Chapter 2

The next day, I walked into the Wolf Council office building with my transfer paperwork already filed and one week left before Liam and I could leave for the Eastern Region.

I'd stayed up until 2 AM organizing everything, preparing detailed handover notes for whoever would replace me.

The elevator doors opened and Matthew walked out with Elvira beside him.

My hands froze on the keyboard.

"Everyone, gather around," Matthew called out to the open office space.

People stood up from their desks, curious. Matthew's hand rested on Elvira's lower back as he addressed the room.

"This is Elvira. She'll be my new assistant starting today. Mary, you'll be responsible for training her."

I stood up. "Matthew, I need to talk to you about—"

"Don't discuss things unrelated to work during work hours," he cut me off, his voice full of warning.

In the end, I still didn’t tell him I was leaving soon. Not that it’d matter to him anyway.

His hand guided Elvira toward his office and the door closed behind them with a soft click.

Around me, people immediately started whispering. "Alpha Matthew is so devoted," someone said. "His fiancée ran away with another man's child and he still takes her back."

"That's true love," another voice agreed.

My eyes started burning. I blinked hard and looked down at my desk, pretending to read an email.

...

That evening, I took Liam to his favorite restaurant downtown.

"Can I get the carbonara?" Liam asked, his eyes bright with excitement.

"Of course, baby."

We ordered and the waiter brought water. Liam was in the middle of telling me about his test when I saw them.

Matthew and Elvira, being led to a table by the window.

My chest went tight.

Matthew's eyes passed over our table. I know he saw us.

But his expression didn't change at all. He pulled out Elvira's chairand sat down across from her.

"Mom?" Liam's voice got very small. "Is that—"

"Don't look," I said quickly. "Let's just eat, okay?"

But Liam was already looking. His whole body had gone still.

I followed his gaze and wished I hadn't.

Matthew was cutting Elvira's steak for her, slowly and carefully.

A quiet, broken sound came from Liam's side of the table.

I looked at my son and felt my heart shatter.

Tears were running down his face in silence. He just sat there with his hands folded in his lap, watching his father be gentle with someone else.

After dinner, we walked to the car without speaking. Liam didn't make a sound.

Matthew. First chance gone.

...

When we got back to the West Wing of the Blackwood estate, Liam went straight to the bathroom without a word.

I heard the water running for a long time.

I went to my room and stared at the suitcase sitting in the corner, mentally calculating how many days we had left.

"Mom?" Liam's voice made me turn around.

He stood in the doorway in his pajamas.

"Tomorrow's the family sports day at school," he said quietly, not quite meeting my eyes. "Do you think... do you think Alpha could come?"

My heart broke all over again.

"Liam—"

"Please just ask him," he said, his voice getting smaller. "Please, Mom?"

I looked at my seven-year-old son standing there, still hoping for scraps of affection from a man who'd never shown him love.

I should say no. I should tell him we're leaving and it doesn't matter anymore.

But I couldn't do it. I couldn't destroy that last bit of hope in his eyes.

I pulled out my phone and typed quickly before I could change my mind.

[Liam's school has a family sports day tomorrow. Can you come?]

I pressed send and we both stared at the screen, waiting.

Liam's shoulders started to drop.

My phone buzzed.

[Will be there.]

I stared at the message, reading it twice to make sure I wasn't imagining it.

"Baby!" I grabbed Liam's hands, hardly believing it myself. "Alpha said yes! He's coming!"

Liam's whole face transformed, lighting up with pure joy. "Really? He's really coming?"

He threw his arms around me.

"You have to remind him about the time, Mom," he said urgently. "Make sure he knows exactly when to come. And where."

"I will, sweetheart. I promise."

He ran back to his room and I could hear him moving around excitedly, probably picking out clothes for tomorrow.

I sat on my bed and looked at Matthew's message again.

Please, Matthew. Just this once. Don't let your son down.