Page 57 of The Wolf Prince's Mate

She let out a dramatic sigh, hopping off the table and taking lazy strides toward me.

“I was hoping that seeing the happy couple at the banquet would jog your brain into seeing we belonged together.”

“We’re over Lilith. I made that very clear when I asked for a divorce, and it doesn’t matter what happens. I’d rather remain single and celibate to the grave than spend one more day married to you.”

Her face twisted into a hideous frown, anger rolling off her features. “I am done being patient with you, Griffin. My whole life I have put you before me and indulged your every whim. I supported your dreams and never said a word about mine. Now that it’s finally time for you to let me live out mine you decide you want a divorce? What will happen to all the years I’ve given you? All the suitors I rejected for you? I rejected my mate to be with you, Griffin.”

“Spare me the pity party, Lilith. You could’ve saved us the waste of time if you had just been honest from the beginning. This was never about me or how much you love me. You’ve only ever seen the throne and the power it gives, so don’t act like you’re some innocent damsel in distress.”

“And this innocent damsel in distress you speak of would be Mira, isn’t it?” she shot back, her eyes alight with rage.

The sound of Mira’s name coming from her fueled my anger to a different level. “You’ll keep her name out of your mouth if you want to leave this room in one piece.”

She exploded into maniacal laughter, her aura reeking of pure, unadulterated evil. “Let’s face it, Griffin, you have neither balls nor guts to hit me, so here’s what we’re going to do. You will tell everyone that the divorce is a sham and send that girl out of our lives, or I’ll ask my parents to pull their support from you. You know they’re highly respected by the nobles, and if they pull away from you, you’ll stand to lose the support of more than half of the council.”

It was my turn to laugh. I had considered all these factors before proceeding with the divorce, and none of them enticed me to stay with her. I’d gladly lose the support of her parents if it meant that she’d disappear from my life.

“Be my guest, Lilith. You can take your parents and the high council with you on your way out.”

“You would give up your birthright for her?” she asked, her tone devoid of the smugness from earlier.

“My position on the throne is not dependent on you or your father’s vote. Now get out of my room.”

To my surprise, she turned to leave but stopped when she got to the door, her hand hovering on the handle.

“You know, for someone who fought so hard to make sure they didn’t end up like their parents, it’s quite an achievement to watch how you’ve somehow managed to surpass their misery. At least they stuck together until the end. You, on the other hand, will die alone with no one to hold your hand when you take your last breath, and I’ll be there to watch.”

With that, she shut the door behind her, leaving me stunned as the gravity of her words settled into me.

A blinding surge of anger tore through me, and I drove my fist into the wall. Unfortunately, I was of royal bloodline, and the injury healed before I would relish the pain.

I repeated the movement a second time and again until my wall bore a huge crack, and I had no strength left to lift my fist.

*****

“That will be all Michael. I’ll let you know if I need anything else,” I said, dismissing him for the day.

I gathered the strength to pull myself up from bed, briefly scanning through the files Michael brought before reaching back for my bottle of liquor, my body welcoming the familiar born of the spirit.

The sun was slowly setting, and the view from my window offered a great view of the garden bustling with activities. People were running back and forth, event planners setting up their display, and the maids helping out where they could. Everything looked just the way I felt, blue.

It was all I could hear in the pack’s mind link: how they were the perfect couple and how their union was exactly what the pack needed at the time. I should draw my curtains and pretend I didn’t notice the entire pack almost vibrating with joy as they prepared for what many referred to as the wedding of the century. But I was a masochistic son of a bitch and welcomed the sting of pain.

I tried reaching out for my wolf but he remained as quiet as he had been since the banquet night, refusing to engage or communicate. I couldn’t blame him. I did this to us.

When I told Michael to bring me the most important files from my desk, I hoped work would help, but I barely had the mind space to accommodate anything.

Black hair, blue-gray eyes, and a petite frame haunted my vision. I couldn’t believe I was losing her. I already knew she was gone, but this was tangible evidence. I took another swig of liquor, hating how fast the effect of alcohol wore off on supernaturals.

I don’t know how long I sat at that spot, but by the time I stood up, everything was pitch black. The commotion from the garden was gone, and there were about four bottles of Johnny Walker at my feet.

The world tipped slightly, causing me to hold on to walls as I made my way to the bathroom. Sleep, drink, sleep some more, and then drink some more. That had been my routine for the past few days. Buttonight, it didn’t seem like I would be getting any sleep. Mira was at every corner of my thoughts and my room. I couldn’t seem to escape myself tonight. I looked as miserable as I felt.

When I was sure almost half of the palace was asleep, I slipped out of my room, desperately hoping some fresh air and a walk would put me in order before tomorrow.

I’ve had a number of elders calling, and I still needed to be present at the ceremony. Elder John had been helpful with concealing my absence, especially after Lilith’s parents pulled their support, but there was only so much he could do. As crown prince, my duties came before personal obligations.

Somehow, I found myself in the library. I stood before the portraits of my parents hanging on the wall, partly apologizing for judging them so harshly and for what I had become.

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