Divorced by the Alpha, Claimed by the Rogue

Alina’s POV

Everything was in place.

I had spent days turning the pieces over in my mind—every risk, every word, every possible reaction. Tonight was execution. My heart beat steady as I walked down the long corridor toward Aiden’s office, the silk of my dress whispering against my legs like a secret. This wasn’t just escape. This was reclamation.

I knocked once and pushed the door open without waiting. Aiden sat behind his massive desk, reviewing reports, the weight of the pack on his shoulders like always. He looked up, eyebrows raised.

"A party?" he repeated after I laid out the idea, confusion flickering across his face. "Why now?"

I smiled, soft and convincing—the same smile I’d practiced in the mirror. "To celebrate the stability of the pack house. Everyone’s been tense lately. A grand night like this... it’ll remind them we’re strong. United. And it’ll make them happy." I tilted my head. "Don’t you think a happy pack is a loyal one?"

He leaned back, considering. Then, slowly, a pleased look spread across his face. "You’re right. It’s a good idea. We’ll do it."

I let the satisfaction bloom warm in my chest as I walked away. Hook, line, and sinker.

The smile dropped the second I stepped into the hallway. Emily stood there like a bad omen, arms crossed over her barely-there bump, eyes sharp with hatred. I rolled my eyes and kept walking, but her footsteps followed.

I tried shutting my bedroom door. Her hand slammed against it, forcing me to step back as she barged in.

"Leave my husband alone," she hissed, voice low and venomous. "What is your fucking problem? You’re already bonded to Lucian. Why can’t you just let Aiden be?"

A sharp laugh escaped me before I could stop it. "I love how restless you are, Emily. But you should be careful." My gaze dropped pointedly to her stomach. "Pregnancy can be... delicate. Stress causes damage if you’re not careful."

Her face twisted. "I won’t let you get the happiness you want. When this baby is born, I’ll make sure you’re reduced to nothing."

I laughed again—this one jagged, raw, echoing off the walls. "You think I care about status or power? That’s the difference between us. You cling to the title of Luna like it’ll fill the emptiness inside you... but even with all that, you still look miserable. Pathetic, really."

I stepped closer, voice dropping. "Weren’t you the one flaunting that Lucian is the father of your child? What happened now?"

A deep voice cut through the room from behind us. "What?"

Aiden stood in the doorway. The color drained from Emily’s face so fast she looked ghostly.

"Alina was only joking," she blurted, panic cracking her voice. "She does this sometimes to piss me off. Right, Alina?"

I stayed quiet for a beat, savoring the perfect opportunity. One word from me and Emily’s lie would shatter everything. But I needed this party. I needed the stage. Not yet.

"It was only a joke," I said smoothly, forcing a light laugh. "I hate Lucian. I just said it to get under her skin."

Aiden’s jaw tightened. "That name makes me angry. Don’t use it again." He jerked his head at Emily. "Come with me."

She shot me one last hateful glare before scurrying after him like the obedient little thing she was. The door clicked shut, and my smile faded into a deep frown. Annoyance burned in my veins. Soon. After tonight, everything would be different.

The party was everything I’d envisioned—grand, dazzling, straight out of a Pinterest dream. Crystal chandeliers sparkled above the ballroom, flowers cascaded from every surface, and the pack moved through it all with laughter and raised glasses. Music swelled. Joy floated in the air like perfume. For once, they looked truly happy.

I stood near the edge of the crowd when a warm, ancient presence brushed against my senses. The Moon Goddess. She glided toward me, radiant and ethereal, her eyes glowing with stars. She took my hand gently, her touch sending a soothing wave through me.

"You will be the greatest someday, child," she murmured. "Your aura is powerful. You shine like a bright star, and great powers look to you."

I gave her a light smile, polite but distant. Her words barely registered. All I cared about was the plan. Freedom. Lucian waiting somewhere in the shadows. The rest was just pretty noise.

Aiden stepped onto the podium then, commanding the room with his presence. Everyone quieted, turning toward him with respect.

"Thank you all for coming," he announced, voice booming. "Tonight we celebrate the stability of our pack. We are stronger than ever." Applause thundered. He smiled, then looked directly at me. "And much of this is because of Alina. Her ideas, her dedication. Come up here, my dear."

Our eyes met across the room. Emily stood near the front, frowning hard enough to crack her makeup. I smirked, slow and deliberate, and walked onto the stage with my head high. The lights felt warm on my skin. Empowering.

Aiden tried to put an arm around me, but I stepped forward to the microphone first.

"My job here is done," I said clearly, voice carrying through the hall. Gasps rippled. "The only thing keeping me here is my son. I feel suffocated in this place. It’s unfair—Aiden is married, yet he keeps me trapped like this. It’s not right."

Murmurs spread. Heads nodded. I saw agreement in their eyes—sympathy, even. The pack had seen the cracks for years.

Aiden moved beside me, grip tightening on my arm as he smiled tightly for the crowd. "What are you doing?" he hissed under his breath.

I turned to him with a smirk, eyes locked on his. "I’m taking my freedom back," I said. "I told you my work here was done so many times, but you insist on keeping me here. It’s best everyone knows I’m being held against my will."

His jaw clenched, a muscle ticking in his cheek as he stared me down. The low hum of conversation around us faltered, guests shifting uncomfortably.

"This is why you wanted a party," he muttered, his voice tight and edged with barely contained fury.

"Yes," I replied, lifting my chin. "And now you won’t deprive me of getting my freedom back—alongside my baby."