Dissolving in two days

*****Vivian's POV*****

The heavy mahogany door clicked shut behind me, sealing me inside. The dimly lit, expansive study was incredibly silent. The only light came from the large glass window, casting long shadows across the polished wooden floor. I stood there, gazing intently at my father's broad back. It had been three long, grueling years since I last laid eyes on the stoic, elegant leader of the Stoneclaw pack. Alpha Magnus Ashford. He sat perfectly still in his high-backed leather chair, staring out at the darkening estate. He didn't turn around to face me. His imposing presence filled every corner of the massive room, demanding respect without a single motion.

His heavy, deeply authoritative voice shattered the silence. "Vivian."

It was just one word, but it sent a jolt down my spine. I stepped closer, consciously steadying my breathing. The familiar scent of aged parchment and sharp pine filled my nose, grounding me in reality. As I approached his massive oak desk, I caught his reflection in the dark glass of the window. I braced myself for a harsh reprimand, expecting his usual strict demeanor. Instead, his grey eyes met mine in the reflection, holding a silent, profound recognition. He saw the unimaginable struggles I had faced during my failed marriage. There was zero judgment in his tone. None of his usual harshness. Just a soft, paternal warmth that caught me off guard.

"Welcome home, Vivian," he rumbled.

"Thank you, Alpha," I replied. I smiled softly and took a seat in the plush leather chair opposite his desk, sinking into the expensive material.

*Your father is so scary,* Tessa whined timidly in my mind, her wolf presence shrinking back.

I let out a very soft, hidden chuckle, keeping my face straight. He was intimidating, yes, but he was still my father.

"Took you long enough," my father stated. He leaned forward, swiveling his chair to face me directly. His sharp eyes locked onto mine. "Yesterday marked three years. Exactly."

He knew down to the minute when my three-year absence was officially complete. This confirmed my lingering suspicions. "What has my going to be Alpha got to do with you spying on my private life?" I asked defensively. I firmly folded my arms beneath my chest, meeting his gaze without flinching. He had kept tabs on my private marriage the entire time.

"You could easily be killed there," he stated shamelessly, unapologetic for his intrusion. "You're the Alpha, and we had to look out for you."

"I am the Alpha, and I can protect myself!" I protested quickly, stung by his blunt assessment of my safety.

He leaned closer, resting his large hands on the desk. "Vivian, that Moongrove Alpha is a failure. I did try to let you know, but what did you say?"

His words hit a raw nerve. He was right. Dari was a failure of a mate, a failure of a leader. But hearing my father say it out loud, with that accurate "I told you so" tone, brought back a rush of humiliating memories. I needed to steer the conversation away from my failure.

"Father, let's forget about that for now," I deflected, forcing a tight smile. "I'm back now, right?"

He snorted derisively. His sharp eyes sarcastically raked over my unhealthily thin frame, taking in the cheap clothes and the exhaustion etched into my features. "You sure took care of yourself there," he muttered, mocking my physical state.

I sighed, dropping my arms. "Father, I'll be fine. I just need time."

"When are you going to dissolve the mate bond?" he asked, shifting straight to business. The paternal warmth vanished, replaced by the practical, ruthless Alpha of the Stoneclaw pack.

"Two days," I answered simply. The reality of it sat heavy on my tongue. Two more days, and my tie to Dari would be severed for good.

"Very well then. In two days, I shall take you to break off the mate bond with a full guard," he declared, already reaching for a pen on his desk.

I sat up straight, firmly and stubbornly shaking my head. "No, Father. You don't have to go with me."

He paused, raising a thick brow. "Excuse me?"

"I strictly need the Moongrove pack to keep believing I am just a weak, defenseless Omega until the very end," I explained. I needed to maintain my disguise. If the Stoneclaw Alpha rolled up to Moongrove with a heavily armed royal escort, Dari would know exactly who I was. I wanted to see his face when I broke the bond on my own terms, not hiding behind my father's power. "Don't worry about the reasons. I'll be safe."

My father stared at me for a long, tense moment. The silence stretched between us, thick and heavy. Finally, he let out a heavy, resigned sigh. He accepted my stubborn choice. "Fine. Go and tell Caleb about your travel plans. Hear what he has to say."

"Yes, Sir," I nodded.

I stood up and walked toward the door. As my fingers closed over the heavy brass handle, I heard a click behind me. He switched on his warm desk lamp, bathing the desk in a soft, golden glow. I turned to look back at him. His ageless, battle-hardened face broke into a very rare, genuine smile.

"Welcome home, once again," he said softly.

"Thanks, Father."

I stepped out of the study and closed the door, letting out a breath I didn't realize I was holding. The grand hallway was empty. I knew I should go to my room and rest. My body ached from the journey, and the emotional toll of the day was catching up to me. But I was far too restless and impatient to sleep. My mind raced with the confrontation waiting for me in two days. I needed to find Caleb.

I hurried through the sprawling mansion, making my way out the back doors. The cool night air hit my face as I stepped into the estate garden. The scent of blooming night jasmine and damp earth was a stark contrast to the stale air of Moongrove. I tracked Caleb down near the stone fountains. He sat at a wrought-iron patio table, deeply engrossed in reading a scattered stack of papers. A ceramic mug sat near his elbow.

"Caleb, I want to have a word with you," I announced, confidently taking the seat beside him. The metal chair scraped against the stone patio, announcing my arrival.

He sighed heavily, not looking up from his reading right away. After a second, he placed his papers down and turned to me with a faint, brotherly smile. "What do you have to say? Make it snappy. I was reading when you came in, remember?"

I glared at his dismissive attitude. He always loved to act like the busy, put-upon older brother. Without breaking eye contact, I reached across the table and snatched his mug right out of his hand. I brought it to my lips and took a deliberate, mocking sip of his bitter black coffee. The dark liquid burned my throat. I set it back down firmly on the table and cleared my throat.

"You really just came to take a sip?" he asked, dramatically rolling his eyes. He crossed his arms over his chest, leaning back in his chair. "Go to sleep, Vivian."

"I am not here to drink your awful coffee," I shot back. I mustered up all my inner strength. The cool night breeze blew past us, rustling the leaves of the old oak trees. I acutely felt the heavy, burning weight of my determination settling in my chest. The next few days were going to dictate the rest of my life. I couldn't mess this up.

"Then what?" Caleb prompted, his tone turning serious. He noticed the shift in my demeanor. The brotherly teasing faded, replaced by the sharp focus of a seasoned warrior.

"I've made up my mind," I began. My voice was unwavering and steady, ringing clearly in the quiet garden. "In two days, I'm going to dissolve my mate bond with Dari, and I'm going alone."