NATHAN
“He’s dying.”
The healer’s voice was barely above a whisper, yet it slammed into me like a storm, violent and unrelenting.
“We’ve tried everything, Alpha Nathan. Every possible remedy, every form of treatment. Whatever this is…” She hesitated, her hands trembling slightly, her eyes wide with something close to fear. “It’s beyond my capabilities. And from the looks of it, I’m not sure your father will survive another month.”
I clenched my jaw, pushing back the tide of emotions threatening to pull me under. “I’ll come and see him later. Make sure he has everything he needs. He is to be comfortable, no matter what.”
The healer dipped her head, acknowledging the command, and left the study without another word. The moment the door clicked shut behind her, I let my composure slip, just for a moment. My hand clenched into a fist on the desk, nails biting into my palm as my thoughts spiraled backward—to where all of this began.
It was two years ago, shortly after Nicole had walked away. My father had stormed into this very room, accusing me of driving her off. He’d declared the deal off and threatened to take the pack from me.
Except, he couldn’t.
I had abided by his terms. I had married Nicole. Her leaving was her choice, not mine. I’d done nothing wrong.
I could still hear his rage-filled voice echoing in my mind, the moment he’d collapsed mid-sentence, clutching his chest. That was the first episode. We’d learned soon after that he was sick—a sickness that had spread insidiously over the years. And despite all my efforts, all my resources, every lead I’d pursued had led to a dead end.
“A penny for your thoughts?”
I glanced up to see Nadia standing at my desk, her expression warm but tinged with concern. A smile tugged at my lips despite myself. Nadia had always been my constant, the one person in my corner. Nicole assuming that something was going on between us was part of the plan after I learned about her betrayal and since then, Nadia had taken over, playing the role of my Luna.
Not that I minded.
I knew my father would try to take the pack so I had to make Nicole leave on her own accord because if I kicked her out, it would have been my fault. That was the loophole I found.
Her voice softened, carrying the familiarity of years. “From the look on your face and the way you didn’t even notice I walked in, I’m guessing things with Uncle Darien aren’t going well.”
I exhaled sharply, my tone neutral though I didn’t bother to hide my frustration. “The healer said she isn’t sure he’ll make it through another month.”
Sadness flickered in her eyes, and she reached for my hand, giving it a squeeze. “There’s really nothing more we can do?”
Before I could answer, a knock sounded on the door. Irritation spiked, and I snapped, “Not now. Come back later.”
There was a hesitant pause before the voice on the other side replied, “I’m sorry, Alpha, but it’s a situation that requires your immediate attention.”
I growled low in my throat, rising to my feet. “Wait here,” I told Nadia before striding to the door and yanking it open. “What is it?”
The warrior flinched slightly under my glare but managed to speak. “There’s a commotion at the gates.”
Without another word, I was moving through the halls of the mansion, my wolf stirring uneasily within me. As I approached the gates, the scent hit me first—faint but unmistakable. My wolf froze, his senses sharpening, his instincts locking onto a presence that had been burned into us despite the lack of a mark.
I felt her before I saw her.
Nicole.
She stood at the gates, her disheveled appearance doing nothing to diminish the fire in her eyes. There was something raw and wild about her now. One of my men tried to hold her back, but her claws shot out, knocking his hands away as she shouted, “You f**king bastard! I’ll kill you for this. I swear I’ll kill you if you don’t give him back!”
Her words confused me just like her presence, but I forced my voice to remain cold, distant. “You’re not allowed in my territory. Leave, or I’ll have them use force to remove you.”
Her eyes flashed with rage, darkening into something dangerous. “I know you found out about him,” she hissed, her voice shaking with fury. “I know you had him kidnapped and brought to you. But let me tell you this, Nathan—he’s not your son. He’s mine. I raised him, and I swear if you don’t give him back right now, I’ll kill you right here, right now.”
