Divorced, My CEO Alpha Wants Me Back

Nina

I sit at the table, staring at the untouched glass of wine in front of me. The restaurant's dim lighting should feel romantic. It doesn't. Not when I've been sitting here alone for an hour.

I glance at my phone, unlocking the screen just to make sure. Nothing. No texts, no missed calls. No Jaxon.

Typical.

It's our anniversary, for fuck's sake. Three years. Three years of marriage to a man who barely looks at me. I check my phone again, even though I know there's nothing there. Maybe some part of me is still holding out hope, which is fucking pathetic.

I sip the wine, trying to swallow the bitterness rising in my throat. I don't even like wine, but here I am, drinking it like I'm in some kind of perfect marriage, pretending I have a perfect husband. Meanwhile, Jaxon's probably stuck in some meeting, or worse-with her.

My thumb hovers over Instagram. I shouldn't check it. I know I shouldn't. But I do anyway. It's a habit I've fallen into, one that makes me feel worse every time, but I can't stop.

I scroll, and there she is. Scarlett Moore, the ex that never quite left. A fresh post. Of course. She's sitting in his office, her legs crossed, lounging in Jaxon's chair like she fucking owns the place. And the caption? Making deals. Big things coming.

Big things coming, huh? I scoff, setting my phone down hard enough to rattle the glassware. What kind of "big things" is she making with my husband?

My phone buzzes. For a split second, my heart jumps. Jaxon?

Nope. It's Callie.

Callie: How's dinner going? Has the asshole shown up yet?

I bite my lip, debating how to respond. Do I tell her the truth? That I've been sitting here like an idiot, waiting for a man who clearly doesn't give a shit about me? No. I'll lie, like always.

Me: No. He's not coming.

Three dots appear, then disappear. Then again.

Callie: Jesus. What the fuck, Nina? I'm coming to get you.

I shake my head at the screen, sighing. Don't. I'll be fine. But even as I send the message, I know I'm anything but fine.

Another buzz. This time it's Jaxon.

Jaxon: Stuck in a meeting. Don't wait up.

That's it. No sorry, no I'll make it up to you, not even a shitty excuse about how important tonight should be. Just... don't wait up.

I stare at the message, the words blurring together as the knot in my chest tightens. Three fucking years of this. Of being invisible, of waiting for something-anything-from him that makes me feel like I matter. And nothing.

I shove my phone into my purse, blinking away the tears stinging the corners of my eyes. I won't cry. Not here. Not over him.

I push my chair back and stand up too fast. The room tilts, and I grip the edge of the table to steady myself. My legs feel weak, my head spinning. I need to move. I need to get out of here.

Just make it to the bathroom. Pull yourself together.

I walk quickly, heels clicking against the marble floors as I make my way through the restaurant. I feel eyes on me, but I ignore them, keeping my gaze forward. I can feel something off, though. There's a dull ache building in my lower belly, sharp and sudden, like a knife twisting deep inside.

I push open the bathroom door, barely making it into a stall before the pain hits harder. My hand instinctively goes to my stomach, and I wince, doubling over.

What the hell?

I feel it then. Wetness between my legs. My heart drops as I glance down. Blood. A lot of it.

"Oh God," I whisper, my voice shaking.

This can't be happening. Not now.

I reach for my phone again, my hands trembling as I pull it from my purse. My stomach cramps harder, the pain shooting up my back as more blood trickles down my thighs.

I hit Jaxon's number. It rings once, then goes straight to voicemail.

"Dammit," I hiss, hanging up and calling again. Same thing. Straight to voicemail.

I lean back against the cold wall of the stall, sliding down until I'm sitting on the floor. It's happening too fast, and I can't stop it. I blink through the tears, realizing with a sudden, gut-wrenching clarity that I'm not just bleeding.

I'm losing it.

I was pregnant. Was.

The nausea, the exhaustion, the way I've been snapping at Callie for no reason-it all makes sense now. I missed my period. I was carrying Jaxon's baby, and now... now I'm not.

