Sebastian’s POV

My mother hurried upstairs and stopped in the doorway of my study, out of breath.

“What have you done?” she asked.

I looked up from my desk. “You’ll have to be more specific. I do a lot of things.”

“The divorce. Emilia said she would sign the agreement. So how can you tell Abigail she left without signing?”

“I tore it up.” I held her gaze. “Is that a problem?”

Her mouth opened in anger. “You—”

“I’m not going to ask what you said to Emilia to make her leave.” I leaned back in my chair. “You might as well pretend you don’t know either. Then we can all get on with our lives.”

“What I said to her?” She came toward the desk, clasping her hands. “I begged her to stay, Sebastian. She was the one who insisted on leaving. What was I supposed to do?”

“Enough!” I shoved my chair back and stood, glaring at her. Ryder growled inside me, but I made no effort to calm him.

“I know you better than anyone. And I know Emilia. If you hadn’t pressured her, she would have stayed, no matter how tired or hurt she was.”

My mother flinched, but I wasn’t finished. “My silence doesn’t mean I don’t know what happened. I haven’t said anything because you’ve disappointed me so much that I have nothing left to say to you.”

“Sebastian, I only wanted to protect the pack.”

“You said the same thing three years ago. Now, three years later, you’ve done it again.”

Ryder had turned my eyes red. My mother stared at me, frightened, and didn’t dare say another word. Then she backed out of the study.

I sat down again. A short while later, Abigail came upstairs after finishing her soup. My study door was still open, and she walked in without knocking.

“Sebastian. Which one is your bedroom?”

I stood and led her down the hall to the guest room. Opening the door, I stepped aside.

“You’re in here.”

She stared at the bed, then at me. “This isn’t your room.”

“No.”

Her expression darkened. “I want to stay in your room. I’m your woman now. Why should I be put in a guest room?”

“Giving you a guest room is already generous.” I folded my arms. “If I had a doghouse out back, you’d be staying there.”

“Sebastian!” She burst into tears. “How can you treat me like this?”

“Feeling mistreated? Then leave. No one’s stopping you.”

“You—” She stopped, glaring at me through her tears.

I knew she wouldn’t go. She’d worked too hard to get into this house, and I had no problem reminding her that she could leave. She might order my parents around, but she wasn’t going to do it to me.

“I’m not leaving!” She wiped her face with the back of her hand. “I’m not the coward I was three years ago.”

“Glad to hear it.” I smirked and leaned close to her ear. “You put Emilia through hell to get into this house. From now on, I’ll make sure you know exactly what that feels like.”

Abigail went pale. I stepped back and left her standing in the guest room doorway.

Abigail’s POV

Life at the pack house was nothing like I’d imagined.

I’d pictured having breakfast with Sebastian, his hand brushing mine as he poured my coffee. In the evenings, we would sit by the fireplace. The pack would greet me as Luna, finally giving me the respect I deserved.

Instead, I spent my days waiting for a man who avoided me.

Sebastian left before dawn. Sometimes, the smell of whiskey in the hallway was the only sign he’d been home. He never ate with me or asked about the baby. He barely looked at me.

Most nights, he returned after I’d fallen asleep. Other nights, I wasn’t sure he came back at all.

I grew more anxious with each passing day. I hadn’t given up Damien, my old life, and my dignity just to be ignored in a bigger house.

Mila was polite but distant. I was someone she tolerated for her grandson’s sake, nothing more. Titus barely spoke to me, and Sebastian acted as though I wasn’t there.

Something had to change. That night, I decided to wait up for him.

I settled on the living room sofa and refused to go to bed. Once Sebastian came home, I would make him listen.

He had loved me once. Surely some part of him still cared. A few tears, a trembling voice, and perhaps he would remember how much we’d meant to each other. He’d never been able to watch me cry without comforting me.

Ten o’clock passed, then eleven. I was starting to doze when I heard a car coming up the drive.

I jumped up and pinched my cheeks to give them some color. Then I put on a welcoming smile and hurried outside.

My smile vanished when I reached the driveway.

Sebastian was still in the car with a woman beside him. His arm was around her, their heads close as they talked. She laughed and leaned against his chest.

I marched over and pounded on the window.

“Get out! Get out of there, right now!”

Sebastian opened the door and climbed out, swaying. He smelled strongly of liquor and squinted at me as though he couldn’t quite place me.

“What,” he slurred, “are you making all this noise about?”

“What am I—” I nearly choked. “What kind of question is that? I should be the one asking you! What on earth do you think you’re doing?!”

The woman got out on the other side. She was petite, with a narrow waist, and apparently in no hurry. She walked around the car and slipped her arm through Sebastian’s.

“What were we doing?” She tilted her head and smirked. “Are you blind, sweetheart? I’d have thought it was obvious.”