Sold to Bastard Alpha after My Divorce!-Chapter 40

Kael’s POV

I should have been at Moonlit Velvet by now.

Rebecca’s text had come hours ago. Confirming she was on her way. Confirming our plans to celebrate. Celebrate what exactly? That I’d crushed an innocent girl’s hopes? That I’d acted like a cold-hearted bastard?

I sighed, pressing my palms against my face. Since when did being a bastard bother me?

I wondered if Aria would show up at Moonlit Velvet tonight. Probably not. After everything that happened today, she’d want to stay as far away from me as possible.

And yet, the possibility of seeing her again consumed my thoughts.

My gaze drifted to the envelope. The money. She hadn’t taken it.

That made everything worse somehow.

She really wasn’t like the rest of her family. Not just chasing money. Not just looking for a payout. She’d walked away from twenty-five thousand dollars rather than take anything from me.

I needed to give it to her. Maybe then I could move on. Maybe then this gnawing guilt would finally stop.

I picked up the envelope. Turned it over in my fingers. It felt heavier than it should. Like it carried the weight of every choice I’d made.

Why couldn’t I stop thinking about her?

Fenrir stirred in my mind. Restless. Agitated.

*She’s hurting. Our mate is hurting.*

"She’s not our mate," I growled out loud. "She never was."

*Liar.*

I shoved myself off the bed. My legs swung over the edge. I had to find her. I had to end this torment.

I grabbed my keys and walked out.

---

The drive to Moonlit Velvet felt longer than usual. The envelope sat on the passenger seat. A constant reminder of everything I was trying to forget.

The club was as lavish as ever when I arrived. Crystal chandeliers. Imported liquor. Wolves dressed in their finest, pretending they were better than everyone else.

I walked through the doors. Face blank. Mask firmly in place.

Rebecca appeared almost instantly. Her smile lit up the room. Or at least, that’s what she wanted everyone to think.

"Kael!" She threw her arms around my neck. Kissed me hard. A deliberate display that drew every eye in the vicinity.

Whispers rippled through the crowd. Everyone wondering if the on-again-off-again couple was back together.

That was our pattern. Rebecca and I always gravitated back to each other. Even if it was just for show.

But tonight, I felt nothing. No spark. No satisfaction.

Just... empty.

"Miss me?" Rebecca purred, pressing closer.

"Always," I said flatly. The word came out mechanical. Hollow.

Rebecca didn’t seem to notice my distance. She was practically glowing as she clung to my arm. "We should celebrate tonight," she announced. "We both had such fun with our little game, didn’t we?"

I forced a smile. But my attention was already drifting. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Across the room, I spotted her.

Aria.

She moved between tables with practiced grace. A tray balanced perfectly on her palm. Her expression was calm. Professional. She was speaking to a customer, nodding at something they said.

I froze.

How could she look so composed? So unaffected?

This morning, I’d watched her fall apart. Watched tears stream down her face as I delivered each cruel word like a knife to her heart. Watched hope die in those silver eyes.

And now she was here. Working. Functioning. Like nothing had happened.

It drove me insane.

My chest tightened with something I couldn’t name. Was I expecting her to crumble? To hide in some corner and cry over me?

Maybe.

At least then I’d know I’d meant something to her. Left some mark on her life.

But this? This calm professionalism?

It was worse than tears.

"Kael, are you even listening?" Rebecca’s sharp voice yanked me back.

"Hm?" I blinked. "Yeah. Sure."

"I said we should order champagne." She pouted prettily. "The expensive kind. To toast our victory."

Victory. Right.

"Whatever you want," I said.

My eyes found Aria again. She was walking toward another table now. Her uniform was crisp. Her hair pulled back in that simple ponytail. She looked tired. Dark circles under her eyes that she’d tried to hide with makeup.

But she was standing. Moving. Working.

*Go to her,* Fenrir demanded. *Fix this.*

I clenched my jaw. Ignored him.

Rebecca snapped her fingers at a passing server. "You there. Come here."

The server approached. A young female wolf. Not Aria. "Good evening. How may I help you?"

"Where’s the Shadow Moon girl?" Rebecca’s voice carried across the room. Deliberately loud. "I want her to serve us."

The server blinked. Clearly caught off guard. "Aria is currently attending to other guests, ma’am. I can help you with anything you need."

Rebecca’s eyes narrowed. Her tone sharpened to a blade. "Get her. Now. Unless you want me to speak to your manager about the quality of service here."

The server hesitated. Then nodded submissively. "I’ll... I’ll get her."

She hurried away.

I watched her approach Aria across the room. Saw her lean in. Whisper something. Saw Aria’s shoulders stiffen. Just for a second. So brief most people would have missed it.

But I didn’t miss it.

Something flickered across her face. Gone before it fully formed. Then that mask slid back into place. Calm. Professional. Unreadable.

She nodded at the other server. Handed off her tray. Started walking toward us.

Each step precise. Measured. Her chin held high.

Like she wasn’t walking toward the man who had shattered her just hours ago.

Rebecca leaned back in her seat. A satisfied smirk curled her lips. "This is going to be good."

I said nothing. My hands had curled into fists under the table.

Why had I agreed to this? Why was I here?

*Because you’re a coward,* Fenrir snarled. *Because you’re too afraid to admit what she means to you.*

Aria drew closer. Ten feet. Then five.

Her eyes met mine.

Silver. Clear. Completely empty.

No hurt. No anger. No recognition of what we’d shared.

Nothing.

That nothingness hit me harder than any accusation ever could.

"I’m curious to see her expression when she walk over." Rebecca’s smile was pure venom. "I bet she will desperately trying to act like nothing happened."