KING OF ALPHAS.

CHAPTER 1

VIVIENNE.

The moment I opened the bedroom door, my world shattered. I wasn’t supposed to be here. I was halfway to the office when I realized I’d left my presentation folder on the nightstand.

I came back, thinking I’d be in and out in seconds. But instead, I walked straight into a nightmare. There, tangled in my sheets, was my husband. And beneath him, moaning like she had no shame, was a woman who wasn’t me.

The air in the room was thick with the scent of s*x. My neatly arranged bed was now a mess of tangled sheets and discarded clothes. My husband—ex-husband in a few hours—froze, his eyes widening in horror as he saw me standing in the doorway.

The woman, half-hidden beneath him, gasped and tried to cover herself.

“Vivienne, I—” I didn’t let him finish. I didn’t scream.

I didn’t cry. I didn’t give them the satisfaction of seeing me break. I stepped inside, walked straight past them, grabbed my folder from the nightstand, and turned on my heel.

They were still gaping at me like fish out of water. The woman let out a nervous giggle—a giggle. As if this was some high school scandal instead of the complete destruction of a marriage.

“Who—who is she?” she whispered to my husband. I paused at the doorway.

“I’m his wife.” And then I walked out.

The drive to the office was a blur. My knuckles were white against the steering wheel, my heart hammering against my ribs. But I kept my face blank, my emotions locked away.

By the time I stepped into the sleek glass doors of Vivienne Laine Enterprises, I was CEO Vivienne again—calm, poised, and untouchable.

“Good morning, Mrs. Laine,” my assistant, Sophie, greeted, but she must’ve caught the storm in my eyes because she hesitated. “The clients are waiting in the boardroom.” I nodded sharply.

“Let’s get this over with.” I strode into the boardroom, my heels clicking against the marble floor.

Around the massive table sat half a dozen executives from Lexington Industries, a company desperate for a partnership with mine. “Mrs. Laine, a pleasure to see you,” Mr. Porter, the head of Lexington, said, standing up with an oily smile.

I didn’t bother with pleasantries.

“Let’s begin.” The meeting dragged on, but I remained professional, my face unreadable. That was until one of the executives, a smug-looking man named Richardson, decided to test me.

“I must say, Mrs. Laine,” he drawled, “for a woman in your position, I’m surprised you handle negotiations so aggressively. Perhaps if you softened your approach, we’d be more inclined to meet your terms.”

Silence blanketed the room. Sophie s*ck*d in a breath. I leaned forward slowly, resting my hands on the table.

“Tell me, Mr. Richardson, do you speak to all CEOs like this, or do you reserve your unsolicited advice for women?” His face flushed.

“I—I didn’t mean—” I stood up, adjusting my blazer.

“This meeting is over.”

“But Mrs. Laine—” I ignored them, walking out of the boardroom with my head high.

Sophie scrambled after me.

“Vivienne, are you okay?” I wasn’t. But I wasn’t going to break here.

“Reschedule any other meetings,” I said. “I have something to take care of.”

Fifteen minutes later, I was at my lawyer’s office.

“I want a divorce,” I told him, sliding into a chair. Daniel, my lawyer, sighed.

“I figured it was only a matter of time.” I raised an eyebrow.

“Oh?” He gave me a knowing look.

“You’re too sharp to miss the signs, Vivienne. I knew you’d find out eventually.” I clenched my jaw.

“Prepare the papers. I want them finalized as soon as possible.” Daniel nodded, already pulling out the necessary documents.

“You want to fight for assets?” I let out a cold laugh.

“I own enough. I don't care about his assets or his wealth. Maybe that's what is getting to his head.”

...

By the time I got home, the sun had started to set. I walked into the house, divorce papers in hand, and found my husband—soon-to-be ex-husband—waiting for me in the living room.

His hair was a mess, his shirt wrinkled, like he’d spent all day regretting his stupidity. Good.

“Vivienne—” He stood up as soon as I entered. “Please, let me explain—”

I tossed the divorce papers at his chest. He barely caught them before they slipped to the floor.

“Save it,” I said, my voice flat. He swallowed hard. “It was a mistake, Viv. I wasn’t thinking. I—I was drunk—” I laughed. A sharp, hollow sound.

“You expect me to believe that?” He ran a hand through his hair.

“I don’t want to lose you.” I tilted my head, studying him. The same man I once loved. The man I built a life with. But now, when I looked at him, all I saw was betrayal.

“You lost me the moment you let her into our bed.” He flinched.

“We can fix this—” I turned and walked upstairs. He followed, his voice desperate. “Vivienne, please! We can go to therapy, we can—”

I pulled out a suitcase from the closet and started packing.

“You’re just going to walk away?” His voice cracked. I zipped up the suitcase.

“I already did.”

I grabbed my keys and walked past him. As I reached the front door, he called my name again. But I didn’t look back. ​ I wasn’t his wife anymore.

CHAPTER 2

KILLIAN.

New York was as noisy as ever, a city that never slept, but for me, it was just another location—another business trip to handle, another deal to close.

I had landed a few hours ago, just in time to check into my penthouse suite, take a long, much-needed shower, and ignore the stack of messages waiting on my phone.

My pack was eager for updates, my Beta wanted details about the negotiations, and the Elders were already pushing for my return. I had little patience for any of it. This trip was a distraction.

A necessary one. I sighed, I've Just been in my room for a while. I stepped toward the door, ready to take a short stroll before dinner. Just a drink—maybe two—to relax before I locked myself in with files and business contracts.

Then I opened the door, and my world shifted. The scent hit me like a hurricane. Warm. Alluring. Intoxicating. Mate. The word slammed into my mind, rattling my bones, setting my blood on fire.

M