LYRA’S POV
I don’t remember how I made it to the hospital.
The alcohol burned my eyes like fire.
My vision blurred through pain and darkness.
I crawled along the pavement, my burned wrist throbbing and my knees scraping against the concrete.
“Please,” I begged, my voice a broken rasp.
“Someone…
anyone…
please help me…”
For ten long minutes, I kept dragging myself forward.
Cars passed.
People walked by.
No one stopped.
No one cared.
I pulled myself forward one agonizing inch at a time until, finally, a pair of hands grabbed my arm.
“Luna?
Luna Lyra?
Can you hear me?”
Someone grabbed my other arm and barked, “Get the doctor.
Now.”
The voices were familiar.
The pack hospital.
Somehow, I’d made it.
The doctor’s face swam in and out of focus as he examined my eyes with a small light.
“The damage is mostly superficial,” he said gently.
“Your vision hasn’t been permanently affected, but you’ll be in significant pain for a while, Luna.
The burns on your wrist will heal, though they’ll likely leave scars.”
I could only nod.
“Would you like us to contact the Alpha, Luna?” a nurse asked softly.
“No.” The word came out sharper than I intended.
“Don’t call anyone.
Cassian can’t know about this.
Do you understand me?”
“Yes, Luna.”
I had no one left I could trust.
No one.
My phone buzzed in my pocket.
I flinched at the vibration, then slowly pulled it out.
Alpha Kael.
I answered with trembling fingers.
“You claimed to have what I need,” he growled through the speaker.
“Yet you’re nowhere to be found, Luna.
Do you take me for a fool?”
My throat tightened.
“Alpha, something happened.
I need one more day.
Just one more day to get Cassian’s signature on the divorce papers.”
“Something happened?” He paused.
“Do you need me to come get you?
Or should I send my assistant?”
Tears burned behind my injured eyes.
“I’d appreciate either.”
Silence stretched between us.
“Are you sure about this, Luna?
Once you’re in, there’s no backing out.
This isn’t a game.”
I closed my eyes, holding back the tears threatening to spill.
“I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.”
“Good.
Contact me when you’re ready.”
The line went dead, and I immediately dialed Marcus.
“Lyra?”
“I need you to draft the divorce papers immediately and have them sent to the pack hospital.”
Marcus sighed.
“Lyra, I told you before.
It won’t work without Cassian’s…”
“Just get it done, Marcus,” I said through gritted teeth.
“And tell no one about this.
Not a single soul.”
He hesitated.
“Very well.
I’ll have them ready within the hour.”
“I’ll be waiting.” I hung up before he could say another word.
The papers were coming, and Cassian Voss had no idea what was about to hit him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The next morning, I was discharged with the divorce papers in hand.
I took a taxi home alone, my injured eyes hidden behind dark glasses from the hospital and my burned wrist wrapped in gauze.
The driver kept glancing at me in the rearview mirror, but he said nothing.
When I walked through the front door, Cassian was sitting in the living room with paperwork spread across the coffee table.
He didn’t look up or ask where I’d been.
He didn’t even notice the bandage on my wrist or the redness around my eyes.
He didn’t care.
The house smelled like Sabrina.
Like her perfume, her presence, her victory.
I walked to the coffee table and placed an envelope in front of him.
“I need you to sign something,” I said flatly.
“What is it?” He still didn’t look up.
“Hospital consent and liability forms.” The lie came easily.
“They need your authorization for my follow-up treatment.”
He picked up a pen and signed without reading a single word.
Just like that.
Five years of marriage.
Five years of my life.
Five years of love, devotion, and sacrifice.
And he signed it all away without even looking.
I took the envelope, my fingers steady despite the storm inside me.
Once the documents took effect tomorrow, I’d be free.
‘One more day,’ Kiara whispered.
‘Just one more day.’
I turned to leave, but the front door slammed open.
Sabrina stormed in, her face twisted with fury.
Behind her, Natasha clutched a stuffed rabbit.
Her hair was disheveled, the hem of her dress was torn, her arms were bruised, and one knee was wrapped in a bandage.
“Cassian!” Sabrina shrieked.
“She kidnapped my daughter!
Lyra sent people to take Natasha!”
“What?” I stared at them.
“What are you talking about?”
Cassian was on his feet instantly, pulling Natasha into his arms.
“What happened?
Are you okay?”
Natasha burst into tears and clung to him.
“She…
she sent people to take me.” Her little finger pointed at me.
“They locked me in a warehouse.
They said…
they said she wanted me gone.”
“Natasha,” I said, stepping forward.
“I would never…”
She flinched away from me and pressed closer to Cassian.
“Please don’t hurt me!
Please, Alpha, don’t let her near me!”
My heart cracked.
“I would never hurt you.
You know that…”
“Don’t you dare lie to her.” Sabrina stepped between us, her eyes blazing.
“The kidnappers admitted they were hired by someone in this house.
Natasha identified you by name.
We have all the evidence we need.”
“That’s a lie!” My voice rose.
“I had nothing to do with this…”
“You have everything to do with it.
You lost your own child, and now you want to take mine.” Sabrina’s voice dripped with venom.
“You can’t stand to see anyone else happy.
You’re a bitter, broken she-wolf who deserves everything that’s happened to you.”
Something inside me snapped.
“I would never hurt any child.
Especially Natasha.
I’ve loved her since the day I met her.”
“Then explain the bruises,” Cassian cut in, his voice cold.
“Explain the torn dress, the warehouse, the way she flinches every time your name is mentioned.”
“I can’t explain something I didn’t do!” I cried.
“I had nothing to do with this…”
“Now it all makes sense.” He laughed, and the sound was cruel.
“You lost your baby because you weren’t worthy of being a mother, Lyra.
The Moon Goddess knew what she was doing when she took that child from you.
You don’t deserve to be a mother.”
The words struck my deepest wound and shattered whatever was left of my heart.
I stared at him, at the man I’d given up everything for, the man who had just ripped open the most painful part of my soul and laughed at what he found.
‘One more day,’ Kiara whispered.
‘Just one more day.’
Sabrina moved away from Cassian.
“I won’t allow Natasha to stay in the same house as her.
It’s not safe.”
She took Natasha by the arm and led her out.
Cassian kept calling after them as if I weren’t even there.
I knew nothing I said in that moment would have mattered.
Cassian’s eyes fixed on me with cold finality.
“If they don’t come back, Lyra, you’re dead to me.
Do you understand?
Dead to me.”
I clenched my hands at my sides and bit my tongue.
I refused to shed another tear over this man.
Not one.
I stood there, watching the man I’d loved for five years protect another woman and another child while I remained completely alone.
But I knew something he didn’t: he’d signed the divorce papers.
One more day, and I’d never have to look at him again.
One more day, and I’d be free.