Chapter 4

I grabbed my coat, walked straight to his black sports car, and got into the back seat.

"What are you doing back there?" Asher asked, confused. "Come sit up front."

I stared out the window and didn't move.

He stood outside the car for a few seconds, watching me, before finally getting into the driver's seat.

Of course I wouldn't sit in the passenger seat.

The last time I sat there, I found a little pink sticker in the glove box. In fancy script, it read, "Seraphina's Seat."

I was pregnant at the time, and in a fit of rage, I had ripped it off and thrown it out the window, along with all the other little trinkets of hers I found in the car: a fluffy keychain, a hair tie she'd left behind, and a crayon drawing from Leo labeled "For Alpha Daddy."

When Asher found out, he was furious. He called me "childish and spiteful, for taking it out on a little boy's drawing."

It was raining that day. He left me, pregnant, on the side of a remote road and said, "If you have so much energy to throw a tantrum, you can walk home and cool off."

I walked five kilometers in the rain to get home. My shoes were ruined, and my ankles were swollen.

He, meanwhile, had driven to Seraphina's house to buy a new toy for the 'traumatized' Leo.

Remembering that, I stayed firmly in the back seat. This Alpha was no longer mine, and I had no desire to sit in a seat that wasn't mine either.

"Head to the Black Moon headquarters first."

He didn't understand why, and I didn't explain, just said I needed to pick something important up. He was used to me helping with pack business there, so despite his confusion, he started the car.

We had barely left the estate when his phone rang.

"Seraphina? What's wrong?" His voice was instantly gentle.

"Asher..." The woman's sobs came through the phone. "Leo won't go to pup school. He's rolling around on the floor, saying he won't go unless his Alpha Daddy takes him. I really don't know what to do. Can you come?"

"Okay, I'm on my way," he said without a moment's hesitation, and started to turn the car around.

"Just drop me off at Central Plaza," I said calmly.

"Why are you getting out? I thought we were going to see our son?"

"I have a business meeting there."

"Aurora!" Asher slammed on the brakes, glaring at me in the rearview mirror. "Are you still sulking? I told you, you're my Luna now. You don't have to deal with all that business stuff anymore."

"Take me to Central Plaza," I repeated, not wanting to argue.

Asher ran a hand through his hair in frustration. "Fine, I get it. You don't trust me to see Seraphina alone. I'll take you with me, and then we'll go see our son. Happy now?"

Without waiting for my answer, he sped off.

Twenty minutes later, we arrived at Seraphina's upscale neighborhood. I saw a slender woman standing on the curb, holding a crying little boy, the very picture of helplessness.

When she saw Asher get out of the car, her eyes lit up like he was her savior.

"Asher!" She threw herself into his arms. "You're finally here!"

Through the car window, I watched how naturally her arm linked with his.

"Asher, I'm at my wit's end," she said, her voice thick with unshed tears. "Leo just keeps crying for his Alpha Daddy! I told him you were busy, but he won't listen. I just don't know what to do."

Asher rubbed her back soothingly. "It's okay. I'll handle it."

They looked like a normal couple, and I was the awkward outsider.

"Alpha Daddy!" Leo stopped crying the second he saw Asher and ran to him.

"Leo, big boys don't cry," Asher said, kneeling to gently wipe the tears from the boy's face. "Tell Alpha Daddy why you don't want to go to school."

"Because Tommy said I don't have a daddy," Leo sniffled. "I told him I have an Alpha Daddy, but he didn't believe me. I want you to take me to school so everyone can see!"

Seraphina chimed in, "Leo keeps telling the other kids you're his father, but..." She trailed off, blushing. "But since we aren't mates, the other parents whisper."

"Mommy, why can't we live with Alpha Daddy?" Leo asked innocently. "Then I'd have a real daddy."

The air grew thick with unspoken things. Seraphina's blush deepened. She glanced at Asher before murmuring, "Leo, don't say things like that..." But her tone was more like a coy complaint than a real scolding.

Just then, I pushed my door open and got out of the car.