Chapter 1 THREE YEARS OF MARRIAGE

LAYLA'S POV

"We've been married for three fucking years, Layla, but guess what? You haven't given me one damn child. You're an overproud, ego-blasted Alpha."

"Marcus, what do you mean? I thought we had things figured out. I thought…" My grip tightened around the phone as my chest continued pounding.

"No, YOU had it figured out, you dumb fuck!"

"MARCUS!"

"Yes, blast over! You heard that right. I hate the moment I even set my eyes on you and wanted you. You are nothing but an overweight, cooked-up pumpkin!"

"You said you liked me this way. I wasn't chubby in any… Marcus, what went wrong?"

"I've sent the divorce papers to your packhouse mailbox. Sign them. There's nothing left for us to discuss. I'm getting married soon and yes I have sent you an invitation. It's over, Layla. Deal with it."

My throat tightened.

"You're not…"

The beeping sound of the disconnected call rang in my ears before I could finish speaking.

I dropped the flat tummy tea I was just about to drink before his call came in.

Stupid.

Three years of marriage, reduced to a fucking phone call…

And what did he say next…great he's getting married just like that?

My gaze drifted towards the mirror across the room, settling on my curvy waist.

Overweight?

The word echoed inside my head.

When I was slimmer, Marcus had told me he loved women with curves. He had kissed my stomach and told me I was beautiful. Now, apparently, my body was another reason I wasn't good enough for him.

I pressed my palm against my stomach, fighting the ache gathering beneath my ribs.

I was an Alpha Queen. I had commanded warriors, survived battles, and watched kingdoms rise and fall.

But somehow, hearing my own husband call me worthless hurt more than any blade ever could.

I swallowed hard.

"Such fucking nerves," I whispered.

I should have cried my ass out, poured myself another glass of wine, and begged him to come back. Perhaps I should have even gotten on my knees and asked what I had done wrong.

But whatever.

These curves hadn't just made Marcus insecure. They had carried me through wars, helped me claim territories that were never supposed to be mine, and earned me the title of Alpha Queen.

I wasn't always this woman staring at herself in the mirror, wondering why her husband suddenly found her unattractive.

I was Layla Wolfgang, the white wolf, the war goddess who had commanded thousands of warriors and brought entire packs to their knees.

At six feet seven inches, I towered over most men, and my presence alone was enough to make even the most arrogant Alpha think twice before challenging me.

My white hair, crimson eyes, and the magnificent tail with its red tip were once feared across the supernatural realm.

I had fought wars that lasted for decades, conquered territories, and spilled blood for my kingdom. There was a time when even the thought of losing a battle never crossed my mind.

Until the three goddesses decided I had become too powerful.

Moona, Khari, and Asha.

Three women who called themselves divine, yet couldn't stand the thought of a mere wolf possessing power they couldn't control.

They gave me one command: kill an innocent mortal who carried a fragment of the Moon's Soul.

I refused.

That single decision cost me everything.

They stripped me of my powers, took my precious tail, and fractured my soul into three pieces. Then they placed a curse upon me, forcing me to find the three fragments hidden within three men.

I could still remember the humiliation of standing before them, powerless, while they decided my fate.

If I failed to recover what belonged to me, I would cease to exist.

And now, after everything I had survived, Marcus fucking thought calling me an overweight pumpkin would break me?

I clenched my jaw.

Until then, I should inform Meredith about what had happened.

The fuck did Marcus think he was? Ending our marriage over a phone call and daring to insult me like that?

I grabbed my phone and dialled her number.

"Hey, girl," she called out, tiredness lacing her voice.

"Something just happened, and you wouldn't believe it. I need to tell you in person."

"Alright. Come over."

I hung up, grabbed my keys, and headed for the door.

I wouldn't say the end of my marriage didn't hurt. Despite everything, my chest still tightened whenever I remembered Marcus's words. Three years wasn't exactly three days, and I couldn't pretend those years meant nothing to me.

Perhaps talking about it would help.

Meredith was the only person I could think of calling.

She wasn't my biological mother, but she had become the closest thing I had to one…

More of my foster mum…. A fox shifter who had lived for over a century, Meredith looked no older than a woman in her late thirties. I had initially paid her to pose as my mother, but somewhere along the way, our arrangement had turned into something much more genuine…

She had become my family, and I trusted her more than I trusted most people.

I drove through the familiar streets until I arrived at her house. After parking, I stepped out, adjusted my clothes, and walked towards the front door.

I knocked once before trying the handle.

It was unlocked.

"Meredith?" I called as I stepped inside.

I barely took two steps before my eyes landed on the living room.

My body went cold and my mind began to race…

Marcus…

What the actual fuck was he doing here?

My gaze shifted to the woman standing beside him, and my mouth fell open.

Meredith.

She was barely dressed, scrambling to pull a piece of clothing over herself.

"Marcus, what are you doing here?"

My eyes darted between them before settling on Meredith.

"Meredith, why are you naked?”

" Em…hey girl…you came so quick.” I watch Meredith pull up her dress up to her chest and Marcus pull his pants up.

I hadn't even noticed it was down in the first place.

“what are you two doing…. Meredith, you?”

“We are getting married soon Layla, I'm sorry."