3. Metal Bed

Knowing this month marked the beginning of my freedom, I should have felt nothing but joy. Instead, the thought of it terrified me. The idea that my life could actually be better than it used to be—that I could live without chains—was almost too much to believe.

Walking out of the courthouse with the final copy of my divorce papers clutched in my hand, I closed the car door and sat there in silence, staring at the world beyond the windshield. Tonight should have been a celebration. The other single women I knew from my job were already planning drinks and laughter, urging me to join them.

But I didn’t feel like it. Not tonight.

For one thing, they were all human. And I wasn’t. Even without a wolf of my own, I still carried wolf blood in my veins. I could drink stronger than they ever could, my body built to endure. And yet, I’d been so careful these past years, so cautious, that I didn’t even know anymore if this constant restraint was saving me… or slowly driving me insane.

My thoughts drifted to Zebasthian. My son. My heartbeat. My reason for everything.

When I gave birth to Zebasthian, it only took two months for the doctors to confirm what I already sensed—that he was different. My sweet boy had both autism and Down syndrome, and though their words cut me deeply, they also explained what I already knew in my heart. He was a pup born from unfated mates.

Among my kind, it wasn’t uncommon. Not everyone found their destined partner. Some wolves settled, others sought power or status, and in all those unions, pups like mine were conceived—innocent souls burdened with the consequences of choices made without the bond of fate.

But knowing that truth didn’t ease the weight I carried. The guilt pressed against me every time I dared to think of wanting even a moment’s rest. How selfish could I be, to crave a break, when all I wanted was to keep him safe? No one could ever know he existed—not the humans, not the wolves, no one. Protecting him was everything. He was my whole world, and yet… the fear of slipping, of making the wrong choice just once, haunted me more than anything else.

The guilt came sharp and immediate, twisting inside me. How could I even think about wanting change? About slipping away for just one night, when every choice I made had to protect him?

I pressed my forehead against the steering wheel, the papers crinkling in my hand. I was a free woman now, yes. But I wasn’t just a woman anymore. I was a mother.

And the terrifying truth was that one wrong step—just one—could unravel everything I had built for him.

Torn I decided to call my mom and check if she could babysit her grandson for tonight. hearing the phone ring, I start the car to go to the daycare center to pick my son up, and before I started to drive, she answers.

“Hey there, sweetheart, how did it go?”

Taking off, I reply to her.

“I’m officially divorced, and he left as if nothing happened. Mom, I need a favor first before we continue this conversation.”

She didn’t hesitate to reply to me.

“I’m listening.”

Driving I answered her with all my nerves in my chest.

“The girls from work want me to go out to celebrate my divorce, and I have Zebasthian. Could you take care of him tonight?”

Her reply was a bit cut off as the call was suddenly replaced by a phone call from my local pediatrician.

“Mom, I’ll call you back.”

Answering the call, I hear my son’s pediatrician speak with a nervous tone.”

“Miss Toth, I’m sorry for the sudden call but I need you to come to my office, as there has been a violent attack. please don’t be late, as I have Alpha Alek in my office as well.”

This call almost had me hit the car in front of me, and when I realized what she was saying, panic surged through me, and I started to change my directions to the pediatrician.

The call ended before I could ask any more questions, yet all I could keep thinking was what happened that she called me when my son was supposed to be in the daycare?

My job has a section for those who have kids and can’t take care of them when they are working. During the time of this war, many had to constantly do their drills of evacuation, for which many jobs simply made their work environment family-friendly. In mine, they had added many changes, one of which was a daycare for infants.

Driving like a madwoman to the pediatric I saw a wolf cop running close to me; my car has a specific chip that wolf cops can catch if I’m breaking human laws.

Being pulled over, the she-wolf walks out to knock on my window and ask me to follow her, saying that she was requested to help me be escorted to the pediatric.

The sirens wailed in the distance, echoing the chaos in my heart.

My hands gripped the steering wheel tightly as tears blurred my vision. Every second felt like an eternity, each red light a cruel reminder of the urgency.

I could only think of my baby, the tiny life that depended on me. Panic surged through me as I fought to breathe, fear wrapping around my chest like a vice.

What if I arrived too late?

The thought was unbearable, a weight I couldn’t shake off. I whispered prayers, hoping for a miracle, my heart racing in sync with the flashing lights ahead. Please, let everything be okay. I pushed the accelerator harder, desperation fueling my drive as I raced toward the unknown.

My love for my child filled me with hope, even in this darkest moment. Please, let my baby be safe.

As I rushed into the children’s hospital of Cyber Claws Pack, my heart raced, and the world around me faded into a blur. I was so consumed by urgency that I didn’t even register the fact that my car was still running. But then, a piercing scream shattered the air, pulling me back to the reality of the moment.

“MATE!”

His voice was beyond explanation, pulling me in two directions. I was caught between the desperate need to understand what was happening to my son and the haunting sound of my mate's cries calling out for me.

For a brief moment, I stood there, and the same police officer emerged behind me. Her voice was steady yet gentle, as if she understood the weight of her words could set off a storm within me.

I felt the pull of my mate's desire, but the weight of my son's need was heavier in my heart. With that love guiding me, I turned to the cop lady and asked for help.

“Where is my son? His pediatrician reached out to me and said he is here with Alpha Alek. I need to be by his side.”

The officer placed a hand on each of my shoulders, speaking softly but firmly.

“I understand this is difficult, and I truly wish I could do more to guide you through the complexities of Zebasthian Toth. My role is to support you, especially with your ex-husband approaching. It’s important for me to be by your side during this meeting, orders from Alpha Alek himself. Please, follow me to meet Alpha Alek along with the doctors who are waiting for us now.”

As she took me away, the silence about my son weighed heavily on my heart. It blocked all other intention, it even made me forget that my mate was here. A wave of dizziness washed over me, and I felt myself slipping away from reality, consumed by the grip of my anxiety.

As we descended to the depths of the hospital, the elevator doors creaked open, revealing a room that felt heavy with sorrow. In the center stood a metal bed, a stark white sheet draped over a still form. Beside the body, two doctors and Zebasthian’s pediatrician lingered, their faces etched with the weight of despair, as if they had just emerged from a nightmare.

On the other side stood Alpha Alek Blue.

Alpha Alek possesses a warm tan complexion, with thick, short curls of dark black hair, accented by striking neon red highlights that leave others puzzled. His thick eyebrows frame his face, complemented by a charming stubble that adds to his allure. With a perfectly shaped nose and a pointed chin, his misty green eyes hold a captivating depth, while his wide, heart-stopping smile reveals delightful dimples on his cheeks.