Marcus froze.
His blood ran cold as he stood there, staring in disbelief.
The frantic energy in the air was thick, and the full moon, glowing outside, seemed to cast a foreboding shadow over everything.
Then, as reality kicked in, he scooped Lucas into his arms, his heart pounding, his wolf senses on high alert as he rushed toward the pack’s medical wing. His son, barely able to breathe, was slipping in and out of consciousness, his pulse weak.
Minutes felt like hours as they reached the hospital.
Lucas was quickly whisked away, his wolf side already on the brink of awakening, but the trauma had forced him into a deep slumber.
Marcus paced outside, the anxiety tightening his every muscle.
As soon as Ava arrived, he turned on her, his voice low and dangerous, the growl at the edge of his words barely contained.
“I left him with you for just a few hours and now we’re here!”
He spat, fury boiling over.
“What the hell happened? How could he have collapsed like that?”
Ava lowered her head, her voice trembling.
“We… Lucas said he’d never been on a roller coaster before. He was terrified during the ride, but when we got off… he just…. collapsed.”
She shifted uneasily.
“If anyone’s to blame, it’s Brianna. She coddled him, and never let him face his fears. Now his wolf side’s weak, his body can’t handle any sort of stress.”
Alpha Marcus‘ jaw clenched, his wolf stirring within him, responding to the injustice.
He snapped at her for the first time.
“If you hadn’t pushed him into that damn ride, none of this would’ve happened. He’s not ready to face human dangers yet, and you should’ve known better! You’re the reason we’re here!”
Ava flinched, the fury in his voice sinking deep into her. She hadn’t expected Lucas‘ reaction to be so extreme. Passing out from fear?
It was supposed to be a harmless thrill, a bonding moment.
But when Lucas began to scream, she didn’t care enough to stop the ride.
The thought of making him stronger hadn’t even crossed her mind.
She never imagined it would turn this bad.
But in her mind, it wasn’t her fault.
No, it was Brianna’s. Brianna, who had made Lucas soft and weak.
Brianna, who stood in the way of her future with Alpha Marcus.
Ava couldn’t bear that someone else had raised the child she wanted to claim as her own.
5:00 pm
Marcus waited in tense silence until the light above the operating room flickered off.
When the doctor finally emerged, he rushed forward.
“Doctor, how is he?”
His voice was tight with worry.
“He’s stable for now, but…”
The doctor hesitated, then met Marcus‘ eyes.
“His heart… his wolf’s heart… is in a fragile state. I’d advise against any more stress, especially emotional shocks. His body isn’t ready to handle it–not without proper training and control. A repeat of this could be catastrophic.”
The unspoken words hung heavily in the air.
Marcus nodded sharply, the weight of his son’s fragility sinking in.
Lucas was wheeled out, his face pale and drained of color–a painful reminder of how vulnerable they all were.
Marcus followed the medical team into the room where Lucas was being settled, his eyes never leaving his son. As Ava tried to follow, he turned, his gaze icy with finality.
“You’re no longer needed here. You’re not allowed near Lucas anymore.”
His words were firm, leaving no room for negotiation.
“Go. Pack your things. Your presence at the pack house is over.”
Ava’s face drained of color, and her lips parted in shock. She scrambled to defend herself, but
Marcus‘ resolve was like iron.
“Aloha, please… I didn’t mean for this to happen! I care about Lucas, I swear. Just give me another chance. Please.”
Her eyes filled with tears, her voice quivering as she used all the charm she could muster–the same seduction that had worked on him before.
She resembled Gianna, and that was her weapon, one that Marcus had fallen for time and time. again. But this time, there was nothing left in him to soften.
Marcus‘ voice was cold, emotionless.
“Leave.”
The finality in his tone was like a slap. Ava’s eyes widened in disbelief. She opened her mouth to argue, but the cold dismissal in his eyes crushed any remaining hope. Without another word, she turned and fled, her footsteps echoing down the hall.
Marcus turned back to Lucas‘ bedside.
The nurse had just left, and now, it was just him and his unconscious son–a boy he barely knew, a boy he had failed to protect.
He sat beside the bed, his heart aching as he looked at the fragile form of his son–his own flesh and blood now crumbling in front of his eyes.
He had always believed that being a father would be simple.
A few basic needs, such as a roof over their heads.
F
5:01 pm G
But now, as he sat there, watching over Lucas, he realized how wrong he’d been.
Parenting wasn’t just about being the provider.
It was about understanding the weight of their world–their wolf side, their human side, their fears, their strengths.
He had taken Brianna for granted.
He hadn’t understood the constant strain on her, raising Lucas alone. Now, as he faced the responsibility of being a true father, he was hit with the truth. He hadn’t been there for her, not like he should have. And as much as it hurt, he couldn’t go back and change what had been.
But he was determined, now more than ever, to protect Lucas.
To make sure his son–his wolf–was strong enough to face the world. And no matter who stood in his way, he wouldn’t stop until he did.
5:01 pm G
“Mommy… Mommy”
