Chapter 211
Dominic's POV
But the worst part wasn't the embarrassment.
It wasn't the rumors.
It wasn't even the way the pack had started looking at us.
It was the fact that Ellie mentioned divorce every chance she got.
Divorce.
Like those words didn't carry any weight.
Like we hadn't stood before everyone and exchanged vows only days ago.
Like she hadn't promised to stand beside me.
The pack was noticing too.
People weren't blind.
They saw the way Ellie avoided her responsibilities.
The way she disappeared whenever she could.
The way she acted as if being near me was some kind of punishment.
And slowly, people started talking.
It was damaging.
Not just to me.
To both of us.
Mostly, though...
It made me look foolish.
I was the Alpha whose own wife couldn't stand him.
The Alpha whose marriage looked like it was falling apart before it had even truly begun.
Marcus had already warned me about the whispers.
Some said we wouldn't last.
Some claimed Ellie had only married me because she wanted something from me.
That once she got whatever she needed, she would leave.
Others went even further.
They suggested she might be seeing someone else.
I refused to believe that.
I knew Ellie.
Or at least...
I thought I did.
"Don't forget about the summer festival."
Marcus's voice pulled me from my thoughts.
We were walking back toward the main house after patrol.
"It's only a couple of weeks away."
He glanced at me.
"Given the recent... rumors, you might want to make a bigger impression this year."
I sighed, dragging both hands over my face.
"Do you really think one festival is going to convince everyone my marriage is fine?"
Marcus shrugged.
"Maybe not."
Then he looked at me seriously.
"But if the Luna performs her duties and stands beside you, it might make things look less unstable."
I hated that he was right.
Alpha and Luna's relationship wasn't just personal.
Especially not when they were mates.
The bond between leaders affected the entire pack.
People looked to us.
Trusted us.
They needed to believe that their Alpha and Luna represented strength, unity, and a future worth following.
A happy, stable pair gave the pack confidence.
A fractured one created uncertainty.
And right now...
We were sending exactly the wrong message.
The summer festival was one of the biggest events of the year.
A celebration.
A tradition.
And usually, much of the planning fell to the Luna.
Ellie had done an impressive job avoiding almost every responsibility she had been given so far.
But this...
This was something she couldn't ignore.
Not if we wanted to repair the damage.
I found her in the kitchen.
She was packing a sandwich into a container, clearly preparing to leave.
Probably to spend another day at the academy.
I stopped in the doorway.
Blocking her path.
"Ellie."
She looked up.
For a moment, I remembered the morning.
The way she'd looked at me.
The way everything had shattered.
I pushed the thought away.
Now wasn't the time.
"The summer festival is coming up."
She immediately looked uninterested.
"How are the preparations going?"
Her eyebrows pulled together.
"Preparations?"
"There are several things that need to be organized."
I stepped further into the kitchen.
"Traditionally, the Luna oversees much of the planning. You don't have to do everything yourself, but it needs to be handled."
"I'm busy."
She didn't even look at me.
"I have studying to do."
"Ellie."
My voice sharpened slightly.
"This is part of your responsibility."
She closed the lid of her container.
"Then find someone else to do it."
The finality in her voice irritated me.
Before I could respond, she walked toward the door.
"Ellie—"
She didn't stop.
She pushed past me.
Not gently.
Not accidentally.
She deliberately forced her way by.
Then she left.
Just like that.
No explanation.
No discussion.
Nothing.
Marcus and I stood there silently, staring at the empty doorway.
Whatever warmth I had felt that morning...
Whatever small hope had started to grow...
It disappeared.
Completely.
"Alpha?"
Marcus's voice was careful.
I didn't answer immediately.
Then I made my decision.
"Contact Vivian."
His expression shifted slightly.
But he nodded.
"Yes, Alpha."
He walked away.
I knew bringing Vivian in wasn't ideal.
Not after everything.
Not after the history between us.
But right now...
I needed someone who would actually help.
Someone who would do the work.
And, if I was being honest...
A small, petty part of me wanted to see Ellie's reaction when she found out.
Maybe she needed to understand that she couldn't keep refusing everything and expect nothing to change.
Maybe she needed to see that the world didn't stop just because she was angry with me.
Later that afternoon, Vivian arrived.
And exactly as expected...
She came prepared.
A large binder filled with plans was tucked beneath her arm.
She smiled politely.
Then immediately got to work.
No complaints.
No arguments.
No refusal.
She simply stepped into the role Ellie had rejected.
And somehow...
That hurt more than I expected.