A sob escapes my throat, and I try calling him again. Same damn thing. No answer.

"Fuck!" I slam my fist against the wall, pain shooting through my knuckles.

I pull up Callie's messages, my vision blurry as I type.

Me: I'm bleeding. Bad. I think I'm losing it.

Her response is instant.

Callie: Losing what?

I take a shaky breath, trying to keep the phone steady in my hand.

Me: The baby. I think I'm miscarrying.

Her reply comes fast.

Callie: WHAT? You're pregnant? Where are you?

Me: Restaurant. I don't know what to do.

Callie: I'm calling an ambulance.

Me: No. Please. Just come get me.

I drop my phone, clutching my stomach as another wave of pain crashes through me. It's unbearable now, like my body is tearing itself apart. I can't think straight. Can't even breathe properly.

The bathroom door swings open. I hear Callie's voice, frantic and searching.

"Nina! Nina, where are you?"

"Here," I manage, my voice barely above a whisper.

She finds me, eyes wide with panic as she crouches next to me. "Holy shit, Nina. What the hell happened?"

"I don't know," I choke out. "I think I was pregnant, and now... I'm not."

Her face pales, and she grabs my hand, squeezing it tight. "Okay. We need to get you to a hospital. Now."

"No," I whisper, shaking my head. "Not like this. I don't want anyone to know. I can't... I can't handle that right now."

Callie's face hardens, but she doesn't let go of my hand. "I don't care, Nina. You're bleeding. You need to go. This is serious."

"Please, Callie," I beg, tears spilling over. "Just take me home. Try and get Dr. Carter on the phone."

"No." Her voice is firm now, her grip tightening. "I'm calling an ambulance. You can hate me for it later, but I'm not watching you bleed out on this bathroom floor."

I don't have the strength to argue anymore. The pain, the loss, the overwhelming sense of failure-it's too much.

"This is the last secret I'm keeping for you Nina. Fuck! Please don't die. Fuck!" she says desperately.

I nod weakly, letting her take control as everything around me blurs into darkness.

When I wake up, I'm still in her car.

"Babe, please stay awake for me," Callie shouts and that is when I realize that she is crying.

I lie in the backseat of Callie's car, staring at the ceiling, trying to breathe through the pain. The blood hasn't stopped, and every cramp feels like a punch to the gut. My phone's on my lap, Jaxon's name still on the screen from the last time I called. It went straight to voicemail, again. Of course, it did.

Callie glances at me in the rearview mirror. "Nina, you're sure you don't want to go to a real hospital?"

"No," I manage, my voice tight. "Just take me to Julian. Please."

She hesitates, clearly not thrilled about the idea of going to a pack doctor instead of a real ER, but she doesn't argue. She knows better than to push me right now. I can barely hold it together.

"He won't tell anyone, right?" I ask, my voice cracking as I stare out the window. "I don't want my family to know. Not yet."

"Julian won't say a word," Callie promises, her knuckles white as she grips the steering wheel. "I'll make sure of it."

We pull up to Julian's private clinic on the outskirts of the Valens territory. Callie parks the car and rushes around to help me out. My legs are weak, shaky, and I lean on her as we walk inside.

Julian's waiting. He's an older guy, always calm, always professional, but the second he sees the state I'm in, his expression shifts.

"Jesus, Nina," he says, guiding me toward the exam room. "What happened?"

"I'm pregnant," I whisper, the words tasting foreign and wrong on my tongue. "Was, I guess."

He glances at Callie, and she nods. "She's been bleeding for a while," Callie explains. "We think she's miscarrying."

Julian nods grimly. "Let's get you checked out."

I sit on the cold exam table, staring at the walls as Julian works, asking questions I barely hear, taking tests I can't focus on. It's all a blur. The only thing I can concentrate on is the pain. Both the physical ache in my stomach and the suffocating emptiness in my chest.

"How far along were you?" Julian asks gently, breaking the silence.

I shrug. "Didn't know until today. Maybe six weeks?"

He nods and continues his exam in silence, not pushing me for more details. Callie stands by my side, her hand squeezing mine every so often, grounding me.

