Chapter 2

The front door opened in the dead of night. I was sitting in the living room.

I looked up to see Albert leaning against the doorframe, his eyes glazed over.

He was so drunk he could barely stand, and he needed someone to hold him up.

And that someone was Maria.

One of her hands was wrapped tightly around Albert’s arm, while the other was draped possessively over his hip.

When she saw me, she didn’t look flustered at all. Instead, she gave me a little smile.

“Grace,” she said, her voice cloyingly sweet. “Sorry about this. Albert’s drunk, and he insisted I bring him home.”

I just stared at her.

“He had such a wonderful time tonight,” she continued. “He said he was more excited than he was on the day of your ceremony.”

My nails dug into my palms, but I kept my face a mask of calm.

I refused to fall apart over him.

“Are you done?” I asked.

Maria seemed taken aback by my reaction. She froze for a second.

“If you’re done, get out. This is the estate of the reigning Luna and Alpha.”

The smile finally faltered on Maria’s face.

But she quickly recovered, gave me one last smirk, and left.

I looked at Albert, who had collapsed onto the sofa, and felt no desire to take care of him.

Before, whenever he came home drunk, I would have rushed over to take off his coat, wipe his face, and brew him a sobering tea.

This time, I just called a servant to take him to a guest room.

As I started up the stairs, I heard crying from Leo’s room.

I found him huddled by his bed, his eyes puffy and red.

“Honey?” I hurried over and knelt in front of him. “What is it?”

When Leo looked up and saw me, the tears fell even faster.

He sobbed, handing me his phone, his voice choked. “Mom… look.”

On the screen was a new social media post from Maria’s daughter, Sophie.

In the photo, the girl was smiling proudly, holding up a moonstone amulet.

The caption read: “Thank you to the best Alpha daddy in the world for my moonstone amulet! Mommy said I have a new daddy now.”

Leo’s finger trembled as he pointed at the stone. “Mom, I saw that in Dad’s collection. He… he wouldn’t let me have it.”

White-hot rage flooded me.

It hurt more than knowing Albert had betrayed me.

Albert always said that for Leo to be a true heir, he had to be tough and independent.

When he got hurt during training, Albert would just tell him to get up. When he had a fever in the middle of the night, Albert would barely glance at him and say, “Boys need to be strong.”

But now, the moonstone he refused to give his own son was in the hands of another man’s daughter.

A gift she was using to brag about her “new daddy.”

I pulled Leo into my arms, pressing his face into my shoulder and patting his back gently, forcing my voice to stay steady. “It’s okay, baby, it’s okay. Let’s get you to sleep. I’m right here.”

Leo cried for a long time before he finally drifted off in my arms.

The next morning, Albert walked into the dining room as if nothing had happened.

“I had too much to drink last night,” he said, watching me for a reaction. “I didn't make you mad, did I?”

I didn’t answer. I just looked him in the eye. “Where’s the gift you promised Leo?”

Albert paused.

“I forgot,” he said quickly, like it was no big deal. “He’s a boy. He needs to be tougher, not focused on things like that.”

I laughed, but there was no humor in it. “What about the moonstone you gave Sophie?”

The warmth drained from Albert's face.

“Why do you always have to compare?”

“It’s just a gift. Why are you so angry?”

“Is this really about Leo's gift, or are you just looking for a reason to be jealous?”

The next second, he forced himself to calm down, his tone softening like he was talking to a child. “Grace, I know you’ve been on edge lately. Leo’s eighth birthday is the day after tomorrow. I’ll prepare a huge surprise for him, okay?”

He finished and, like he always did, tried to pull me into his arms.

I didn’t say a word. I simply sidestepped his touch.

That afternoon’s pack meeting was supposed to be about the upcoming Summer Solstice festival.

The long table was lined with pack elders. Albert sat at the head, with Maria by his side.

I’d gotten used to it. After Maria returned, Albert had made her his right hand.

“I have a proposal,” Maria said suddenly, a faint smile on her face. “With the festival approaching, and since the Luna will be on vacation down south, why don’t I take charge of the preparations and hosting this year?”

Everyone in that room knew that the Summer Solstice festival was, and always had been, the Luna’s duty.

It wasn’t just about planning a party. It was a core ritual symbolizing the bond between the Alpha, his mate, and the pack.

The room fell silent.

The elders all looked at Albert, waiting for him to speak.

Albert was quiet for a few seconds.

Then, he nodded.

“Fine,” he said.

In that moment, I heard something inside me, stretched tight for months, finally snap.

A triumphant glint appeared in Maria’s eyes. She looked at me, her gaze a clear challenge, as if to say: See? He chose me.

All eyes were on me.

They were probably waiting for me to lose my temper, to argue.

But I just lifted my head, looked right at Maria, and slowly smiled.

“Fine,” I said. “I agree.”