Alisha's POV
I gazed at Archie, my eyes filled with a potent mix of anger and betrayal. How could this bastard have the audacity to blame me? It was he who had shattered our marriage vows, his infidelity an open secret, a betrayal of our sacred bond beneath the watchful eye of Moon Goodness.
"What the hell do you want?" I seethed, my voice laced with a venomous rage. "I don’t care which bitch you love, just stay away from me and don't you dare intervene in my life! I am not your pet, bound to obey your every whim!"
Archie's face contorted with a mixture of shock and frustration. "What nonsense are you speaking?" he retorted, his voice laced with disbelief.
"Don't you dare pretend to be innocent in front of me!" I spat, my words dripping with bitterness. "I am not a fool. I see through your deceit!"
"Are you still lost in a hallucination?" Archie shot back, his voice filled with an exasperated incredulity. "Do you even comprehend the words that are coming out of your mouth?"
"No! I am wide awake! I am painfully aware of the person you have become!" I shouted, my voice trembling with a potent mix of anger and hurt. "You are nothing more than a mean, selfish, and despicable..."
Before I could even finish my sentence, Archie abruptly closed the distance between us, his grip tight and unforgiving as he forcefully grabbed my arms. The pain seared through my limbs, and I had no doubt that Archie possessed the strength to break them with ease, just as he treated his enemies. The rage in his eyes was palpable, and I knew, for my own safety, that I had to be cautious and not further provoke him. But the overwhelming hatred that had simmered within me ever since our ill-fated marriage had ignited a fire, consuming all reason, and in that moment, I lost my head.
I struggled fiercely to free myself from his grasp, kicking him with all the force I could muster while shouting, "Get away from me! You disgust me!"
Archie's face darkened instantaneously, and before I could comprehend what was happening, I found myself thrown onto the sofa. His weight pressed down on me, his hands pinning mine down with an iron grip, and his fingers dug into my chin, forcing me to meet his gaze. The proximity was suffocating, his body heat radiating against me, and the sound of his heart pounding filled my ears.
"I give you a chance, apologize now, and I can forgive you this time." Archie said in a dangerous tone.
In response to his demand for an apology, I couldn't help but give him a scornful smile. "Apologize? No way! I haven't done anything wrong! If anyone should apologize, it's you!"
Archie spoke through gritted teeth, his voice laced with danger. "Apologize for what? I have been tolerant enough with you, and now you have the audacity to challenge my authority?"
"Tolerant to me? How ridiculous!" I shot back, my words laced with biting sarcasm. "You have always been a master of deception! So, how about answering this: where were you this morning, and who were you with?"
Archie's brow furrowed, but to my surprise, he responded without hesitation, his voice holding a trace of anger. "Well, you have reminded me! I was at a jewelry store with Erma, purchasing your wedding ring! So, could you please explain why your wedding ring is sitting in a store?"
My heart wrenched at Archie's straightforward admission. Now he didn't even bother concealing his relationship with Erma from me. "Because that ring holds no significance to me anymore," I declared, my voice filled with a mixture of defiance and pain. "I am leaving you, and I no longer have any need to wear it!"
As soon as the words left my lips, Archie's eyes turned a fiery shade of red, and his nails grew longer, piercing into my flesh. I felt a horrible vibe from him. An indescribable sense of foreboding washed over me, as if something dark and sinister were on the brink of escaping from within him.
The air grew heavy, suffocating, and I couldn't help but tremble under the weight of the terrible situation. It was the first time I truly understood the depth of Archie's power, the unyielding dominance of an Alpha. No pack member could resist the Alpha's will. No one.
I was destined to be his captive, a helpless pawn in his game. Desperation welled up within me, and tears streamed down my face, a desperate of anguish that consumed me. But through it all, a small flicker of hope remained, urging me to find a way to break free from the clutches of this tyrant and reclaim my life, no matter the cost.
Archie’s POV
If Alisha were any other member of my pack, my fury would have driven me to inflict unimaginable pain upon her, breaking her limbs to teach her the importance of respecting an Alpha. No werewolf dared to offend me in such a way.
However, she was different. She was the Luna, my wife, but she had crossed a line that demanded retribution. The flames of anger burned within me, threatening to consume everything in their path. Before I could act on my desire to punish her, however, I saw the tears streaming down her face.
Somehow, in that moment, a sudden pause overcame me.
"Chill out, Archie!" My wolf's voice echoed in my mind, breaking through the haze of rage. "You're hurting Alisha!"
