Alpha Mate Went Crazy After Our Pup Died

Behind the pack territory's hills, I knelt on the ground, holding the ice-cold body of my five-year-old son in my arms. The pain was so deep I couldn't breathe.

Ash had always been such a good boy. He never cried or made a fuss. Even though his broken wolf made him far weaker than the other children, he never once complained.

And I couldn't even protect his chance to live.

The wolves of our pack are different. Every pup must undergo their first shift at five. But Ash was born with a broken wolf and couldn't complete the shift.

The Elder's diagnosis was clear — the only solution was for an Alpha blood relative to infuse part of their own wolf power to save his wolf. Otherwise, Ash would die during the first shift.

In all of Silver Fang Pack, only Kael could do it.

But the process would permanently reduce Kael's strength by roughly fifteen percent. With the Five Packs summit approaching, even the slightest loss of power could put Silver Fang at a disadvantage in negotiations.

Kael weighed his options and decided to postpone. He said Ash's condition could hold through this moon cycle — they'd do it after the summit.

The Elder warned him: no later than the next full moon. Kael agreed without hesitation.

But the summit kept getting delayed.

First, Kael's childhood sweetheart Nora said her daughter Lily had a fever and couldn't cope alone. Kael dropped everything to be with them for two days.

Then Nora suggested taking Lily to the Northern Frost Pack's Bonfire Festival. She said Lily had never had a father, had never been to any pack celebration, and hoped Kael would come along as family.

Kael hesitated, but figured there was still time before the summit and Ash's full moon deadline hadn't arrived yet. He agreed.

I felt through our mate bond that Kael had left the territory. I messaged him asking when he'd be back for Ash's healing ritual.

His reply was a single line: "Soon. Ash can hold on. Stop pushing."

I messaged three more times.

He got annoyed and swallowed a Muting Herb, completely blocking the bond link between us.

On the night of the full moon, I held Ash at the ritual stone altar and waited the entire night.

Ash's wolf was fading under the moonlight. I poured every ounce of my own power into stabilizing him, but I wasn't an Alpha. All I could do was slow the collapse — I couldn't fill the void.

I sent Kael message after message. Every single one vanished without a trace.

His bond link had long been blocked by the Muting Herb.

At dawn, Ash stopped breathing in my arms.

I felt the last wisp of wolf essence in my arms shatter, and I let out a howl so raw it could be heard all the way to the territory's borders.

But Kael felt nothing.

The day after Ash died, Kael was still in the north.

I tried calling him. After ten calls, someone finally answered — it was Nora.

Nora's voice was light, almost amused. Behind her, I could hear Lily laughing and the crackle of a bonfire.

She said Kael was teaching Lily the techniques for her first shift.

Then she added softly: "Kael said he'll be back soon. Lily's first shift is a big deal — he wants to see it through before he leaves."

When I heard those words, I was still holding Ash's body, already cold to the bone.

My husband had refused to give his own son the power that could have saved him, yet he was personally coaching another woman's daughter through her first shift.

Before I could speak, Kael took the phone.

His tone was casual. Almost cheerful.

"Lily's shift ceremony is in three days. I need to stay and oversee it. Don't worry — I'll head back right after. Ash isn't urgent. The Elder said there's still a month, remember? Stop making such a big deal out of everything."

My mind went blank.

I wanted to tell him Ash was already dead, but my throat sealed shut.

Kael kept talking: "Nora's been raising Lily alone — it's been so hard on her. She's suffered so much because of me over the years. I can't be absent for Lily's most important moment. Try to understand."

I listened to those words, then looked down at Ash's face in my arms.

I thought about the past six months since Nora returned to the territory.

Kael had promised to take Ash to Spirit Lake to watch the first moonrise. But Nora said Lily was afraid of the dark and had been crying alone in the territory, so Kael left us behind to comfort Lily.

For the Autumn Hunt Festival, I'd prepared Ash's first little hunting outfit. But Kael gave it to Lily instead — said Lily didn't have a father and had never been to an Autumn Hunt, so Ash should let her have it.

Ash refused.

Kael scolded Ash in front of the entire pack for being selfish. He said, "Lily has it so much worse than you. At least you have a mom and a dad."

Every time I protested, Kael said the same thing:

"Lily lost her father when she was little. You're my Luna — be generous. Don't fight with a child over this."

He knew I'd back down.

He knew Ash would cry for a while and then forget.

So he never worried about the consequences.

But this time, Ash wouldn't cry anymore.

Because Ash had no more "after."

I held Ash's body tight and made a decision — once I finished his burial rites, I would break my mark with Kael and leave Silver Fang Pack.