The Lycan Emperor’s Irresistible Attraction

Vaelira’s POV I woke up with my husband’s hand resting on my waist and for a moment, I forgot everything. I forget the five years of pain, I forgot the nights Zorvath slept with his back to me. I forget every time he looked at me as if I was something he was forced to carry and I only remembered last night. His lips were mine, his fingers were gripping my body and the way he pulled me beneath him and said my name like he had wanted to say it for years. “Vaelira.” I then turned slowly to look at him. Zorvath Draeven, my husband, my Alpha, the man I had loved for years. He was still asleep and I stared at his face, my heart beating hard. Last night, something changed and for the first time since we got married, he did not touch me because it was his duty. He wanted me, I saw it in his eyes, and I felt it in every kiss. He held me afterward and kept me in his arms, and I barely slept. I was too busy wondering if my husband had finally chosen me, maybe this was the beginning of something, maybe he loved me. The thought made me smile and then Zorvath opened his eyes and I froze. “Good morning,” I whispered and he stared at me and for one second, I thought he would smile. Instead, he removed his hand from my waist. “Morning.” My smile disappeared and he got out of bed and then I watched him put on his clothes. “Zorvath.” “What?” “About last night…” His hands stopped and my heart started beating faster. “What about it?” The hope inside me began to shake and I sat up, and pulled the sheet against my body. “It felt different.” He looked at me. “Did it?” “Yes.” He said nothing and then I swallowed. “I thought maybe…” A knock interrupted me. “Come in,” Zorvath said and a guard entered. “The elders are waiting, Alpha.” Zorvath nodded and the guard looked at me. “Alpha, the Alpha also requested that Luna Vaelira meets him in his private chamber in one hour.” I blinked. “Me?” “Yes.” I looked at Zorvath but he turned away. “Be there.” My heart beat again, maybe he wanted to talk, maybe he wanted to tell me what last night meant. An hour later, I stood outside his private chamber and I took a deep breath and entered. “Zorvath?” He was standing beside the table, then I saw the papers. My heart stopped and I walked closer. DIVORCE AGREEMENT. My hands became weak and I stared at the papers and then I looked at him. “What is this?” “You know what it is.” “No.” His eyes narrowed. “Vaelira.” “I can read!” My voice broke. “I am asking why it is here.” “You need to sign it.” I laughed and the sound came out strange. “You are joking.” “I am not.” My eyes burned. “After last night?” His face did not change. “Last night changes nothing.” I stopped breathing. “What?” “Sign the papers.” I stared at him. “Why?” “I have made my decision.” “Why?” His silence made my chest hurt and then I stepped closer. “Tell me what I did.” “Vaelira…” “Did I fail you again?” His jaw tightened. “My mother died saving your life.” His eyes darkened and I kept talking because I couldn't stop. “She made you promise to protect me. She died, and your father decided the best way to repay her was to force you to marry me.” “Enough.” “No.” My tears fell but then I wiped them away. “You hated that marriage from the beginning. You hated looking at me because I remind you of a promise you never wanted.” “Stop.” “Then tell me why you are divorcing me!” The door opened and a woman’s laugh entered the room and my body froze. No. I turned. She stood at the door, long black hair, green eyes. It was face I had seen in the paintings inside my husband’s study. “Lysandra?” She smiled. “Hello, Vaelira.” My lips parted. “You are dead.” “Clearly, I am not.” Lysandra Veyne. Zorvath’s former lover, the woman he loved before he married me, the woman everyone said died during the northern war. I looked at Zorvath and then at her. “No.” She walked toward him and my heart began to race. “Did you miss me?” Lysandra asked but Zorvath said nothing. She reached for his face and I waited for him to move away but he did not and then she kissed him and my whole body shook. I could not breathe but he did not push her away. He let her kiss him. I stepped backward and Lysandra pulled away and looked at the papers and then she smiled at me. “Why haven’t you signed?” I looked at Zorvath. “Is this because of her?” He said nothing and my heart broke. Lysandra then picked up the papers. “You should sign, Vaelira.” She gave them to me. “I am back now.” My fingers shook and I took the pen. For one moment, I looked at Zorvath, he did not stop me and then I signed. My name appeared at the bottom of the page. Vaelira Draeven. Not for long. I dropped the pen. “Congratulations.” Lysandra smiled and I turned around and walked out. I refused to run, I refused to cry and I walked until I reached my room and then I stopped. My belongings were outside, my clothes, my books and my mother’s necklace. Two guards stood beside them. “What is this?” “Orders from the Alpha.” My heart sank. “What orders?” “You are no longer allowed to stay in the Luna’s quarters.” I stared at him. “Where am I supposed to go?” “The omega quarters.” For one second, everything inside me breaks and I bent down and picked up my bag and then another. I would not cry, I would not give them that. I turned toward the omega quarters and behind me, I heard laughter. Lysandra and I stopped walking. She came closer and her voice reached my ear. “Your marriage was never your greatest mistake, Vaelira.” My fingers tightened around my bag and then she whispered: “Surviving what comes next will be.”