Chapter 3

"Alpha Yves, how dare you?!"

My voice trembled uncontrollably. "Lam?"

Lambert paused. Slowly, he lifted his head and stared at me like his soul had frozen over. After a long moment, his eyes widened in disbelief.

"Mom... you’re back?"

The next second, his small body threw itself into my arms, and the sound of his sobs ripped right through my heart.

"Mom... Aunt Wendy locked me in omega’s room. She wouldn’t give me food... she asked me to do what the omegas did. All day long. Daddy didn’t help me either... the big dog bites hurt so bad... Mom, please get me out of here..."

Becky, my wolf, roared inside my head:

"He's an Alpha! And he let our pup be bitten? Miya, our child was thrown to the dogs!"

I barely had time to breathe. The beast in the room had been awakened by Lam’s crying—it was staring him down with deadly eyes.

I rushed forward and grabbed an axe from the corner. Beta Ross called out, trying to stop me:

"Luna Miya, please—don’t be impulsive! That dog is Wendy’s favorite pet—it was a gift from Alpha Yves. If you hurt it—"

A gift? From Alpha Yves? So that it could tear into his own son?

Without hesitation, I swung the axe and broke the lock. I pulled Lam into my arms.

The dog lunged at us.

I turned, eyes cold, and with a single swing, severed its head.

Blood splattered everywhere.

Becky growled low in my mind:

"Protecting our young is instinct. We should’ve done this two years ago."

Still not satisfied, I smashed the lock to pieces.

Alpha Yves arrived, not with concern—only anger.

"Miya, do you have to make such a scene the moment you return? Do you want the guests to suspect something? Vincent is crying, Wendy is exhausted. Can’t you stop adding to the chaos?"

"I know you’ve suffered these past years. I’ll explain everything after the ceremony. But Wendy’s reputation must not be ruined."

I scoffed. What about Lambert’s life? Didn’t that matter?

"Her son cries and you rush to comfort him. But when your own child is locked with omegas, bitten by a dog, and fed garbage, you feel nothing?"

Alpha Yves blinked, finally noticing the wounds on Lam’s tiny body.

"What are you talking about? Lam is my blood. Why would I let him get hurt or starved?"

I froze. Could it be… he truly didn’t know?

He frowned and ordered Beta Ross to summon Wendy.

She arrived already crying.

"Alpha Yves, Miya misunderstood me… Lam is such a sweet child, how could I ever hurt her?"

Her. She misgendered him on purpose.

"You know how much he loves hide-and-seek. He begged me to play. I was busy with guests and couldn’t watch him. Who knew he’d lock himself in there?"

"Mom, I didn’t..." Lam looked at me in panic, shaking his head.

Wendy wept harder. "Lam, you may hate me, but you can’t lie to your mom… and you killed the dog Alpha Yves gave me. Why do you both hate me so much?"

Alpha Yves turned cold. He slapped Lam hard across the face.

"Lying at your age? Framing your elders? I’ll teach you some discipline myself!"

Lam fell into my arms, lips trembling, but his tears refused to fall.

I couldn’t take it anymore—I shoved Yves away.

"How dare you hit him?! Lam is terrified of dogs. Do you think he’d willingly lock himself in there? "

Becky screamed:

"Let me out, Miya! Let me tear off this fake Alpha’s mask!"

Yves hesitated, but Wendy started sobbing louder.

"Forget it. I’ve always been the outsider. Blame me. I’ll take Vincent and go to the underground where Sam’s spirit still lingers."

She turned and fled.

Yves didn’t even look at me. His eyes followed her, full of concern.

"Miya, this is the child you raised? A liar, a bully? What—will he pick on Vincent next? Sam died too soon. Wendy only has me now. And you? You’re being unreasonable!"

He turned his back to me and Lam, ignoring our wounds, and chased after her.

Lam stared at his retreating figure. Then, in a whisper, he asked:

"Mom… is it because of me that Dad doesn’t like you? I’m sorry. I made your life worse…"

My heart shattered.

He was only five. His little bones hadn't even grown properly. And yet he said that.

I pulled him into my arms.

"No, Lam. You’re the best thing that ever happened to me. None of this is your fault."

"Sweetheart, we’re done with this daddy. We don’t need him anymore."

I returned to the guest room with Lam and asked Beta Ross to summon the pack healer. Lam received his rabies serum and crystal-based infection treatment.

From Lam’s mouth, I learned the rest.

For a whole year, Alpha Yves had focused entirely on Wendy and her child. He abandoned Lam completely.

Wendy? Her sweet smile hid cruelty. She tormented Lam in secret. She asked lambert to do chores all day. Every time he tried to tell Yves, she’d claim Lam was lying. And Yves always chose her.

They even told Lam I was dead.

Every night, my son cried himself to sleep clutching my photo. He let dogs bite him—but never let go of that picture.

It took hours to soothe him to sleep. But I couldn’t rest.

Earlier, I’d told him, “Let’s be done with this daddy.” He didn’t answer.

He still missed Alpha Yves.

Should I give Yves another chance—for Lam’s sake?

I was still debating when a familiar embrace pulled me close.

"Miya… thank the Moon Goddess you’re alive. You’re back. You’re safe."

Alpha Yves kissed the spot on my neck where our bond had once been marked.

"I made a promise to Sam… to protect his mate Wendy. She was carrying my child. She was in danger. I had no choice but to stay. That’s why I couldn’t rescue you in time."

"Later, I searched everywhere for you. They said you were dead. My heart broke."

I shoved him off me, stomach turning.

"And now that I’m back, what? You’re still planning to complete the bond with her? Make her your Luna?"

He looked at me, helpless.

"How could I? You’re my one and only Luna. The ceremony with her—it’s just for show. There won’t be a real bond."

"Wendy and Vincent need legitimacy. You’re understanding, right? You won’t mind keeping our bond secret… right?"

Becky’s voice hissed:

"You see? He wants you dead in the eyes of the world. Alive in secret. You’re his ghost."

I said nothing.

Yves grew more passionate. He leaned in to kiss me, fingers working at my clothes.

"Miya, Wendy already gave me a son. It’s our turn now. Let’s give Lam a little sister—and finally complete our perfect ‘pack’."