After what feels like hours, Julian sighs, pulling off his gloves. "I'm sorry, Nina. You were definitely pregnant. But... you're losing the baby."

I nod, because what else is there to say? The confirmation doesn't make it hurt any less. I'd barely had time to process the fact that I was pregnant in the first place. Now it's gone. Just like that.

Julian steps back, his voice quiet. "I'll give you a moment."

The door clicks shut behind him, and I let out a shaky breath, my eyes stinging with unshed tears.

"Do you want me to call him?" Callie asks softly. "Jaxon?"

I shake my head violently, but then stop. What's the point? He's the father. He should know, even if he doesn't care. Maybe he'll finally realize how broken this all is.

"Call him," I whisper, barely recognizing my own voice.

Callie doesn't hesitate. She pulls out her phone and walks to the corner of the room, dialing his number. I stare at the ceiling, trying to block out the pain, trying to not think about what just happened. But it's impossible.

A few minutes later, she comes back, her expression grim. "He's on his way."

"Great," I mutter, my voice dripping with sarcasm. "Can't wait to see what bullshit excuse he has this time."

Callie sighs and takes a seat next to me. "Nina, don't do this to yourself."

I want to respond, but my throat closes up. I feel a tear slide down my cheek, but I wipe it away angrily. I won't break. Not here.

An hour passes, maybe more, before the door swings open. Jaxon steps in, still in his suit, looking every bit the powerful Alpha CEO he always does. But his face? Blank. Like this is just another business meeting for him.

"Nina," he says, his voice flat, almost clinical. "What the hell happened?"

I let out a bitter laugh, shaking my head. "What happened? You really have to ask?"

"I didn't know you were..." His voice trails off, his eyes flicking to Callie and then back to me. "You were pregnant?"

"Yeah," I snap, my voice thick with emotion. "Pregnant. And now, I'm not."

He blinks, like it's taking him a minute to process the words. "How... when did this even happen?"

"Three weeks ago, Jaxon," I say, my voice cracking with anger. "Remember? Three weeks ago, when you fucked me because you couldn't stand to be around me for longer than that?"

His expression hardens, but there's no emotion behind his eyes. "I didn't know, Nina. You should have told me."

"Told you?" I laugh, the sound bitter and hollow. "Told you what, exactly? That I was carrying your child? You didn't even give a shit about me, Jaxon. What made me think you'd care about the baby?"

"I'm here now, aren't I?" he says, crossing his arms like he's waiting for me to pat him on the back.

I stare at him, disgust crawling up my throat. "Here now. Yeah. After I lost the baby. After I bled all over the goddamn restaurant floor and begged you to pick up the phone. Now you show up."

Jaxon runs a hand through his hair, clearly frustrated. "Look, Nina, I'm sorry. I didn't know this was happening. If I had-"

"If you had, what? You'd have what? Showed up a little earlier? Said some comforting words?" I shake my head. "You don't get it, do you? This isn't just about today. This is about everything. Three years of being ignored. Three years of watching you go off to your fucking 'meetings,' while I sit here, hoping you'd give a damn."

He doesn't answer. He just stares at me, cold and distant, like he always is. Like I'm some annoying inconvenience.

I laugh again, but it's bitter, ugly. "You can leave now, Jaxon. You've done your part. I lost the baby. You can go back to your precious company and your precious Scarlett."

He shifts on his feet, like he's about to say something, but then he just nods. Nods and walks out.

Just like that.

I watch him leave, the door closing softly behind him. The second he's gone, the weight of everything hits me like a fucking tidal wave. The tears come fast, choking me, and I collapse into Callie's arms, sobbing so hard I can barely breathe.

Callie strokes my hair, whispering soft words, but I can't hear her. I can't hear anything. The pain is too much, the emptiness too deep. I had a child. I had a life inside me. And now it's gone.

Just like my marriage.

