Chapter 1

When my son, Cayden Ulrick, returned home without his fur cloak, he was shivering violently from the cold. He curled weakly into my arms, yet he still tried to comfort me with a maturity far beyond his years.

"I'm okay, Mommy. Don't worry."

My heart ached as I pulled him closer and tried to warm his weak body.

Cayden's sensitivity to the cold was one of the symptoms of Bloodline Fading. In my past life, after being neglected by his father, Theron Ulrick, Cayden was officially diagnosed with the condition.

Desperate, I went to Theron and pleaded for him to perform the bloodline infusion ritual for Cayden. But under the interference of Theron's widowed sister-in-law, Lyana Coiningan, I couldn't even meet him.

Cayden lost his wolf while suffering through his agonizing bloodline backlash and regressed into an Omega. In the end, all he received was Lyana's heartless expulsion.

"The pack has no room for useless husks. Get out of here, now.

"The Alpha's heir will only be my son, Dexter Ulrick. Theron promised us that."

As I recalled the tragedy of my past life, I looked at Cayden and firmly said, "My dear Cayden, would you be willing to leave the Silverfrost pack with me? Shall we return to my bloodland?"

Cayden's Bloodline Fading could only be cured through an Alpha's bloodline infusion ritual.

In my past life, I couldn't get Theron's help. But in this life, I would take Cayden back to the Azuremoon pack, where my father—Alpha Rudolph Odolff—would perform the ritual himself for Cayden.

Cayden didn't respond to my proposal right away. Instead, he cautiously asked, "Mommy, if I stop competing with Dexter, will Daddy love me a little more? And this time, can I keep my wolf?"

My heart felt as if it had been pierced by a needle.

"Rest assured, my love. This time, I'll protect you.

"As for your father's love, we don't need it anymore, alright?"

Theron had wolves he chose to protect, so it was time for us to leave.

Cayden was silent for a moment before he gave a resigned nod. "Okay, Mommy. I'll leave with you."

"Leave? Where exactly are you going?"

Theron walked in, followed closely by Lyana and Dexter, who were carrying shopping bags.

"Astra Odolff, are you upset and leaving because Theron took us out to eat but didn't bring you along? It was only because there weren't enough seats in the car."

Lyana grabbed my hand and apologized, but triumph gleamed in her eyes.

Theron disapprovingly said, "Be more understanding, Astra. After my brother died, they've had a hard time, especially Dexter. He never has enough to eat, so I wanted to take them out for a good meal."

I looked at the robust Dexter, then at the frail Cayden, and said nothing. The whole scene felt bitterly ironic and absurd.

With the air of the Luna of the pack, Lyana haughtily told Dexter to take out his toys from his bag and share them with Cayden.

"Dexter, give the toys Theron bought to Cayden."

But Dexter clutched the two identical pony figurines tightly in his arms and began wailing aggrievedly, rolling on the floor in a tantrum.

"No! Daddy Theron bought these for me!"

I looked at Cayden. Usually, he would've burst into tears by now. But this time, he calmly told Lyana, "Let Dexter keep them all. I don't want them."

Guilt and sorrow flooded my chest.

That sensibility was a lesson Cayden had paid for with his life in the past. He knew that a pup who wasn't loved had no right to throw tantrums.

Even Theron felt guilty. "Cayden, just be patient with Dexter. He doesn't have a father to buy him gifts."

Dexter looked up at us and flashed a triumphant grin, while I took Cayden's hand and calmly turned to Theron.

"Don't worry. Cayden won't be fighting Dexter for anything."

We no longer wanted anything to do with Theron.