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Too Late, Alpha. We Don’t Need You Anymore
Too Late, Alpha. We Don’t Need You Anymore
Auteur: Lyra

Chapter 1

Auteur: Lyra
I picked Aurora up, and she rested her cheek against my shoulder. Her eyes stayed fixed on the big screen in the pack's council hall.

Adrian was on it, dressed in his black patrol uniform, laughing as he lifted a pup onto his shoulders.

The pup was Asher, son of Serena and the late Beta.

Serena and Adrian had stopped for a quick interview after the pack's training event.

Serena stood beside them, her eyes red.

“If our Alpha hadn't been there for us all these years, I don't think I could've gone on after losing my mate.”

Then Asher threw his arms around Adrian's neck.

“Daddy! When I grow up, I'm gonna be the strongest warrior, just like you!”

Adrian's smile faltered. He glanced at the camera, clearly caught off guard.

But Asher was beaming up at him. Adrian didn't correct him. He just ruffled the boy's hair.

Aurora stared at the screen. Her eyes slowly filled with tears.

She was seven.

Adrian hadn't been there when she was born. He'd missed her first birthday, too.

And when her school held its first parents' day, he'd been busy looking after Serena and Asher.

I watched my little girl fight back tears and finally called him.

He didn't answer the first time.

He declined the second call.

On the third try, he picked up. He sounded tired.

“Evelyn? What's wrong? Are you and Aurora okay?”

“Aurora went to the lost and found today,” I said. “She brought your picture and asked the attendant to put up a notice saying her daddy was missing.”

I swallowed. “Then she saw the livestream.”

He went quiet.

When he spoke again, he sounded sorry.

“Evelyn, I'm sorry. I know I haven't been around enough for you two.”

“How about I take you both to the northern hunting grounds when I get back? Aurora's been wanting to go, hasn't she?”

My chest tightened.

Aurora had never liked hunting. Asher was the one who wanted to go.

Before I could say anything, Adrian kept talking.

“And about what happened on the stream... I had no idea Asher was going to call me Daddy.”

“He's grown up without a father. I couldn't just embarrass him and Serena in front of everyone…”

“What about Aurora?” I cut in. “Have you stopped to think about how your own daughter feels?”

His voice sharpened.

“Evelyn, why do you always have to compare them?”

“Of course I love Aurora. She's my daughter. You know how much she means to me.”

“But Aurora still has her father. Asher lost his. He's never getting him back.”

“His dad died protecting me. What am I supposed to do, leave his wife and son to fend for themselves?”

I let out a short laugh.

Seven years ago, when I was seven months pregnant, I woke in the middle of the night with a terrible pain in my stomach.

I went to the clinic alone.

I called Adrian on the way. He said he was dealing with a pack emergency and hung up.

He didn't make it back for Aurora's birth.

The next day, he sent my favorite laurel flowers with a note.

“I'm sorry I couldn't be there. I'm just glad you and the baby are safe.”

It was only later that I found out where he'd been.

Asher had a high fever. Serena was terrified, and Adrian stayed with them all night.

Our daughter had come into the world without her father there to hold her.

But when another little boy got sick, Adrian wouldn't leave his side.

Hearing me laugh, Adrian seemed to relax.

“Evelyn, I know Aurora's hurt.”

“I'll apologize to her myself. Tomorrow I'll go get her that Moonshadow gown she's been asking for.”

Aurora heard every word.

She buried her face against my neck, and I felt her shoulders shake.

I took a slow breath.

“Don't bother. A dress was never what she wanted.”

Serena's voice came through the phone.

“Adrian? Asher wants you to take a picture with him at the training grounds.”

“Be right there,” he said, lowering his voice.

Then he turned back to me as if nothing had happened.

“Evelyn, I have to go. Please talk to Aurora for me, okay? Help her understand.”

The call ended.

Aurora lifted her head and tried to smile. Her eyes were still full of tears.

“I'm okay, Mommy.”

She paused.

“I don't want to look for Daddy anymore.”
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  • Too Late, Alpha. We Don’t Need You Anymore   Chapter 10

    Evelyn’s POVGamma's message came while I was doing the final checks on a new batch of potions.Adrian was dead.It was a beautiful sunny day.I thought about the first time Adrian brought me to the Moonstone Pack eight years ago. He'd smiled and told me this was going to be our home. Back then, I really believed we'd grow old together.I didn't cry. But there was a heavy feeling in my chest that wouldn't go away.Cassian came in and noticed my face. “What happened?” I showed him the message.“Want me to go back with you?”“No.” I put my phone away. “I think I need to go alone.”After Aurora came home from school, I told her Adrian had died.She sat on her bed holding her teddy bear. For a long time, she didn't say anything.“Daddy's really never coming back?”“No, sweetheart.”“Was he very sad?”“He was sick. He did get treatment, but his body couldn't get better.”“Was it because I said I didn't want him?”“No. Absolutely not.” I took her hands and waited until she looked at me. “His

