Chapter 1

Kaida’s Pov

“Luna, after a thorough test and research, it is concluded that what little Leo has isn’t just a cold or any heart disease but Wolf Heart Disease.”

The room fell silent.

For a moment, I forgot how to breathe.

I swallowed and reached for the result sheet. My fingers trembled as I took it from him, but the words blurred together. I could see the letters, yet I understood nothing, it all looked like jargon.

After a while, I gave up reading it and raised my head, “W-Wolf Heart Disease? What do you mean? You said it was just a heart condition. You said it was treatable…”

My voice broke, but I forced myself to look at the pack healer.

He sighed. The sadness in his eyes said more than his words and my heart sank.

“Luna, it is a heart disease. But it’s rare and dangerous. His wolf formed in his heart instead of his lower abdomen. It interferes with his breathing.” He hesitated, then shifted his gaze to the side.

My body turned stiff before he even continued.

I followed his gaze.

Leo sat across the room, swinging his small legs as he waited patiently. His face was as pale as a sheet of paper due to the sickness.

“My son..” I muttered silently, “He didn’t know.” My chest tightened.

He didn’t know that something inside him was killing him.

“All he ever wanted was a happy life,” my thoughts spiralled. “To sleep between his parents. To sit on his father’s shoulders.” Things so small but turn out to be impossible.

Alpha Ken had never cared for him since I had birthed him. “At least… at least he deserves to be healthy,” I thought. “So why him?”

I felt the crazy urge to scream, to yell at the universe, to question the moon goddess, but the moment I almost lost control of my sanity, little Leo who had been playing suddenly raised his head and gave me a beautiful smile.

His smile seemed to stab something inside me.

“There has to be a solution,” I said quickly, clinging to that thought. “His sixth birthday is next month. There must be something we can do. I can’t give up!”

The healer’s silence stretched too long.

“Luna… the young Alpha has only one month left to live. I researched deeply, but there is no cure for this. Unfortunately.” he sighs.

One month..?!

The words echoed.

The paper slipped from my grasp, but I didn’t notice. My hands gripped the edge of the table until my knuckles whitened.

One month.

I stared at the ceiling with my wide eyes, willing myself not to fall apart.

A sharp sting pulled me back. I looked down. Blood dripped from my fingers where my nails had cut into my skin.

I hadn’t even felt it.

The healer was speaking again, but his voice sounded distant.

The world felt muted.

I forced myself to stand, my knees weakened, but I steadied myself and stumbled toward Leo.

“Mama, are you done? Can we go home now?”

His bright smile nearly shattered me.

I crouched in front of him. For a second, I just looked at him, like I hoped everything would turn out to be a dream.

“Mama?” His beautiful voice turned uncertain.

I couldn't help it anymore. My heart pounded and without waiting, I pulled him into my arms and held him tightly.

“Mama, are you fine?”

“Hmm,” I managed.

“Did you get needles too? Like little Leo?”

My throat closed.

“It must have hurt,” he continued softly. “But the pain will stop. Just the way little Leo got used to the pain.”

My body stiffened from the shocking words. And that was when the tears finally fell.

Got used to the pain.

My five-year-old had learned how to endure suffering.

I held him closer.

“Yes,” I whispered, my voice shaking. “Little Leo is Mama’s hero.”

***

Leo has fallen asleep from exhaustion.

I kissed his warm red cheek and watched him breathe.

Earlier, he had waited by the window again — hoping his father would return. When he finally realised Alpha Ken wasn’t coming, he had only nodded quietly but I could still see the pain in those little eyes of his that were only meant to smile.

That quiet disappointment hurt more than tears would have.

I sucked in a large amount of air, then brushed my fingers through his hair and stepped out of the room.

Standing by the window, I stared into the darkness before dialling a number I rarely called.

It rang.

And rang, just like always.

On the final attempt, someone answered.

“Hello.”

Relief flickered in my chest and my eyes lit up with desperation.

“Alpha Ken, I—”

“Sorry, Luna. The Alpha is busy with the pack elders. Call later.”

The light in my eyes died down the second I heard the familiar voice—The Beta.

My grip tightened around the phone.

I pursed my lips, and before I could insist, a familiar, sweet laughter echoed faintly from the background.

I froze. My eyes widened in shock.

I knew that laugh.

Audrey.

Even if I were dying, I would recognise it.

So this was the “meeting.”

My son was counting his days, and his father was with his first love.

Her laughter made my tummy churn with disgust, and my hand that held the phone shook with so much anger that the phone almost slipped.

“Meeting..? How funny.” I gritted, but even if I had the urge to puke from the disgust I felt, I held it down. Leo still needs me.

“I don’t care who he is with,” I thought. “I will fulfil Leo’s wish.”

Before the Beta could hang up, I spoke firmly.

“Beta Joel, I can hear the laughter there and I know Ken is there. Tell him to speak to me now, or I’ll come to the pack office myself and I’ll make a big scene!”

Silence followed.

I could almost imagine his stunned expression. I had never challenged the Alpha before. I had always endured. Always stayed quiet even when pushed to the wall. Even when he accused me wrongly and hated me.

But not this time as I won't allow this!

I heard footsteps approaching and the next thing I knew, the phone shifted hands.

“Kaida,” his familiar voice growled through the line, cold and dangerous, “Can you be any more shameless? How dare you threaten me? Are you that desperate to have me—”

For the first time, his words didn’t hurt me. It didn't hit home at all and all I felt was hope—He finally picked up the call.

“Can you come home?” I interrupted calmly. “Your son needs you. He doesn’t have much time left.”

“What?!”