Chapter 1

Eric Keaton fastened my seatbelt and narrowed his eyes. "So what changed? Weren't you the type who'd rather suffer in silence than leave Derek?" He asked curiously.

I looked out the window. My thoughts were a mess.

During the seven years I was married to Alpha Derek, I endured his nights away from home and the way he spent every spare moment with his childhood sweetheart.

He said he had been foolish and young when he chose me.

He wanted me to understand. He could give me power, status, and resources, but his heart would always belong to Lisa Averton.

Back then, I told myself we had a child. As long as my child was by my side, that was enough.

That was until the day Derek brought Lisa into our home. My son, Dominic Anderson, ran to her excitedly and hugged her tightly.

"I wish you were my mom!" Dominic exclaimed.

I sighed. That was when I realized there was no place for me in that house anymore.

All those years, I poured out my love until there was nothing left.

Even my own son had only ever cared about Lisa.

I was exhausted.

It was better to leave. I agreed to Eric's invitation to take over Bellflower Town together.

That was a place that would accept me and allow me to finally be at ease.

"I've figured it out. I just want to live happily from now on."

"You're not going back?" He raised an eyebrow. He seemed unconvinced.

"No." I nodded without hesitation.

"Sure. I'm the Alpha of Bellflower Town now, and Bellflower Town will always welcome you." He chuckled before cheerfully starting the engine.

On the way, I noticed a little girl surrounded by three ragged rogues.

I could sense she was an unremarkable Omega. Things like this happened every day.

I didn't want to interfere. After all, being a bystander saved a lot of trouble.

The rogues had evil looks in their eyes. The closer they approached her, the louder my wolf, Lucy, urged me to get out and help.

"Leah, you can't just stand by and watch her die!" Lucy shouted in my mind.

My first reaction was hesitation.

I recalled how, back in Alpha Derek's mansion, I used to hear the maids whisper behind my back.

"That's her, the one who ruined Alpha Derek and Beta Lisa's relationship."

No one had stood up for me. Not even Derek.

He had heard everything, but he simply walked past me.

If I stayed silent now, how would I be any different from him?

"Leah!" Lucy's cry snapped me back to reality.

"Stop the car!" I shouted.

Eric immediately understood my intention. He leaped out first and shifted into his wolf form. He then effortlessly got rid of the three rogues.

I ran over to the little girl and asked her what had happened.

Her father had told her to wait there, but an entire day had gone by, and he still hadn't returned.

Eric and I exchanged glances.

In other words, she had been abandoned.

The fight had drawn a crowd. People gathered around and whispered openly in front of her. They called her pitiful and said even her own father had cast her aside.

She clutched the torn ear of her worn-out teddy bear and kept her head lowered. She didn't cry or make a sound.

Lucy couldn't help crying when she learned about the girl's experience. "How is she any different from us?"

I thought for a moment. Then I reached out my hand. "Would you like to come home with me?"

When I arrived in Bellflower Town, besides a nearly empty bank card, my phone, and a suitcase of clothes, I also had a little girl.

I officially settled down in Bellflower Town.

I refused the luxurious mansion Eric prepared for me and chose the neglected courtyard beside his place instead.

I rolled up my sleeves and restored it myself. I planted the flowers I liked.

In the center of my living room, I hung a framed portrait of my late mother-in-law.

Derek's mother, Mary Anderson, had been nothing like him.

She treated me kindly. She had been gentle, dignified, and worthy of respect. I often missed her.

If she were still alive, perhaps my life would have been much easier.

I named the Omega Eliana Olsen.

I hoped she would grow to be optimistic and find passion in whatever she did.

However, she was quiet and reserved. She was far more mature than a five-year-old should be.

She understood most things, and she did everything carefully.

She helped me when I worked. She stood in front of me during hunts when danger approached. When I fell sick, she prepared oatmeal for me, blew on each spoonful to cool it, and fed me patiently.

It reminded me of my biological son.

Dominic had always received whatever he wanted instantly. All the pack's resources were planned around him. Without question, he was the cherished heir of the Blood Moon Pack.

They were both five, but they had completely different personalities.

"Mom, why did you choose to keep me? I'm useless."