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“To get a divorce, both partners i
n the marriage must consent.”
“Oh.” My spirits were suddenly back down in the hopeless zone again.
“Oh,” Desmond seconded. “That’s all?” His sarcasm was so evident I worried Callum might get angry with him for showing insolence.
Instead my uncle offered us both a sad smile. “I never said it would be easy.”
Desmond and I sat side by side at The Den’s bar, both more focused on our drinks than on discussing what had happened. I twirled my new engagement ring around on my finger, trying to get used to the feel of it. It was a strange and wonderful new addition to my hand, and I liked reminding myself it was there.
“It could have gone worse,” he said finally.
“How do you figure?”
“He could have said no. A lot of Alphas do. Since the pool of wolves in each pack is so limited, they like to avoid couples parting ways. A couple who stays together has a better shot at making new werewolves, you know?”
I did not know. Though I guess it made sense in a weird way.
“But it doesn’t matter if Callum said yes. Lucas is definitely not going to be on board with you and me getting married. He’s convinced he can stay married to me and eventually I’ll, like, come around or something. He won’t grant me a divorce.”
Desmond pivoted on his stool and placed his hands on my hips, turning me towards him so our knees were touching. “I know you think he’s a bad guy.”
“He is a bad guy. I don’t just think it, I know it.”
“Let me finish.”
I felt embarrassed for interjecting my opinion.
“I know you think Lucas is the villain in our story. I get it. He has done things to you, to both of us, that seem completely unforgiveable. But you have this habit of seeing Lucas as a man, and I think sometimes you forget he is, first and foremost, a king.”
“I know he’s the king.”
“Do you understand what that means though? Because I grew up with him. I’ve known for as long as he has what the whole purpose of his life has to be. The pack is his life. They own him. Every morning he gets up, the first thing on his mind will be the pack. It will matter more to him than love, than his children, than anything else he ever encounters in his life. You hate Lucas because you think he picked the pack over you. But the truth of the matter is, Secret, he had no choice. It’s too deeply ingrained now for him to let the pack take second place. And when he decided to marry you, he did it because he thought it would be good for the pack.”
“He didn’t have to do all the things he did. He threatened you. He hurt me. He’s manipulative, and the only person he cares about is himself.”
Desmond shook his head. “No. He loves the pack more than he loves himself. That’s what makes him seem cold. I think if we can appeal to that part of him and make him see this is what’s better for everyone, there’s a chance he’ll see it too. This isn’t hopeless.”
Who was this man I was marrying?
I was totally awed by him.
“Only you could still see the good in him after everything he’s done.”
“I love him because I understand him. Once you know Lucas, it’s hard to hate him. He doesn’t do things selfishly. Most of the time he’s being quite selfless and sacrificing his own happiness as a result. It just never looks that way from the outside.”
“Never,” I agreed.
Desmond smiled and closed the gap between us, pressing a delicate kiss on my lips. I let myself enjoy it for a moment before the familiar uneasy feeling came over me, and when I tried to imagine letting it go any further, I got overwhelmed.
“I can’t,” I whispered. “Not yet.”
“Saving yourself for marriage?” he teased. Withdrawing, he gave me some distance, but he left his knees pressed to either side of mine.
“It might be a while,” I admitted.
“I’ve signed on for life. I’m not in a hurry.”
