Chapter 2

Nathan's POV

Claire's tears shook his mate bond. His wolf was growling in anger.

“I’m so sorry, have I caused some kind of misunderstanding?” Sabrina smiled. She was Royal Pack's princess.

Nathan met Sabrina in college. After graduation, they returned to their respective packs, and soon after, they broke up. She knew he wasn’t married, and recently, she had been considering getting back together with him. Unless there were exceptional circumstances, Nathan wouldn’t consider a political marriage.

He was just one step away from the Alpha President position. As long as he secured cooperation with the Royal Pack, nothing could stop him.

They had been broken up for a long time, so Nathan didn’t understand what Claire was really angry about. It wasn’t that he didn’t love Claire. If he truly had no feelings for her, he would’ve rejected her right away, not let her get pregnant or care for Andy.

She was his fated mate—even if she was just an omega. But she could never be his Luna.

Claire said nothing, only looking at him with sorrow and pain. As an omega, her beauty was unmatched. It was hard not to be drawn to her, but Nathan couldn’t comfort her.

He took a breath, stiffening his resolve. His career had to come first. He couldn’t understand her anger toward Sabrina. He couldn’t indulge her in this baseless jealousy. Even if Andy called someone else mom, he was just playing around.

"You bastard!" His wolf cursed at him in fury.

Nathan ignored him.

Sabrina said to Claire, “I assure you, Nathan and I are just friends. I’m here to help him with some work.”

Nathan waved it off. “It’s fine, Sabrina. She’s just causing a scene.”

Then Nathan saw Claire's gaze, which seemed even more filled with sadness and anger.

...Why?

Claire's POV

Sabrina stood in the doorway, the light from the large windows behind her beaming onto her thick blonde hair. She looked at me, and I felt the calculating assessment behind her innocent look.

I could feel her malice.

Just working together? I saw how close Sabrina stood to Nathan, how casually they seemed to fit together. In my mind, I heard Andy calling her “Mommy” again.

I really wanted to say something to Andy, but Nathan interrupted me.

"And you, Andy, it's time to go home." Nathan gently patted Andy’s head, then turned to me and ordered, "You should go home, Claire. We can talk about this when we get back."

His voice was smooth and cool. His tone was that of a disapproving employer speaking to a misbehaving employee.

Andy stayed quietly in Sabrina's arms, as if she were truly his mother. He clicked his tongue in displeasure but eventually jumped out of Sabrina's arms.

Andy tugged at the hem of my shirt and looked up at me. "Then let’s go, Claire. Even though you left home without permission, as long as you still listen to Dad’s orders, I won’t let him fire you."

“Andy's right,” Nathan said, “Go home, Claire.”

Andy flashed Sabrina a sweet smile. "Goodbye, Mommy Sabrina. See you next time!"

—How I longed to tell him I was his mother.

Sabrina smiled back. "Of course, goodbye, Andy. Next time, I’ll take you to even more fun places."

—It seemed like I was the one who didn’t belong in this family drama.

...But he’s my child. My beloved child. And Nathan, my most cherished mate.

Andy, thrilled by Sabrina's promise, happily skipped away, turning back to shout at me from a distance, "Catch up, Claire!"

Only Nathan, Sabrina, and I were left in front of the office. The pain from the mate bond almost froze me in place, but all I wanted was to ask Nathan one question.

“Anyway,” Sabrina looked back at Nathan, clearly dismissing me. “Nathan, we really must discuss our legislative agenda for the election. Your incumbent opponent has already begun gathering support.”

The words passed over my head, and judging from Sabrina’s sly glance, it was meant to. Sabrina knew I was a lowly Omega, one who knew nothing about Nathan’s political world. Like I was nothing but a nanny.

I had spent my whole life in moments like this, when someone tried to put me in my place. It never got easier. Not with my own mate standing right in front of me.

Nathan frowned. “Claire, what are you still doing here?”

“…Can you spare me a minute?” I asked.

Nathan thought for a moment before reluctantly nodding. “Please.”

“…Do you really love me? Do you truly understand that I’m your fated mate?” My voice trembled, but I stood tall, meeting his gaze. “Are you and Sabrina really completely over? The people in the pack say you two are close to an arranged marriage.”

I just wanted one answer from him. As long as he gave me that answer, I would still be willing to trust him, willing to stay for him.

Nathan hesitated for a moment, but soon, voices from other pack members echoed down the hallway, as if someone was coming. He quickly changed his response.

“None of this has anything to do with you. You need to leave. It’s not good for people to see you here.”

Sabrina laughed out loud, clearly mocking me.

They left together. Other pack members, seeing them, offered their excited congratulations. Nathan seemed to explain something, but I couldn’t make out what they were saying anymore.

But I already guessed what they were saying. And this, was already the answer to my problem.

By the time I caught up with Andy, he was a bit annoyed that I was late.

“…I’ve been playing here for so long on my own! It’s a serious neglect!” Andy complained, but then seemed to notice my sadness. He furrowed his brows like his father and turned his head away.

“Alright… it’s just a small problem.” Andy muttered. “Hurry up and take me home, there’s your favorite snacks in the fridge. I’ll share a bit more with you today.”

I gave him a hug with tears, and then we headed home together.

On the way home, many people greeted their future heir, Andy, enthusiastically.

“Such a handsome young man!” said a man in a well-cut three-piece suit. He grinned at the child, coolly ignoring his Omega nanny. “You’re going to be just as strong and tall as your father.”

“Well, aren’t you cute!” said a woman stepping out of an expensive town car, her driver closing the door behind her. “I’d recognize those dimples anywhere. You look just like the Alpha!”

A number of people stopped us to chat, delighting Andy with the attention and compliments. And every one of them carefully avoided looking at me, or even acknowledging my presence. I suffered the sting of their silent discrimination, knowing there wasn’t a thing I could do about it.

At home, still struggling to contain the emotions, I settled Andy in the kitchen with a snack and tried to do some flashcards with him. Nathan was firm on starting his son’s education early.

But today, the flashcard we drew happened to be "mom."

Andy lowered his head. “Why don’t I have a mommy, Claire? Is it because I was bad?”

Even as I bled on the inside, I melted to hear my son wonder if it was his fault he didn’t have a mother. “Oh sweetheart, no. Of course not. It’s…it’s complicated.”

Later that night, sitting by Andy’s bed, I brushed the hair off his forehead as he slept.

Maybe his bloodline made him feel something in his dream. He instinctively hugged me, mumbling in his sleep, “…Mom.”

It made my heart melt into a soft, tangled mess.

I squeezed his hand, smiling through the bittersweet sadness, whispering, “It’s okay. Mommy’s here,” knowing he couldn’t hear me but still needing to say it.

A shadow filled the doorway suddenly, startling me. One look at his face told me he’d heard Andy call out, and heard what I said.

“You told him...?!”

Nathan stormed into the room, demanding in a harsh whisper, “What are you doing to my son?”