Forced To Apologize

Vivian pushed open the heavy oak door of their bedroom, the remnants of her newfound resolve hardening her spine with every step she took. She left the stairwell behind, no longer the trembling girl who had just wept over her broken bond. Across the room, Dari sat bathed in the morning sunlight near the window, casually flipping through a thick stack of pack reports. Hearing the soft click of the door as she entered, he looked up from the paperwork. A confident, knowing grin spread across his handsome face. He assumed she had already succumbed to his previous threat, returning quickly to yield as she always did.

"She forgave you?" he asked smoothly, reaching for his steaming mug of coffee.

Vivian stared at him. The man she had served faithfully for three years looked at her like an unruly child returning to beg for scraps. She clenched her fists at her sides, digging her nails into her palms to steady her trembling rage.

"Dari," she declared firmly, her voice carrying a calm, cold weight. "I want a divorce."

Dari’s hand froze mid-air. The mug hovered inches from his mouth. For a split second, genuine shock flickered in his dark eyes. The arrogant smile instantly vanished from his lips, swiftly replaced by a cold, condescending smirk. He brought the mug to his lips, took a slow, deliberate sip of his coffee, and set it down heavily on the table.

"You want a divorce?" he questioned, his tone laced with venomous amusement, acting as if she had not spoken clearly the first time.

"Yes," Vivian replied, meeting his gaze without flinching.

He let out a dry, mocking chuckle and pushed himself up from his chair, standing to his imposing full height. He closed the distance between them, his towering frame designed to intimidate her into submission.

"So, you would rather choose a divorce than offer a simple apology to Milla?"

*Milla.* The affectionate nickname brutally pierced Vivian's heart. He reserved such sweetness for a homewrecker, yet she could easily count on one hand the number of times he had ever bothered to use her real name.

"When did you change this much?" Dari sneered. He stepped closer, his eyes dancing with dark mockery as he looked down at her. "You used to be so obedient. But now, you can't even offer a common apology. You suddenly have an ego."

Vivian refused to shrink away. She tilted her head up, making one last attempt to defend her innocence. "Dari, I am innocent! I did absolutely nothing wrong to Camilla—"

He mercilessly silenced her by pressing a harsh finger directly against her lips.

"Keep your mouth shut," he commanded, his voice dropping into a dangerous register. "Do you have concrete evidence to prove your innocence?"

He slowly withdrew his finger, waiting for her to stumble over her defense.

"My words should be enough," Vivian insisted desperately.

Dari rolled his eyes, a harsh scoff tearing from his throat. He looked at her as if she were the most pathetic, stubborn creature he had ever encountered. "Vivian, if you think you can just do whatever you want and walk away scot-free, you need to wake up."

Before she could process his next move, Dari roughly seized her upper arm. His grip was an iron vise, his fingers digging into her pale flesh, instantly forming a bruising pressure.

"Dari, let go!" she gasped, but he ignored her completely.

He physically dragged her out of the bedroom, his long, punishing strides forcing her to stumble awkwardly after him. He hauled her down the grand wooden staircase without a single shred of dignity. Her feet scrambled against the steps as she struggled to keep her balance, praying she wouldn't trip and break her neck. The maids dusting the banisters gasped in shock, pressing themselves flat against the walls to get out of his destructive path. Pack elders and guards gathered in the vast living room paused their morning conversations. Their eyes went wide as they watched their Alpha parade his Luna like a captured criminal through their own home.

Vivian bit the inside of her cheek. The physical pain radiating from her arm was intense, but the burning stares of the pack stung much worse.

Just as Dari dragged her toward the main entryway, the heavy front doors swung open.

They ran directly into Beta Silas. Silas was not alone. He was carefully supporting the one woman responsible for this entire malicious charade.

Camilla limped over the threshold, playing the part of a tragic victim to perfection. White bandages wrapped securely around her head, and her face was a mask of calculated pain.

Silas looked up, his eyes immediately dropping to Dari’s hand. He noticed the harsh, purpling bruise Dari was inflicting on Vivian’s fair skin. The Beta frowned, attempting to step in and question his Alpha's harsh treatment.

"What’s going on, man?" Silas asked, his voice tight with concern. "Where are you taking your mate?"