Shock coursed through me, and then I caught a familiar and sickly sweet scent—a scent that shouldn't have been there. Blood. I widened my eyes, my attention snapping to Alisha's arm, now marred by a bleeding wound. Moon Goodness!
Without hesitation, I released my grip on Alisha's arms and cradled them gently in my hands. "How... I didn't..." I stammered, my voice filled with a mix of confusion and concern. Alisha struggled, her tear-filled eyes making the cut worsen. My heart skipped a beat at the sight of her blood.
"Stop! You can't move now! If you dare to move, I... I will knock you out!" I shouted, my voice laced with a desperate urgency. Alisha ignored my warn and continued to struggle, her defiance evident as she taunted, "Why don't you just beat me to death?"
Raising my right hand, I feigned a slap, but Alisha didn't flinch. Instead, she bit her lip, her gaze burning with anger. I hesitated, unsure of my next move. I knew how to rule a pack, how to eliminate rogues, and how to run a company, but when it came to dealing with a stubborn woman, I felt utterly lost.
"Archie, if you want to heal Alisha's wound, listen to me!" My wolf's voice echoed once again, and this time, I had no choice but to trust its guidance.
"First, put down your damn hand," it instructed. "Stop frightening her any further. She's your wife, not your warrior. Then, tell her that you're genuinely concerned about her cut."
Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath, attempting to rein in my temper. When I opened my eyes again, I noticed a flicker of fear in Alisha's gaze. Perhaps my wolf was onto something. With a deep exhale, I reluctantly lowered my hand and said, "Your arms are bleeding. You need to tend to them immediately. Let's stop fighting, okay?"
Alisha ceased her struggles, but her glare remained fixed upon me. "I don't need your care. Save it for someone else."
Frowning, anger bubbling once more within me, I couldn't help but think of Alisha as an ungrateful ingrate.
"Hey, dude! Don't give up! Look at her wounded arms!" my wolf chimed in, urging me not to stop here.
My gaze shifted to the sofa, where droplets of blood stained the fabric. I couldn't afford to waste any more time pondering the most persuasive approach with Alisha.
Fuck! I had spent a fortune to retrieve her wedding ring earlier that morning, and now I found myself begging her to tend to her own wound. Why did she have to be so troublesome? If I had known this beforehand, maybe I wouldn't... Wait!
The wedding ring!
An idea sparked within me, brilliant and manipulative. "Alisha, I order you to tend to your cut right now, or you'll have to refund the money to me."
"What bullshit are you talking about?" Alisha retorted angrily.
"I paid fifty million dollars for your wedding ring. And you'll receive that money from the manager. But..." I paused, purposefully prolonging the silence, noticing Alisha's growing apprehension. Drawing confidence from her reaction, I continued, "The ring is mine, so you must return the money."
"No! You gave it to me on our wedding day! It belongs to me!" Alisha protested, her nerves fraying.
Shaking my head, I clarified, "Girl, it belongs to my wife. And since you've declared your intention to leave, you no longer have any claim to it."
Alisha opened her mouth, ready to argue, but I swiftly pressed a finger to her lips, silencing her. "Actually, this ring belongs to Grandma. Only the Luna of the Golden Crest is allowed to wear it."
Alisha was stunned after hearing that this ring came from grandma. Alisha respected Shaunda very much. Just as I thought, she became silent after hearing Shaunda's name.
After a moment, Alisha begrudgingly answered, "I'll refund the money. But, but… you need to give me some time." Her voice trailed off.
"No, you must return it as soon as you receive it, unless..." I intentionally paused, noticing the nervous anticipation in Alisha's eyes.
"Unless what?" she asked, her voice brimming with hope.
"Let me tend to your wound right now. If you agree, I will give you one hundred million as a reward."
"Fine, deal!" Alisha agreed almost instantly. I couldn't help but stifle a laugh. If I had known she cherished money so much, I wouldn't have wasted so much time.
"Mireya, bring the medical kit!" I commanded.
"No need," Alisha responded, placing her right hand upon the cut on her left arm. To my surprise, a soft glow emanated over her skin, and the bleeding ceased, the wound healing before my very eyes. I couldn't even discern where the cut had been.
"How did you do that?" I asked, genuine curiosity in my voice.
"It's my Gift," Alisha replied in a flat tone.
"What? But you don't even have a wolf! How can you possess a Gift?"