Chapter 8

I put my hands on my hips. "The fact that I rejected you on our intimacy day says it all," I declared.

"You clearly enjoyed yourself before," Noah sneered.

I flipped my hair, unconcerned. "Seventy percent of all women fake their orgasms," I countered with a dismissive wave. "I just happen to be one of them."

I smirked at his incredulous expression. It was his own fault for prolonging this conversation. If he simply agreed to my divorce application, this cringeworthy exchange would be over.

Noah opened his mouth to speak, then closed it again. He raised a finger, as if to reprimand me, then lowered it. The flustered look on his face amused, yet also annoyed me, as I waited for his response. Several minutes passed in silence. I anticipated him storming off, as usual, but he remained, staring, and prodding the inside of his cheek with his tongue.

"What's the matter, Noah?" I taunted. "Cat got your tongue?"

He snorted, chuckling. "Hannah, you don't sound like a Luna right now."

Good. I was tired of playing the perfect lady. I wasn't anyone's trophy wife; I was determined to be an Alpha.

"If you don't like the way I'm acting, then I'm happy to give you a divorce."

His eyes narrowed as he placed his hands on his hips. "You think you're cute, don't you?"

"No," I said, stepping closer. "I think I'm determined."

He ran a hand over his face, his internal turmoil evident. He couldn't agree to my request with the upcoming Alpha Council review, but my application had put him in a tight spot. That gave me slight satisfaction.

"Look," he finally said, "if you want more of your emotional needs met, then we can have an open marriage."

I scoffed. "An open marriage? Really?"

"Yes. We can see other people under certain conditions while still staying married." He crossed his arms.

Chapter 9

"How about a divorce?" I asked. "A divorce is out of the question."

Anger simmered. I breathed deeply, trying to remain calm in the face of his absurd "concessions." I couldn't afford to lose my temper, but I was close.

"Is that the best you have?" I asked.

He shook his head. "We have to do what's best for the Pack, regardless of our personal issues. We have an image to uphold, a reputation to maintain, and scandal—including divorce—to avoid."

I snorted. "What about Zoe getting a divorce and returning to you with a child? Isn't that a scandal? She divorced an Alpha, too, you know."

He fell silent. Of course, he had nothing to say. He didn't care about scandal when it came to his precious Zoe. She could do no wrong in his eyes, even when committing the very act he was warning me against.

My arm muscles tightened as my nails dug into my hips. He genuinely believed that us seeing other people would be less scandalous than a divorce? It was almost laughable. He should know better—the media would devour us. I knew firsthand the fallout from merely the appearance of him seeing another woman. It would be far worse if we were actually caught. And that didn't even account for the potential blackmail or revenge leaks. He clearly wasn't thinking—or was thinking with the wrong head.

"And seeing other people?" I continued. "Don't you see how that could go wrong? If you want to avoid scandal, then start by not setting us up to be caught cheating."

"Obviously, one of the conditions would be that we not have any public dates," he argued.

I rolled my eyes. "You honestly think they'd never catch us? The most high-profile couple in the Nightcrest Pack? And that that scandal would be any less than a divorce?"

He had to think I was incredibly stupid to fall for that. His double standards were even more hypocritical than I'd imagined. No, this "open marriage" wasn't about avoiding scandal; it was about him and Zoe.

"That's just your excuse to cheat on me with Zoe. Admit it."

He didn't respond.

"That's what I thought. Scandal is okay, as long as it benefits you and your paramour—"

"Don't drag her name through the mud!" he snapped.

"Why? Because she's yours to defend?"

He ran a hand through his hair and growled. "I'm not having this conversation right now."

I lifted my chin. "Then give me what I want."

He looked away, lost in thought. Then his eyes met mine, an intensity that stole my breath. "I cannot. We need to present a united front, for the sake of the Pack."

"Well, I'm not withdrawing my divorce application."

He stared, silent. I waited patiently. Then his eyes softened, pleading. My heart almost softened, almost.

"Please, Hannah, withdraw your application," he said. "At least continue to play the part of my wife for three more months, until after the Lunar Festival."

He took my hand, and for a moment, I thought I might crumble. He hadn't touched me like that since… our wedding night, maybe? If only it wasn't a tactic.

"Whatever you want," I said. "Just wait for that divorce."

I had to remind myself of everything he'd done, in this life and the last, to avoid falling for his charm and "pitiful me" act. I needed to stay strong.

"No," I said firmly, pulling my hand away. "I want a direct divorce."

After a moment's thought, my hand fell to my stomach. There was something I hadn't considered, something that could change my plans if I didn't take precautions.

"Wait," Noah said, his face brightening. "There might be one thing you can do."