The Day My Son Stopped Saying "Daddy" のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 1 - チャプター 9

"Finn. What did you call me?"Finn was sprawled on the carpet, sorting cards. He slid the one with Damon's face into the "Pack Members" slot."Alpha Ashford."Damon's jaw tightened."Look at me."Finn glanced up. Those eyes that used to light up whenever they found his father now only held evasion."Say it again.""Alpha Ashford."Damon turned to me."Elara. Did you tell him to say that? ""No.""You're lying. A six-year-old wouldn't treat his father like this unless someone taught him.""So you do remember you're his father," I said.The room went quiet.Damon's gaze landed on the desk. A wooden box held a single unpolished pack crest.The Moon Rite—the ceremony where a pup turns six and receives his pack identity, placed by both parents.Finn practiced for three months. He memorized the creed, learned the bow, and asked me a dozen times,"Will Daddy be proud of me?"Before the ceremony, he waited by the hall entrance. Every time footsteps echoed, he'd rise on his toes and peer toward

The next afternoon was the pack school's Family Day.Damon actually showed up.He walked in wearing his Alpha ceremonial robe and was immediately surrounded by parents the moment he stepped onto the field."Alpha, my pup was reciting your creed last night.""Thank you for the new training ground you donated to the school."Damon responded to each one, warm and patient.Finn stood under a tree watching him. A tiny, fragile pride crept back into his eyes."Mom, he's here for me today, right?""He said he would."I didn't want to lie to him. But I also didn't dare vouch for Damon.Before the activities started, Serena walked in with Nico.She wore a visitor's badge."Sorry, one extra person." She turned to the instructor. "Nico heard Damon would be here and insisted on coming."The instructor hesitated. "Today's only for enrolled families."Serena's eyes reddened instantly. "He doesn't have a father. He just wanted to feel what it's like to be with one for once..."Damon walked over. "Put

Damon's POVDamon reached the station eleven minutes after the northbound train had left.He charged through the empty gate and grabbed the attendant by the collar. "Where's the next stop?""Alpha, the train's already crossed the Ashford border.""Stop it."The attendant went pale but shook his head. "That's a Northern exclusive. Without Frost Council's approval, Ashford has no authority to intercept."Damon opened his mouth, then his chest caved in.A raw, hollow ache—the kind that came too late, after the Mate Bond had already severed. He bent over, hand pressed hard against his sternum, like he could force that vanished tether back into his flesh.But there was nothing there. He couldn't feel Elara's location. Couldn't feel her emotions. Even the Mind Link was just dead silence.Cole caught up and steadied him. "Alpha.""Check Elara's travel clearance.""Already did." Cole's voice was low. "Elara reclaimed her Frost membership. Finn follows his mother's lineage. The Northern elders

Damon's POVThe elder inquiry lasted three hours.The main screen at the center of the hall played the school Family Day footage on a loop. Damon pressing his handprint onto Nico's flag. Finn tearing off the space meant for his father. Then the Alpha aura flaring open—a six-year-old standing behind Elara, pale, shoulders shaking.The Head Elder paused the footage."Damon. Are you aware that an Alpha is prohibited from using aura against a minor pup?""Yes.""Are you aware that leaving a handprint on a family flag constitutes public acknowledgment of protection and kinship responsibility?""Yes.""And the cloak pin?""Only for the Alpha and his heir.""Yet you gave it to Nico."Damon lowered his eyes. "Yes."The Elder pulled up the duty log from the Moon Rite night."Your own son waited until the last streetlamp went out. Meanwhile, you were at the old house fixing another pup's toy. Was this an emergency?""No.""Was Nico's life in danger?""No.""Then why did you miss it?"Damon was s

Damon told me Serena had left Ashford.Her Alpha family privileges had been revoked, and she was placed under long-term supervision by the Pup Protection Bureau for using Nico to fabricate false distress calls. The council had restored Damon's decision-making authority. He'd restructured the old house protocols and aid rules—no one would be allowed to use pack resources through personal connections again."I changed everything," he said. "Elara, I truly know I was wrong."I listened quietly. "Anything else?"Damon froze. "You don't want to know what happened to Serena?""Not my concern.""But if she hadn't tricked me —"He stopped mid-sentence. Probably realized how ridiculous that sounded even to himself.I finished it for him. "If she hadn't cried, you wouldn't have left us over and over?"Damon went pale. "I'm not trying to shift blame. Elara, every mistake was mine. I just wanted you to know—I've cut her out completely.""She was never the real problem."I looked at him. "She didn'