Chapter 54
Cecilia’s pov
“There’s nothing more to talk about p>
I said, keeping my voice calm.
“He already signed the divorce papers. If you want to convince someone, talk to him. He’s the one holding things up. Once he finishes the last steps, I’ll be done—with him and with the Blood Moon Pack p>
My tone remained calm, as if discussing someone else’s failed marriage rather than my own—where I had given my heart completely only to be betrayed.
I had lost this gamble and accepted it, but I wouldn’t forget the pain just because the wound had scabbed over.
There was a long pause on the other end of the line.
“Just come tomorrow,” Alpha Claude said at last. “No matter what you’ve decided, this isn’t something one person can decide alone. In a marriage, if one side refuses, nothing can move forward. In the end, both people need to sit down and talk. Don’t you think so p>
I remained silent.
“It’s just dinner,” Alpha Claude continued. “Nothing will happen. Do it as a courtesy to me p>
I considered his request carefully.
“Alright,” I finally agreed.
My acceptance wasn’t out of respect for him. I had left Blood Moon Pack and was divorcing his son—there was no future where we would maintain any relationship. His “courtesy” meant nothing to me anymore.
I agreed because I thought perhaps tomorrow night I could approach this like a business negotiation—convince him to persuade Xavier to stop his pointless pursuit and let me go.
Liam had been standing nearby during my call and approached with concern written across his face.
“Are you sure about this? What if they try to trick you again and harm you like last time? Please be careful,” he warned.
“You’re right,” I nodded.
Though I didn’t believe Alpha Claude would stoop so low, after what Luna Dora had done, I couldn’t afford to be careless. “I’ll hire bodyguards to protect me tomorrow. Don’t worry p>
The next afternoon, around four o’clock, I dressed carefully and headed to the Blood Moon Pack’s main house with two professional bodyguards I’d hired.
Though my leg had healed enough for normal walking yesterday, I pretended it hadn’t and used a wheelchair.
If there was danger and my bodyguards couldn’t handle it, I could surprise my enemies by suddenly standing up and escaping.
Sebastian’s pov
I was standing by the window, talking on the phone with a pack ally, when I heard a knock at the door.
I lowered the phone a little and said, “Come in p>
Beta Sawyer walked in, clearly not realizing I was still on a call.
“Alpha Sebastian,” he said quickly, “Liam just called. He said Secretary Cecilia went to the Blood Moon Pack’s house p>
My grip on the phone tightened without thinking.
Inside me, Soren—my wolf—let out a low, angry growl.
[I didn’t like it. Not one damn bit p>
The news hit me harder than I expected. I tried to ignore Soren’s reaction, tried to stay calm.
I narrowed my eyes just slightly and forced my voice to stay even.
“If she really wants to go, let her. Why are you telling me this p>
Soren growled louder in my head.
[She’s ours,] he snapped.
[Why is she there without us p>
I clenched my jaw.
[She’s not claimed,] I told him silently. [She’s free to make her own choices p>
But she had been living in my apartment. Sleeping in my space.
Leaving her scent behind like it belonged there.
And now she was on enemy territory—and I was supposed to do nothing?
I didn’t like it. Not at all.
I pushed the thought away.
“Get out,” I said to Beta Sawyer, sharper than I meant.
He flinched and quickly left the room.
I raised the phone back to my ear.
The man on the other end chuckled.
“Secretary Cecilia? Sounds like a woman… seems you care about her more than just a little p>
“Just a secretary,” I said flatly, though the words tasted like a lie.
Soren growled again in my mind.
[Liar,] he said. [She’s our mate p>
I didn’t answer. I ended the call without another word.
For a moment, I stood still, staring at my reflection in the window.
My eyes were tight. My jaw was clenched.
I looked… conflicted. And I hated that.
I pulled out my phone and called the head of my private security team.
“I need a protection unit near the Blood Moon Pack’s house,” I said.
“Keep it discreet, but make sure it’s effective. The target is Cecilia Moore. If anything’s off—anything at all—you act immediately p>
I ended the call and slipped the phone back into my pocket.
That stubborn woman.
Why the hell can’t she stay safe—for once?
Cecilia’s pov
When I arrived at the Blood Moon Pack house, my feelings were entirely different from any previous visit.
Entering the dining room, I found a table laden with exquisite dishes, but only Alpha Claude was seated there.
No Xavier. No Luna Dora.