Nina

I step into the penthouse, the familiar cold air brushing against my skin. Everything looks exactly the same-the spotless marble floors, the glass walls that give a perfect view of the city skyline, and the stupidly expensive art Jaxon insisted on collecting. It's all perfectly in place, like nothing's changed.

But everything has.

Two weeks. It's been two weeks since I lost the baby. Two weeks since Jaxon showed up at the hospital, cold as ice, and left me there sobbing. And two weeks since I decided that I'm done. I'm done pretending, done waiting for him to give a damn, done being the good little wife he never actually wanted.

I walk straight to his office, not even bothering to take off my coat. My heels echo loudly on the floor, the only sound in this too-big, too-empty space. I shove the door open and place the divorce papers on his desk with more force than necessary. The loud thud they make is oddly satisfying.

Jaxon's sitting there, looking up from his laptop, his expression the same bored indifference I've seen for the last three years. Like I'm just another thing on his to-do list.

"What's this?" he asks, leaning back in his chair, not even touching the papers.

"What do you think?" I snap, crossing my arms. "It's a divorce, Jaxon."

He raises an eyebrow, his icy blue eyes flicking over the papers before coming back to me. "You can't be serious."

"Oh, I'm serious. Dead serious." I glare at him, daring him to say something stupid.

He sighs, like I'm some child throwing a tantrum. "Nina, we don't need to do this."

I blink, completely thrown by his calm, dismissive tone. "We? We don't need to do anything. I need to get out of this fucking marriage, and you? You just need to sign the damn papers."

"We're mates," he says, like that explains everything. Like that word is supposed to magically erase everything he's done. "You're just upset right now. We'll get through this."

My blood boils at how casually he says it, how easily he dismisses everything. "You think being mates is enough? After everything?" I laugh, the sound harsh and bitter. "You don't even treat me like your fucking wife, Jaxon. You've never treated me like a mate. I don't think you even understand what a mate is you damn asshole."

His jaw clenches, but he stays seated, still looking up at me like he's in control. "I have responsibilities, Nina. The company, the pack. I can't just drop everything for you."

"For me? You haven't even bothered to show up with me, let alone for me!" My voice rises, the years of frustration pouring out all at once. "I lost our baby two weeks ago, and you-"

"I didn't know you were pregnant!" he interrupts, finally standing up, his hands gripping the edge of the desk.

"And whose fault is that?" I shoot back. "You're never here, Jaxon. You're never fucking here."

He's silent, his face hard, but there's no regret in his eyes. No guilt. Just... nothing.

"I needed you," I say, my voice softer now, but still sharp. "I needed my husband. I needed my mate. And you left me. Every. Single. Time."

Jaxon sighs, shaking his head like I'm being unreasonable. "Nina, I have obligations. I can't just-"

"I don't give a shit about your obligations!" I cut him off, stepping closer. "I gave you everything. I waited for you. I put up with Scarlett being around like some fucking ghost from the past. And for what? To be ignored? To lose a baby by myself?"

His eyes darken at the mention of Scarlett, and for a second, I think I hit a nerve. But then he shakes it off, like always. Like nothing I say matters.

"This isn't a good time," he mutters, turning back to his desk, grabbing a pen like he's already moved on from this conversation. "I'm in the middle of negotiating with the board. There are important decisions to make right now."

I stare at him, completely dumbfounded. "Are you... are you fucking kidding me?"

"No, I'm not," he says without looking at me, signing a document on his desk that has absolutely nothing to do with me, with us. "We can talk about this later. When things settle down."

I laugh again, but this time, it's broken. Empty. "There's nothing to talk about, Jaxon. I'm done."

"You're not thinking clearly," he says, finally looking up at me, his eyes cold. "This marriage isn't just about us. It's about the packs, about-"

"Don't you fucking dare!" I slam my hand on his desk, my anger spilling over. "Don't you dare talk to me about packs and alliances. This marriage was never about that for me. I married you because I loved you. You. And now, I'm done."

He says nothing, just stares at me, his face a mask of indifference. It's like talking to a brick wall, one that couldn't give less of a shit about the wreckage around it.

I grab the divorce papers, pushing them toward him. "Sign them."

