Chapter 79 The Black Stain on Her Record

"Fine. I understand."

Alpha Roger ended the call.

Alpha Sebastian shot Isabella one last look, grabbed his coat, and walked out.

Isabella watched the door slam behind him.

"He’s not going to help Eira come after me, is he?"

"Of course not," Luna Margaret said, taking her hand. "You’re his blood. Eira has never truly belonged to the Hale Pack."

"But he called her his Luna."

"A marriage contract doesn’t outweigh blood," Luna Margaret said firmly. "He just needs time to cool off."

Isabella rubbed the back of her neck. "He nearly choked me. How am I supposed to smooth that over?"

Then her eyes lit up.

"I can’t. But Serena can."

She called at once.

"Serena, Sebastian knows I set Eira up. He’s furious and just stormed out. Can you go find him?"

She paused, then lowered her voice.

"Relax. I kept your name out of it."

Luna Margaret looked over. "Kept her name out of what?"

"Nothing, Mom."

Isabella turned away before Luna Margaret could see her smile.

Alpha Roger went to his study and called Eira. She ignored the first three calls but answered the fourth.

"What?"

Alpha Roger’s expression hardened at her tone.

"Has Sebastian contacted you?"

"Yes. I’m not going back, and I have nothing else to say to him."

"So the divorce is still happening?"

"That’s the plan."

Alpha Roger sat behind his desk.

"You told Margaret you weren’t asking for money, support, or Hale Group assets. Send me the agreement."

"Why?"

"I want to see it for myself."

"You’re not part of the divorce."

"Sebastian is the Alpha of Hale pack. His marriage affects all of us," Alpha Roger said. "If you lied, the family attorneys can tie this up for months."

Eira almost laughed. Another threat. The Hales never seemed to have anything else.

"Hold on."

She sent him a copy of the agreement.

Alpha Roger put on his reading glasses and scanned it. Eira had asked for no cash settlement, company shares, or spousal support.

"Good," he said. "At least you’re not trying to cash in on four years with this family."

Eira sat down on the couch at Number Nine.

"Is that all?"

"No. Once the divorce is final, you keep your marriage to Sebastian private. If anyone asks why it ended, you say you grew apart. Nothing about Serena, Isabella, or this family."

"Or what? You’ll sic your lawyers on me?"

"Watch your tone, Eira."

"Didn’t Margaret tell you? Threats don’t work on me anymore."

Alpha Roger’s Alpha scent sharpened even though no one was there to feel it.

"You’re getting more disrespectful by the day."

"Must be the Hale influence," Eira said. "Four years around a cheating husband and his criminal sister will do that."

"Eira."

"No need to shout. I heard you."

She leaned back against the couch.

"Don’t worry. I have no plans to advertise the worst decision of my life. I’m just as embarrassed by those four years as you are."

She ended the call before Alpha Roger could answer.

--

Eira set her phone facedown on the counter.

The call had left a bad taste in her mouth, but she refused to let the Hales ruin the rest of her evening. This was her house now. Her fresh start. She would rather spend her energy making it feel like home.

She rolled up her sleeves and went back to cleaning.

Number Nine was bigger than she had expected. Most of the furniture was still hidden under dust covers, and several rooms had not been opened in months. It would take more than one afternoon to bring the place back to life.

She had just finished cleaning the living room when her phone rang again.

Mrs. Thorne.

Eira’s hand paused over the screen. After everything that had happened today, a late call from Mrs. Thorne could only mean one thing.

Sebastian had gone looking for her.

"Mrs. Thorne?"

"Sebastian showed up at the estate," Mrs. Thorne said. "He was worked up and kept asking where you were."

Eira relaxed slightly. If Alpha Sebastian had told her about the hotel, Mrs. Thorne would not sound this calm.

"I’m at Number Nine," Eira said. "I’ve been cleaning all afternoon, so I missed his calls."

"I sent him packing and told security not to let him through the gate again," Mrs. Thorne said. "What’s gotten into him?"

"I wish I knew. He hasn’t been himself lately."

"Then let him sort himself out. Have you eaten?"

"Not yet."

"I figured. I had dinner sent over."

Eira smiled. "Thank you."

The doorbell rang seconds after they hung up.

"That was fast."

Eira slipped on her house shoes and went downstairs. She opened the door, expecting a delivery driver.

Alpha Killian stood on the porch with a takeout bag in one hand.

He had changed since that afternoon, but he was still dressed like he had somewhere important to be. His suit was sharp, his tie perfectly straight, and his silver eyes studied her from head to toe.

"Alpha Killian?" Eira glanced at his suit. "Did I forget we had a meeting?"

"No."

"I’m not working overtime tonight."

Alpha Killian paused, then gave her a tired look.

"No one asked you to."

He held up the bag.

"Your delivery was waiting at the gate. I saved the driver a trip."

"Oh. Thank you."

Eira stepped aside. "Come in."

Alpha Killian entered and looked around. The house was large and well kept, but nearly empty. It did not feel lived in yet.

He sat on the couch.

"Are you going to offer me something to drink?"

Eira realized she had left him sitting there without even offering water.

"Sorry. Tea?"

"That works."

She went into the kitchen and filled the electric kettle. Plain tea seemed too basic, so she found a jar of dried chamomile from Miss Gwen’s last care package.

As she poured the hot water, her phone lit up on the counter.

Eira, are you still mad?

Another message followed.

I was wrong to ask you to apologize to Isabella.

Eira frowned. Alpha Sebastian had changed his tune fast.

Her phone kept buzzing.

Please pick up.

At least text me so I know you’re okay.

I’m outside the Thorne estate. If you don’t answer, I’ll stay here all night.

Eira’s stomach tightened.

Had Mrs. Thorne’s security team failed to make him leave?

She reached for the phone and knocked the mug off balance.

Hot tea spilled across her slipper.

"Ah!"

The cry was barely louder than a breath, but Alpha Killian caught it from the living room.

He was in the kitchen before the mug stopped rolling.

"What happened?"

His phone lay forgotten on the couch.