I asked my bodyguards to wheel me to the table, then instructed them to wait outside.
“Alpha Claude,” I said with a polite smile.
My lips curved just enough to be respectful, but I didn’t try to sound friendly. I didn’t owe him that.
Alpha Claude looked at the bodyguards as they walked away. His face turned serious.
His usually calm expression tightened a little—maybe with concern, maybe something else. It was hard to tell with him.
Then he looked back at me and spoke, his voice softer than I expected.
“What happened to your leg p>
“It’s nothing,” I said lightly. “I went on a short trip and had a minor accident p>
My voice was calm, but my fingers gripped the armrest.
“Getting away for a while is good for the mind,” he said with a nod.
“It was nice,” I replied, my smile a little sharper now. “It would’ve been even better if your son didn’t show up—or if he just came with me to sign the divorce papers p>
My tone was still polite, but my words were clear. I wasn’t here to play games.
Alpha Claude paused.
I saw something change in his face.
Then he spoke again, his voice carrying more weight.
“Can’t you give Xavier one more chance p>
I tilted my head slightly and looked straight at him.
“You know what he did,” I said calmly. “Do you really think he deserves another chance p>
There was no anger in my voice—just honesty. I wasn’t trying to hurt Alpha Claude. But I couldn’t keep pretending everything was fine when it wasn’t.
“You’re the kind of woman who can’t even standany deceit,” he sighed.
“But life is long. No man is perfect. Temptation is always there, even if he doesn’t go looking for it. Women throw themselves at Xavier all the time. But he always put you first. That Shadow Pack she-wolf meant nothing to him. Just a mistake. Now he’s ready to cut all ties with her and come back to you. What’s the harm in giving him another chance p>
As he spoke, I looked at him in disbelief.
“Maybe you’re right. Most men are like that—including Alpha Xavier. But it doesn’t matter. I don’t want him anymore p>
I let my words hang in the air. I wanted him to feel the finality in them. I wasn’t angry—I was done.
“Cecilia, you’re being too stubborn,” Alpha Claude sighed again.
“I know you’ve asked for a $15 million divorce settlement. If you agree not to divorce, I’ll give you $50 million and move you into the main pack house—you’ll be the legitimate Luna of Blood Moon Pack. When you bear Xavier’s children, they’ll be the future heirs to the pack p>
I won’t lie—the offer was tempting.
Wealth. Status. Power. All handed to me without lifting a finger.
For a second, I almost laughed at how easy it would be.
But then I thought about the cost:
Being tied forever to a man who cheated on me.
Sharing a bed with someone I no longer respected.
Raising children in a house built on lies.
Pretending not to see the next “Cici,” or “Lisa,” or whoever came next.
And all the while, smiling like a good Luna, while dying inside.
That wasn’t a life. That was a trap—with a gilded cage instead of an iron one.
“I’ve made my decision,” I said firmly. “I still want the divorce p>
Then I gave him a calm, deliberate smile.
“I have a counter-offer,” I said, my voice calm and steady.I had already made up my mind.
“If you agree to it, I’ll stay with Alpha Xavier p>
He raised an eyebrow, a flicker of interest showing on his otherwise calm face.
“Let’s hear it.” His tone was controlled, but I could sense the tension underneath. He thought I was bluffing. That was fine.
“I want ten percent of the Blood Moon Pack’s business.” I dropped the words slowly and clearly, making sure he heard every syllable.
His face changed right away—first surprise, then anger. Sharp and real.
Good. That meant he understood.
Maybe he still thought I was the quiet Luna who smiled politely and stayed silent at meetings.
That version of me was gone.
“You think I’m naïve?” I asked, looking straight at him.
“My voice is calm because I know exactly what this marriage means—for you and for me.” I leaned forward a little, resting my elbows on the table.
“You want a Luna who smiles for the public, attends events, and keeps things quiet? Fine. Then I want my share too p>
“If I stay, it won’t be for love.” My voice didn’t get louder, but it turned colder.
“This will be a business deal. You get your perfect Luna, and I get my part of the business p>
I paused, letting my words sink in.
“I won’t ask questions. I won’t care who Alpha Xavier sleeps with or how often. He can bring them home, even into our bed, and I won’t say a word p>
His jaw tightened.I looked into his eyes, steady and sure.
“But don’t get it wrong—I’m not doing this for him. I’m doing it for myself p>
And I meant every word.
I wasn’t here to fix a broken marriage.
I was here to protect my future.