Chapter 8: Their Perfect Villain.

I thought the "investigation" into Tracy's death wouldn't last more than a few months.

It couldn't take so long to find out what happened to the woman who was so close to becoming Luna, right?

"Luna Destiny, he's awake."

The sound of young laughter carries into my ears, followed closely by the sound of little feet scampering across the hallway of the packhouse.

I turn, my eyes fleeing to the source of that sound immediately, and a warm smile lights my face up as I see him.

I crouch down to look into the eyes of the little boy that stops before me and with sincere love in my heart, I say the words I've been waiting all day to say, "Happy birthday, baby boy!"

He launches into a hug immediately, hands wrapping around my neck with surprising force.

A small laugh leaves my lips as I sway, "Hey, careful now, darling. I'm not as strong as you, y'know."

He only grins widely, showing the cute gap between his teeth as he nods, "Thank you for the present."

I smile back and plant a kiss on that small forehead, "You're welcome, darling."

He's strong for a five-year-old boy. Very strong, but I doubt any of that is his fault.

I never imagined I would one day come to raise Tracy's child as my own instead.

His name is Jack, and as the son and heir of the Alpha, he's lived with me here at the packhouse.

I thought they would never allow it, but as the investigation into Tracy's death went on, the responsibility of taking care of him fell to me.

Coren's forest-pine scent wafts into my nose, soft, warm, and full of happiness as he stops Jack in his tracks, "Hey there, bud.

I can only see one person getting a hug. Doesn't Daddy get hugs too?"

Jack is picked up by Coren, hugging him as he chimes, "Daddy gets hugs too."

I rise from my crouching position on the floor with my eyes fixed on both of them. I don't realize I'm smiling so warmly until I catch Coren's gaze on me and the look on his face displays only one thing: deep longing.

The smile on my face falls and I look away.

Things between me and Coren have not returned to normal even after five years.

Like it's been written in the stars, we still haven't been able to have a child of our own together.

I've allowed him back into my bed, but we only have sex once a month now. Between me raising a child and him running a pack, we barely see each other.

The past still casts a shadow upon us and nothing has ever been the same.

Coren drops Jack and he runs off to the main hall. When we hear his excited scream, a small smile tickles the side of my lips.

Coren is grinning as he nods, "He's seen the decorations."

The smile I tried to hide is back on full display and I don't bother shelving it again this time.

The party will come into full swing soon, so I go back upstairs to get dressed.

By the time I come back down, the main hall of the Silvercrest packhouse is crowded with werewolves, both young and old.

Children dart between tables, chasing each other or the balloons bouncing in the wind. The aroma of food is heavy in the air and as far as birthday parties go, this is a good party.

I'm standing by the gift table quietly when a pack member brings their child around to place their gift on the table. I see the look the woman gives me.

It's a look filled with scorn and disdain.

She, like many other pack members, does not want me here. 

They don't want me standing around at the party I organized, watching the boy I raised have fun.

I ignore that smelly look and put on my best smile, "Jack says thank you for the gift. Have fun at the party."

She snorts as she walks away.

Thankfully I'm not here for them. My eyes roam the room on instinct.

Coren and Tristan stand near the arched glass doors to the garden with some of the pack elders, all of them discussing something that's probably too important for my ears.

Tristan's eyes flick towards me and I don't miss the look in them. The sharp, cold, judgmental glower he directs my way.

He's never stopped blaming me for Tracy's death and Coren... Coren acts like he doesn't notice any of it.

"Uncle Tristan, look! I'm five now."

Tristan takes his chilling glare away from me and smirks as he picks Jack up. His tone is warm as he responds, "I can see that. You're becoming a big boy."

Yeah, right.

A big boy everybody still picks up when they can.

The thought of that makes another smile spread on my face and I look away.

Tristan drops Jack down and watches him run off before walking over to me and muttering coldly, "What the hell are you being so happy about? You're smiling like he's your child."

The smile on my face falters.

I look around to see a couple of eyes on me, each one probably filled with some version of the judgment in Tristan's words. The most intense stare of disdain comes from Maria Woods, Tristan's mother, and by extension Tracy's.

I look away from all those judging gazes and take a deep breath.

Today is Jack's birthday. I need to avoid any drama and keep my head down.

A scant hour has barely passed and I'm offering a tray of snacks to some children when Maria storms over, her face twisted with fury as her hand smacks the tray.

The snacks spill all over me and the tray hits the floor with a resounding clang.

"You!

You did this, didn't you!"

Maria's voice is loud enough for others to hear and soon we have a small audience. But that doesn't stop Maria; she only goes on, unbothered and furious, "Pretending like you care about children while you're actively trying to kill one?

How despicable can you be, Luna Destiny!"

I freeze immediately and my spine stiffens, "I... what?"

Maria jabs a trembling finger at the food, righteous anger outlined on her face, "The food! You served Jack a dish with pineapple. He's allergic to pineapples!

You think I wouldn't notice that, right?

You think I'd let you kill Jack the same way you killed my daughter!"

Gasps of shock ripple across the hall and conversation grinds to a halt immediately.

Most of the guests are looking at us, their attention undisputedly on what's happening, but what's more important to me is what Maria just said.

My stomach drops so far it feels like it hits the ground. Pineapples?

"Maria, I didn't prepare that dish," I say quietly, struggling to keep my voice steady, "I would never do something to hurt Jack.

I made sure there were no pineapple dishes served at the party today."

"How did one get in here then?" Maria's voice cracks like lightning and in a moment she's stepped closer, "You're a liar!"

Like Tracy, Maria is a warrior wolf and her reflexes are much faster than mine. Her hand flies straight upward, aimed straight for my cheek. I can already tell there's nothing I can do, so I inhale sharply, bracing myself for the sting.

A loud gasp of surprise fills the hall as that slap never lands.

A fierce little figure shoves Maria, the strength in that small body powerful enough that it disrupts her balance and makes her stumble.

Jack plants himself between us with all the courage a five-year-old can muster, arms spread wide, shielding me as he screams, "DON'T HURT MY MUM."

The silence that falls in the hall is sudden and thick. It's heavy as a stone and absolute.

Maria reels backward, her expression absolutely sour. Tristan's eyes go blank, like all the blood has drained from his face.

My heart is skipping several beats in my chest.

Jack has only ever called me by my name and title, Luna Destiny. I've never tried to get him to call me anything else.

This is the first time he's called me "Mum," and he just did it for everyone to see.

Maria, when she finds her voice again, is almost shrieking, "Who told you to call her that?"

Jack raises his chin defiantly, "No one. She takes care of me. She's my mum."

I'm... I'm proud and pained.

I'm proud that at least one person wants to protect me, and pained because it shouldn't be me he's calling Mum.

I kneel, pulling Jack gently to me and placing my hands on his shoulders as I whisper softly, "I'm okay, Jack. It's alright."

"It's not," he mutters fiercely, "She tried to hit you!"

That sends another stab of pain through my heart and I struggle to smile.

Coren's voice finally cuts through the silence, low and tinged with danger, "Maria, we need to talk."