Chapter 4

Every piece of heartbreak from the past seven years crashed into my chest all at once, making it hard to breathe.

I turned to leave.

Matthew's hand shot out and grabbed my arm.

"Wait." His voice sounded strange. "What did Liam just say?"

I looked at him. His face had gone completely white.

"Liam," he said louder, staring at our son. "What did you just call me?"

Liam's shoulders were shaking but his voice stayed steady. "Alpha."

Matthew's grip on my arm loosened. He just stood there looking shocked, like he couldn't believe what he was hearing.

Matthew. Now you know how it feels.

I pulled my arm free and looked him straight in the eye.

"Goodbye, Alpha," I said.

I took Liam's hand and walked toward the other side of the field without looking back.

The rest of the sports day dragged on forever.

Every time an announcement came over the loudspeaker about a new activity, I checked to see if Matthew was participating. If he was, Liam and I stayed where we were.

Liam didn't say anything. He just held my hand and followed wherever I went. His face stayed blank the whole time, but I could feel him shaking.

I won't let him watch his father be a father to someone else.

When the sports day finally ended, I took Liam straight to the administration office.

"I need to process a withdrawal," I told the secretary. "For Liam Morrison."

She looked surprised. "Withdrawal? But the semester just started."

"We're moving to the Eastern Region."

Liam stood beside me silent.

...

When we got to the manor’s living room, Matthew was sitting on the couch.

I stopped in the doorway. Liam's hand tightened around mine.

"Mary." Matthew stood up. "I need to explain about today."

I walked past him into the kitchen. "There's nothing to explain."

"Yes there is." He followed me. "I wasn't trying to, it wasn't supposed to happen like that."

"Elvira told me Tommy just transferred to this school," Matthew continued. "She was worried the other kids would bully him for not having a father figure. I was just trying to help."

Help. Of course.

I poured hot water into my cup and watched the tea bag float.

"I understand," Liam said quietly from the doorway.

Matthew and I both turned to look at him.

Liam's eyes were red but his face stayed calm. "It's okay, Alpha. I understand."

My chest hurt so much I could barely breathe.

He's seven years old and he's already learned to make himself smaller. To take up less space. To understand why everyone else matters more.

"Liam—" Matthew started.

"I'm tired, Mom," Liam said, looking only at me. "Can I go to my room?"

"Of course, baby."

He left without looking at Matthew again.

"To make up for today," Matthew said after Liam was gone, "I want to take him to the amusement park this afternoon."

I stared at him. "You're kidding."

"I'm serious. We'll spend the whole afternoon together. Just me and Liam."

Don't give him hope again. Don't let him believe...

I was just about to turn him down.

But Liam was already standing in the hallway. I hadn't heard him come back.

"Really?" His voice was so small and hopeful it made my heart break. "The amusement park?"

"Really," Matthew said.

Liam looked at me with those eyes full of hope.

I wanted to say no. But I couldn't destroy that look on his face.

"Okay," I whispered.

We ate lunch together, the three of us. Matthew talked about the rides they'd go on. Liam barely touched his food but he couldn't stop smiling.

After lunch, I helped Liam get ready. I packed snacks and water and sunscreen.

"Do you think Alpha likes roller coasters?" Liam asked while I tied his shoes.

"I don't know, baby."

"I hope he does. I want to ride the big one with him."

I kissed his forehead. "Have fun, okay?"

They walked to the car together. I watched from the doorway as Matthew opened the passenger door for Liam.

Then Matthew's phone rang.

He pulled it out and his whole body went still.

"Elvira?" He answered immediately. "What's wrong?"

I couldn't hear her voice but I could see Matthew's face changing.

"He what? Peanuts? Okay, I'm coming right now."

Matthew hung up and turned to look at us. His face was full of guilt and something that looked like resignation.

"Tommy had an allergic reaction at lunch," he said. "Peanuts. Elvira's taking him to the hospital and she needs me there."

The world went silent.

Liam got out of the car slowly.

"It's fine," he said. His voice sounded dead. "I don't want to go to the amusement park anyway."

Matthew's face crumpled. "Liam, I'm sorry. Next time, I promise—"

"It's fine," Liam said again. He walked past me into the house without looking at either of us.

"Next time," Matthew said to me. "I'll take him next time."

He got in the car.

The engine started.

"Dad!"

Liam's voice rang out from the doorway behind me.

Matthew stopped, his hand froze on the steering wheel.

He looked at Liam for a moment. Then he nodded once.

And drove away.

I found Liam sitting on his bed, crying silently.

I sat down and pulled him into my arms. He buried his face in my shoulder and his whole body shook.

"Three chances," he whispered against my neck. "Three chances are over."

"I know, baby."

"We can leave now, right?" His voice cracked. "We can go?"

"Yes. We can go."

That night, I packed everything. Clothes, books, toys, all the pieces of our life in this house that had never felt like home.

Liam helped without saying a word.

The next morning, I wrote out the dissolution papers. We'd never completed the mate bond, never marked each other. Thank God for that.

I left the papers on the my room's table where Matthew would find them.

Then I took Liam's hand and we walked to the car.

Before I started the engine, I pulled out my phone and typed one last message.

[I wish you happiness]

I pressed send.

Immediately, my phone started buzzing, messages flooded in one after another.