Chapter 4

Rosemarie's POV

A sharp pain ripped through my body one last time before fading into a dull, throbbing ache. My breathing came in ragged gasps as I fought to stay on my feet. Every nerve screamed in protest, and my vision blurred for a moment, but I refused to fall.

I was still alive. The doctor had warned me that the rejection could kill me. Maybe the Moon Goddess had decided my story wasn't over yet. I slowly lifted my head and looked into Rex's eyes. There was no warmth left between us. No bond, not even an invisible pull drawing me toward him.

"You got what you wanted," I said quietly. "We're no longer mates."

Rex remained silent.

I swallowed the lump in my throat. "I'm taking my son. I'd hate for him to grow up in this hell hole.”

Rex suddenly laughed. "You must be out of your mind if you think I'm letting you take my son."

My fingers curled into fists.

"Our son," I corrected through gritted teeth. "Leo is our son."

"He belongs to this pack….to me!" Rex barked. 

I stared at him in disbelief.

"You actually think money and a title make you a better parent?" My voice trembled with anger. "Who stayed awake every night when Leo had fevers? Who fed him? Bathed him? Comforted him when he had nightmares?"

"You did," Rex answered without emotion. "Because that was your responsibility as Luna and his mother, which you don't qualify for anymore."

I let out a bitter laugh and shook my head. "This is ridiculous. You can't take him from me!"

Before I could say any more, sharp fingers tangled themselves painfully in my hair.

"You crazy bitch!" Tracy's voice rang through the office as she yanked my head backward so hard tears sprang into my eyes.

Pain shot across my scalp. I cried out, instinctively grabbing her wrist.

"What do you think you're doing?" Tracy hissed. "You're not Luna anymore. I can do whatever I want to you."

She pulled harder. It felt like she was trying to rip my hair out by the roots. I gritted my teeth and shoved backward with all the strength I had left. She stumbled and her grip loosened just enough. I twisted away and finally tore my hair free from her hand.

Before I could even straighten up—

Slap!

Her palm crashed across my face, the force sent my head snapping to the side. A burning sting spread across my cheek almost instantly. For a moment, everything went silent. I slowly turned my head.

Rex was standing only a few feet away. Then he stepped closer until we were almost face to face.

"You've embarrassed yourself enough today," he said coldly. "Go pack your belongings and leave."

A broken laugh escaped my lips. Tears rolled freely down my cheeks. 

"So that's it?" My voice cracked. "You'll just stand there after watching her hit me?"

Rex's expression didn't change at all. 

"You slapped Tracy first." He uttered.

Tracy folded her arms with a smug smile. "I simply returned the favor."

I looked from one of them to the other. The two people standing before me deserved each other.

I wiped my tears with trembling fingers and whispered, "I only want my son."

Rex's answer came without hesitation.

"Again, no. What do you think this is? That I'll suddenly change my mind because you cried a little? Leo is staying with me.” 

I scoffed, “This is stupid.” 

Rex looked at me with complete indifference. "Everything I ever did with you was out of respect for the pack. You were Luna. That was your role."

His voice became even colder. "But you're not Luna anymore. You have no place here, so you can leave the pack."

Five good years of sacrificing everything…and now he was throwing me away like I had never mattered.

Tracy slipped her arm possessively around Rex. "You really look so pathetic begging right now," she mocked. "Your son doesn't even want you."

My son's smiling face went through my head. His voice calling Tracy 'mum' irritated me.

"You shut up!" I lunged toward her.

Before I could reach her, Rex caught my wrist.

"Let go of me!" I shouted, struggling against his grip.

His fingers tightened painfully around my arm.

"I said let me go!"

Instead of releasing me, he shoved me backward. I lost my balance and crashed onto the floor. Pain exploded through my hip and shoulder. My head struck the polished wood with a dull thud, sending another wave of agony through my skull.

Rex looked down at me with open disgust. "You're becoming an attention seeker."

Attention?

I had begged for medical help. I had begged for my marriage. Now I was begging for my child. And somehow, I was the problem.

Tracy rolled her eyes before pressing the intercom on Rex's desk.

"Security," she said lazily. "Come remove this woman."

The office door opened and two pack guards stepped inside. The moment they saw me sitting on the floor, they froze. Their eyes flickered with uncertainty. Only yesterday, they would have bowed and called me Luna.

Rex didn't even look at me, he just yelled at them. "Take her out. You didn't you hear the order?"

The guards exchanged uneasy glances.

"I'm sorry," one of them murmured.

They each grabbed one of my arms and pulled me to my feet.

"No!" I struggled against them. "Let me go!"

They dragged me toward the door while I kicked and fought through the dizziness.

"Rex!" I screamed.

"Please!" My voice broke into sobs. "Give me back my son!"

The office door closed behind me, swallowing my desperate cries.