Lienne
"What the fuck is wrong with him?!"
My father slammed his fist on top of his desk and I had to take a step back, scared that it would crack and a random splinter would fly straight into my face. He was fuming in the face and I could see blue veins popping under the dry skin of his forehead.
I had only seen him so angry once when I broke a very expensive ashtray gifted to him by the Alpha of the Ironclaw pack to commemorate his thirtieth birthday.
My father had been in a sour mood ever since Alpha Daniel died, and now that I came to him right after signing the divorce papers, he seemed to have lost his cool completely.
"And you," he finally diverted his anger at me, his cold green eyes staring right into my soul. "How could you sign the papers so easily?!"
Once I signed the papers, I had no other choice but to return to my pack and inform my family of Dylan's decision. I knew what kind of reaction would follow and still, I had to power through it.
He puffed in the chest as if he was out of air and for a brief moment, I actually got a little concerned that he was really suffocating. Then, however, he rose to his feet and slammed his hands on the desk again, leaning over so that his icy glare would move a little closer to me.
"This divorce makes no sense! Alpha Daniel and I had an agreement––the marriage is essential to keep Dylan's position safe. Doesn't he understand this?!"
"It doesn't look like he does not know what he is doing, Father," I replied in a calm voice, clenching my fists at my sides. I wish my frustration was not that evident but I could not help it when I was so overwhelmed. Everything was happening so fast; everything at once.
"It seems he wants to take control of the Kingdom without outside interference and assert his power once and for all. He wants to do it on his own."
My father's face contorted even more, the wrinkles deepening and making him look even more intimidating than he already was. I hated seeing him like this. He reminded me of my own insignificance in the face of the power he held.
"Oh?" He snapped again and I could hear his wolf roaring from inside him. "So he wants to get rid of us too, huh? Can he really be so shortsighted?"
He was not wrong. Even though the Lycan Kingdom possessed a significant amount of power over our lands, breaking off this marriage without the involvement of my family was not the wisest idea, especially since my father and brother were directly involved in supporting Dylan during the power shift when his father fell ill.
"Anyway..." my father continued as he sunk back in his chair, fixing his grayish hair with his large hand. "We can drag this divorce out. Just don't sign anything and––"
"It's a bit too late for that," I answered unexpectedly coldly and bit my tongue right away. My sharp response made my father flinch and I could swear I saw his eyes turning almost black.
"...what?"
"I have already signed them."
My father's left eyebrow twitched and I felt weird watching as his left eye grew larger, contrasting dramatically against the other eye. Then, he seemed to have composed himself once again, and his face turned ominously darker.
"You stupid girl... Do you realize what this entire situation means for you?"
He let out a long, exhausted sigh and clasped his hands together in front of his face as if he were planning something evil.
"Daniel's death means Dylan's position as King is established and you are truly his Luna now. Did you think about all the power and influence it could give you? Did you think about all the power and influence it could give us?"
Of course I have thought about it, multiple times even. Being the Luna of the Lycan Kingdom, the one that oversees the largest territory in our country meant that other Lunas would look up to me and respect me regardless of my circumstances.
And of course, I have thought about what it could mean to my family. The disputed territories between our packs... If I could be persistent enough, Dylan could have given them to my pack thus expanding our land and giving us more authority.
And I have thrown it all away.
"This is a disgrace!" He finally exclaimed, perhaps infuriated by my calm demeanor. "YOU are a disgrace! To both our family and our pack!"
My hands finally relaxed and I felt a sudden sense of relief as if an enormous weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I knew what he was implying, it was practically written all over his face.
Nevertheless, I let him say it with his own mouth.
"I have no other choice but to disown you... in order to save face."
And there it was, the declaration I had been expecting.
"I understand," was the only sentence I could manage. Truthfully, what else could I say to that? And more so, after I heard myself saying those words, I felt like I was finally free.
Free from everyone and everything. I could finally forget all the pain I had to go through for this family's sake and live the life that I had always wanted.
"You understand?" My father rounded his eyes but all I could do was smile.
"Yes. My decision is final. I will not beg Dylan to reconsider, and... I will accept being expelled from both this family and this pack."
Two low blows in one day. The Moon Goddess must be having quite a laugh right now.