Chapter 5
1045 Words
ARIA'S POV
Sunlight hit my face like it had a personal vendetta, dragging me awake. My body betrayed me. First was the heat still lingering between my thighs. I immediately recalled last night... though it was a bit foggy.
The room looked… off. It was too neat. The bed was perfectly made. My stomach twisted as confusion slammed into me.
Was this… a wet dream? No. Absolutely not. My mind refused to make sense of the situation, but my body stubbornly remembered anyway.
No way. I was still sore...aching in all the right places... so how in the moon goddess’s name could that have been a dream? Wait, he ripped my pajamas! I swiftly glanced down... and guess what?
They weren’t ripped... not even a tear.
The man had definitely torn them yesterday... his hands, his lips and God those eyes. I remembered vividly... so how the hell is everything intact now? I tried to rack my brain, digging for some sort of explanation, but nada. My thoughts hit a dead end, and I surrendered with a dramatic sigh.
When I finally got home, Kael still wasn't home. Hours passed while I tackled the never-ending house chores, and still… no sign of him. A nagging unease started crawling up my spine.
I grabbed my phone to call him, but just as my thumb hovered over his contact, a notification popped up: THE FUTURE LUNA OF DAWNRIDGE PACK REVEALED.
I immediately stilled. Oh, moon goddess… what fresh drama was this?
My chest felt like it had been ripped open when I clicked the picture attached. And guess who popped up... my husband and that b***h… in bed together. Heather's hand was on his head, flashing that damn diamond ring on her finger like she was claiming every wolf.
I mean, sure, I knew about Kael that night at Heather's place, but posting a photo online? That was a whole new level of betrayal. He wasn’t just cheating...he was broadcasting to the world that he was choosing her over me. Did I do something wrong?! What did I do to deserve this?
The ache in my heart spread through every inch of me, but I refused to let the tears fall. The second he kissed her, I should have seen this coming.
And I knew exactly what was next. He’d crown Heather Luna… and divorce me.
No... Absolutely not. I wasn’t going to be the pathetic, barren wife of the alpha who got tossed aside.
I’d given up so much of myself over the years, and maybe he thought that made me weak. But not anymore. Not today. If he was making moves, so was I.
I didn’t waste a second... I dialed Lydia, and she picked up on the first ring.
“Did you say today is the Lycan King’s banquet? Forget it, I’m going with you!”
****
A few hours later, I was staring at my reflection in Lydia's apartment mirror, practically gawking at myself. She’d glammed me up in the most provocative cocktail gown imaginable, and my face? Flawless. Every curve, every contour, screaming dangerously irresistible.
When we arrived at the banquet, the hall was packed with sophisticated wolves, alphas, and anyone with an ego bigger than the moon. But heads turned anyway... mine especially.
“There he is! Go throw it in his face!” Lydia whispered.
I saw them. Kael and Heather, looking annoyingly perfect together. Ugh. I kissed Lydia goodbye and strode toward them.
They noticed me, and they were both startled, as if I’d just appeared from another dimension, hotter, sharper, untouchable. I stopped a few inches away.
“Hey there,” I purred.
Heather scowled, of course. She had on this plain white dress that practically screamed the background character. And then there was me... red dress, loud, bold, unapologetically stealing the spotlight like I owned it.
Kael’s voice wavered with surprise. “What are you doing here… dressed in that?”
I smirked. “This?” I gestured to the dress, letting it hug me in all the right ways. “This is a dress. And I’m here because I want to be. But don’t worry, I’m not here to ruin your fun with your little mistress.”
His eyes darkened. “Aria, watch your mouth! This is an important function...
"You need to act like the future Luna you’re supposed to be!”
I scoffed. “Future Luna? Sweetheart, it’s too late for that. I want a divorce.”
The color drained from his face, replaced quickly by rage. “What nonsense are you talking about?”
I smiled lethally and pulled the divorce papers from my bag, sliding them into his hands.
“This is what I’m talking about. I’m not here to be an obstacle to your little love story, Kael. Quit the pretense. Sign the papers. I’ll get out of your life… just like you want.”
I faced Heather, my lips curling into a sharp grin. “I hope you enjoy your fated mate all alone... just like you’ve always wanted!”
Her lips twitched, not with fear, but pure venom. Before I could blink, she grabbed a passing waiter’s glass of wine and dumped it all over me.
I shrieked, the cold liquid seeping through my dress, making it cling to every curve, every edge. Panic surged as I tried to cover myself, but it was useless. The wine spread like wildfire, and I was the center of everyone’s gaze.
Just as I thought I had to make a dramatic exit, a broad hand landed on my shoulder. Thick fabric shielded me. I didn't move. The scent hit me first... that scent. I spun, heart thudding, only to lock eyes with the same piercing blue I’d lost myself in last night.
Recognition washed over him... and me. No, this wasn’t a fantasy. I had spent the night with a semi-god, and here he was, standing in front of me, protecting me… while my soon-to-be ex-husband just… froze.
Kael's throat cleared awkwardly. “King Xves, I… I apologize on behalf of my wife. She… isn’t really used to this kind of function.”
He bowed stiffly to the man holding me.
Wait. King Xves? My one-night stand… was the Almighty Lycan King?!
- Writer
