A Mother's Silent War.

ERYN

When I was holding Niko’s hand and walking into the hospital, I really thought it was just another routine check-up for his growth.

Niko’s always been stronger than other pups his age. His senses sharper, his strength more than you’d expect. I figured it’s just because both his parents are Alpha-blooded.

Though his Alpha father has mostly given him the genes, not much of his time.

I glanced at my phone. Still no reply. Torren hadn’t been home for so long I’d almost gotten used to it. Ever since his first love, Saela, came back, it’s been like this.

But at least, he never missed spending time with Niko. We promised each other, once a month at minimum.

We probably look like a divorced couple to everyone else. But the truth is, I’m still his Luna. At least on paper.

“Mommy, it’s so cold!”

Niko’s voice pulled me back.

He was lying on the exam bed, the sterilized probe pressed against his little chest.

“Yes, sweetheart. That’s just the doctor’s tool. Be good and don’t move, okay?” I stroked his hair and tried to sound calm.

Niko nodded, his tiny face all serious, like he was trying to be the bravest pup.

Sometimes I think… no matter how much pain this marriage gave me, having Niko was worth it. He’s the only gift I’d never trade for anything.

The check-up took longer than I thought. We did a few more tests than usual.

The doctor told me to wait a bit longer for the results.

Niko fell asleep on the bed, breathing soft and steady.

I sat there beside him, my phone cold in my hand, unread messages still sitting there. No new ones.

For some reason, my heart was starting to race. There was this strange chill in my chest I couldn’t shake.

I told myself it was nothing. It was just a normal check-up.

Until the words shattered the air around me.

“Luna, your son has been diagnosed with Metaphase Collapse Disorder. I’m afraid… he won’t make it past his first shift.”

This was just a normal check-up. That’s all it was supposed to be.

Niko’s just growing stronger, that’s what I’d thought. 

How could that be a death sentence?

“No…” I rasped. My eyes wouldn’t leave Niko’s tiny body lying there, wrapped in all those tubes and wires.

“He’s Alpha-born. His dad and I are healthy. There’s no way…”

He’s only seven. How could this happen so suddenly?

The doctor handed me a thick envelope, including scans, data, charts. Cold, clinical proof my nightmare was real.

“I’m sorry,” the doctor said, voice low. “It usually happens to pups who are extremely gifted… who awaken their wolf too early.”

“Oh.”

A sob slipped out before I could swallow it. I pressed my hand to my mouth but it didn’t help.

“There might be... a chance,” he added carefully. “There’s an experimental inhibitor. I can try to get Niko into the program. We’d just have to… wait for a miracle.”

A miracle.

Torren. I needed to tell him. Maybe he could pull strings — use his power, his name.

He was still his father. Our Alpha.

“Torren, I really need to talk to you. It’s about Niko.”

My fingers shook. I squeezed my eyes shut and reached out through the mindlink.

No answer.

“Torren, please, can you hear me? The doctor just said Niko has—”

His voice cut through, cold and sharp like ice.

“Don’t use Niko to push me, Eryn. I’ll see him later this month.”

And then he blocked me out. Just like that.

My fists curled. For a moment, the anger was almost a relief.

How could he feel nothing… even for his own dying son?

“Mom…”

A small voice pulled me back.

I turned quickly, wiping my tears, kneeling beside his bed.

“Are you crying? Am I gonna die?” he asked, his voice so soft, so fragile.

“Of course not. Why would you say that?” I forced a smile and ruffled his hair. I kissed his forehead, breathing him in like I could keep him here forever.

“The doctor just said you’ll shift soon. You should be excited.”

“Really? Then I can help Dad protect you from the big bad wolves who bully you.” He chirped happily and seeing how much that meant to him broke me to my core.

I just couldn’t wrap my head around the fact that soon, I wouldn’t get to see these innocent eyes again.

If there was something I could do to stop it, I'd give my life for it.

I’d already given up everything for him — left Westonvale, crossed the continent, joined a new pack. Buried my name, my past, my pain.

But now even that wasn’t enough.

The Moon Goddess was cruel.

I didn’t deserve this.

Niko didn’t deserve this. He was just a baby.

“You’ll be fine. You’ll be ready to go home soon, okay?” I cupped his cheek and made my voice as steady as I could.

He nodded, smiling.

“Can we go on a camping trip before my first shift? You, Dad, and me?”

He never asked for much. He chose his words so carefully, like he was afraid even small wishes were too big.

“Of course,” I said, my voice cracking behind the smile. “Get some rest now. Mommy’s just going to get something. I’ll be back soon, alright?”

He nodded and I left him with the nurse, walking out of the ward.

Immediately the door to the ward locked, all the tears I had been trying to suppress began pouring down and it seemed like I was experiencing a mini heart attack as it felt impossible to breathe.

I pressed my back to the cold hallway wall and slid to the floor.

My chest felt like it was tearing open, every breath burning like fire down my throat.

I pulled my knees in, shaking.

I reached for the mindlink again.

“Hey, Torren… do you think you could spare some time for a camping trip with Niko?”

I already knew the answer. But I still asked.

“He really wants to go… before his first shift.”

Before the shift that might take him from me. But I’d never say that out loud.

“Stop trying to use Niko to fix this, Eryn. Saela’s back. I won’t have her thinking I’d choose someone like you over—”

I shut the link off. I didn’t need to hear the rest. I’d heard it too many times.

I had it memorized.

It was all my fault, wasn’t it?

I shouldn’t have let temptation break me all those years ago, even if we were mates.

I was the only one who ever believed in that.

To this day, Torren still thinks I crawled into his bed on purpose after Saela vanished.

When the baby came, I became the perfect gold-digger, the girl everyone could blame.

“I’ll accept the divorce,” I said into the link, my voice flat and tired. “But it’ll only be final after Niko’s shift. Until then, you’ll be a good father to him.”

Silence. I almost thought he hadn’t heard me.

Then, after a long pause, he said, “Then come to City Hall. We’ll put that in writing. I want the papers signed.”

“Then come to City Hall. We’ll put that in writing. I want the papers signed.”

“I’m on my way.”

I cut the mindlink. For a few minutes, I just sat there on the cold floor, crying until my chest went numb.

Three years. Enough.

All I had to do now was make sure my son was happy before… before anything happened. While we waited for a miracle.

I ordered an Uber and twenty minutes later, I was standing outside City Hall.

I stepped inside and saw Beta Kael walking down the hallway toward me.

I froze when I heard a voice from an open office, sharp and clear.

“Just for the record — all the years you lived with Eryn… you never loved her? Not even once?”

I stopped breathing.

A pause. Then Torren’s voice, low and steady.

“How could I? She schemed against me. Took advantage of my grandfather’s dying wish. The only person I’ve ever loved is Saela.”

The walls I’d built around my heart cracked.

Somewhere deep in my mind, I saw my wolf curl up. Ears drooped, head low. Howl in a pain no one else would ever hear.