Chapter 16

~Grace~

No one dared make a sound. All eyes were on me.

The news of the divorce floored everyone, including Liam, who was still kneeling next to Sophia, his hand on her shoulder.

I glanced at him as he suddenly made a quick motion, pushing Sophia away. She fell back to the ground, and Liam stood up without looking back at her.

“The fated mate bond means nothing!” He cried out to the crowd, hands outstretched, as if pleading with people to believe him.

“Grace,” he said, coming up to me, face distraught. “Grace, darling. You’re the only one I’ve ever loved.”

What was he doing?

Stunned, I couldn’t look away from Liam. It was an impressive performance, and it almost sounded like he was being sincere.

Turning back to the crowd, Liam continued, “Luna Grace may not be my fated mate, but when I chose to marry her three years ago, she was everything I ever wanted. There is nothing and no one in this world that could come between us.”

This all had to be a big act. All cameras and eyes were on him, and he was about to give the performance of his life.

“She has faithfully stayed with me for three years, ruling the Nightshade pack beside me. There’s no one else I’d rather have by my side,” he finished, emotionally.

I furrowed my brow, squinting at him. Were those tears glistening in his eyes? Or just a trick of the light?

I couldn't help but be a little moved by his speech. He sounded so sincere. If I hadn’t known for a fact how awful of a man he was, I would have believed him.

It seems everyone else did.

Many members of the crowd murmured their approval, as many here tonight were also with their chosen mates over fated mates. They understood the struggle due to the misconceptions the majority of the werewolf world had on chosen mates, and they appreciated Liam’s passion.

I wished I could have, as well.

If he meant every word he said, and was as good-intentioned as everyone thought him to be, he’d make an excellent Alpha King.

A pang of disappointment seized me. This was the man I thought I had married. A powerful, strong-spoken, progressive man, who led for the betterment of all werewolves, not for his own gain and power.

If only that were who he truly was.

I felt a powerful presence from behind me, and I turned around. Alex had been standing behind me, for who knows how long.

However, he wasn’t looking at me. His dark gaze was fixed on Liam’s back as he spilled out his feelings to the public.

Alex clearly didn’t believe in his speech for one second, but more than that–it seemed to make him angry. Did Liam really just get under Alex’s skin that much? Or did he particularly despise this speech for another reason?

Once Liam finished his moving monologue, Alex stepped forward, presenting Sophia’s pregnancy certificate.

I moved my hand over my mouth to hide a smile. There was no way Liam could defend himself against this bombshell.

Alex always had something up his sleeve in my worst moments, and I appreciated that. It felt like he always had my back.

“Who is the father of Sophia’s child?” Alex demanded, thrusting the paper into Liam’s hand.

For a moment, Liam stood still as if stunned, mouth agape as he stared at the certificate. Slowly, in disbelief, he looked up at Alex.

“I-” Liam started, but it seemed he was out of words.

Did he know? Or had Sophia hidden this from him? I carefully watched Liam’s expression, trying to tell, but I couldn’t.

Sophia, who had been crying on the floor, tearfully looked up at Alex, trembling. I think they were real tears, this time.

I would feel bad for her, being manipulated and used by Liam, but she made her choice to pursue him and attack my reputation and dignity.

“T-the child… is from my ex-husband…” Sophia sputtered, wrapping her arms around her shoulders.

That couldn’t be true! It was Liam’s, wasn’t it? What if it wasn’t? Had I jumped to conclusions?

I honestly couldn’t tell if she was lying, and I felt conflicted, not knowing what to think.

“Do you know the consequences of deceiving me?” Alex growled, and a chill ran through the air. Even I shuddered.

Sophia cast a frantic look at Liam, then pressed into the floor, shaking.

Liam still looked stunned. He struggled to find words, stammering for a moment, before turning to me with wide eyes.

“Grace, I- I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have his Sophia’s pregnancy from you.”

I raised an eyebrow. So it was his. Not that an apology rectified or excused anything.

“Sophia’s ex-husband, her chosen mate, was… very abusive. He threw her out, left her homeless, wth nothing. No one would take her in… She was forced to come to me,” Liam continued.

You’re kidding me. I rolled my eyes.

Not the sob story again! Anger rushed through my veins, and I turned away from him, not wanting to hear another word.

I was sick of him covering his own ass, especially at the expense of me.

“As the Alpha King, I couldn’t turn her away,” Liam insisted, now turning toward the crowd, who seemed very moved by his story. “It was my duty to protect her.”

The crowd began to applaud, the noise growing louder and louder as more people got in on it.

I had turned away, unable to look at him any longer, anger fiercely gripping my heart. It was disgusting he’d lie not just to me, his Luna, but the entire werewolf world!

Some honorable Alpha King he was.

My skin bristled, and I couldn't wait to expose him, knowing he’d fall even harder, now that he’s painted such a pretty picture of himself.

I looked down, catching Sophia’s eyes. She was sitting up, leaning back on her hands. Her face was dry, as if tears never existed.

She gave me a smug look. That wench thought she had won. That her pathetic public display had saved the day.

But much to her surprise, I smiled back at her. She huffed at me, looking offended that I didn’t run off and cry, like she would have done.

But, I couldn’t allow her charade to bother me, because I held a secret. This night had been successful, after all. Behind my back, I held a strand of Liam’s hair between my fingers. His DNA had been secured, and I could use it as hard evidence against him.

I was one step closer to getting to my goal of exposing and humiliating Liam.

A hand grabbed my shoulder, pulling me out of my thoughts, and I turned to face Alex, whose expression looked unusually soft.

“Leo misses you,” he said, voice quiet, but firm. I wondered if he knew how to be soft without the harshness of being the Lycan King.

He leaned in close, so I could hear him over the celebration of the crowd. His tone was certain, and I knew he wasn’t giving me an option. “Tomorrow, I’m taking you to my pack.”