<h4>Chapter 72: Chapter 72 Keep It Yourself</h4>


    Cecilia’s pov


    The night dragged on, quiet and endless, filled with the ghosts of our past.


    I didn’t need to open my eyes to know he hadn’t slept. I could feel the weight of his thoughts pressing against the silence, heavy and restless.


    Through my eyelids, I sensed the first pale light of dawn slipping through the blinds.


    Eventually, Xavier stood. He moved slowly, like each step toward the door was a decision he didn’t want to make.


    His footsteps were soft, but they echoed in my chest like farewell bells.


    When the door finally clicked shut behind him, I opened my eyes.


    Just like that night years ago—when he had stepped out onto the balcony to take Cici’s call—I watched his back as he walked away.


    Back then, it had shattered thest fragile thread of hope I’d held onto.


    Tonight, it closed the book on our eight-year story.


    We had reached the end of the line.


    No more questions of right or wrong, no more weighing love against betrayal. None of it mattered now. We were simply done.


    The futurey ahead—his and mine—no longer intertwined.


    ...


    "Your discharge papers are all set," Harper announced, stepping back into my hospital roomter that morning. "Ready to blow this popsicle stand?"


    I nodded, gathering the few personal items she’d brought me yesterday. "More than ready."


    As Harper helped me into a light jacket, I remembered something. "I should check on Alpha Sebastian before we leave."


    "Your dashing knight in designer armor?" Harper raised an eyebrow. "Seems like the least you could do, considering he caught a knife for you."


    "It’s not like that," I insisted, though my cheeks warmed slightly. "He’s my boss. And he saved my life. Again."


    "Mmm-hmm." Harper’s knowing smile irritated me.


    When we reached Alpha Sebastian’s private room, however, I paused at the doorway. Through the partially open door, I could see several people inside—the imposing figure of Beta Sawyer, Liam in his usual pristine suit, and what looked like a doctor.


    I hesitated. Thest thing Alpha Sebastian wanted was to hear any gossip about his personal life.


    The Blood Moon Pack already saw me as someone with a messed-up past. I couldn’t let the Silver Peak Pack think the same about me.


    "Maybe I’ll check on himter," I whispered to Harper, stepping away from the door. "When he’s back at the apartments."


    Harper’s expression softened with understanding. "Probably wise.."


    After leaving the hospital, we made a detour to the police station where I gave my supplemental statement about the attack. The detective handling the case shared some updates: they’d apprehended the man in ck who’d abducted me, but he was iming to be "just a friend" of Cici’s who had acted independently after seeing me "bullying" her.


    Meanwhile, Cici was ying the victim card—iming memory loss and producing medical certificates from the Shadow Pack’s doctors iming she suffered from mental health issues.


    "ssic Alpha entitlement bullshit," Harper muttered as we left. "Though stabbing Alpha Alpha Sebastianplicates things for her. Even Shadow Pack can’t easily dismiss assaulting an Alpha of Silver Peak."


    "Let the legal system handle her," I said tiredly. "I’m done with all of it."


    That afternoon, Harper received a call from Xavier’swyer. She hung up and turned to me with a solemn expression.


    "He’s agreed to the divorce," she said. "With the full two hundred millionpensation we asked for." She hesitated. "Hiswyer says Xavier will meet whenever you’re ready to finalize the paperwork. Just name the time."


    I nodded, feeling strangely empty. Not relieved, not angry, just... done.


    "Tomorrow," I said decisively. "Ten o’clock at the civil affairs bureau."


    Harper gave me a long look. "I’ll let them know."


    She sighed, running a hand through her dark hair. "You know, as much as I want to hate himpletely, I can’t help but think—if he hadn’t made that one fatal mistake, you two might have been the fairytale romance I always believed in."


    Iughed softly, turning my face toward the window where afternoon sunlight streamed in."Fairytales are just pretty lies, sweetheart."


