2

Caesar, you are too petty.

As I shuffled through the pages of the files given to me by one of his secretaries who liked to work me to the bones, I couldn't help but be thankful to have something to hide my discomfort in front of his family in this exquisite high-end dining room in one of the chains of hotels he owns in this city, where I was never welcomed when they were out for a get-together.

They were in their full-on celebration mood. While I wasn't paying much attention because of some important matters I had to deal with by the time my husband arrived, I could tell that their topic of conversation was about...her return.

"Ma'am, do you think your estimated cost will be enough to cover the equipment production facility at the construction site we visited last time? Another major strike may soon arise if we don't improve the union's wages."

I was curious to hear more about the renovation and interior design they were focusing on rebuilding her room and the dresses and jewels they needed to buy for kitty parties they would attend with her, but this geezer wouldn't let me.

"There have been so many incidents these days, so wouldn't it be nice to change the mood by giving in to one of their- "

"I won't allow it."

I cut him off abruptly. It was annoying enough that I had to handle his pack's business when I came only to talk about the divorce settlement, and now I was being questioned about the stuff some people in this room would find fault with me.

"I'd rather have the whole union fired than tolerate them openly threatening our laborers from not coming to work."

Under normal circumstances, I would have asked him to discuss the expense with Caesar, as his people only listened to him, but when my family was in question, I couldn't let others interfere in things between us. I didn't want to be criticized and called shameless after our divorce for ripping the benefits off of Caesar while we were still married and making the Grayson Household spend less on this hospital project both families had been working on for over a year now.

Of course, for those who have less understanding of how business runs, I feel attacked every time they say stuff like that.

"Some people are good at putting on a show."

"I know, right!? In the name of saving others' funds and assets, they misuse them for personal gain."

"Hmph! I'll see how long this lasts. In no time, that homewrecker will also be banned from this industry once Danny returns home."

And to make things worse, even the youngsters in this clan knew about this marriage where I was nothing but just a contract worker who lived in their alpha's place. Their families still supported Danielle, so they never tried to get to know me. They hated me, even though I never did anything to hurt their feelings or sully their pack's honor.

I knew I wouldn't get permission to hire a secretary of my taste and end up taking the one Caesar sent to my office. Even still, I wanted to have someone I could, at least, talk to and be myself to, but I wasn't allowed to hire a housekeeper in his place.

Although Caesar made it obvious what drove him to suspect me as a spy for my family, my heart no longer wanted to understand his side. Should I spend the rest of my life like that? He didn't have to struggle as much as I did being in a relationship with him.

At that time, the scratchy noise of a chair surprised me, and I saw Danielle's younger sister getting up from her seat.

"I have a prior commitment, so I am taking my leave first."

She was more welcome here than me. She would have been Caesar's bride in my place if she wasn't a minor back then. No one would have treated her like they did to me just because she was...

"But you promised!" Caesar's six-year-old daughter frowned, complaining. "It has been a while since we had a meal together, Kate. I know you are busy these days, but can't you take a day off for us? We have many things to discuss, you know."

"Before our school reopens, I really wanted the three of us to go on a family trip. D-dad can join us, too, if he wants!?"

Another child chimed in, who would be my brother-in-law's son I had been looking after since he went missing after losing his mate.

It had been two years since then, but this ungrateful brat hadn't opened up to me yet and favored Kate over me, even after everything I did to protect him from his relatives and Caesar's advisors' prying eyes. This made things easier for me, though. I wouldn't have anything to hold me back here after the divorce. My heart wouldn't break for leaving him behind. Caesar would be there to protect him anyway, now that he had recognized this child's potential to become an alpha when he grew up.

"Your father has no reason to refuse this trip your grandma and aunt specially arranged for you guys."

Kate showed the children her kind smile, but it was all fake, and I knew she was dying to get away from this place as fast as possible.

"At least, have dinner with us before you leave, Kate." Caesar's mother insisted. "I remember your mother said your schedule was clear for today. Is it truly that important for you to leave so early, knowing it would break the children's hearts?"

My aunt, Shauna, had been in the city quite a while now for her treatment, but this woman never invited her home for once. Though my mother-in-law never even came to his house, not wishing to see my face, I, at least, expected her to act like the former Luna whom everyone in this pack worshiped from the bottom of their hearts.

I was envious of how Katelin was getting accepted, being an aunt of Caesar and Danielle's child, while Shauna, who practically raised me, wasn't welcomed anywhere. I couldn't help but blame myself for being weak. I hated myself more than people in his pack hated me, and I couldn't wait to leave for a place where no one would know me.

"Sorry, but it's about my final year project. Mrs. Vaughn. I can't afford to disappoint my professor and teammates, so..."

Everyone often misunderstood her reluctance to spend time with this family in my presence. Caesar's daughter was no different from the rest. I noticed Danielle's mini-me looking in my way disdainfully but turned her gaze away when our eyes met.

She must have heard from her elders that her parents couldn't be together because of me. In the past three years, she had noticed how their families never left her with me, so for her to consider me as an evil stepmother wouldn't surprise me much. How could this child not loathe me more now when she believed her beloved aunt was leaving because I made her uncomfortable?

It was at that moment I felt him getting closer to this suite.

I knew it wouldn't be the right thing to do, but didn't I have enough already? Why should I care to save his face when he deliberately asked me to come here to see his people ignoring me while they kept on talking about him and Danielle's reunion?

While Katelin was collecting her belongings from the table, I closed the file I had in my hand and ordered, "Sit down."

"...what?"

