The Alpha’s Second Chance

Divorce Papers

Celeste’s

Holding my father’s wrist in his grip. I watch my father’s expression shift, his gaze wide with shock and horror.

“Touch her, and you’ll regret it,” Lucian growls, his voice low but lethal.

“Lay a hand on her, and you’ll regret you did,” Lucian growls, his voice low but firm and threatening.

The hall is so silent that you can hear the sound of a pin drop. Everyone stares at Lucian as he tightly holds Father’s hand.

“L-Lucian” Liora’s voice finally breaks the silence, and Lucian's gaze shifts to her. He flicks Father’s hand away, and I realize I have been holding my breath all this time.

I watch as Lucian walks to Liora, checking to see if she’s fine. My heart pounds painfully at the sight of his gentle touches, the way his gaze softens when he speaks to her in a tone he has never used with me. I find it hard to breathe.

She lets out a soft, pained whine as his fingers graze her foot, and he immediately shifts his gaze to me. His eyes, cold and piercing, lock onto mine, sending a chill through me that leaves me rooted to the spot.

I finally find my voice and try to explain what happened, but Father speaks first.

“Alpha, Celeste pushed Liora, and I was just trying to teach her a small lesson when you walked in.”

My eyes widen as I watch Father throw me under the bus.

“Yes, Alpha, that’s true, but please don’t blame Celeste. She’s just hurt, but she will apologize to Liora now.”

My heart twists painfully as Mother urges me to apologize to Liora. I didn’t push Liora, and even if I did— don’t I have the right to lash out at the woman who stole my husband? Yet, here I am, forced to apologize for something I didn’t even do.

I can feel Liora’s gaze on me, feigning innocence. Just for a moment, she wears a faint smirk, but it’s quickly replaced by that soft, pitiful expression.

“Celeste,” Mother continues, her tone gentle. “Go on, apologize to your sister.”

I clench my fists, a bittersweet smile tugging at my lips as I fight back tears. My gaze shifts to Lucian, searching desperately for a trace of understanding, but his expression stays cold, waiting for my apology. He doesn’t see me— he only sees the woman he loves, the one who will always hold his heart.

“It is my fault, so please don’t blame Celeste,” Liora pleads with tears in her eyes.

Lucian is about to say something, but I know his words will break me even more.

“I’m sorry, Liora,” I mutter under my breath before he speaks. Stupid Celeste, do you actually believe he will hear you out? That he will take your side? Why do you keep putting your expectations on him when he will let you down? Haven’t you learned your lesson yet?

My expression hardens as I lift my gaze. His eyes are fixed on me, scrutinizing every detail of my face, as if trying to unravel the emotions I’m desperately trying to conceal. His stare is intense, heavy and unrelenting, holding me captive and making it impossible to look away.

After a few seconds, Lucian looks away and carries Liora in his arms, walking past me. He stops for a moment before turning to Elijah, his beta who has been here all along.

“Give her the divorce papers and have her sign them.” He doesn’t spare me a glance as he walks away.

“Hmph. You should be lucky the Alpha didn’t take this further,” Father says, walking out, and Mother follows him. She stops, as if wanting to say something, but ultimately leaves to check on Liora.

“I—” Elijah tries to say something, but I shake my head and smile. Taking the paper and pen from his hand, I sign my name without hesitation. I’ll give him what he wants. If Lucian being with Liora is what will make everyone happy, then so be it.

I quit. Liora can have him. She’s won, and I’ve lost.

I have been holding onto a relationship that was bound to fail from the very beginning and now it is all worthless to cling to it.

After handing Elijah the signed papers, he leaves to deliver them to Lucian, leaving me standing there alone. I inhale deeply, trying to steady myself, but the moment I take a step, the world tilts.

My head pounds, and everything around me blurs into a dizzying haze. Just as my vision begins to fade, I feel the ground rush toward me, and a maid’s frantic voice reaches my ears.

“Luna—” Her words are lost in the fog as I crumble, succumbing to the darkness that swallows me whole.

Beep beep beep.

I slowly open my eyes, groaning as I try to move. The sharp ache in my body pulls me back to reality, and I take a moment to look around. It doesn’t take long to realize I’m in the hospital. I must have fainted.

Just as I manage to sit up despite the dull pain coursing through me, the doctor enters.

“You’re awake, Luna. That’s good,” she says, offering a smile while checking my vitals.

“I’m fine, doctor. It’s probably just stress. Can I go home?” I ask, cutting her off. I already know the cause of my collapse, and the last thing I want is to stay here longer.

“Luna, you need to rest a while longer. You’re not well enough to leave just yet. Yes, the stress contributed, but please, you must be careful. The pregnancy is in its early stages, and there are risks—”

Her words barely register at first, but then a single word pierces through the fog of my mind.

“Pregnancy?” I ask, my voice betraying the shock I feel. I can’t believe what I’m hearing. How did I miss this?

The nausea, the constant fatigue, the strange cravings… Then there were the mood swings, how easily I was set off. Even my clothes felt tighter, but I brushed it all aside, blaming the stress. How could I have ignored the signs?

“Yes, Luna. You’re two months pregnant.”