Chapter 3 I Want A Divorce

Mira woke to sunlight streaming through Brielle's bedroom window and small feet pressed against her ribs. Brielle was starfished across the bed, covers kicked off, one tiny hand clutching her stuffed wolf.

For a moment, Mira just watched her daughter sleep, memorizing the curve of her cheek, the flutter of her eyelashes. This was what mattered. This tiny person who deserved so much better than parents who'd forgotten how to love each other.

Carefully, Mira extracted herself from the bed and padded downstairs. The estate's kitchen was smaller than the manor's but infinitely warmer, with morning light painting everything gold. She started coffee and found ingredients for Brielle's favorite breakfast-chocolate chip pancakes.

"Luna Mira?"

Mira turned to find Ingrid, one of the estate's staff, in the doorway. The older woman looked surprised but pleased to see her.

"Good morning, Ingrid. I hope you don't mind-I'm making breakfast for Brielle."

"Of course not. It's wonderful to see you." Ingrid hesitated, then added quietly, "We've missed you here."

The simple kindness in those words made Mira's throat tight. "I've missed being here too. That's going to change."

Ingrid smiled and began helping with the pancakes, the two of them falling into easy rhythm. By the time Brielle thundered down the stairs, hair wild and still in her pajamas, the table was set with a stack of pancakes.

"Chocolate chips!" Brielle squealed, the careful guardedness from last night forgotten in the excitement. She climbed into her chair and attacked the pancakes with focused intensity.

Mira sat across from her, sipping coffee and just watching. When had she last done this? Just been present with her daughter, without rushing off to pack duties?

Too long. Far too long.

After breakfast, Mira helped Brielle get dressed-a battle involving a tutu, rain boots, and a princess tiara that Brielle insisted "matched."

"Can we go to the garden?" Brielle asked, tugging on Mira's hand. "I want to show you my fairy house!"

They spent the morning outside, Brielle chattering about everything while Mira helped her arrange pinecones and flowers around the elaborate fairy house construction. The reserve from last night had melted away entirely, and for a few hours, Mira could pretend everything was normal.

But eventually, reality intruded. Her phone buzzed with a message from Fletcher, the estate steward: Luna Mira, Alpha Kieran requests your immediate return.

Mira stared at the message, a flood of familiar reactions washing through her. The old Mira would have been thrilled by his "need," would have rushed to see what he wanted. The woman she was now saw it for what it was: a summons.

She texted back: Tell him I'm with our daughter.

Then she silenced her phone and attempted to put it away. Another message came in, this time from an unknown number: How dare you disrespect the Alpha. Return to the manor immediately.

Selene. Of course.

Mira deleted the message without responding and pocketed her phone.

"Mommy? You okay?" Brielle was watching her with those too-perceptive green eyes.

"I'm perfect, baby." Mira smiled. "Now, tell me more about the fairy queen who lives here..."

They played until lunch, ate sandwiches in the garden, and then Brielle started yawning. Mira carried her inside for a nap, settling her in bed with her stuffed wolf.

"Will you be here when I wake up?" Brielle asked sleepily.

"I'll be here as long as you want me," Mira promised.

She waited until Brielle was deeply asleep, then headed downstairs. She needed to leave soon-the drive to Windmere was two hours, and she'd call Zara from the road to schedule an appointment for later this afternoon.

But when she entered the study, she froze.

Selene Ravencrest sat in the chair behind the desk, spine straight, hands folded, radiating disapproval like a cold front.

"Luna Mira." Her voice could have frozen water. "How kind of you to finally appear."

Mira's first instinct was to apologize, to explain, to make herself smaller. Four years of conditioning died hard.

But then she remembered: She can handle that risk again.

"Selene." Mira kept her voice level. "What are you doing here?"

"I came to discuss your recent behavior." Selene stood, and despite being shorter than Mira, she had a way of looming. "Leaving the manor after your duty without permission. Ignoring my messages. This is unacceptable."

"I don't need permission to visit my daughter."

"You need to remember your place." Selene's voice sharpened. "Your duty is to produce an heir, not to play house whenever the mood strikes you."

Something dark and hot flared in Mira's chest. "My place? My duty? Is that all I am to this family? A womb that occasionally gets to visit her own child?"

"Watch your tone-"

"No." The word came out harder than Mira intended. "No, I'm done watching my tone. I'm done being quiet and dutiful while my husband keeps a mistress and you all decide I'm not important enough to include in my daughter's life."

Selene's face flushed with anger. "How dare you speak to me this way. You forget that I am the former Luna of this pack-"

"And I am the current Luna." Mira stepped forward. "Or have you forgotten that?"

"You are Luna in name only," Selene hissed. "You've failed to provide a male heir. You're barely present in pack matters. The pack deserves better. Kieran deserves better."

