Sold to Bastard Alpha after My Divorce!-Chapter 38

Kael’s POV

I watched her sleep.

The moonlight spilled through the broken window, painting silver stripes across her bare shoulders. Her chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm. Peaceful. Calm. Like she hadn’t just survived the worst night of her life.

A small smile curved her lips. Even in sleep, she looked... soft.

Innocent.

Something twisted in my chest. I told myself it was irritation.

I should feel guilty. Any decent person would be drowning in regret right now. Taking advantage of a drugged woman in heat—that was the kind of thing monsters did.

But I’d never claimed to be decent.

And the way she’d looked at me. The way she’d said my name. Like I was the only thing in the world that mattered.

I ran my fingers through my hair, tugging hard enough to hurt. What the hell was wrong with me?

I shouldn’t want her. She was Shadow Moon. That name alone carried more trouble than I cared to deal with. Her brother destroyed Lucian. Her blood was poison.

But God, when she touched me—

No.

I shoved the thought away. Buried it deep.

This was just biology. The mate bond pulling strings I didn’t ask for. Fenrir going feral over something as meaningless as fate.

It didn’t mean anything.

*Liar,* my wolf growled.

I ignored him.

Carefully, I eased myself off the bed. The mattress barely shifted. I grabbed my underwear from the floor, pulled it on. Found my pants. My shirt was torn—probably somewhere in the wreckage of that fight.

I moved through the room, picking up pieces of my clothing. Each step deliberate. Quiet.

Why was I being so careful not to wake her?

She’d probably hate me anyway. When the heat fog cleared and she realized what happened—who she’d been with—she’d look at me with those silver eyes full of regret.

Better to leave now. Clean break.

I found my jacket draped over a chair. Reached into the inside pocket.

Cash. I always carried cash.

I counted out the bills. The original agreement was twenty-five thousand for three dates and the mating ceremony. She’d already received that. But tonight...

Tonight was something else entirely.

I added more. Way more than necessary. Slapped the thick stack of bills onto the nightstand by the window.

There.

Payment for services rendered.

The thought left a bitter taste in my mouth. I swallowed it down.

This was business. A transaction. Nothing more.

She needed money to escape her family. I needed... what exactly? A distraction? A way to satisfy Fenrir’s obsession without actually giving in to it?

I didn’t mark her. I’d been careful about that. No matter how much my wolf howled, no matter how badly I’d wanted to sink my teeth into that perfect neck—I’d held back.

She wasn’t mine.

Couldn’t be mine.

Aria lay curled on her side now. The sheet had slipped, revealing the curve of her hip. The bruises from Finn’s attack were already darkening—purple and angry against her pale skin.

Rage flared hot in my chest.

If I ever saw that bastard again—

My phone buzzed in my pocket.

The sound shattered the silence. I froze. Glanced at Aria.

She didn’t stir.

I pulled out the phone. The screen glowed in the darkness.

Rebecca.

Of course.

I stepped away from the bed. Moved toward the door. Read the message.

*Good morning, baby! I was thinking our little game should end now. Have you finished all three dates with Shadow Moon? Let’s celebrate tonight at Moonlit Velvet! After that, I’ll make sure you forget all those terrible memories. *

I stared at the screen.

It felt like a lifetime ago.

I could picture her perfectly—lounging in her silk robe, sipping expensive coffee, probably admiring her reflection in her phone screen. That calculating smile. Those green eyes gleaming with victory.

I typed a response. Deleted it. Typed again.

*Fine. Tonight.*

Sent.