How To Lose Your Billionaire Alpha Husband In 365 Days (Or Less)!-Chapter 106: Scream...

The following morning, Emerald woke feeling like her skin didn’t quite fit.

Sleep had found her, but it had been shallow, filled with strange dreams of locked doors, suffocating walls, and the echo of fire crackling just outside her reach.

But it wasn’t the dreams that haunted her most; it was Talia’s words.

"If you’re smart... you’ll leave too."

Was she right?

Emerald sat on the edge of the bed, fingers curled tight around the soft fabric of her leggings. Every part of her wanted to deny it. Wanted to believe Lucien wasn’t capable of everything she’d been told. That there was another side. That maybe, just maybe, there had been some noble reason behind it all.

But that voice was quieter now.

Because someone had tried to kill her... twice, and Lucien had done nothing. Even worse, he’d watched it happen. Then, he lied when she asked what was going on.

And now she had a decision to make.

"Enough," she muttered.

Without waiting a moment longer, she stood and strode out of her room. Her footsteps echoed sharply in the corridor, drawing the curious glances of passing servants. She ignored them all. There was only one place she needed to be.

Lucien’s wing.

She reached his door and, without knocking, pushed it open. "Lucien..."

She froze.

He was there, standing by the fireplace, the warm glow creating a cosy atmosphere around him. Dressed only in fitted black slacks, his upper body was bare and glistening with droplets of water from his recent shower.

The morning light streamed through the window, highlighting his tattoos: dark swirling patterns that slithered across his chest and down his toned arms like tendrils of smoke dancing in the air.

When he caught sight of her, his eyes widened in shock, and the mate bond pulsed between them.

Emerald’s heart betrayed her, skipping a beat before catching fire.

A warmth began to rise in her stomach. It wasn’t anger this time; it was something different. Something that felt dangerous and exciting.

Emerald snapped her gaze away. "Get dressed," she said quickly, turning on her heel. "I’ll wait."

There was a pause. "Rough night?" he asked casually, the sound of cloth shifting behind her as he obeyed.

She didn’t answer.

She looked at the neatly arranged books on his shelf, all organised by height and colour, reflecting his meticulous and controlled nature.

"Okay," Lucien said quietly after a moment. "You can turn around."

She did.

He’d pulled on a dark shirt and buttoned it halfway, though a wet lock of hair still clung to his temple. He looked older somehow, sharper.

"What happened?" he asked.

Emerald didn’t hesitate; the warmth from just moments ago quickly evaporated into anger.

"I know," she said flatly.

He tilted his head slightly, his brow knitting in confusion. "Know what?"

"Don’t do that," she snapped. "Don’t pretend. I know the truth, Lucien."

He watched her quietly as if calculating how much she’d discovered.

Emerald took a step closer, her voice dipping low, but still sharp. "I know what you did to your father."

Lucien’s expression shifted, his eyes clouding over.

He hesitated for a moment, and his mouth seemed to move slightly, not in anger, but rather with seriousness. It felt like the calm just before a storm.

"Who told you?" he asked.

"Does it matter?"

"Yes," he said simply. "Because you shouldn’t have heard it from someone else."

Emerald stepped forward. "That’s the part you’re upset about? That I found out the truth... without your permission?"

Lucien exhaled slowly. "Emerald..."

She ignored him and went on. "You didn’t just overthrow him, did you? You killed him."

Lucien didn’t respond.

"Then you came here," Emerald continued, her voice rising. "To this pack. And you did the same thing. You slaughtered the ones who resisted. You shut the borders; you silenced your people."

"They needed order," Lucien said in a quiet, almost gentle voice. "They needed a future. I gave them one."

"At what cost?" she barked. "You think you saved them? They hate you. They fear you."

Lucien stepped forward. "Emerald—"

She stepped back immediately. "Stay away from me."

He froze.

"I almost died because of you," she said, shaking. "You brought me here. You knew people were angry. You knew someone might come after me, and you still let it happen."

"I didn’t know it would go that far."

"You knew enough," she spat. "And you said nothing."

Lucien moved closer again. "Please. Let me explain."