"Then maybe Kieran should divorce me and marry Astrid." The words came out before Mira could stop them. "Maybe she'd be happy to be reduced to a breeding vessel."

Selene's hand moved so fast Mira barely saw it coming. The slap cracked across her face, snapping her head to the side.

"You will kneel," Selene commanded. "You will apologize, and you will remember your place."

Mira touched her stinging cheek, tasting blood where her teeth had cut the inside of her mouth. If this had been any moment in the last five years, she would have dropped to her knees immediately.

But that Mira was dead.

Mira raised her own hand, steady and without hesitation.

"Mira." The new voice froze them both.

Kieran stood in the doorway, still in his suit. His eyes were cold, his jaw tight as he took in the scene. He strode forward and caught Mira's wrist before her palm could connect with Selene's face.

"That's enough," he said quietly.

For a wild moment, Mira thought he might be defending her. Then he shoved her arm away like it disgusted him.

"Control yourself," Kieran said, contempt dripping from his voice. "I'm not in the mood for your dramatics today."

He turned to his mother, his expression softening. "Mother, I apologize for my wife's behavior. Why don't you wait for me in the car? I'll handle this."

Selene smoothed her skirt, shot Mira a triumphant look, and swept from the room.

Silence fell between them, heavy and suffocating. Kieran ran a hand through his hair, gold bleeding into his eyes.

"What the hell was that?"

"That was me refusing to be hit anymore," Mira said flatly.

"She's my mother-"

"And I'm your wife!" The words exploded out of her. "Or have you forgotten that between your breeding appointments and your cozy nights with Astrid?"

Kieran's jaw clenched. "Watch it, Mira."

"Or what? You'll stop pretending I exist entirely?" Mira laughed bitterly. "You can't threaten me with something I already have."

"I don't have time for this." He checked his watch. "We can discuss your attitude later. Right now, I have-"

"I want a divorce."

The words hung in the air between them, stark and final.

Kieran went utterly still. His gaze sharpened.

"What did you say?"

The sheer force of his Alpha presence rolled over her, but Mira dug her heels in, refusing to yield. She lifted her chin, meeting his gaze head-on.

"I. Want. A. Divorce."

For a moment, she saw a flicker of something dangerous in his eyes-a predator recognizing a threat. Before he could say anything, his phone rang. He glanced at the screen, and something in his expression shifted-softened in a way it never did for Mira.

"I have to take this," he said curtly.

"Kieran-"

But he was already answering. "Hey. Yeah, I'm handling it now. No, it's fine. I'll be there soon." A pause, then quieter: "I know. Me too."

He ended the call and finally looked at Mira again, but it was like looking at a stranger. There was nothing in his eyes-no anger, no hurt, no recognition that she'd just asked to end their marriage.

Just impatience.

"We'll discuss this later," he said dismissively. "I have to go. There's an important matter that requires my attention."

He turned toward the door.

"Kieran, I'm serious. I want a divorce."

He paused but didn't turn around. "No, you don't. You're upset. You'll calm down, and we'll talk about this rationally next month."

Then he was gone, his footsteps echoing through the estate, the front door closing with finality.

Mira stood alone in the study, her cheek still burning, her wrist aching, her chest hollow with the realization that she'd just asked for a divorce and her husband couldn't even be bothered to acknowledge it.

She pulled out her phone and checked the time. If she left now, she'd make it to Windmere before late afternoon. She could call Zara from the road.

Mira grabbed her bag and walked toward the front door. At the top of the stairs, she paused outside Brielle's room. Her daughter was still sleeping peacefully, clutching her stuffed wolf.

"I love you," Mira whispered. "I'm so sorry for everything. But Mommy needs to take care of herself now. I promise I'll come back. I promise I'll be better."

She kissed her fingertips and pressed them to the doorframe, then turned and walked away.

The drive to Windmere passed in a blur of tears and determination. Halfway there, she called Zara.

"Mira? Is everything okay?"

"No." Mira's voice was steady despite the tears streaming down her face. "Can you see me this afternoon? I need... I need your help with something."

"Of course. Come straight to my office when you get here."

By the time Mira pulled up to the medical center, her face was dry and her resolve was steel.

Zara was waiting in her office, concern etched across her features. She took one look at Mira and pulled her into a fierce hug.

"Tell me what you need," Zara said.

"I need to end a pregnancy," Mira said quietly. "And I need to end a marriage. Can you help me with the first part?"

Zara pulled back, searching Mira's face. "Are you sure? Your body hasn't fully recovered, MiraThis will hurt. You could wait until things are more settled-"

"I can't wait," Mira's hands clenched into fists. "Once Kieran knows I'm pregnant, he will never let me go."

"Mira." Zara's face was a mask of pain. "The cost is so high. Are you certain.?"

"I've never been more certain of anything in my life," Mira's voice didn't waver.

Zara sighed, then nodded slowly. "Okay. Let's get you prepped."