Before he can respond, the office door swings open, and Lydia Davenport, Jaxon's mother, strides in like she owns the place. Because of course she's here. She always fucking is.

"Really, Nina?" Lydia says, her voice sharp, as if I'm some unruly child throwing a tantrum in her perfect little world. "A divorce? You can't possibly be serious."

I shoot her a look, my patience already hanging by a thread. "Stay out of this, Lydia."

She arches an eyebrow, that smug expression on her face I've always hated. "This is my family, dear. You think I'm going to sit back while you make a spectacle of yourself?"

"A spectacle?" I scoff, throwing my arms up. "You think this is a spectacle? You think me standing up for myself is some kind of show?"

"I think you're being dramatic," she says, crossing her arms, her eyes narrowing on me. "You lost a baby, yes, but that's no reason to destroy your marriage. There are bigger things at stake."

My body goes cold, her words sinking in like knives. "Bigger things at stake?" I repeat, my voice low. "I lost my child. Your grandchild. And you think I'm being dramatic?"

She waves a hand, dismissive as always. "These things happen, Nina. But the pack, the company-those are what matter."

I stare at her, trying to process how someone can be so cruel, so fucking heartless. "You sound just like him."

Lydia smiles, stepping closer. "Well, he is my son, after all. And frankly, Nina, you were never cut out for this. You were always too weak, too emotional."

I laugh, the sound bitter and hollow. "Weak? Emotional? You've got some fucking nerve, Lydia."

Her eyes narrow. "I've been patient with you. I tolerated your presence in this family because Jaxon married you, but I always knew you weren't suited for this life. Frankly, I never understood what my brilliant son ever saw in a freaking orphan. You understand nothing about this life. You are not her. Scarlett... Scarlett would have made a much better Luna."

Scarlett. It always comes back to her. The woman who never left Jaxon's life, the woman who's always been hanging over our marriage like a goddamn storm cloud. I should have known she'd come up. Lydia never misses an opportunity to remind me how much better Scarlett is, how much more worthy she is.

"You're right," I say, my voice trembling with anger. "Scarlett probably would have been a better Luna for this family. She's cold and heartless, just like you."

Lydia's eyes flash, but she doesn't say anything. She doesn't need to. The smug expression on her face says it all.

I turn to Jaxon, who's just standing there, watching this whole thing play out without saying a word. No defense. No protest. Nothing.

Of course.

"You know what?" I say, my voice shaking. "You two deserve each other. I'm done with this family. I'm done with you."

I grab the divorce papers off the desk, shoving them into my bag. "You won't sign them? Fine. I'll take them to court. I'm sure the press will have a field day with that."

Jaxon stiffens at the mention of the press, but he still says nothing.

"I'm leaving," I say, heading for the door, not bothering to look back at either of them. "Don't call me. Don't come after me. We're done."

"Nina," Jaxon says finally, his voice calm, like he's used to getting his way. "You're overreacting."

I stop in my tracks, my back to him. "No, Jaxon. I'm not overreacting. I'm finally reacting. To you. To this marriage. To everything."

I walk out the door, slamming it behind me, not caring if they're watching, not caring if they're shocked. They can keep their cold, loveless family. I'm done with it.

Nina

I'm standing in the middle of the bedroom, stuffing clothes into a suitcase like my life depends on it. My hands are moving fast, almost too fast, but I can't stop. I don't want to stop. If I stop, I'll have to think. And thinking means I'll have to look at the bed in the corner. The bed Jaxon has never once slept in with me.

Three years of marriage, and not once did he even bother to stay in the same bed. What kind of fucking marriage is that? A fake one. That's what.

I grab another handful of clothes and toss them into the suitcase, my movements jerky and frantic. I can hear Callie in the hallway, pacing. She wants to come in, I know she does, but she's giving me space. I appreciate it, but it's not enough. Nothing is.

My phone buzzes on the dresser, and I glance at it, half-expecting another bullshit text from Jaxon, telling me he's "stuck at a meeting" or some crap like that. But it's not him. It's Dominic.

