CHAPTER THIRTY–FIVE

KILLIAN’S POV

I hated leaving her.

Even if it was just for a few hours, it felt as if I was walking away from the only ce in the

rested.

World

where

my soul actually

Liana was curled up in bed when I kissed her goodbye, still warm from our night together, her skin glowing with the kind of softness I didn’t deserve. She didn’t stir when I left the note by her pillow, but bI /bknew she’d read it. I knew she’d smile, maybe

even blush a little, the way she always did when I wrote her something.

And I hated that I had to go.

But this meeting couldn’t be avoided. Not anymore.

I told myself I was doing it for her. For Ryan. For us.

Now I was here, stepping into Logan’s house–my Beta, my brother in all but blood. The only reason the meeting wasn’t taking ce at my estate was because of her. Because she was there. And I would never risk her overhearing any of this.

Logan’s house was the safest ce. His estate was hidden just outside the city.

Steve was already thereb, /bstanding near the window with his arms crossed, his face as unredeadable as always. He was my Gamma, loyal, relentless, always calcting. He rarely smiled, rarely spoke first, but when he did, it meant something.

Logan sat at the bar, sipping whiskey. He was the opposite of Steve. Loud, yful, reckless sometimes, but sharp. Sharp where it counted. He was the CFO of Wolfe International and the one who could read my silence better than anyone else.

These two men weren’t just part of my pack. They were part of me.

So when I walked in, and Logan said, “You’rete,” it wasn’t aint. It was concern.

I took the ss he handed me, didn’t drink. I sat.

Steve’s voice came first. “We heard the rumors. About Cynthia. About the divorceb./bb” /b

I didn’t answer Just looked down at my ss. Logan filled the silence.

“Killian, we need to talk. This electioning up, it’s not a joke. You’re not just running for Alpha of this pack. You’repeting to be Alpha King Of all the packs Every region Every territory. This isn’t the time to make enemies.”

I let out a slow breath b“/bI know what’s at stake.”

“Then why are you risking it now?” Steve asked, sharp and direct “Why the hell are you divorcing your Luna weeks before

the council vote?”

Because I can’t keep living a lie.

But I didn’t say that yet. I looked at both of them. “Because she’s not my mate.”

Logan rubbed his temples “Killian… you knew that before the election was even announced. You married her anyway.”

“Because I didn’t have a choice then. But bI /bdo now.”

Steve’s tone dropped. “You’re forgetting the requirement. No Alpha King bgets /bcrowned without a Luna beside him. bThe /bcouncil will never approve a candidate who’s divorced and alone.”

I raised my head. “I’m not alone. I bhave /bLianab” /b

173

b35 /b

Steve stepped forward, serious. “Killian, listen to yourself. You want to trade Cynthia, the perfect Luna, the woman with the

council’s favor, for your stepsister. Who’s human??b” /b

“She’s my mate.”

b“/bYou think she’s your mate. You feel it. But to the council? She’s a scandal. A human.

born outside your legal marriage. That’s not just controversy. That’s disqualification.”

A

Weep–rtive. A mother to a child

“I don’t care what they think-”

“You should!” Logan barked. “Because this isn’t just about you anymore! You want to change things, remember? Restructure how we lead. Give Omegas more rights. Destroy the hierarchy your father built. None of that happens if you walk away from

this title nowb!/bb” /b

I stood. “I’m not walking away.”

“Then don’t give them ammo to destroy you!” Steve shouted. “Postpone the divorce. That’s all we’re saying. Don’t announce

anything until you’ve been crowned. You’ll have power then. You can name anyone you want as Luna–hell, even a human.

No one will stop you. But now? Right now, they’ll crucify you.”

I stared at the wall, at nothing.

“And the pregnancyb?/bb” /bI asked tly. “Do we pretend it’s mine?b” /b

Steve and Logan exchanged a look.

“We know it’s not yours,” Logan said, his voice low. “We know Cynthia’s been sleeping with her mate. A human. We figured it

out weeks ago. But that doesn’t change the fact that this is the perfect time to use her.”

b“/bUse her?b” /bI echoed.

Steve nodded. “Yes. Use her. Let the council believe the baby is yours. Let them see you with a pregnant Luna by your side.

That’s power, Killian. That’s leverage.”

Logan leaned forwardb. /b“You’repeting with two other Alphasb, /brememberb? /bAlpha Dorian of the North Territory, and Alpha Cassian from the East. Both strong. Both with Luna mates, byes/bb, /bbut neither of them has a pregnant Luna. You do.”

“That pregnancy could tip the entire election in your favor,” Steve added. “They’ll see you as stable. As fertile. As ready to lead and continue the bloodline. Even if it’s not true.”

“And meanwhile,i” /iLogan cut in, “Liana stays hidden. You keep her away from all this. No one must know. Not byet/b.”

Steve nodded slowly “Exactly. You love her, we get that. We’ve seen it. But she’s your secret, Killian. Your dirty secret. And

for now, that’s how it has to stay.”

My chest tightened.

“Keep her out of the spotlight,” Logan said gently. “We know what she means bto /byou. But for now, just for now… use Cynthia Let her stand beside you. Let the council believe what they want. Once you’re crowned, you can divorce her. Do whatever you

want. But win first, Killian Win for Liana Win for your son”

I looked down at my hands. At the mark on my ring finger where the wedding band used to sit.

“Does it ever stop?” I asked, my jaw ticking. “Putting duty before beverything /bbelse/bb?/bb” /b

Logan answered quietly. “Not for us. Not in this worldb” /b

I didn’t move for a long time.

Then I nodded

“I’ll think about it.”

i213 /i

35

That was all I could give them.

And it was already killing me inside. Keeping my Liana as a secret.

Click to get it

bX /b

BIG SALE:3500 BONUS FREE FOR YOU!