    Harper nced upward thoughtfully. "Well, if fairytales are broken, maybe you should try for a myth next time."


    My mouth fell open as I caught her meaning. "Harper!"


    Sebastian’s pov


    The hospital room felt suffocating despite its generous size. I adjusted my position against the pillows, trying to find afortable angle that didn’t pull at my stitches while reviewing documents on my tablet.


    Lycan healing was eleratedpared to humans, but knife wounds—particrly those that had torn through muscle—still required time. The doctors had insisted on a full day’s observation, despite my protests.


    I set the tablet aside to take a sip of water, using the moment to ask as casually as possible: "How is she doing?"


    Liam looked up from arranging my medication. "Cecilia? She was discharged this morning."


    "I see." My eyebrows drew together before I could control my expression.


    Liam, ever observant, quickly added, "She dide by earlier, Alpha. I believe she wanted to see you, but there were several people in your room at the time. She didn’te in."


    My frown deepened. "She didn’te in because others were present?"


    "Yes, Alpha Sebastian."


    "How considerate of her," I said, my tone cooler than intended. "Always so careful about appearances."


    The words wereplimentary enough, but the bitterness in my voice betrayed me. Liam gave me a curious look.


    "She was likely being respectful of your position," he offered diplomatically.


    I didn’t respond, returning to my work with more focus than was strictly necessary. After several minutes, I felt Liam’s gaze still on me.


    "What?" I asked without looking up.


    "Nothing, Alpha Sebastian," he replied, though I caught the hint of a smile he tried to suppress.


    I narrowed my eyes at him, but said nothing. The pull in my lower back reminded me of the knife I’d taken for Cecilia. I wondered if she would havee in had she known I was thinking about her almost constantly since I’d pulled her from that bathroom floor.


    Soren, my wolf, growled in frustration. [She’s ours. Why is she avoiding us?]


    [She’s not ours, ]I reminded him silently.


    [She’s just getting out of one mate bond. Thest thing she needs is another wolf sniffing around her.]


    [We saved her,] Soren insisted. [Again.]


    [That doesn’t entitle us to anything,] I replied firmly.


    Soren’s dissatisfaction rumbled through our shared consciousness.


    Cecilia’s pov


    The next morning dawned clear and crisp—perfect weather for ending a marriage.


    I arrived at the civil affairs bureau fifteen minutes early, divorce agreement originals in hand. Xavier pulled up precisely at ten o’clock, looking like he hadn’t slept in days. Dark circles shadowed his eyes, and stubble covered his normally clean-shaven jaw.


    When he approached, his hand automatically reached up to brush my bruised lip. "Still not healed?"


    I flinched back, but not quickly enough to avoid his touch.


    Part of me wanted to snap at him, but the lost look in his bloodshot eyes cooled my anger. "Let’s just get this over with," I said instead, turning toward the entrance.


    "Right." He nodded, but remained standing in ce.


    I didn’t wait, walking ahead and hearing his footsteps eventually follow behind me. The irrational part of me had worried he might change his mind, might try to force me to stay. But the Xavier following me now seemed resigned, defeated in a way I’d never seen him before.


    The divorce proceedings went smoothly and quickly. Being somewhat public figures—at least Xavier was, as Alpha of Blood Moon Pack—the officials recognized us and, seeing our signed agreement, didn’t waste time with reconciliation attempts.


    As we exited the building, Xavier unexpectedly handed me his copy of the divorce certificate.


    "What are you doing?" I asked, staring at the document in confusion. "This is yours."


    "You keep it," he said quietly.


    I stared at him, wondering if he’dpletely lost his mind. "Are you serious? This isn’t our marriage certificate, Xavier. This is proof that our marriage is over."


    When he made no move to take it back, I pulled him aside to a more private spot, not wanting to create a scene.


    "You’ll need this when you remarry," I said firmly, pressing the certificate against his chest. "So, Alpha Xavier , keep it yourself."