Alina's POV
"You are pathetic!"
Emily's voice sliced through the kitchen's quiet. The smile I'd been holding onto fell away. I let the knife clatter onto the marble counter, my pulse thrumming in my fingertips.
"You're doing all this for a man who won't ever give you a single glance," she sneered.
My hands curled into fists, my nails biting into my palms. I turned toward her, forcing my lips into a shape that felt more like a mask than a smile. It didn't reach my eyes. "I am doing this for my husband," I replied, my voice thin.
Emily's laugh rang out, sharp and jagged. It stung worse than a physical blow.
"Your husband? Are you that stupid, Alina?" She stepped into my space, her eyes like chips of ice. "You are nothing but an orphaned, wolfless omega. You are nothing to Aiden."
The words burned because they were true, but hearing them from his mistress made the ache settle deep in my chest.
"If only the Moon Goddess wasn't so cruel to me," she hissed, her face inches from mine. "I should have been the one married to Aiden. Not you."
I swallowed the lump in my throat, fighting to keep my knees from shaking. "I was chosen, Emily. I am his wife. No amount of insults will change that."
A smirk pulled at her lips. "You are married to him... but I own his heart."
"I am recognized as his wife by the entire pack, Emily. You will always be remembered as his mistress."
The color drained from Emily's face. Before I could blink, her hand cut through the air and struck my cheek.
Pain exploded across my face as my head snapped to the side. I gasped, clutching my burning skin while tears stung my eyes.
"How dare you speak to me like that, you pathetic loser!" she screamed.
"What is going on here?"
Aiden's deep voice made Emily flinch. She pivoted instantly, her rage melting into a mask of pure sorrow.
"Aiden, thank God you're here," she sobbed, her voice trembling. "Alina hit me... just because I told her she was lucky to be married to you." The lie hung in the air, heavy and ugly.
"I didn't touch her," I snapped, my voice harsh with a courage I didn't feel. "She slapped me. Look at my face!"
"That's enough!" Aiden's voice thundered, vibrating in the small space. He didn't even glance my way. He stepped right past me and caught Emily's shoulders. "Are you okay, Emily?"
The air left my lungs. He didn't need to see the red mark on my cheek; he had already made his choice. She was his world.
"I'll be better... if she apologizes to me," Emily whispered, brushing a stray, fake tear from her cheek.
I stared at her, my jaw locking tight. The room went cold. There was no way I was apologizing for being his victim.
"What are you waiting for, Alina? Apologize," Aiden commanded. The floor felt like it was tilting beneath my feet.
"I won't apologize," I said, my voice hardening. "Because I never touched her."
"Alina!" A low growl vibrated in his chest, making me flinch despite myself. "You will apologize to her," he added, his voice dropping into a dangerous, commanding tone.
"Fine," I whispered.
I forced a faint smile and stepped toward Emily. The smug smirk dancing on her lips made my blood boil. Without warning, I swung. My palm connected with her cheek in a loud, stinging crack. Her head whipped to the side, and her gasp echoed in the sudden silence of the kitchen.
"There," I said, my voice cold and steady. "Now I am sorry for hitting you."
"What the hell is wrong with you, Alina?" Aiden's roar shook the air.
"You told me to apologize for hitting her," I countered, meeting his eyes. "I just made sure the apology was for something I actually did."
"Do you see this, Aiden?" Emily wailed, clutching her face as real tears finally started to spill. "This is how she treats me! I gave up my position for her, and all I get is this torment. I've been nothing but kind, even after she stole everything from me."
I couldn't help it; I rolled my eyes. "I didn't steal a thing, Emily. I didn't ask for the Moon Goddess to choose me as the pack's Luna. I was chosen."
"Aren't you going to do something?" Emily shrieked, turning her pleading eyes to Aiden. "Are you just going to let her walk away after that?"
Aiden's gaze locked onto mine. His expression was a stone mask, impossible to read. I held my breath, wondering if he would actually strike me back for what I'd done to his "true love."
"Alina, leave. Now," he said.
My eyes widened for a split second before I regained my mask.
"What? No! She needs to be punished, Aiden! Right here, right now!" Emily's voice was laced with frantic rage.
I didn't wait for him to change his mind. I turned on my heel and walked straight to my room. The moment the door clicked shut, I leaned my back against the wood and let out a breath I'd been holding for years. I looked down at my stinging palm and a genuine smile broke across my face. If I still had my wolf, she would have been howling with pride. It felt incredible.
A few minutes later, a sharp knock startled me. I opened the door to find Aiden standing in the hallway. In the three years I had lived in this house, he had never once stepped foot in my room.
I stepped back, letting him in without a word. The silence between us was heavy, stretching until it felt like it might snap. He just stared at me, his eyes dark and unreadable.
"Here," he finally spoke, thrusting a thick envelope toward me.
I took it, my fingers trembling as I pulled out the top sheet.
"Divorce papers," I read aloud. My heart gave a strange, hollow thump.
"It is time," Aiden said, his voice flat and stern. "To end this loveless marriage."