Shit.

I stare at the screen for a second, my heart racing. I hadn't planned to tell my brothers. Not yet. Not like this. But there's no avoiding it now. They're going to find out, and I'm going to have to face the music.

I take a deep breath and swipe to answer the call. "Dom."

"Nina," his voice is gruff, direct. "What the fuck is going on?"

"Nothing," I say, too quickly. "Everything's fine."

"Bullshit. Callie told Lucas you're in trouble. Is it work? You know none of us wanted you to go work for whoever mystery boss you are working for..."

I squeeze my eyes shut, leaning against the dresser. "Yeah, well, shit is going down so I might as well tell you. It was Davenport. I was working as Jaxon Davenport's assistant?"

There's a pause on the other end. "Is it Jaxon? Because if that bastard's done anything to hurt you-"

"It's not like that." I cut him off, my voice wavering. "Or maybe it is. I don't know."

"Nina." Dom's voice softens, but there's still an edge of command. "Talk to me. What's happening?"

I open my eyes, staring at the stupid bed. "I'm leaving."

"What? The job? You aren't making any damn sense right now sweetie." There's genuine surprise in his voice. "Are you freaking out because you are quitting your job? You know you never needed to work for that family. Why didn't you just call and tell me you wanted a job?"

"Since I realized he doesn't give a shit about me," I snap, the words coming out sharper than I intended. "Since I lost a baby and he didn't even care enough to stay."

Silence. I can practically feel Dominic's anger through the phone. When he speaks again, his voice is low, dangerous. "You were pregnant?"

"Yeah." I swallow hard, trying to keep my voice steady. "Was."

"Jesus, Nina." His voice cracks, just for a second. "Why the fuck didn't you tell me? Or Lucas? Or Griffin? We're your brothers."

"I know." I rub a hand over my face, the weight of it all pressing down on me. "I was trying to fix it. I thought... I thought I could handle it on my own."

"Well, you can't," Dom says, blunt as ever. "You're my sister, Nina. You're not alone."

I want to argue, but I don't have the energy. I sit down on the edge of the bed, staring at the half-packed suitcase in front of me. "There's something else," I say quietly. "Something I didn't tell you."

"What?" Dominic asks, suspicion clear in his tone.

"I... I wasn't just working for Jaxon," I admit, my heart pounding in my chest. "I was married to him."

Dead silence.

I wait, bracing myself for the explosion. It doesn't take long.

"What the fuck?" Dominic roars, loud enough that I flinch. "You married that asshole? And you didn't tell any of us?"

"I didn't want you to freak out-"

"Well, too fucking late for that!" Dom's voice is booming now. "Jesus Christ, Nina, how could you hide something like that? You married him?"

"I didn't want it to be like this," I whisper, feeling the tears burn in the back of my eyes. "It just... happened. And then it was too late, and I was stuck."

"Stuck?" He sounds like he's pacing, his heavy breathing filling the silence. "No, Nina, you're not stuck. You never were. You could've come to me, to any of us. We would've-"

"Would've what? Flown in like some fucking cavalry and saved the day?" I stand up, pacing now too. "You don't get it, Dom. I thought I could fix it. I thought if I stayed long enough, he'd realize... that he'd love me."

"And does he?"

"No," I say, the word bitter on my tongue. "He never did."

There's a pause, and when Dominic speaks again, his voice is calmer, but still filled with that simmering anger. "I'm coming to get you."

"Dom, no-"

"I'm coming," he says firmly. "I'll be there in an hour. Get your shit together. We're taking you home."

"Dom, please-"

But he's already hung up.

I drop the phone on the bed, staring at it for a second before collapsing onto the mattress. I bury my face in my hands, trying to hold it together, but it's impossible. Everything is falling apart, and there's nothing I can do to stop it.

The door creaks open, and Callie steps inside, her face a mix of concern and guilt. "Nina?"

I look up, wiping my eyes quickly. "Yeah?"

"Dominic called me," she says softly, sitting on the edge of the bed. "He asked where we were. Fuck babe. He is pissed and he's coming. He said to make sure you're ready."

