Chapter 1

"Emily, next month I'll be heading south to study ancient healing techniques. Here is my resignation letter," I said.

Emily Wilde stared at me in shock. "Why are you leaving all of a sudden?" she asked.

I gave the explanation I had prepared in advance. "My husband found a new job in the South. I plan to take our pup there so that our family can be together again."

Emily nodded. "That's good. It's not easy raising a pup alone. I always thought you were a single mother."

I smiled faintly. I wasn't before, but soon I would be one.

"Megan Cross, you're the most skilled healer we have. Without you, the common folk won't have anyone to treat them. They can't afford the fees of the nobles' healers." Emily glanced at the patients lying nearby and sighed.

I gave a helpless smile and turned to leave the healer's tent—only to run straight into Alpha King Jason Boone of the Northern Realm and Princess Bailey Shaw of the Silvermoon Pack. They were both visiting injured warriors.

Jason was the Alpha King who ruled over the North's seven largest packs and was also the father of my pup.

Seven years ago, during the war between North and South, Jason was gravely wounded at the border. I found him unconscious while foraging herbs deep in the snowy mountains.

At that time, he'd had three penetrating lacerations on his body, with one nearly splitting his abdomen open. His left leg was broken, his right arm pierced by an arrow, and his body felt frighteningly cold.

I did my best to heal his injuries and stayed by his side for nine days and nights.

After recovering, he insisted on bringing me back to his warrior camp. He said, "You saved my life. I'll never forget this debt."

That night, while the camp was celebrating his return, he came into my tent drunk and kissed me. I didn't push him away, and from that night, we'd had a pup together—our son.

This year marked the seventh year of our secret marriage. However, he had never once allowed our son to call him "Dad" in front of others.

And now, here he was before me, walking beside Bailey—the woman rumored to be his future mate.

"Ugh, the stench of lowborns is tainting me. Jason, let's get out of here already," Bailey whined.

"Alright, anything for you." Jason's gaze softened as he looked at Bailey affectionately.

As we passed each other, I felt my heart skip a beat, and I couldn't help but speak up. "Jason…"

Jason paused, and he stared back at me coldly. "Healer Megan."

His tone was distant and polite, and his glance was laced with warning. He was reminding me that we were nothing more than Alpha and commoners.

"Your Majesty, Alpha King Jason…"

Jason gave a soft grunt of acknowledgment, not even sparing me a second look as if I were a stranger.

I had meant to tell him I was leaving the pack, but clearly, it didn't matter to him.

His future was with Bailey and consolidating noble bloodlines with her. I was just a war-displaced commoner who'd briefly entered his life.

"Mom, will Dad come for my birthday?" My son's voice echoed through our mind link.

I froze and looked back. I saw Bailey was giggling with her head nestled on Jason's shoulder. As someone walked by, Jason instinctively tightened the arm around her waist.

"Will you come home tonight to celebrate our son's birthday?" I asked through my link with Jason.

He paused briefly before shutting off our mind link.

I let out a soft laugh. Oh, Megan, haven't you woken up yet?

Jason's heart was frozen solid, and no warmth would ever reach it. What was I still hoping for?

I took a deep breath and turned away.

Alpha King Jason, you would soon be free.