Chapter 1
My Alpha mate Carl didn't hunt them down. Instead, he brought home Elena—his childhood sweetheart—and her five-year-old bastard.
"Leo died because you failed as Luna," he said, pushing the boy toward me. "You'll raise him as our heir."
I looked into those cold eyes, and something inside me died.
At the cliff, I severed our bond in front of the entire pack. Then I jumped.
That unbreakable Alpha? He shattered completely.
Selene's POV
"Mommy, I'm scared..."
Leo's voice still echoed in my ears, cutting through my heart like a dull blade. Three days. My child had been lying in that frozen ground for three days.
Bitter wind slipped through the door cracks. The fireplace had died hours ago. I curled up on the floor, clutching Leo's blood-stained little coat against my chest.
Click.
The lock turned. Carl walked in wearing a crisp black overcoat. He didn't smell of snow or cold air—just that nauseating lily of the valley perfume. Elena's scent.
"How long are you gonna sit there?" Carl looked down at me with undisguised impatience. "The pack has a dozen things that need handling, and you're just wallowing in self-pity?"
"Self-pity?" My voice cracked. "Carl, our son is DEAD. He was only three! Those rogues crushed his bones! And you're asking me how much longer I need?"
Carl's eyes went cold. "Leo's death was tragic, yes. But at the end of the day, you failed to protect him. Border patrol was YOUR responsibility. How exactly did those rogues slip through?"
"You're BLAMING me?" I stared at this man I'd loved for ten years, my voice rising. "That night, YOU ordered all my guards to protect Elena! Said she was scared of the thunder! If you hadn't pulled my protection, Leo would never have wandered to the border alone!"
"ENOUGH, Selene!" Carl stepped forward, grabbed my chin, and forced me to meet his cold gray-blue eyes. "Don't blame Elena for your screw-ups. She's fragile. She needs protection."
He released me and wiped his hands like I was filth.
"I didn't come here to listen to your complaints." Carl turned toward the door. "Come in."
The door opened. Elena walked in, holding the hand of a boy about five years old.
The child had Carl's exact gray-blue eyes, the same sharp nose, the same thin lips.
I froze.
"What... what is this?" I stared at the child. "Carl, who is this boy?"
"Selene, meet Thomas." Carl's voice held no emotion. "My son."
Everything crashed down. I knew he was close with Elena. Knew they'd grown up together. But I never imagined...
"When did you..." My voice shattered. "Five years? Six? Or from the damn BEGINNING?"
"Does it matter?" Carl's face was stone. "She's had it rough raising him alone. Now that Leo's gone, the pack needs an heir. I'm registering Thomas under your name as the Blood Moon Pack's first heir."
"NO!" I shot up from the floor. Leo's coat fell to the ground. "You want me to adopt your bastard? Leo's not even cold in his grave!"
I lunged at Carl, trying to grab his collar, but he pushed me away effortlessly like I was nothing. I crashed hard onto the marble floor. My knee hit with brutal force, pain exploding through me.
"SHUT UP!" Carl's face darkened. "Thomas isn't a bastard! If you hadn't used your family's influence to force me into marriage, Elena would be my Luna!"
I tried to stand again, but my legs were shaking. I could only kneel there. "So you've been lying to me this whole time? Ten years of marriage meant nothing to you?"
"Carl, don't say these things to Selene..." Elena's eyes watered as she tugged his sleeve. "She just lost her child. It's normal for her to be upset. If Selene doesn't want this, Thomas and I can leave..."
"You're not going anywhere." Carl squeezed Elena's hand. "This is your home."
Then he turned back to me, cold as winter. "Selene, this is an ALPHA COMMAND. I'm not asking for your opinion. Tomorrow night at the pack meeting, I'll announce this officially. Get your shit together and don't embarrass me tomorrow."
"Why..." I stared at their intertwined hands. "Ten years of companionship. I took assassination attempts for you. Nearly died giving birth to Leo—none of that means anything to you?"
"Why? You want to know why?" Carl laughed, but the sound held no warmth. "Because aside from your so-called noble bloodline, you're absolutely WORTHLESS. Leo's dead. You want the entire pack to go down with you? The pack needs a future. Thomas IS that future."
He didn't even glance at me again. Just walked out with Elena and the child.
"Carl!" I tried crawling after them, but my knee was screaming in pain. "You can't do this to me! I'm your LUNA!"
He stopped at the doorway without turning around. "Selene, when will you finally understand—you were never the one I wanted."
The door slammed shut.
I collapsed on the freezing floor, tears streaming down my face. Leo's little coat lay just steps away. My precious baby, who would run to me when he had nightmares. The little boy who would laugh until he couldn't breathe when I tickled him. My little angel who called me the best mommy in the whole world.
Now he was gone, and his father couldn't even wait one day before finding him a "replacement."
I stared at that blood-stained little coat, my heart broke. Leo, Mommy failed you. I couldn't protect you, and I couldn't get you justice.
I closed my eyes and made a decision.
