The flicker of guilt that had briefly surfaced on the Alpha’s face vanished instantly, replaced by a cold, fierce anger. He instinctively moved to shield Sonya behind him, narrowing his eyes as he fixed them sharply on me. “What do you think you’re doing? That’s your sister!”
I paid no mind to his outburst, directing my cold, unwavering stare straight at Sonya instead. “Mind your language. Whether or not we share blood, you have no right to disrespect my son.”
Sonya’s face fell, wounded and uncertain, as she looked up at Craig, her voice barely steady. “Alpha, please don’t let me come between you two. If Kristen won’t admit Dustin is pretending to be sick, then I’ll stop bringing it up.”
My heart pounded hard as I turned back to Craig, my tone low but firm, carrying all the weight of my resolve. “Do you honestly believe our son is faking it too?”
Craig’s silence was suffocating. His eyes darted around, scanning the empty room as if Dustin would suddenly appear out of thin air.
Trying to mask the irritation creeping into his voice, Craig finally asked, “Where did you take Dustin? I can’t sense him anywhere.”
His doubt cut deep. He couldn’t even believe that our son had been suffering for all this time. If only I had his strength—I would have summoned the finest healers to help Dustin immediately. But as Luna, my power was limited by the boundaries of our pack—and by Craig’s refusal to recognize me.
Had he bothered to come home even once, he would have seen the table covered in herbal medicines, and Dustin’s pale, fragile form lying quietly nearby. But he never did.
I remembered the day Dustin told me he didn’t have much time left. His voice was so weak, his eyes reflecting a truth too painful to deny. Though I clung to hope with every fiber of my being, I knew he was right, given how fast his health was failing. Dustin’s dying wish had been simple: to celebrate his birthday together, as a family.
Driven by desperation, I had begged Craig, even dropping to my knees in complete surrender. I grabbed his pants, my voice breaking as I promised that this would be the last time I ever troubled him. I said I was ready to let him go—to set him free. In that moment, my Alpha looked down at me, his eyes flashing with surprise and something else I couldn’t quite understand.
His voice trembled, laced with disbelief and a hint of happiness. “Are you serious?”
“Yes,” I whispered, closing my eyes as tears spilled down my cheeks.
From the very moment I saw Craig, I had loved him fiercely. It was love at first sight—so obvious, everyone around us noticed. Even before I understood we were fated mates, my heart belonged to him. I had chased his attention, followed him everywhere, done whatever I could just to capture his heart.
But instead of reciprocating, Craig grew to despise me. His hatred peaked when, during his coming-of-age ceremony, he learned I was his destined mate. That revelation only deepened his bitterness; he had wanted Sonya by his side instead.
He had desired to be with her. Why hadn’t I stepped aside? Why hadn’t I let them be? I had been foolish to think he might change his mind. Because of my insistence, he had witnessed Sonya leave for another pack after she found her true mate there.
My parents had insisted I accept my fate and remain with Craig. They believed there was no escaping the bond we were meant to share. So Craig was forced into the mating with me, which left me as his Luna.
Our mateship ceremony was far from joyful. Craig had refused a grand celebration, saying I deserved nothing more.
Years later, when Sonya returned claiming her mate had died, I realized how pointless it was to compete with her.
Looking back, I had begged him once again, promising to leave him alone after all these years. That plea seemed to break the last barrier—he agreed only because he wanted to be rid of me.
But why? Why hadn’t he spent even a single final moment with Dustin? Why did he break his promise? It’s one thing for him not to love me, but Dustin is his son too. How could he be so utterly heartless toward him?
