Chapter 2

Eliana lowered her head and wiped the table. She didn't dare look at me.

I walked over and gently stroked her hair.

"Eliana. I'm too lonely. I need someone by my side. Will you stay with me forever?"

She finally looked up. Tears welled in her eyes and slid down her cheeks.

After a long silence, she threw her arms around me. She sounded more determined than ever.

"I will always stay by your side."

I felt very touched.

Was this what it felt like to be loved?

My days in Bellflower Town were the most peaceful I had ever known.

I helped Eric handle Pack affairs, including morning meetings, disputes, and patrol arrangements. When we had free time, I took Eliana out to explore the town.

Raising a child was nothing short of magical.

Watching her grow was like a healing process for myself.

I seemed to have permanently left Derek and Dominic behind in the Blood Moon Pack. They were sealed away in a distant memory.

Perhaps they were equally relieved to be finally free of me.

Days passed.

Eliana eventually reached the age to attend the werewolf academy.

Less than a week later, I received a complaint call from her instructor.

He said Eliana had gotten into a fight during combat training.

After hanging up, I frowned in confusion.

Eliana had always been calm and steady. She never caused trouble. She even thought most werewolves her age were immature. She wouldn't bother arguing with them.

Why would she get into a fight?

I quickly made my way to the academy.

The instructor met me at the gate. Exhaustion was written all over his face.

"The kid she fought with is a transfer student. He just arrived today."

I nodded and asked, "What did he do? Eliana is usually very well-behaved."

The instructor frowned and gave me a puzzled look.

"He's an Alpha's son, Dominic."

The familiar name made me freeze.

"During class, Dominic caught your scent on Eliana. She said it was her mother's scent. Dominic claimed she stole his mother. That's how it escalated."

"What did you say?"

They fought?

I had trained Eliana all these years, but an Alpha's child was born with stronger instincts and raw power.

Besides, Eliana was only an Omega.

She wasn't Dominic's match.

Realizing that, I ran toward the office as fast as I could.

I pushed the door open. As expected, Eliana stood in the corner. Her shoulders were still trembling. There were scratch marks on her face, and blood seeped through her open wound.

Before I could call her name, the boy sitting in the chair saw me. His eyes lit up instantly.

He ran toward me and wrapped his arms around my leg.

"Mom!"

At that moment, a tall man pushed the door open behind him.

When Derek saw me, his eyes widened. He walked toward me quickly. "Leah, you–"

I ignored him. I gently pried Dominic's hands off me.

"Dominic, I'm not your mother."

Then I walked straight to the corner. Eliana's tear-filled eyes met mine. She said nothing.

Derek stood frozen and stared at my back.

When Dominic saw me pull away from him and move to protect Eliana, he burst into loud sobs.

"Mom! Why did you betray us? Why don't you want me anymore?"

Seeing the wounds on Eliana's face made my heart ache.

Behind me, Dominic's hysterical screaming made my wolf, Lucy, roar with fury. She wanted to lunge forward and tear him apart.

I tried to keep Lucy calm while carefully cleaning Eliana's wounds.

My silence only fueled Dominic's rage. He lunged at Eliana again.

"It's all your fault! You useless Omega! How dare you steal my mom? I'll kill you!"

Derek stepped forward quickly and grabbed Dominic's flailing claws. His tone remained as lofty as ever.

"Sorry, Leah. Dominic just misses you too much. Besides, this Omega started talking nonsense first. About this matter–"

Before he could finish, I cut him off coldly.

"Hello, Alpha Derek. I don't understand what you mean. I am Eliana's mother. She was not talking nonsense."

Derek stared at me in shock. Dominic stopped struggling too.

I calmly met Derek's gaze and smiled.

"Please keep your rude kid under control and have him apologize to mine."