Chapter 2

GINA

It was like I had been punched in the gut as I felt a hot liquid stream down my cheeks. My lips moved but no words came out and before I could process what had happened, I had staggered out, back into the car.

My son….he looked at me with the same coldness I saw in my husband’s eyes.. indifferent and nonchalant, it was the kind of gaze that screamed hatred and anger but …why? Why would my son hate me?

I started the car and drove away trying to control my emotions. I was boiling, not just from rage but from pain and shame. My life was crumbling down right in front of my eyes.

The words of my husband in my head were like a constant reminder that I had been abandoned, the way he protected Malia, the househelp that I always suspected but was too trusting to question. He never protected me that way, he only looked down on me even at the Pack's couples’ events. I had thought securing a contract for him would change everything, would make him love me …but, I was wrong.

My hands trembled on the steering wheel as tears poured down even more. I reached for a bottle of strong vodka. The one I had bought to celebrate with him. My heart clenched in pain as I let out a bitter smile.

“Celebrate? Ha! More like separate” I whispered to myself in a self pity as I drank the vodka like an alcohol addict.

A beam of light flashed on my face “ Urgh” I groaned, contracting my eyes. My hands left the steering wheel in a daze as the vodka’s effect kicked in.

I lost control of the car as it directly slammed into another car running a red light. Tears streamed down my cheeks as I felt my eyelids become heavy.

I didn't know how long it took but I finally opened my eyes, adjusting to the light of the ward.

“Where I'm I?” I asked, taking in the scent of the disinfectant.

“Good. You are awake” a masculine voice rang out, cold and full of disdain. My blood chilled instantly…it was my husband…Alpha Darius.

He walked up towards my bed and stared down at me, his jaws ticking, “do you know what the internet is all about?” He asked and my brows furrowed.

He let out a small smile that didn't reach his eyes, “ I will read it out” he said, “ Alpha Darius' wife drinking and driving, what example does she set?” He read out loud, then brought his phone down.

“If you want to die so much, why didn't you say so, I could have easily ordered you to be killed!” He barked and my palms burned. I could taste bitterness pouring down from my throat into my mouth.

How dare he? He was my husband, how could he say that? He didn't even care that I was injured because of him?

“You …” I tried to voice out but choked on the words.

He frowned, “we are so done” he said and threw a file to me, “court hearing in two days, we are getting a divorce” he said and turned on his heels.

“Wait! I can divorce you today, tomorrow, any day you want.. but you have to tell me, why ..why does my son hate me?”

Darius smiled, a slight tilt at the edge of his lips, “well, what do you expect when you abandon your son for six months?”

It was like I had been slapped a dozen times on the face…abandoned?

Lies.

“You …how could you do that?!” I yelled with tears streaming down my cheeks, “you know I went to secure the contract for you, for six months I tried to contact him but you always told me he wasn't nearby. How could you lie to my son?”

“Contract?” He scoffed, “ oh my dear wife, don't you understand? It was a tactic to get rid of you, any smart woman would have understood that” he mocked, sarcasm laced in every sentence.

My vision blurred with tears as I stared at his cold back. Seven years...seven years I had devoted my life to loving him, to pleasing him but …I was nothing but a disposable tramp to him.

I clenched my fist, I would never let go of my son. I vowed to myself on that bed to find a way to talk to him, I vowed to explain everything to him. I won't let Darius win. Never!

A few hours later after I was discharged from the hospital, at around seven in the evening, I stood at the door of Daniel’s large room. The sound of music and cheers felt happy just like the last birthday. It was his sixth birthday today and I had looked forward to it.

The doctor had been reluctant to discharge me saying I was still in a critical condition but after explaining I needed to be somewhere for something very important, he let me go. I couldn't miss this opportunity to see and explain to my son that I never abandoned him.

My hands trembled on the door knob as I wondered how he would react on seeing me. I felt like he would realise that I never abandoned him and I always loved and cared for him.

With that hope in my heart, I twisted the door knob, the buzzing sound of the music slamming into my head causing a splitting headache. I groaned in pain as my ears began to ring but then the music suddenly stopped..

I looked up only to find a large crowd staring at me like they had seen a ghost. I knew what I looked like. Hospital gown with a needle patch on my arm and worse still, I was bare footed.

I caught sight of Daniel, there was a dark expression on his face. My heart beat dropped but I smiled as I reached for a little box in my pocket. It was a watch I had prepared for him, the type he always admired.

“What are you doing here?” Daniel asked. I froze.

He sounded very angry.

“Happy birthday son, I…”

“You shouldn't be here! I didn't ask you to be here. You should leave!” Daniel barked, his voice dismissive.

Blood drained from my face as I heard whispers and muffled giggles from the crowd. I felt like the floor should open and swallow up my embarrassment.

“Daniel…I…I'm your mother” I whispered as the words felt heavy coming from my throat.

His face tightened, “my mom? You are not, that is my mom” he said pointing a finger. My gaze followed and I saw Malia snuggled up to my husband looking on smugly.

My heart shattered into tiny pieces as tears streamed down my cheeks. I returned my gaze to Daniel ignoring the fact that Darius was now walking towards me.

“You ….” Darius strained, looking angry, “I reject you here and now, I Alpha Darius of blood claw pack reject you Gina Howl as my mate”

My limbs went jelly at his words as I struggled to stand upright. So much pain …so much pain. Everything else blurred into the background and all I could see was my son's cold expression.

He called Malia his mother?