Just a Stopover in Life

When I saw Alpha Leon Black again, as well as my now teenage son, Lucas Black, my chest tightened with a pang of emotion.

Leon's appearance hadn't changed much. He still had that arrogant look of a high-and-mighty Alpha.

He looked me up and down, then said, "Amelia, it's been six years. I assume you realize your mistake by now. If you're willing to apologize to Mila, I'll take you home. You can also continue to be my mate."

I widened my eyes, thinking I must have heard him wrong.

A sudden laugh rang out, carrying the carefree cheer of youth.

"Mother, just admit you were wrong. Ms. Mila is generous. She won't hold it against you.

"Also, since we came all this way to get you, I suggest you just come back with us without making a fuss. You haven't done your duty as my mother all these years. Luckily, Ms. Mila took care of me. When you go back, remember to thank her," said Lucas.

Six years had passed, and even though Lucas had grown into a thirteen-year-old, he still hated me just as much as he did when he was little.

My name was Amelia Sutherland, and I was once the most beloved daughter of the Sutherland family.

Later on, I married a powerful Alpha, Leon Black.

Everyone said our union was a match made in heaven. He was handsome, strong, and the leader of the Darkmoon pack. I was gentle and virtuous, bearing his firstborn son, Lucas.

In those first few years, our relationship was as sweet as honey.

That was until my best friend, Mila Clarke, showed up. From then on, Leon no longer carried only my scent.

I had a big fight with Leon, but what I got in return was both father and son turning on me.

Leon said, "Amelia, Mila is different from you. She can tear out an enemy's throat on the battlefield. She's a true warrior! Stop being paranoid and jealous. Isn't Mila your friend? Why are you suspicious of her?"

Mila was one of the few female warriors in the pack. She had many battle honors and was favored by the Elder Council.

Even my son, who used to cling to me, started asking for Mila every day.

"I don't want Mother! She's boring. She just makes me do combat practice! I want Ms. Mila! She takes me to play in the forest!

"Ms. Mila said Mother isn't capable of doing anything except getting jealous. I like Ms. Mila!"

When Leon heard this, he didn't stop Lucas. Instead, he encouraged our son to get close to Mila. He said it was good that Lucas wasn't like me, and that as the Alpha's heir, he needed to become a strong warrior like Mila.

Later, Mila suffered a crushing defeat in a battle against a vampire and was gravely injured. She turned it around and accused my father of colluding with the vampires.

She claimed he hadn't delivered the obsidian needed to make the Silver Moon weapons, leaving her troops poorly-equipped and causing their total defeat.

Mila's accusations were full of inconsistencies, yet my entire family was still thrown into prison.

My father had worked his whole life for the pack, and everyone knew he would never betray them.

I kneeled in front of Leon and begged him. He was the Alpha. One word from him, and my father would be spared.

But Leon's silver-gray eyes held only disgust. He wouldn't agree, no matter how hoarse I got from crying.

"Mila fought hard on the battlefield—that's no small feat! Since your father conspired with the vampires, he owes her an apology!"

Outside the door, Mila held a young Lucas' hand. She looked at me with disdain, saying, "Luna Amelia, this is about the safety of the pack. Don't make things difficult for Alpha Leon."

Lucas angrily pushed away my hands when I tried to hold him and hid behind Mila. "Mother is pleading for a bad person. You're bad too! I don't want you as my mother! I want Ms. Mila to be my mother!"

After that, my whole family was exiled to the Shadow Wastelands on the border.

The day my family was exiled, I insisted on breaking the mate bond with Leon and followed them to the harsh, frozen wasteland of the eternal night.

I vaguely remember the day I left the pack. Leon and Lucas stood at the entrance, watching me with displeasure in their eyes.

Mila, standing next to them, said, "Luna Amelia did this on purpose. She's too fragile to endure something like that. She's just trying to make you give in. I bet she'll be back in three days."

What no one expected was for me to be gone for six years.