Chapter 12

Elara

Today marked the first day that both Zoe and Ella would attend kindergarten together. But not just any kindergarten—this was the most elite private school in the pack. It was leaps and bounds ahead of the public school that Zoe used to attend.

Early in the morning, I carefully laid out their clothes—matching uniforms with crisp collars and neatly pressed skirts. I packed their backpacks with new notebooks, colored pencils, and their favorite snacks, wanting everything to be perfect.

“Mommy, do I have to wear this tie?” Zoe pouted, fiddling with the small bow tie that accompanied her uniform.

I knelt down to adjust it. “Yes, sweetheart. It’s part of the uniform. But if it makes you feel any better, you look absolutely adorable.”

She didn’t look entirely convinced, but she complied.

Ella stood quietly nearby, adjusting her own tie with practiced ease. It was clear to me that she had gotten awfully used to getting herself ready for school without any help; I hoped to change that for her, but she didn’t seem bothered by doing it herself. Although it did make me wonder just how long she had lived without a mother.

Had she ever met her mother, I wondered?

Once we were all ready, we headed toward the front of the house, where the family car awaited us. As we approached, the driver stepped forward, blocking my path.

“Apologies, ma’am, but you’re not allowed to board the car,” he said gruffly.

I froze for a moment, taken aback by his abruptness. Forcing a polite smile, I replied, “I’m Alaric’s wife. Why wouldn’t I be allowed?”

The driver scoffed impatiently. “Even if you’re his wife, you can’t. I’m a Gamma-ranked werewolf. I don’t serve Omegas.

A flush of embarrassment and anger rose in me. Before I could respond, Zoe tugged on my sleeve.

“Mommy, what’s wrong?” she whispered.

I took a deep breath, trying to keep my voice steady. “Nothing, sweetheart. There’s just been a misunderstanding.”

“Then I don’t want to go to school anymore,” Zoe declared, her lower lip trembling.

“Zoe, it’s okay—”

“Is there a problem here?” Alaric suddenly appeared beside the car as if out of thin air, his gaze icy as he looked at the driver.

The driver shifted uncomfortably. “Sir, I was just informing her that she can’t ride with us.”

Alaric’s eyes narrowed. “And why is that?”

“Well, sir, she’s an Omega, and I—”

“You’re fired,” Alaric said flatly.

The driver’s eyes widened. “Sir…”

Alaric folded his arms. “Did you not hear me the first time? I said, you’re fired.”

Within the span of a moment, the driver’s face went from disbelief to pure panic. “Sir, please!” he began to stammer out. “I-I beg you! There’s no one else available to drive this car. Please, show me mercy and don’t dismiss me.”

I glanced between them in shock. The driver had been cruel, yes, but the hierarchy in our world was also ingrained into our minds, into our lives. I couldn’t blame him, not entirely. “Alaric, maybe we can make an exception—”

“I never go back on my decisions,” he interrupted, his voice devoid of warmth. He turned to me. “Get in the car.”

I blinked, surprised by his reaction. Part of me felt grateful for his support, but another part was unsettled by his cold dismissal of the driver.

The driver hung his head, stepping aside. I hesitated for a moment, then guided Zoe and Ella into the backseat. As I settled them in, fastening their seatbelts, I noticed Zoe’s troubled expression.

“Is everything okay?” I asked her softly.

She nodded slowly. “I don’t like that man. He was mean to you.”

I smoothed her hair back. “Don’t worry about it. Just worry about school, okay?”

After closing the door, I turned to see Alaric opening the driver’s door.

“You’re driving?” I asked, surprised.

He glanced at me. “There’s no one else now. Unless you’d prefer to.”

I shook my head. “No, it’s just—”

“Get in,” he said shortly, although not unkindly.

I got into the passenger seat as he started the engine. The car hummed smoothly as we pulled away from the estate.

During the ride, Zoe stared out the window with wide-eyed wonder, her face full of excitement and curiosity. “Look, Mommy! That building is so tall!”

“Yes, it is,” I replied, smiling at her enthusiasm.

Ella sat quietly beside her, hands folded in her lap. I turned to look at her. “Are you excited to go to school today?”

She glanced at me briefly. “I suppose.”

I bit my lip, unsure of how to break through her reserved exterior. Damn, I thought to myself. Even if she’s not Alaric’s biological daughter, she’s certainly just like him.

Alaric spoke up, his eyes on the road. “Ella, remember to hand in your permission slip for art class.”

“I have it in my bag,” she replied.

“Good.”

Silence settled in the car again. I felt a pang in my chest. I had never been able to provide Zoe with a privileged life or access to quality education. Now, the elite kindergarten was the perfect starting point for a bright future.

I should have felt happy for her. Yet, the thought of our separation six months from now weighed heavily on my heart. This was the child I had poured six years of my life into raising—she was my daughter in every sense of the word, just as Alaric was Ella’s father.

I wished he could see that. But in this situation, I supposed there were no completely happy endings for all of us. It was better for both of the girls who lead a privileged life, one that I couldn’t provide them with my low status. And in order for that to happen, I had to let them go.

Unless Alaric and I got married for real, of course. The thought almost made me snort out loud. That was never going to happen.

When we arrived at the school, I nearly gasped. The building was magnificent, an impressive facade of finely carved marble and columns. Droves of other children played on the front lawn in their crisp uniforms while high schoolers hung out next to the front gates. As we pulled up, I could see an enormous playground out back.

“Wow,” Zoe breathed, her eyes wide.

Wow, indeed.

We got out of the car, and I helped the girls adjust their backpacks. “Now, remember to be polite and listen to your teachers,” I reminded them.

“Yes, Mommy,” Zoe chirped.

Ella nodded, glancing around at the other children arriving. She probably felt annoyed that I was telling her what to do when she clearly already had herself under control, but I couldn’t help it. She was my little girl.

Alaric stood beside me, his hands in his pockets. “I’ll be back to pick you up at three,” he told them.

“Okay, Daddy,” Ella replied.

Zoe looked up at him. “Will Mommy come too?”

He looked at me, then back at her. “We’ll see.”

“Come on, girls,” I said, trying to keep my voice cheerful. “Time to head in.”

They each gave us quick hugs—Zoe wrapping her arms tightly around my waist, Ella offering a brief embrace—and then they were off, walking toward the entrance together.

As I watched them go, a lump formed in my throat. They really looked like sisters walking side-by-side, and soon, they would grow to really be sisters—living together, growing up together, bonding together.

And I might not be around for any of that. Even Ella, my biological child, might never get to view me as her mother.

Suddenly, I felt something brush my hand. I looked down to see Alaric extending a handkerchief toward me.

I glanced at it, realizing it belonged to him. I hesitated for a moment before taking it and dabbing my tears.

“Thank you,” I murmured, trying to hand it back to him.

He gave me a detached look and said flatly, “Keep it.”

I froze, a flicker of self-consciousness rising in my chest. Did he not want it back because I’d used it? Because I was an Omega?

I looked away, feeling a mix of embarrassment and hurt. “Thanks,” I muttered.

He said nothing—just turned on his heel and headed back toward the car.