I let out a shaky breath, nodding. "Yeah. He's not giving me much of a choice."

"He's your brother. He's worried."

"I know," I whisper, hugging my knees to my chest. "I just... I didn't want it to happen like this."

Callie wraps an arm around my shoulders, pulling me close. "I'm sorry, Nina. I'm so sorry."

"Not your fault," I murmur, resting my head on her shoulder. "It's mine. I shouldn't have married him. I shouldn't have..."

"Hey." Callie pulls back, cupping my face with both hands. "Don't do that. This isn't on you. Jaxon's the asshole. Not you."

I nod, even though I don't really believe her. It is my fault. I chose this. I thought I could make it work. And now...

Now, my brothers are about to storm in here, and everything I've been hiding is about to blow up in my face.

*

It doesn't take long before I hear the rumble of engines outside. Callie and I are in the living room, and my heart skips a beat when I see the line of black SUVs pulling up in front of the building.

"Shit," I mutter, standing up as the first door opens. Dominic steps out, tall and broad, his face set in a hard line. Behind him, Lucas and Griffin follow, both looking just as pissed.

"Here we go," Callie says quietly, squeezing my hand before stepping back.

The elevator dings, and then they're in the penthouse. Dominic walks in first, his eyes scanning the room before landing on me. His expression softens for a second, but then it hardens again.

"Nina."

"Dom."

He doesn't say anything for a moment, just walks over to me and pulls me into a hug. His arms are tight around me, his chest rising and falling quickly, like he's trying to calm himself down.

"You okay?" he asks, his voice low.

"No," I admit, my voice muffled against his chest. "Not really."

"We're getting you out of here," he says, pulling back to look at me. "Pack your shit. We're leaving."

"I'm already packed," I say, glancing at the suitcase by the door.

Lucas steps forward, his arms crossed. "So, you're telling us now? After three years of marriage? You married this prick without saying a word?"

I open my mouth to respond, but the sound of the office door opening stops me cold.

Jaxon steps out, his face a mask of calm, but his eyes flick to Dominic and then back to me. "What's going on?"

Dominic steps in front of me, blocking me from Jaxon's view. "We're leaving."

Jaxon raises an eyebrow, clearly not understanding the situation. "Leaving? What are you talking about?"

"You really don't know, do you?" Dom's voice is full of disgust. "You married my sister, and you don't even know who she is."

Jaxon's eyes flicker with confusion, but he stays quiet, waiting for Dominic to continue.

"Nina Valens," Dom says, his voice low and dangerous. "Heir to the Valens Pack. Alpha heir."

The room goes silent.

Jaxon's face doesn't change at first, but I can see the gears turning in his head. He's piecing it together, slowly realizing what he missed. What he's been blind to this whole time.

"You're..." He turns to me, his voice barely a whisper. "You're Valens?"

I step out from behind Dominic, meeting Jaxon's stunned gaze. "Yeah. I'm Valens."

He looks like he's been hit with a brick. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because it didn't matter," I snap, the words sharp. "You never cared. You never wanted to know anything about me, Jaxon. You just needed a wife. A placeholder."

His mouth opens, but no words come out. He looks at Dominic, then back at me, like he's searching for something-some kind of explanation that will make this make sense.

Dominic steps forward, his voice full of authority. "You don't deserve her. You never did. We're taking her home."

Jaxon's eyes flash, a hint of anger breaking through his shock. "This isn't your decision to make."

"No," I say quietly, stepping in front of Dominic. "It's mine. And I'm done, Jaxon."

He stares at me, his face unreadable, but I don't waver. I've made my choice. There's no going back now.

Dominic motions to Lucas and Griffin, and they grab my bags, heading for the door. Callie squeezes my arm one last time before following them.

Jaxon doesn't move. He just stands there, watching as my family takes me away. I thought there might be a fight, but there's nothing. Just silence.

When I reach the door, I turn back to look at him one last time. "Goodbye, Jaxon."

And then I leave.