Chapter 3

The next afternoon was the pack school's Family Day.

Damon actually showed up.

He walked in wearing his Alpha ceremonial robe and was immediately surrounded by parents the moment he stepped onto the field.

"Alpha, my pup was reciting your creed last night."

"Thank you for the new training ground you donated to the school."

Damon responded to each one, warm and patient.

Finn stood under a tree watching him. A tiny, fragile pride crept back into his eyes.

"Mom, he's here for me today, right?"

"He said he would."

I didn't want to lie to him. But I also didn't dare vouch for Damon.

Before the activities started, Serena walked in with Nico.

She wore a visitor's badge.

"Sorry, one extra person." She turned to the instructor. "Nico heard Damon would be here and insisted on coming."

The instructor hesitated. "Today's only for enrolled families."

Serena's eyes reddened instantly. "He doesn't have a father. He just wanted to feel what it's like to be with one for once..."

Damon walked over. "Put them under my name."

Behind him, the hope in Finn's eyes dimmed again.

First event: scent tracking. Fathers hid a personal item, pups tracked it by scent.

Damon only had one cufflink. He handed it to Nico.

"You go first."

Finn stood quietly behind him with his number card, waiting.

Nico took forever. Damon kept giving him hints.

When it was Finn's turn, the bell rang. The instructor announced the first round was over.

Finn placed his number card back in the basket. "It's okay."

Damon ruffled his hair. "You're the Alpha's son. Be generous."

Finn asked, "Why do I always have to be the generous one?"

The area went silent. Damon's hand froze midair.

"Nico is a guest."

"But you're my dad."

That was the first time in a month Finn had called him that.

Damon's eyes flickered.

Then Finn added softly, "At least today was supposed to be."

Second event: family banner making. Each pup pressed their parents' handprints and their own onto one flag.

Finn had picked out silver-blue paint. He'd just pressed his little hand down when Nico started crying.

"I don't have a daddy's handprint."

Serena crouched to hold him. "It's okay. Let's go."

She said that, but her eyes were fixed on Damon.

And sure enough, Damon picked up the red paint.

"I'll do one for him."

The instructor rushed over. "Alpha, this is a family mark. It goes into the school's records."

"It's just an activity."

Damon pressed his hand onto Nico's flag. A bright red print stamped down. Serena looked up with tearful thanks.

In pack tradition, an adult wolf didn't casually leave their handprint on another pup's family flag. It meant protection. It meant public acknowledgment. Damon knew that perfectly well.

Whispers rippled through the crowd.

A pup asked Finn, "Why's your dad on someone else's flag?"

Another pup laughed. "Because Nico's more like the Alpha's son."

Finn gripped his own banner, fingers white-knuckled.

I was about to walk over when he tore off the section meant for his father. Left just my handprint and his.

Damon's face hardened. "Finn. Don't act out."

"I'm not."

"Fix it."

"It doesn't matter if I fix it. You never pressed your hand there anyway."

Damon's Alpha aura flared suddenly. The young pups all stepped back. Finn went pale too, shoulders trembling uncontrollably.

I stepped in front of him. "Drop your aura."

"Elara, you're the one letting him get away with disrespect."

"He just told the truth."

"You had to humiliate me in front of everyone?"

I almost laughed. "Was pressing your hand on someone else's flag not your own choice?"

Before Damon could answer, Nico curled into his arms. "Uncle Damon, I'm scared."

He pulled his aura back immediately and bent down to comfort him.

Finn watched for a long time.

Then he took off the family badge from his chest.

"Instructor, can I change my file?"

"Change what?"

"List only my mom as my parent."

Damon's head snapped up. "Finn!"

The pup didn't look at him. He took my hand and led me off the field.

Outside the school, he finally asked:

"Mom, are we still going to the Moon Altar tomorrow?"

"Do you want to?"

Finn shook his head. "When he promised me, I still wanted a dad."

"And now?"

"Now I don't."

His voice was so quiet.

In that moment, I'd never been clearer.

Damon had burned through every last bit of hope that pup had. And I wasn't giving him another chance.

Tomorrow, I'm taking Finn and leaving. This Mate Bond, this house, this man who always chose someone else—I'm done with all of it.