Chapter 3
1452 Words
The Morning After
I woke up smiling and for one foolish second, I believed I was still dreaming.
My fingers moved across the sheets, and I searched for Magnus but there was nothing and then my smile faded.
“Magnus?”
There was no answer and I sat up.
His side of the bed was empty and I looked around the room.
His clothes were gone and his boots were gone, he had already left.
I then pressed my hand against my chest, maybe he went to deal with pack business, maybe he would return.
After everything that happened last night, he could not simply leave without saying goodbye.
I looked at the pillow beside me and a folded piece of paper rested there and then my heart jumped.
“A letter?”
I reached for it.
Maybe he wrote something sweet, maybe he finally wanted to tell me how he felt.
My fingers shook as I unfolded the paper and then I saw the first line.
DIVORCE DECREE
My smile disappeared and I stopped breathing.
“No.”
I read the words again and then again and my eyes moved down the page.
The marriage between Alpha Magnus Ravencrest and Evelina Ashcroft is hereby dissolved.
My fingers began to tremble.
“No…”
I continued reading.
The political agreement between Nightfang Pack and Shadowridge Pack has fulfilled its purpose.
My vision blurred.
Evelina Ashcroft is no longer required as Alpha Magnus Ravencrest’s wife.
The paper fell from my hands and then I stared at it and a small laugh escaped my lips but it sounded broken.
“This is a joke.”
The door opened and a maid walked in and she stopped when she saw me.
“Lady Evelina…”
“Where is Magnus?”
She looked down.
“Alpha Magnus is in the main hall.”
“Tell him I need to speak with him.”
She did not move.
“Did you hear me?”
“I am sorry.”
“Why are you apologizing?”
Her eyes were filled with pity and I hated that look.
“Tell him to come here.”
She then shook her head.
“He said you are to leave the Alpha Manor before noon.”
My heart dropped.
“He said that?”
“Yes.”
I picked up the divorce decree.
“Then he can tell me himself.”
I walked past her.
“Lady Evelina!”
I kept walking and my feet carried me down the stairs.
Every step felt harder than the last and when I reached the main hall, I hear laughter.
Then I saw her.
The silver-haired woman from last night, she stood near Magnus, she was dressed in white, beautiful and perfect.
It was like she belonged beside him.
Magnus looked at her with an expression I had spent three years begging to see. It was warmth, desire and love.
My chest burned.
Then the woman turned and our eyes meet and then she smiled.
“Evelina.”
She said my name as if she had known me forever and then I looked at Magnus.
“What is she doing here?”
He said nothing and the woman stepped closer to him.
“Magnus?”
Her voice was sweet and he looked at her.
“Lyra.”
My stomach twisted. So that was her name.
Lyra Evermoon.
The woman everyone whispered about, his former lover, the woman who disappeared years ago, the woman everyone believed would become his Luna.
I looked at Magnus.
“You brought her here?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
His face gave me nothing.
“She is returning to Nightfang.”
I laughed.
“Returning?”
Lyra reached for his arm and Magnus allowed her.
My heart cracked a little more and I held up the divorce decree.
“You sent me this.”
“Yes.”
“You did this after last night?”
His eyes flickered.
“Yes.”
I stared at him.
“How could you?”
He looked away.
“Last night changed nothing.”
Those words hurt more than the paper.
“But you said I was your wife.”
“You are.”
“Then why are you divorcing me?”
“Our marriage was an agreement.”
“It has been three years!”
“I know.”
“Then why did you touch me like you cared?”
There was silence and then my eyes were filled with tears.
“Was I just a duty to you?”
Magnus’s jaw tightened.
“You knew what this marriage was.”
“No.”
I then shook my head.
“I knew what the elders told me. I knew I was supposed to help stop a war. But I thought…”
My voice broke.
“I thought you might love me.”
Lyra looked at me and then she whispered, “Evelina, perhaps you should accept that Magnus has made his choice.”
I turned toward her.
“This is between me and my husband.”
She smiled.
“Not anymore.”
Magnus did not correct her and that silence destroyed me but then I wiped my tears.
“You really want this?”
“Yes.”
“One day, will you regret it?”
His eyes meet mine.
“No.”
I nodded slowly.
“Then I will leave.”
I turned away.
“Evelina.”
I stopped and for one second, hope returned and I looked back.
Magnus was staring at me but he said nothing and so I walked away.
…
By evening, my room no longer looked like mine, two servants removed the Luna crest from above my bed.
“Stop!”
They froze and I pointed at the crest.
“Leave it.”
One servant shook her head.
“Alpha Magnus ordered us to remove everything.”
I looked at the symbol.
Three years ago, I touched that crest and cried because I thought I had finally found a home.
Now it was being taken away, piece by piece, my clothes were packed and my jewelry was removed.
Even the portrait of Magnus and me disappeared from the wall.
I watched them carry it away and a servant entered with one final box.
“What is that?”
“Your belongings.”
“My belongings?”
“Yes.”
She placed it on the floor.
“That is all?”
She looked away and I opened the box.
Inside were a few dresses, old letters from my mother, and the necklace Magnus gave me on our wedding day.
I held the necklace tightly and a tear fell onto it.
“Did he say anything?”
The servant hesitated.
“What?”
“He said…”
She swallowed.
“Alpha Magnus said you should leave before sunrise.”
I then closed my eyes.
“Of course.”
The door closed and I sat on the edge of the bed.
No.
Not my bed anymore. I looked around the room.
For three years, I had dreamed of being accepted here but now I understood.
I was never home. I was only a temporary guest. A bride everyone hated.
…..
Before sunrise, I walked toward the castle entrance and my suitcase rolled behind me.
The same servants who once bowed to me now avoided my eyes and I stopped at the entrance.
I looked back and Magnus was standing beside Lyra.
She was holding his arm and he did not look at me.
I waited. Just once.
I wanted him to call my name but he did not and then I turned away.
Then a loud bell rang across the castle and everyone froze.
Then another bell followed, then another and the elders rushed into the main hall.
An old warrior ran toward us.
“Alpha!”
Magnus turned.
“What happened?”
“The Moon Priest has summoned every wolf.”
Magnus’s expression changed.
“For what?”
“We don’t know.”
The elder arrived behind the warrior and his face was tense.
“The sacred Moon Rite will begin tonight.”
Magnus frowned.
“Why?”
The elder shook his head.
“The Moon Priest gave only one command.”
He looked around the hall.
“Every wolf must attend.”
My hand tightened around my suitcase, something felt wrong, very wrong and Magnus looked toward the elders.
Even he seemed confused.
“Who ordered this?”
The elder slowly raised his eyes toward the dark sky.
“The Moon Goddess.”
And suddenly…
Every wolf in the castle fell silent.
Something was coming, something none of us understood and before I could leave…
The gates slammed shut.
- Writer
- chap_listContents
- likeADD