Chapter 1My mate's the Alpha. Everyone thinks he's perfect.
But when our son ended up in the healing den—clawed up so bad he almost died—my mate did nothing.
Why? The pup who did it? His first love's son.
Ten years. I lived like a ghost in my own bond.
Separate rooms. Separate lives.
Then I found out the truth.
He'd been protecting her this whole time.
Pack funds. Pack favors. All for her and her brat—while our son bled out on a healing table.
So I dragged them both in front of the Tribunal.
Made sure the whole Network was watching.
He thought I'd just roll over?
Guess again.
---
The day Beckett was born, my mate—the Alpha, Mr. Honorable himself—kicked me out of our room.
"I'm not breaking the bond. Beckett needs a stable den."
Said it like he was handing down a ruling.
"But don't expect anything else from me."
That was it. I stopped existing to him after that.
I could trip and fall flat on my face right in front of him. He wouldn't even blink.
Rival packs kept sniffing around, trying to dig up dirt on him.
Affairs. Side pieces. Anything.
Came up with nothing.
Ten years bonded, and he never once marked me where anyone could see. Never held my hand at a single Gathering.
When the Network pushed him on it, he had his line ready:
"What my mate and I share is private. That's how it should be."
The whole Network ate that up.
[So respectful]. [So disciplined]. [A real Alpha]...
Only I knew the truth.
Ten years, and I was his mate in name only.
Then Beckett landed in the healing den.
Torn up bad at the training grounds. Brain bleed. Broken rib. Machines keeping him alive.
And my mate—the Alpha—didn't rush to call the Tribunal.
He stalled. Kept stalling. Hid behind "procedure" and "staying impartial." Total garbage.
I couldn't sit there anymore.
Left the den early one afternoon. Went home. I needed answers.
That's when I heard him. On the phone.
"Ronan, man—if she finds out the real reason you're sitting on this? That the pup who did this to Beckett is Sabine's kid? She's gonna walk."
"She's not gonna find out."
Sabine Winters. Ronan's first love.
I froze in that hallway. Felt the floor drop out from under me.
He wasn't impartial. Wasn't honorable.
The scales he swore to hold steady? Tipped for years.
Just never for me.
Middle of July, and I felt ice-cold straight through.
His voice drifted out from the study. Calm. Almost bored.
"Even if she finds out—what's she gonna do? Leave the pack?"
His friend laughed. "Nah. She's stuck around this long."
Yeah. They weren't wrong.
Ten years playing the perfect mate. Never once threatened to leave. Never made a scene.
And Ronan? He'd figured that out a long time ago.
I was too far gone. Too weak to walk.
His friend kept going, teasing now. "Bro, I still can't believe you're still hung up on Sabine. That girl was a walking disaster."
"Your one and only scandal, man. Mr. Perfect's one screwup."
"Remember when you two got caught during patrol drills? Holed up in the Trainer's den? She stood up at the Gathering—whole pack watching—and asked everyone if you were a good kisser. I almost died laughing."
Their laughing carried through the whole house.
I stood there, sick to my stomach.
Sneaking off during patrols?
This was the same man who scrubbed his hands raw if he so much as brushed against me. The man who built his entire reputation on being untouchable.
And I'm supposed to believe he used to sneak into the woods, making out like some reckless pup?
Bile hit fast. Barely made it to the bathroom before I was hunched over the sink, dry-heaving. Nothing came up but acid.
Hadn't eaten in three days. Hadn't slept. Been living at the Enforcer post, camped out at the Tribunal clerk's office—anywhere that might push Beckett's case forward.
And Ronan? Sitting in his study. Laughing about his ex.
When I walked out, his friend was already gone. Ronan just sat there, flipping through Tribunal files like it was any other Tuesday.
He looked up. Saw my bloodshot eyes. My hollow face.
His mouth tightened. He looked away.
"Evidence isn't solid yet. Hearing's delayed. You panicking won't change that."
Same excuse. Every time.
If I hadn't heard that call, I'd still believe him.
I stood in the doorway. "What's it gonna take to get you to actually move on this?"
He frowned. Already loading up another excuse.
I didn't let him.
"You schedule the Tribunal. I'll sign whatever you need to break the bond."
He went dead still.
"Are you serious right now?" His voice went sharp. "You know what happens if every mate starts pulling this? Blackmail? Manipulation? The whole system falls apart. You get that, right?"
"Beckett gets bullied because he takes after you. Selfish. Entitled."
That landed like a slap.
He was the one covering for his ex's kid. He was the one abusing his Alpha power.
And somehow I'm the villain here?
