Chapter 2

Kaida’s Pov

“What?!” Ken exclaimed in confusion.

My heart skipped. I raised my head, forcing the tears back.

“You heard me. Leo…” My lips trembled. “He—he is dying.”

The words scraped painfully out of my throat.

Silence filled the line. I could hear my uneven breathing and the faint sound of his.

My fingers tightened around the phone as I waited.

“Kaida, are you that desperate?”

I froze.

“Just to force me home, you would even use our son’s health as a joke?”

My eyes widened. “W-what? What are you saying?”

“I don’t have time for your tricks,” he said coldly. “Samantha has a cold. I need to take her home. Don’t call me unnecessarily.”

Samantha.

The name hit me like a slap.

Always her. Always Audrey’s daughter.

“So what about Leo?” I thought bitterly. “Isn’t he your son too?”

I closed my eyes, and Leo’s disappointed face flashed in my mind — the way he had waited by the window, holding the toy his father once gave him, as if it could replace his warmth, the disappointment and the everyday longing for his father.

Something inside me hardened.

“Ken,” I said, forcing my voice steady, “Leo has Wolf Heart Disease. If you don’t believe me, come home. I have the healer’s report. If I’m lying… You can punish me however you want.”

The line went quiet again.

For a second, I allowed myself to hope.

Then a soft female voice broke through.

“Ken~ Can you help carry Samantha? She wants you.”

I didn’t need to guess who it was.

“Okay,” he replied gently, a tone he rarely used even when talking to Leo. Then his tone turned cold again. “I’ll come home later. After I take Samantha home.”

The call ended.

I stood there just staring at the wall. The phone felt heavy in my hand.

Even when I said his son was dying, he chose another child first.

But at least… I tried.

***

Hours later…

I stood by the window when a familiar car drove in.

Ken stepped out.

Alpha Ken of the Moonhack Pack.

My husband.

The man who hated me.

He looked as composed and handsome as ever, his grey shirt fitting perfectly against his broad chest. For a second, I found myself staring.

How long have I seen him? Weeks? Months? I can't recall because he has always been with his first love and her daughter.

“He must be happy,” I murmured. “Staying with the woman he loves.”

My chest tightened.

Leo was the result of one night — a night that changed everything.

Six years ago, I was just a teacher in the pack. I trained the children. I was respected and even the old Alpha treated me kindly.

Then came the Moon Night party, a night that was arranged to welcome Ken back to the pack.

That night, I felt the mate pull for the first time. It was strong and warm and just like everyone would do, I followed it without hesitation.

I was happy.

I knew I had found my mate.

But the next morning, I woke up beside Ken.

Naked.

The joy I felt disappeared when he looked at me with anger instead of recognition.

He said he felt nothing.

No mate bond.

No pull.

He accused me of planning everything. He accused me of drugging him and even when I tried to explain, he never believed me.

His words hurt more than anything.

When I found out I was pregnant, I thought things would change.

But…They didn’t.

He denied the child. He said he only loved Audrey and said I ruined his life.

But the old Alpha, his father, forced him to marry me.

From that day, I lived as his Luna in name only.

He was cold during my pregnancy.

Colder after Leo was born.

And now…

“Now our son is dying.” I choked.

The sound of the door opening pulled me back.

He walked in with sharp steps.

“I’m here,” he said flatly. “Are you satisfied? What do you want?”

For a moment, I couldn’t speak. Then I handed him the report.

The room grew quiet.

He read it without expression.

Then he chuckled, a sound so cold that it sent chills running down my spine.

“Are you so desperate that you teamed up with the healer to create some fake illness?”

My head snapped up. “What?”

His aura grew heavy as he stepped closer.

“Wolf Heart Disease? A month to live?” He scoffed. “Leo has always been healthy. Kids get shortness of breath all the time. The doctors already said nothing serious was wrong. And suddenly he’s dying?”

Each word struck me harder than the last. How I wished what he said was true. That nothing is wrong with Leo.

“You don’t believe me?” My voice shook despite myself. “Check the report again. Why would I joke about this? He’s your son. He needs you.”

Ken laughed again.

“Trust you?” he asked mockingly. “Why should I? You drugged me, got pregnant on purpose, separated me from the woman I love and made her hate me to the extent of hiding her pregnancy from me and made her wallow in pain alone. Now you expect me to believe this?”

I staggered back.

“I never drugged you,” I said firmly, even though my hands were trembling. “I never tried to separate you from Audrey. All I’m asking is for you to spend time with your son. Is that too much?”

Silence fell between us.

For the first time, I didn’t lower my gaze.

Leo didn’t have time for pride.

After a moment, Ken sneered.

“So this is what you want? Me at home? Playing family?”

“Please,” I said quietly. “Spend time with Leo. Just one month. Do your duty as his father. Fulfil his wishes. After that… I swear, I’ll do anything you want.”

He paused.

“Anything?” His eyes narrowed. “Including divorce?”

The word hung in the air.

Divorce.

Wasn’t that what he always wanted?

The only reason I held onto this marriage was Leo. He was the Alpha’s son. I didn’t want him to lose that position.

But what was the position… if he didn’t even have time to live?

My fingers clenched.

“Okay,” I said.

He blinked.

“I’ll sign the divorce papers. I’ll leave this pack and never appear before you again.” My voice is steady now. “But for one month, you will stay with Leo. You will act as his father. You will fulfil his wishes and take him to the Snow Festival, and spend every day with him.”

I met his eyes.

“For one month… be his father.”