The Alpha’s Love Came Late

Five minutes earlier, Sophia had slipped into Dominic’s office. She found him slumped in his chair, asleep, his features heavy with exhaustion from endless work and stress. A sly smile curved her lips when she glanced at the door and noticed Ivy approaching.An idea sparked in her mind. Without hesitation, Sophia unbuttoned her blouse, letting it slide from her shoulders, and then straddled Dominic’s lap. She tangled her fingers around his neck, pressing herself against him, making it appear as though something more was happening.The door opened just in time.Ivy walked in, her steps eager, the pregnancy test clutched tightly in her hand. But the moment her eyes landed on Dominic and Sophia, her world froze. Dominic’s half-naked secretary was draped across her husband’s lap, looking like they had been caught in the middle of something intimate.“What the hell are you doing?!” Ivy shouted, her voice breaking with fury.She rushed forward without thinking, grabbing Sophia’s arm and yan

Dominic’s voice thundered, echoing through the house like a storm.“You had no right to make that decision by yourself! That’s my child!”Ivy froze for only a moment before turning, her eyes burning with pain and fury. “Your child? The one you didn’t even want, Dominic? Please, spare me that act.”Her words cut him deeper than any blade. She walked past him, her steps heavy, heading inside the house. Dominic tried to grab her arm, but her bodyguards stepped forward instantly, holding him back.“So this is your move?” Dominic spat, his jaw clenched tight. “Some twisted way to make me care? You’ve crossed the line, Ivy. You’ve gone too far.”Inside, Ivy’s trembling hands dug through her handbag, searching frantically. Dominic stormed in after her, his voice dripping with venom.“You couldn’t stay away from the luxury, huh? The jewelry, the clothes, the life I gave you? Apologize, and maybe, maybe, I’ll let you keep some of it.”But Ivy ignored him. Her eyes stayed fixed on her bag. She

Everyone looked up. Three children stood at the balcony railing, two identical little girls with dark curls and a boy with striking features that made several people gasp.The boy, the one who had called out, looked exactly like Dominic had as a child.The ballroom erupted into chaos.Ivy's heart stopped. She had explicitly told her children to stay in their rooms until after the announcement. But there they were, her precious babies, exposed to the very man she had spent six years protecting them from.Dominic stood frozen, his eyes locked on the boy. The resemblance was undeniable. Anyone with eyes could see it."Those are your children?" he whispered, his voice hoarse.Ivy's protective instincts kicked in immediately. She turned to her head of security. "Get them back to their rooms. Now."But it was too late. Dominic's mother, Evelyn, had pushed through the crowd, her hand flying to her mouth as tears filled her eyes."Grandchildren," she breathed. "Those are my grandchildren.""N

Three days after the gala, Ivy received a formal letter delivered by courier. The seal of the Werewolf High Council was pressed into the wax.Her hands trembled as she broke it open, already knowing what it would say.*Petition for Paternal Rights and Shared Custody**Filed by: Alpha Dominic Kane**Regarding: Aiden Kane, Luna Kane, Nova Kane*He had even given them his last name in the filing. The audacity made her blood boil.Justin read over her shoulder, his curse colorful and creative. "He actually did it. The bastard actually filed.""Of course he did," Ivy said, her voice hollow. "He couldn't just let us be.""What are you going to do?"Ivy set the letter down carefully, her mind already racing through options. "I'm going to fight. With everything I have.""Ivy, custody cases are nasty. They're going to dig into everything. Your past, your present, your fitness as a mother...""Let them dig," Ivy said fiercely. "They'll find a woman who built an empire from nothing while raising

Dominic returned to his pack house to find Marcus waiting up, a bottle of whiskey and two glasses on the desk between them."That bad?" Dominic asked, slumping into his chair."That's complicated," Marcus corrected, pouring them both generous measures. "What did she say?"Dominic recounted the conversation, watching Marcus's expression shift from concern to surprise to something approaching respect."She's giving you a chance," Marcus said slowly. "That's more than I expected.""She's making me prove myself first. Which is more than I deserve." Dominic downed his whiskey in one burning gulp. "How bad is the pack situation really? Don't sugarcoat it."Marcus grimaced. "Bad. The northern territories have been taken over by the Ironwood Pack. We've lost three major contracts to Silvercrest, Ivy's pack, ironically. Our warriors are undertrained and undermotivated. And financially..." He pulled out a folder, sliding it across the desk. "See for yourself."Dominic opened the file and felt h