I opened my mouth to fight back—
He stood up. Slammed the door in my face.
I just stood there. Staring at the wood grain.
My phone buzzed. The Advocate I'd hired last week.
He cleared his throat, all awkward. "Luna Ashgrove... look, I'm sorry, but I can't take this case. You'll need to find someone else."
My grip tightened on the phone. Tasted copper in my mouth.
"Someone tell you to drop it?"
"Can't answer that. Sorry."
He hung up.
Fine. Didn't need him to answer anyway.
Only one wolf in this territory had the pull to scare off a top Advocate like that.
My mate. Alpha Ronan Ashgrove.
I stared at the screen for a second. Then dialed him back.
"Won't take the criminal case? Fine."
"You'll represent me for the severance, though. Right?"
Chapter 2
I went straight to Beckett's room.
He was out of the healing den. Still looked like he might shatter, though. Bandages wrapped around his head. Cheeks hollow. Skin gone gray.
He saw me, and his whole face lit up. Then his eyes shot past me. To the doorway.
Waiting.
Nobody else walked in. His face fell.
"Dad didn't come again?"
I forced a smile. "He's working your case, baby. Making sure whoever did this doesn't get away with it."
The lie burned going down.
Before I could say anything else, heels clicked down the hallway.
A voice rang out. Loud. Way too cheerful.
"Wynter! There you are!"
I froze.
Sabine walked in like she owned the place.
Fruit basket that looked three days expired. White lilies tucked under her arm.
Right behind her?
Cruz. The pup who beat my son half to death.
She flashed me a smile.
"Been trying to reach you. You think about what we talked about? The settlement?"
Cruz locked eyes with Beckett. Flipped him off.
Beckett went stiff as a board. Pure fear all over his face.
I stepped between them.
"Get out."
Sabine's smile stayed frozen. "Come on, Wynter. Don't be dramatic. Pups fight. That's just what they do. You're blowing this way out of proportion."
My hands started shaking.
"Pups fight?" My voice cracked. "Your son put mine in the healing den. Broken rib. Bleeding in his skull. That's just pups being pups to you?"
Her smile finally slipped.
I stepped closer. Dropped my voice low.
"You wanna settle this? Fine. We'll settle it the second your kid's got a broken rib too."
Her face went hard. She yanked Cruz behind her like I was the dangerous one here.
Cruz peeked around her shoulder. Smirking.
"Mom, Alpha Ashgrove said we don't gotta worry. Said she can't touch us."
Alpha Ashgrove.
Everything went white-hot.
I slapped him. Didn't even think twice.
The crack echoed. His head snapped sideways. Then the screaming started.
"YOU JUST ASSAULTED MY CHILD!"
Sabine came at me like a freight train. Grabbed a fistful of my hair. Yanked me backward. Nails raked down my face. I hit the floor and she didn't stop. Slapping. Clawing. Screaming right in my face.
My ribs screamed. Couldn't breathe. Couldn't see straight.
From the bed, Beckett was sobbing.
"STOP! LEAVE HER ALONE! MOM!"
He tried climbing out of bed. That's when I saw it. Blood soaking through the bandages on his side.
By the time the healers pulled her off me, Sabine barely looked touched. Hair a little messy, that's it.
I was on the floor in a heap. Blood streaming from my nose. Shirt half torn off. Every breath felt like knives.
When the Enforcers showed up, they took one look at both of us.
Sabine, crying, clutching her son.
Me, looking like I'd been through a wood chipper.
At the post, I asked for a medical exam. Told them I wanted to file charges.
The Enforcer's whole attitude shifted, right in front of me.
Suddenly Sabine wasn't the one who beat me bloody. She was just a "worried mother protecting her pup." And I was the aggressor. I needed to apologize.
I shot to my feet. Cuffs slammed against the table.
Then I caught it. The way his eyes flicked to his phone. The way his whole posture changed. Like he was standing at attention for someone way above his pay grade.
I dropped back into the chair.
Ronan.
Of course it was fucking Ronan.
He'd protect her no matter what it cost me.
My throat locked up. Tried to breathe. Air wouldn't come.
I refused to apologize.
They threw me in a holding cell for three days.
Seventy-two hours that felt like drowning in slow motion. Air reeked of bleach and something worse. Every minute crawled by like glass dragging across skin.
In the dark, my head kept circling back. Ten years ago. That night. Too much wine. Bad choices. A pregnancy test with two pink lines.
Ronan told me to keep it. Said he'd claim me. Said we'd figure it out together.
I thought he'd finally seen me.
Turns out I'd just trapped myself.
