Chapter 2

I followed Lucas back to Kane’s old den after we left our house.

It was Full Moon Day. Wolves gathered beneath the glowing moon, their howls rising in harmony.

Fireworks lit up the sky, drinks flowed freely, and laughter echoed through the mountains.

The pack shimmered with life—joyful, wild, whole.

In front of Kane’s grand mansion, lights flickered warmly.

A strong, handsome wolf ran through the yard with a six-year-old pup chasing after him, their laughter ringing through the air.

“Don’t run too fast! You’ll fall!” Kane’s voice called out, half stern, half fond.

Serena stood nearby, her eyes filled with gentle amusement.

What a perfect, happy family.

Lucas stood behind the fence, watching quietly. His little fingers gripped the wood, his eyes blinking fast, trying to hold back whatever was rising inside.

He swallowed hard.

That should have been us.

In the past, Kane used to play with him every Full Moon Night. But now…

Lucas wiped away the tears streaming down his cheeks and tiptoed to press the doorbell.

The door opened quickly, but it wasn't Kane who appeared—it was Serena.

Her smile froze the moment she saw Lucas. Her face instantly turned cold and full of warning.

“What are you doing here?” she hissed.

She quickly glanced over her shoulder and saw Kane, who was still happily playing with her pup in the living room. That eased her nerves a little.

But when she turned back to Lucas, her face twisted with disgust.

“Did that shameless she-wolf send you here?” she spat.

“Didn’t she tell you this is no longer your den? Get lost, you little brat!”

Lucas’s eyes turned red with rage as her venomous words sank in.

“Lies! My mom is not a shameless she-wolf—it’s you!” he shouted.

“I want to see my dad!”

Fury burned in his chest. He looked like a little lion, glaring up at her defiantly.

Serena’s eyes narrowed with hatred. She quickly turned her head and glanced over her shoulder—Kane was still fully focused on playing with the pup, completely unaware of what was happening at the door.

Only then did her expression turn vicious. With calculated cruelty, she turned back to Lucas and shoved him hard, her movements swift and ruthless.

He stumbled and fell, his head slamming against the door with a loud, echoing thud.

“Who’s there?” Kane’s voice called out, clearly startled by the noise.

Serena panicked. She quickly slapped her hand over Lucas’s mouth and yelled back,

“It’s just a stray cat! Nothing to worry about. Go back inside with Doris!”

Once Kane disappeared into the room, her expression darkened.

“You filthy little bastard,” she growled, pressing her weight onto Lucas’s tiny body.

“You and your mother are exactly the same—both here to ruin everything!”

Lucas struggled under her grip, tears and blood mixing on his face.

Serena scoffed and kicked him aside like trash.

Just as she reached for the gate to slam it shut, Lucas grabbed her leg, crying out through the pain.

“You evil she-wolf! Let me see my dad! I want my dad!”

Serena couldn’t help but burst into laughter. Then she glanced at the small dog flap in the door, a sneer spreading across her face.

"If you’re willing to crawl through this dog door, I’ll let you see your dad," she said mockingly.

When I saw what she was doing to my pup, rage exploded inside me. If I were still alive, I would’ve coughed up blood in fury.

How dare she?! How could she humiliate my little pup like this? That she-wolf had no shame at all!

My heart overflowed with rage and sorrow. I waved my hand in the air, desperately trying to stop him, to tell him not to give in.

Lucas, my sweet pup… your mom is already gone. You don’t have to do this for me. Don’t humiliate yourself. Please, run! Go back to your den!

Lucas looked up at the mansion, his eyes filled with pain, and gritted his teeth.

"Will you really keep your word if I do it?" he asked hoarsely.

Serena paused for a moment—then laughed, loud and gleeful.

"Absolutely," she said with fake sincerity, her eyes gleaming with cruelty.

Biting his lip, Lucas lowered his trembling body. On his hands and knees, he crawled slowly through the dog flap, his body shaking with every movement.

He whispered to himself, trying to stay strong:

"It’s nothing... Don’t cry... I’m doing this for Mom..."

But the tears still streamed down his face, soaking into his clothes as he dragged himself forward.

Serena, meanwhile, had taken out her phone and was gleefully recording the entire thing, her eyes shining with twisted excitement.

"What a good little mutt. You really are Kate’s pup—so shameless," she sneered.

"Come on, bark like a dog. Let me enjoy this!"

But just as she was reveling in her cruelty, a sharp voice cut through the air like a whip.

"What the hell are you doing?"