"I gave you every chance to explain," she hissed. "And you refused. You stood there and lied to me with your silence."

"It’s not as black and white as you think. The council doesn’t understand the threats we face. The people here..."

"Don’t give me politics, Lucien. I’ve played that game, and I’ve bled from it. You brought me here to get away from chaos, and all you did was throw me into a worse one."

Lucien’s face cracked then, for just a moment, showing something that looked like guilt.

"I’m not your pawn," she said. "And I’m sure as hell, not your shield."

"I never meant for any of this..."

"You don’t get to say that," she cut in. "Not after you let your guards attack women and children in your name. Not after I was almost burned alive in your walls."

Lucien took a breath. "If you knew everything... if I could explain it all... you’d understand why I had to do it this way."

"Then explain it," she challenged.

Lucien’s throat worked. "I’m sorry."

"Sorry?" she scoffed. "You’re sorry now? After bringing me here to relive the same fear I was trying to escape?"

He flinched, but said nothing.

"You..." she pointed a finger at him, eyes blazing, "...were the one I thought was rational. The steady one. The one who didn’t play games. But you lied, Lucien. And you let me believe I was safe when I wasn’t."

"I never meant for you to be hurt," he said, taking a careful step toward her. "If you just let me explain..."

"Don’t come near me."

He stopped mid-step.

Lucien’s voice was low, strained. "Please, Emerald, just..."

"I don’t want to hear it," she cut in. "Not anymore."

He looked like he’d been struck.

"I’m leaving," she said in a final tone. "I’m going to pack my things and call my uncle to send a car."

Lucien’s fists clenched at his sides, but he didn’t speak at first. "And what then?" he finally asked. "You’ll tell the council?"

Emerald paused at the door, looking back. "I’ll do more than that. I’ll raise a motion to have you removed as Alpha for your tyranny."

Lucien’s eyes flickered. "Emerald..."

"You can kiss your title goodbye."

And with that, she opened the door and slammed it behind her.

"What happened? Are you okay?"

"No," she whispered. "You were right. About Lucien. But it’s worse than I thought."

His voice grew tense. "Tell me what happened."

"I’ll explain later. I just—I need a car. I need to get out of here."

"I’ll come myself," he said. "But Emerald, my territory is farther. I won’t reach you until tomorrow."

"I don’t care. I just... I don’t want to be here when the sun rises again."

"I’ll leave within the hour. Keep your doors locked until I get there. Don’t go anywhere alone."

"I won’t," she promised.

"And Emerald?"

"Yeah?"

"You’re not alone. Not anymore."

She swallowed the lump in her throat. "Thank you."

They hung up, and she placed the phone gently on the table.

A knock came later, just after sunset.

Talia.

She entered quietly, placing a fresh tray of food on the table. Her eyes flicked up to Emerald’s packed bags.

"You’re leaving?"

Emerald nodded. "Tomorrow."

Talia looked relieved. "That’s good."

Emerald approached her. "I meant to say thank you... for trusting me."

Talia gave a small smile. "You were the first person who asked like they cared."

Emerald touched her shoulder lightly. "Be safe."

"You too."

And then Talia slipped out into the dark.

—

Night crept in like a shadow with teeth.

Emerald tried to sleep. She even laid in bed, counting the slow rise and fall of her breaths, but nothing settled. Her thoughts were too loud, the past two days a relentless reel in her head.

Sometime after midnight, she gave up.

She pulled on her robe and padded barefoot into the corridor. She told herself it was just for water. That she wasn’t thinking of Lucien. That she wasn’t aching under the weight of all she now knew.

The halls were silent, lit only by wall sconces flickering with flame.

She passed one of the sentries on patrol—he didn’t even look her way.

Then, without meaning to, she found herself near Lucien’s wing.

She meant to keep walking. Truly.

But something stopped her.

His door was open.

Just barely.

Her instincts screamed.

She stepped closer, heart pounding.

And that’s when she saw it.

A flicker of movement.

A gleam of silver raised high above his bed.

"Lucien!" she screamed.

She stepped closer, heart pounding.

And that’s when she saw it.

A flicker of movement.

A gleam of silver raised high above his bed.

"Lucien!" she screamed.