Chapter 1

I picked up my son at the end of Family Day.

He was supposed to jump happily into my arms, but instead, I held a sobbing boy.

"Mommy, do I have a daddy?"

Ari's voice trembled as he asked, his tear-streaked face red and swollen. I had never seen him cry like this before.

"Daddy came to Family Day today. I wanted to sit with him, but he pushed me away. He said he was Anna's daddy.”

Ari's sobs grew louder. "My classmates said I don't have a daddy. They said you found me in the dump."

Children passing by cast mocking glances at Ari, their expressions cruel. Ari clung to me, burying his face in my shoulder as his cries echoed around us.

I held him tightly, my heart aching at his pain. I wanted to comfort him, but the memory of Rook's cold, detached expression surfaced in my mind, cutting through my thoughts like a blade.

Three years had passed since I started raising Ari alone in Moon Shadow Territory. When the Beta soldiers told me their Alpha was returning, I was overjoyed. I thought he was finally willing to accept us.

I had prepared a grand welcome banquet for him.

Ari appeared in a black suit before the banquet. He even had a little wooden sword on him. He checked his face from the reflection of a silver pole and asked a question nervously.

"Mommy, Daddy has never met me before. Would he like me?"

"Of course." I stroked his head. I winked at Ari cheekily. "You're Daddy's only son, Ari. You've inherited his noble bloodline. You're a future warrior of Moon Shadow Territory. How could he not like you?"

"Yay! I'm Daddy's warrior!"

We had been so full of hope, believing that our struggles were finally over.

However, when the doors opened, a tall, imposing figure stepped inside. Rook. He carried an air of authority that silenced the room. This Alpha dominated the scene with an air of intimidation, but all I could see was him carrying a three-year-old Anna in his arms.

Walking beside him was Sera, Anna's mother and Rook's sweetheart. She leaned into him, her every gesture intimate. Together, they looked like the perfect family.

I stood frozen.

Ari, however, had no hesitation. He had spent countless mornings greeting Rook's picture, and he recognized him immediately.

"Daddy, I want a hug!"

It only ended with Ari falling because Rook moved away to avoid the hug.

Rook frowned, his piercing eyes locking onto me. "What insolence. How dare you let him approach me, Rhea!"

I quickly picked up Ari. I thought Rook avoided the hug because he did not recognize Ari. "He's your son. He's been looking forward to seeing you…"

"You know very well whose son he really is." Rook looked up and stared coldly at me. "Tell him not to call me 'Daddy'!"

My mouth fell open in surprise. I had no idea why he was losing his temper.

Sera caressed his chest gently. "Calm down, Rook. Princess Rhea didn't do this on purpose. Don't get mad over petty things like this."

"You have a big heart, Sera. If she had the sense to be as wholesome as you, I wouldn't have left my territory for three years."

Rook carried another woman's daughter and left without giving Ari another look.

The memory hurt so much. It was like a thousand needles piercing my heart. Tears fell down my cheek. The despair I felt was suffocating.

"I’m sorry, Ari," I whispered. "I promise I’ll be there for the next event."

Ari stopped crying when he heard my promise. He wiped away my tears with his plump, little hand.

"I have the best mommy in the world. I'm not sad anymore, so don't be sad too, Mommy."

The more understanding Ari was, the more it hurt me.

I was the daughter of the Heavenly Wolf Pack's packmaster. I had been in love with the heir of Moon Shadow Pack, Rook, for five years.

That was the reason why I made a deal with a witch.

"I'm willing to sacrifice half of my life if I can be with Rook."