---
When they finally let me out, I looked like absolute hell.
Hair matted. Clothes reeking.
Went straight to the healing den.
Beckett's private room? Gone.
Some stranger in there now. Old woman hooked up to fluids.
They'd shoved Beckett into a shared room. Four beds crammed together.
The second he saw me, he broke down.
Threw himself into my arms. Whole body shaking.
"Mom—Dad said it's my fault—said I got jumped 'cause I deserved it—but I didn't, Mom, I SWEAR—"
His words gutted me all over again.
I bit down on the inside of my cheek.
Held him. Rocked him. Told him over and over none of this was his fault. None of it.
When he finally stopped shaking, I kissed his forehead. Walked out.
Made it halfway down the hall before I froze.
Through the window of a private suite, I saw him.
Ronan.
Chapter 3
Cruz tucked under his arm.
An older woman in the bed grabbed Sabine's hand. Pressed it into Ronan's palm. Voice shaking.
"Alpha Ronan. Sabine's been through hell. That bastard walked out on her and Cruz without looking back. I don't know what she would've done without you."
Ronan held on tight.
His voice came out soft.
"Don't worry. I'll take care of them. Both of them."
The pain hit sharp.
I lifted my phone. Hit record. Got the whole thing—this perfect little family, all warm and cozy.
Fine, Ronan. Can't let her go?
I'll help you out with that.
Two weeks later, the Tribunal got pushed back again. "Insufficient evidence."
Saw it coming. Didn't stop it from gutting me anyway.
Same morning, Beckett was supposed to head back to the Academy. First time since the attack.
I shoved everything down. Forced a smile.
Outside the gates, he wouldn't even look at me. Just stared at his shoes.
"Mom... Cruz is really gonna get locked up, right?"
Throat burning, I pulled him close.
"Yes. I swear. Everyone who touched you is gonna pay."
Every last one of them.
I promise, kid.
---
Took less than twenty-four hours.
Cruz cornered Beckett in the locker room. Slapped him down. Forced him to his knees in front of the whole pack.
By the time I got to the healing den, Ronan was already there. Phone pressed to his ear.
"Just keep it quiet for now—"
I didn't even think.
My hand cracked across his face.
He stumbled back. Eyes wide.
Then his jaw locked tight.
"Can you stop making this about your feelings for one second? I'm handling this the right way. You're just making it harder."
I stood over Beckett's bed. Shaking head to toe.
"GET. OUT."
He exhaled, like I was the unreasonable one here. "I'll handle it. Told you already."
I didn't want to hear it. Not another lie.
That afternoon, I went straight to the Academy overseer myself. Filed a formal complaint.
Two hours later, Cruz got pulled out of training for questioning.
Sabine showed up at the den. Ronan right behind her.
She dropped to her knees the second she saw me. Mascara everywhere. Hands clasped together.
"Wynter, please. He's just a pup. This kind of questioning's gonna traumatize him. Please, withdraw the complaint!"
I looked past her.
At Ronan.
For one second, his face cracked. Worry. Something close to heartbreak. I caught it.
His OWN son was lying in a healing bed because of hers. And he felt sorry for HER.
He bent down. Pulled Sabine to her feet. Steadied her.
Then turned to me. Voice like steel.
"Withdraw it."
I didn't blink.
"Over my dead body."
He pulled out his phone. Typed something. Sent it.
Thirty seconds later, my phone rang.
My supervisor.
"Wynter—what did you do? The Council's enforcement office just called. Someone reported you for skimming pack funds. Don't bother showing up tomorrow."
Line went dead.
I just stood there. Ears ringing.
Ronan's face gave nothing away. "You pushed me into this."
No. If I ended up in front of the Council, what happens to Beckett?
Didn't have a choice.
Withdrew the complaint.
They released Cruz that same day.
Watched from across the room as the three of them hugged it out. Ronan. Sabine. Cruz. Playing house like they were the real family here.
One day. Two. Three.
Ronan never kept his word.
Charges against Cruz never came back.
Instead, I got let go.
And Sabine? She became his personal advisor. Working right under him. In his own house.
Didn't even try to hide it.
Didn't ask why. What was the point.
He came to me anyway.
"It's not what you think. She's a single mom. She needs stability."
Then—first time in years—he reached for me.
Wrapped his arms around me from behind.
Used to dream about this. Years ago.
Now it made my skin crawl.
I shoved him off. Laughed. Cold.
"You think this makes me back off? You're out of your mind!"
He stormed out.
Second the door shut, I grabbed my phone. Texted my Advocate.
[Xavier. Got everything we need. Let's move forward with the severance.]
