Chapter 4

Three days later, it was Altair’s ten-year coming-of-age ceremony—a sacred milestone in a young wolf’s life.

The venue was flooded with people—elders, warriors, family friends—all dressed in formal robes and heavy smiles. Both the Silver Moon Pack and the Black Thorn allies had gathered to celebrate the next heir.

Cora stood at the center like a queen in a silver snow fox stole and moon-dew pearl earrings, her arm looped delicately through Gavin’s. She was radiant, serene—a picture-perfect Luna, basking in stolen light.

Gavin wore the ceremonial Alpha garb—robes etched in moonstone thread that only a reigning Alpha could wear. He looked every bit the part: powerful, arrogant... and utterly hollow.

Both sets of parents circled nearby, laughing with the guests like they didn’t have a care in the world. When they saw me walk in, the laughter faltered—but only for a second. Then they turned their backs like I was nothing more than a passing breeze.

I didn’t care. Not anymore.

I wasn’t there for them.

I crossed the marble floor, ignoring the whispers and the sideways glances, and knelt before my son.

Altair.

He looked so much older now—taller, stronger. My heart ached as I brushed my fingers through his dark hair.

“You’ve grown so much,” I whispered. “Come, let Mommy give you a hug.”

But before I could even open my arms, Gavin yanked him back like I was a threat.

He stepped in front of Altair, eyes filled with venom.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing, Chloe?”

His voice was low but deadly. “Altair is no longer your son. And unless you hand over control of the pack, you can forget about ever seeing him again.”

My jaw clenched. I didn’t want to ruin my son’s ceremony. I’d promised myself I wouldn’t make a scene.

So I forced the anger down and instead reached into my coat pocket.

“Altair,” I said softly, “this is for you. Something I made with my own hands—just for today.”

I held out a delicate pendant—handwoven from anti-magic silver thread and strands of my own tail fur, patterned with lunar symbols. It had taken me weeks to make in Silver Prison. I’d begged the guards just to get it out.

Altair hesitated for a moment. He reached forward, took it into his small hand...And then flung it to the floor.

He crushed it under his foot, over and over again, grinding it into the polished marble.

“I don’t want this garbage!” he shouted. “You’re not my mom. My mom’s not some dirty ex-con! You just want to steal my dad, how shameless!”

He ran straight to Cora and hugged her leg, like she was the only mother he’d ever known.

I felt something inside me snap.

My parents came storming over, already fuming.

“Chloe!” my father barked. “How could you give Altair something from prison? Are you trying to curse him on his big day?”

“Disgusting,” my mother spat. “Bringing bad energy into his coming-of-age. You’re evil!”

Cora stepped forward and kicked the pendant away like it was trash.

“Get rid of that. Who knows what toxic energy she brought from that filthy place?”

I opened my mouth to explain, to tell Altair the truth—but I didn’t get the chance.

Gavin kicked me.

Hard.

The impact sent me crashing to the floor. My head smacked against the cold marble, and I felt warm blood start to trickle down my temple.

“Chloe,” he growled, towering over me, “you venomous bitch. Take your cursed trash and get the hell out!”

Pain pulsed through my skull. My vision blurred.

But I still looked up—at Altair. At the son I’d risked everything for.

I reached a trembling hand toward him, desperate for something—anything.

But what he did next destroyed me.

Altair looked at Gavin with bright, admiring eyes.

“Daddy, you’re amazing!” he beamed. “Beat the bad guy! When I grow up, I wanna be just like you—strong and brave and protecting Mommy!”

My heart dropped into ice.

And then—they made him hit me.

My parents lifted him up like it was a game, guiding his tiny fist straight to my bleeding forehead.

“Go on, Altair!” they encouraged, laughing. “Protect Mommy by defeating the bad guy!”

He giggled as he struck me again and again, and I felt each blow like it was a betrayal to my soul. The child I had dreamt of, longed for, cried over in that prison—was being weaponized against me.

I tried to shield my head, my body screaming in pain. Gavin saw me move and mistook it as retaliation.

He kicked me again—straight in the stomach.

A firestorm of pain tore through me, and I collapsed, gasping.

My wolf, Faith, howled in my mind—raging, grieving—and I began to vomit uncontrollably.

And then... they laughed.

Cora snatched a bottle of mineral water, stepped over me, and poured it down on me like I was dirt.

Altair wrinkled his nose. “Ew, she stinks!”

My mother cuddled him, glaring at me like I was a disease.

“You’ve ruined this entire ceremony!” she shrieked. “You’re a stain on this family. Why won’t you just disappear?!”

I tried to sit up, but my body wouldn't respond.

The world spun around me—and then, without warning...Something hit me.

Hard.