Cecilia watched from a distance as Albert tended to Hailey with an attention he had never given her. The warmth in his gaze made Cecilia’s heart tighten with resentment. While Albert poured himself into another’s company, his own son remained forgotten, left waiting for any sign of fatherly care that would never come.
Taking a shaky breath, Cecilia clenched her fists. The sorrow and frustration choked her voice as she forced herself to speak, each word laced with years of disappointment. “You want me gone, Albert?” Her tone was low but resolute. “Fine. I’ll be out of your life.”
Albert barely glanced at her, brushing off her words with indifference. He had never wanted to be her mate; he’d only accepted the union because of pressure from their families, bound by ancient customs and the alliance between their packs. But their connection had been nothing more than a hollow arrangement, lacking the bond and warmth that other mated pairs shared. His neglect had even weakened her connection to her wolf, leaving her spirit drained and her powers dulled. Even her rare healing abilities weakened to the point that she could not use it for her son.
Cecilia had always known that her ancestral heirloom, the Lunarstone, could restore her connection to her wolf, but it was a burden she’d resisted. A legendary relic passed down to the eldest child, it held immense power, and the thought of wielding it terrified her. She’d never wanted to rely on it, fearing that its power would only add another layer of responsibility to a life already burdened by unfulfilled obligations.
As her gaze hardened, Albert smirked, a sneer curling his lips. “Is this another one of your stunts to get my attention?” he taunted. “Now that you realize using Evan isn’t enough, you’ve decided to make it all about you?”
A fresh wave of anger surged through Cecilia, but she forced herself to remain calm. Her son, Evan, had been in a fragile state for the past year. He’d grown pale, his once-bright energy faded, and dark veins traced beneath his skin, a stark sign of some unknown ailment. His appetite had dwindled, and fainting spells plagued him. The healers had been stumped, unable to explain why his condition worsened while he remained immune to their treatments.
During the worst of it, Cecilia had pleaded with Albert, using their mind-link to beg him to visit their son. Evan had been desperate to see his father, clinging to the hope that Albert’s presence might lift his spirits. But her pleas had been ignored; Albert had dismissed her attempts as manipulations, a tactic to gain his sympathy.
She’d endured years of being invisible, overshadowed by his disregard and the attention he lavished on Hailey. And now, after nearly a decade, all her efforts to support him, to keep their family together, had gone unnoticed. Her resolve hardened as she met his gaze, the weight of her decision grounding her. “Believe whatever you want,” she replied, her voice hollow. “I’m leaving.”
Cecilia turned to gather her belongings, her movements brisk as she pulled her suitcase behind her. But before she could step out of the door, Hailey spoke up, her tone laced with calculated sweetness. “Alpha, aren’t you still planning to celebrate Evan’s birthday together? You didn’t cancel that for our hiking trip, did you? Cecilia’s upset enough already…”
Albert’s expression softened as he reassured Hailey, entirely oblivious to Cecilia’s pain. “Don’t worry, Hailey,” he murmured soothingly. “I know my priorities. We can go to Evan’s celebration anytime. The weather now is good for hiking, we can't wait for another season to arrive.”
Cecilia’s scoff broke the silence, a bitter sound that echoed through the room. She continued toward the door, unwilling to let herself be further humiliated. But suddenly, Albert’s hand gripped her arm, stopping her in her tracks. “It’s the middle of the night, Cecilia,” he said impatiently, his voice tinged with frustration. “Is leaving now really that important to you?”
His gaze lingered on her face, and for the first time, he noticed her red, swollen eyes, evidence of the tears she’d shed alone. A flicker of pity crossed his face, so fleeting she might have imagined it. “Look, let me clear my schedule for next month,” he offered reluctantly. “Then, I’ll take Evan out myself, alright?”
“Next month?” she whispered, incredulous. “You really think he has a ‘next month’ to wait for?”
Pulling her arm free, she took a step back, watching as Albert stared down at his empty hand, shocked at her rejection. For years, she’d been the one clinging to him, hoping for scraps of attention, and now, with her resolve finally strengthened, he seemed bewildered by her defiance.
Before he could gather his thoughts, Hailey stepped forward, grabbing his arm as if to steady him. “Alpha, this is all my fault. I should’ve known better than to compete with a child for your time.” Her voice held a perfect note of guilt, but her eyes sparkled with a smug satisfaction that made Cecilia’s blood boil. “Evan was faking his illness anyway; I shouldn’t have let it affect our time together.”
Faking?
What the heck did she say?
The word struck Cecilia like a blow. For a moment, she was frozen, her mind racing with disbelief and fury. Her vision blurred, and before she could fully register her actions, she’d closed the distance between them. The sound of her palm striking Hailey’s cheek reverberated in the room.
Hailey gasped, holding her face in shock as silence fell between them. Albert looked taken aback, but his initial surprise quickly morphed into anger.
