Freya’s POV
+8 Pearls
I hadn’t expected him to bring up Kade like that. His words hit me like a snapping fang. “I can’t believe you’re still close with Kade, Freya. One Ss Whitmor, one Kade ckridge…. you really know how to stir trouble with men,” Caelum spat, his tone dripping with jealousy, teeth bared in more than metaphor.
I narrowed my amber eyes, feeling the primal heat of indignation re in my chest. “Caelum, don’t let your own filth blind you. Kade is myrade–my packmate. He would never betray me.”
“Comrade?” His sneer cut like jagged ws. “Arade would risk themselves for someone who left the military three years ago? Kade is known as one of The Capital’s little tyrants–he doesn’t lift a paw for anyone! Freya, just how deep is your bond with him that he would step into my territory for you? Were you two inseparable in the military…”
SLAP!
The strikended across his face like ice–shattered ss. The room froze under the charge of tension, thick as wolf–scent in a
storm.
Caelum flinched,,a sting of pride burning hotter than any wound. Since building SilverTech Forgeworks, no one had dared strike him like this. Not once.
“Freya, have you lost your mind?” he growled, voice low and dangerous.
I bared rny own resolve, eyes locked on his, amber fire ring. “Those words–enough to charge a soldier with insult. Soldiers don’t tolerate such venom. Between soldiers, we trust our lives with each other. When the huntes, when the ws strike, we risk everything to protect our packmates.”,
My voice rang like the call of a lone wolf in the night, sharp andmanding, leaving no room for doubt.
Silence fell. <b>He </b>looked smaller somehow, diminished under the weight of my gaze, as though he were exposed beneath the moonlight and stripped of his armor.
“You… will never understand,” <b>I </b>said softly, letting the wolf in me speak through the calm.
<b>“</b>Yes…. I don’t understand. You want a divorce, right? Fine, I <b>agree</b>!” His tone shifted, cold and calcting, predatory in its <b>own </b>way. “I’ve studied your <b>patents</b><b>. </b>The <b>rest </b>I can let <i>go</i>–but that drone control program you patented <b>after </b>our marriage? After the divorce<b>, </b>it must be fully authorized to SilverTech Forgeworks for development and deployment.”
<b>My </b><b>fur </b>bristled beneath the skin, <b>the </b>chill of betrayal crawling down my spine.
<b>“</b>You want my <b>patent</b>?? <b>I </b>asked, low and dangerous.
“<b>It’s </b>marital property. I want it. When thepany profits<b>, </b>you’ll <b>get </b>your share<b>,</b>” he said<b>, </b><b>voice </b>smooth but sharp <b>as </b><b>a </b>fang.
I <b>saw </b>through it. Opportunism, pure and unmasked. That patent <b>was </b>the culmination of my <b>post</b>–military work, most of it crafted before our union. The final <b>stages </b>were onlypleted after the loss of my parents and my slow <b>recovery </b>from grief. It was meant to strengthen <b>SilverTech</b><b>, </b><b>yet </b>now he tried to <b>seize </b>it like a wolf iming prey.
“And if I <b>refuse</b><b>?” </b>My voice dropped to a growl, cold and predatory, slicing the air between us.
“Then I’ll take it to the courts<b>,</b><b>” </b><b>he </b><b>said</b>, <b>eyes </b>narrowing. “I know you intended it for SkyVex Armaments, but it’s marital property. Want to see them suffer for
your
defiance? <b>Be </b>my guest
I shook my head, amber <b>eyes </b>shing with disdain. “Lthought you had any semnce of integrity left, but now… <b>even </b>this petty greed, you unt it.”
This is for <b>the </b><bpany</b>. <b>If </b><b>you </b>insist <b>on </b>divorce, the patent belongs to Silver Tech<b>!</b><b>” </b><b>His </b>tone hardened like steel. Survival of <b>his </b>empire depended on it.
I met him with unflinching eyes, wolf instincts sharpening my senses. “For thepany? Fine. Hold <b>your </b>press <b>conference </b>to announce the divorce, apany me to the <b>civil </b>affairs <b>office</b><b>, </b>and the patent is yours<b>.</b>”
Surprise flickered <b>across </b>his features. “You really mean it?”
“I do,” I said, ws metaphorically sheathed but resolve unyielding.
“Three days, then,” he said, eyes dark, predatory. “I expect you to honor your word.”
+8 Pearls
I let out a low, bitterugh. Once, I had bared my heart to him. Now, even this divorce–a severing of ties–was twisted into leverage.
“Caelum, I, Freya Thorne, have never regretted anything in my life… but marrying you? That, I do regret!” My words struck like fangs, sharp and unflinching.
Send Gifts
19