The whole room fell into silence. Katelin looked more guarded than angry, meeting my eyes.

I ignored everyone whose gazes turned toward me for daring to use my alpha tone on her without caring about the elders present at that time. Some even gnashed their teeth, preparing themselves to say stuff to hurt me, but as soon as the door behind me creaked open, I said what I had to say before they could get the chance to complain about me to Caesar.

"Your sister is coming back."

I smiled at her without acknowledging his presence.

My chest tightened sensing his lawyer's presence beside him; even still, I kept my expression neutral and tone similar to what I used on her earlier, "Shouldn't you stay behind and be a witness for your future Luna about your alpha's divorce today?"

It was so dramatic of her to gasp so hard, pressing her hand on her mouth. Although I wasn't paying much attention to my surroundings, from their reactions, it was as if none of them saw that coming from me.

What riled me up more was Caesar sounding surprised after coming beside me.

"...is that why you left home after our third anniversary?"

"Are you for real, Caesar?" I chuckled as I left my seat to stand face-to-face with him. "I expected you to bring your lawyer with you, but to think you would do this in front of your family and friends, knowing how sensitive I would become after hearing their accusations of stealing your money in the name of working on this project between our packs."

"Like hell, I would accept a single penny from you!"

I continued to speak harshly, intending to hurt him, even though I knew he wouldn't be affected at all.

"I also made it clear to you many times that I don't have any feelings for you. I told you that I would leave. Then why did you go this far to make me sign the divorce papers you had your lawyers prepared for me?"

"...they said something like that to you?"

I scoffed, "Why would it matter? It isn't like we are a real couple anyway."

That anger in his eyes held no literal meaning for me, so I ignored the feeling that Caesar looked different from what he usually was. As I said before, Caesar never cared about how everyone treated me in his pack.

"From the beginning, I was advised to remember those clauses you put on the document."

I wouldn't give him the benefit of the doubt.

"After considering my position, the possibility that I might be incapable of paying the price of breaching the contract made me stay within my boundaries. You should have known, Caesar. Then why!?"

Only I knew how I felt about this all the time, living as his wife. It was too suffocating. I don't think I can do this anymore.

"Now tell me, will your lawyer be enough to run the process smoothly? Or do you want me to hire on from our side?"

"...could it be why you didn't join me at the recent events where both of our presence were mandatory?"

He snapped at me, leaving me all puzzled.

"Are you f*ck!ng serious right now? Don't you know how important those meetings were? I let that slide, thinking you must not be feeling well! But you... just what the hell were you thinking when you left the house like that without a word?"

"...what do you take me for? I can't be a doormat for the rest of my life!"

"Just f*ck!ng shut up, alright?"

Flinched, I couldn't believe my ears.

In front of the seniors and children of his family, he was using crude words that left me stunned. Pinching the bridge of his nose, he spoke to me impatiently, "Your dad...is he okay with this? Did you discuss this matter with him before coming here?"

I almost laughed hearing what Caesar asked me just now. He talked as if I was still on good terms with that person like in our old times when I was in the academy. How shameless of him to look at me like I was being difficult for him!

"It sounded rather strange when you put it this way." I sneered at him again. "Was it me who invited myself here to your family dinner? I didn't have the information as I was never invited to one before when we lived together as a married couple."

"Is there anything you need, Maverick? Jewels, dresses, shoes, or whatever it is; you can have them all."

He growled as he used his alpha authority, looking dead in my eyes.

"I can even have them customized for you. If you want, I can build a vacation house on the island of your choice and leave the decor to you. Just stop with your divorce nonsense and pack your bags for home. I'll pick you up first thing in the morning."

I looked at him with an expression I couldn't even comprehend myself.

I was disappointed with how little he thought about me. The tone he used on me almost made me weak in my knees. Another she-wolf in my position would have given in if I wasn't mentally strong, if not physically.

Caesar was my husband, and I lived in his pack, but I hadn't accepted him as my alpha yet. To begin with, I wasn't one of them. Maybe that was why I looked unaffected, unlike his beta, the second strongest, who groaned and moved two steps away from Caesar.

"I am not throwing tantrums at you, Mr. Vaughn?" I looked at him gloomily. "I expect you not to take me lightly and do what is necessary. Feel free to have your lawyer contact me any time in three days."

With that saying, I stepped back and decided to leave fast.

It didn't look like my husband had brought his lawyer for the purpose I thought he would. I couldn't continue that conversation there anymore, not after seeing how even that geezer of my assistant was sweating heavily as he was breathing hard.

Partially, I could be at fault. I couldn't tell how strong I had gotten after years of harsh training, but Shauna said Caesar's beta couldn't beat me that easily in a one-to-one fight. I wanted to beat him to a pulp for hiding the fact that Caesar and Danielle were mates, but there was a possibility that I might lose control over my emotions, remembering those bittersweet moments in the past.

My aunt could be wrong, though. To make me feel better, she often says stuff like Caesar would regret losing his true mate, or my cruel father would soon realize how evil he was to me and come crying, begging to get accepted by me again.

As if I would wait for them or even stay in touch after leaving this time. There wouldn't be any reason left for me to return after cutting ties with my family and my divorce.

Caesar's expression hardened as if he read my thoughts, and he gritted out, "You- "

"Oh, and one more thing."

I cut him off before he could say more.

"My decision hasn't changed much about the alimony; I won't accept a penny from you." I smiled, but that didn't reach my eyes. "This also doesn't necessarily imply that I won't dare retaliate, Caesar. Whoever you send after me won't return unscathed."