  • Too Late, Alpha. We Don’t Need You Anymore   Chapter 9

    Adrian’s POVAfter I returned to the Moonstone Pack, I stepped down from leading the daily patrols.Most days, I sat in Aurora's room and looked at the star lights I'd fixed.It had taken me an entire afternoon to put the biggest star back together.Aurora used to say that one was Daddy's star.Serena came by once. She stood in the doorway, speaking more quietly than she used to.“Asher keeps asking when you're coming to see him.”“Gamma will make sure you have everything you need. The Beta's family will always be looked after.”I remembered the Beta grabbing my sleeve as he lay dying. All he'd asked was that I look after Serena and their son. I'd sworn I would.But he'd never asked me to forget my own daughter. He'd never asked me to make Evelyn suffer to repay him.“I acted like looking after you and Asher didn't cost anyone anything,” I said with a bitter smile. “But Evelyn and Aurora paid for all of it.”“But his father died saving you.”“I remember.” I was too tired to hear the re

  • Too Late, Alpha. We Don’t Need You Anymore   Chapter 8

    Adrian’s POVThe Moonshadow Pack's research institute was busier than I'd expected.I'd gotten an invitation by proposing a potion research project between our packs. On the way there, Gamma checked the gifts at least three times. I'd brought Evelyn her favorite laurel flowers and a new art set for Aurora.“Are you nervous, Alpha?” Gamma asked. I touched the vial in my pocket but didn’t answer.I spotted Evelyn outside the institute before the meeting even started. She was laughing with a silver-haired man.“Cassian, if you mess with my data again, I'm kicking you out of my lab.”“I fixed your spelling,” he said lazily. “Your handwriting looks like a wolf scratched it into the page.”Evelyn swatted his arm.I stopped walking. Suddenly, I didn't know how to go over to her.“Aurora, slow down!”A little figure came running from the other side of the building.Aurora ran to Cassian with a drawing. “Look! I made your tail even bigger this time!”“Are you doing this on purpose? That tail's

  • Too Late, Alpha. We Don’t Need You Anymore   Chapter 7

    Adrian’s POVThe first thing I noticed when I woke up was the smell of medicinal herbs.Gamma sat beside my bed, with dark circles under his eyes. He told me I'd collapsed at the lost and found and been unconscious for two days.I put a hand on my chest. The pain was still there, but the silence inside me was worse.“The healer says the broken Mate Bond hurt your wolf. Noah's still there. He just needs time to recover.”After a while, Noah answered in a weak voice.Gamma said the elders wanted me to rest for a few days. He'd take over border patrol until I was better.Serena came to see me with Asher.“Daddy, does it still hurt?”I looked at him and wondered if Aurora had been crying for her mommy like that last night.“Call me Adrian from now on, Asher,” I told him. He went still. His eyes started filling with tears.“I’ll still provide for you both, but I’m not his dad.” I closed my eyes and continued.The color drained from Serena's face.“So Evelyn leaves, and now you're turning y

  • Too Late, Alpha. We Don’t Need You Anymore   Chapter 6

    Evelyn’s POVThe potion tasted bitter, like rust, as it went down my throat.I'd thought I was ready. When the witch gave me the bottle, she'd warned me more than once. A Mate Bond lived deep in the soul. Breaking it would hurt.As the train passed through the mountain gap, something seemed to squeeze my heart. I had to fight for every breath.But the next wave of pain was too much. I doubled over and hit my forehead on the seat in front of me.“Mommy?”“Mommy! What's wrong? Are you bleeding?”Her little hands flew to my mouth. Only then did I realize I'd bitten my lip hard enough to draw blood.I pulled her close, though my arms were shaking so badly I could hardly hold on to her.“Is it because I said I didn't want Daddy anymore? Is that why you're hurting?”“No, sweetheart. Of course not.” I lifted her chin. “I made this choice. You aren't responsible for what grown-ups do. Do you understand?”“But you're crying because it hurts.”“Yeah,” I admitted, kissing her forehead. “It hurts

  • Too Late, Alpha. We Don’t Need You Anymore   Chapter 5

    Adrian’s POV“Evelyn... How dare you?!”I grabbed the edge of the table, but my knees still hit the floor hard.It felt like someone was tearing my chest open. Noah, my wolf, was going wild inside my head, calling her name over and over.Evelyn had been arguing with me in this house just last night. Aurora had only been gone a few hours. Evelyn had loved me for eight years. She couldn't just cut our bond and walk away.She was angry. That was all.I pulled out my phone and called her again and again. At first, I thought the signal was down. It took five failed calls before I finally let myself believe she'd blocked my number.I closed my eyes and reached for her through our Mind Link.It didn't matter how far apart we'd been before. All I had to do was call her name, and she'd answer. Sometimes she'd complain that I was interrupting her work with her potions. Other times she'd ask if I'd eaten.Now there was nothing.That was when the fear finally hit. Noah whimpered inside my head, gr

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