The moment Dari’s eyes landed on the bandaged Camilla, he immediately dropped Vivian’s arm like a piece of worthless trash. He abandoned his mate and rushed forward.

Right in front of the gathered elders, guards, and Silas, Dari pulled the pitiful-acting Camilla softly into his protective embrace.

Deep within Vivian’s mind, her inner wolf, Tessa, snapped. Tessa barked in raw, visceral anger, her claws scratching against the walls of Vivian's consciousness. She was deeply offended that their bound mate could show more care for an outsider than his own bound Luna.

"How could he care for someone else more than his mate?!" Tessa growled in pure disgust.

"Are you alright?" Dari asked, his voice dripping with a sickeningly sweet tenderness.

He tenderly guided Camilla toward the center of the living room, ignoring Vivian entirely. "Come, take a seat over here."

Dari settled Camilla onto the plush sofa. The gathered pack members watched in silence as their Alpha showered another woman with blatant affection. Soon, the silence broke into disdainful whispers, the murmurs intentionally loud enough for Vivian to catch.

"Why is the Alpha treating that woman like his mate?" a guard muttered.

"Because the Luna pushed her down the stairs," a maid whispered back, glaring at Vivian. "I guess it was pure jealousy."

"I always thought Luna Vivian was a nice lady. Who knew she was a jealous, heartless monster?"

The cruel words hit Vivian like physical blows. Tears of profound betrayal fell from her eyes, trailing down her cheeks. Her spirit shattered entirely, realizing that absolutely no one believed her. These people turned on her without a second thought. It hurt even more knowing that her cowardly mate did not even bother to ask for her side of the story; he just convicted her on the spot.

On the plush sofa, Camilla winced perfectly on cue, mastering the art of manipulation. She squeezed her eyes shut, forcing out a single, perfectly timed fake tear that rolled slowly down her pale cheek, catching the light just enough for everyone to see.

"It hurts, Dari," Camilla whined, her voice trembling with a false fragility that made Vivian’s stomach turn.

Dari rubbed Camilla's back soothingly, tracing circles on her spine to comfort her. Then, his demeanor flipped instantly. He turned his lethal glare back to Vivian, who stood isolated in the center of the room, her hands clutching the fabric of her clothes tightly to keep from shaking.

Dari marched over, towering over her with raw Alpha authority.

"Vivian," he barked an order. "Go over there and apologize to Camilla."

Vivian firmly held her ground. She gritted her teeth, refusing to bow.

"I said I would never apologize for a crime I didn't commit," Vivian stated clearly.

"Stop acting stubborn and go there now!" Dari roared, his anger flaring as he slightly raised his hand, threatening her.

Vivian did not cower like a frightened puppy. She stared right into the eyes of the man she was bound to. "Dari, I did nothing wrong. I will never apologize."

Dari let out a dark laugh and shook his head. "And why won't you apologize?"

"Because I didn't do anything to her!"

"Vivian, that's enough!" Infuriated by her public defiance, Dari shot his hand out and gripped her chin painfully.

His long fingers dug mercilessly into her jawbone, forcing her face up to meet his furious gaze. Vivian winced, a sharp breath escaping her lips as the bruising pressure shot straight through her bone. It was a terrifying display of physical force meant to break her will.

Silas shifted his weight, taking a hesitant step forward, attempting to intervene on the Luna's behalf. But Dari caught the movement. He shot a deadly, menacing warning glare at his Beta, freezing Silas mid-step and effectively preventing any further interference. Nobody dared to challenge the Alpha when his temper flared this hot.

Tessa whimpered in the back of Vivian's mind, repulsed by the way their own mate mistreated them in front of the entire pack. Yet, Vivian refused to break. She stood her ground, drawing upon her hidden royal bloodline to maintain her dignity.

"I chose the divorce option you provided," she reminded him through gritted teeth, ignoring the throbbing pain. "I chose divorce over apologizing!"

Dari shook his head, bringing his face dangerously close to hers. She could feel the malice radiating off him.

He coldly informed her, his voice devoid of any mercy, "I'm sorry to tell you, but the conditions have changed now. You are going to apologize and get a divorce at the exact same time."