Alex:
Nothing could have ever prepared me for this cause-honestly, it was a scene I couldn’t have imagined.
“I told you coming here was a bad idea,” Shadow said as I stood there, stunned and silent.
“But-”
I was utterly speechless, unable to find the right words to say. I didn’t know exactly what I was expecting when I left the alpha’s Damian pack, but I certainly wasn’t expecting to see my father in such a compromising situation with women who weren’t my mother.
He was a man I had always looked up to in my head, even when I hadn’t met him, but now the respect and admiration I once held for him have wavered, replaced by shock.
Before my mother fell in love with Alpha Damian, she had remained loyal to my father and had no other man in her life, so I had expected the same fidelity from him. Seeing him with other women now made me question everything I had thought about him.
“Hey, are you coming in or not?” A warrior spoke sharply, pulling me out of my confusion. I nodded, trying to push away the doubts and negativity crowding my mind and focusing on why I was here.
As I walked into the room, my heart pounded, and my nerves were on edge. I took a deep breath and stepped towards the centre of the room. Alpha Liam, facing away from me, was putting his clothes back on. When he turned to face me, his eyes widened in shock.
My breath caught in my throat as I saw the resemblance between us. We looked so much alike that he couldn’t miss the connection.
Despite the awkward situation from earlier, I was desperate to embrace him to feel a connection. I hoped he would feel the same, but I couldn’t be sure.
“Alpha Liam, my name is Alex.” I began, summoning the courage to speak, my voice shaking slightly with emotion. “I’m your son,” I added, biting my tongue and holding back the urge to call him “father.”
A flicker of surprise crossed his face before he quickly composed himself, his expression turning stoic. His reaction confused me; this moment was nothing like the reunion I’d imagined in my mind.
“I have no son,” he replied curtly, his words like a slap in the face.
“But… my mother told me about you,” I stammered, my confusion deepening.
“And the reactions from everyone confirm my suspicion.” I added, and he scoffed dismissively, turning away from me.
“We may look alike, but that doesn’t mean I’m your father,” he said, his tone cold and dismissive. His rejection stung, leaving me struggling to process his words.
Unable to control my emotions, tears streamed down my face, and I felt all my hopes dashed in an instant. I had come seeking acceptance, seeking a connection with the man who was supposed to be my father. Instead, I was met with rejection and indifference.
No fatherly hug or forehead kiss.
“I just wanted to meet you. I hoped you would feel the same way,” I whispered, the pain in my chest becoming too much to bear, making it hard to breathe.
More tears spilled from my eyes, and I felt completely lost. I had imagined this moment so many times, expecting kindness and a sense of belonging, but I found none of that here. My father’s cold rejection left me feeling empty, as though a part of me had been ripped away.
“Hmm, so you’re really confident that you’re my son?” Alpha Liam asked, and I could sense the mockery in his voice.
“I think so,” I managed to respond, though his cold demeanour made me uncertain.
“It’s funny because I remember strangling the life out of you and watching you take your last breath. Now tell me, how did you survive?” he said, settling into his large chair and crossing his legs casually.
His words seemed nonchalant, like he was discussing the weather, and for a moment, I almost thought I’d misheard. But then he laughed, a dark and chilling sound, making it clear he was serious.
“Sorry?” I stammered, unable to process what I had just heard.
“You heard me right. I ordered Jane and Williams to take you into the woods so you would be eaten by a wild animal. But I didn’t trust nature or those animals to finish the job, so I went myself to make sure it was done without mistakes.” His voice was cold, and the world around me seemed to blur as his words echoed in my mind.
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing-my own father confessing to my murder. How could he have done such a thing? My heart raced as I tried to make sense of his shocking confession.
My father was a murderer.
Fear, anger, and disbelief churned inside me. I fought to hold his gaze, but my emotions played out on my face, and he could see how deeply his words cut.
“You… you killed me? Why? What did I ever do to you?” I managed to choke out, my voice shaking as I stared into Alpha Liam’s cold, unfeeling eyes, hoping for some sign of regret or humanity. His expression remained impassive, his eyes devoid of emotion, confirming my worst fears.
“Must I spell it out for you again, bastard?” He roared, his voice devoid of any remorse.
That word-bastard-hit me like a slap.
A wave of nausea washed over me, threatening to overwhelm me as the enormity of his words sank in. My own father, the man who was supposed to protect me, had taken my life without a second thought.
“How could you?” I whispered, struggling to comprehend the depth of his betrayal.
“In this world, power is everything,” he responded dismissively. “I couldn’t risk letting you grow up and challenge me for the alpha position. It was a matter of survival. I killed my own father to be where I am today, so I hope you understand and don’t take it too personally.” He smirked, his words leaving me feeling hollow and broken. I sank to my knees, coming to terms with the weight of his betrayal, which crushed me down like a ton of bricks.
If he killed me, then how did I survive?
“I came here wanting to meet my father, who would love and protect me,” I sobbed, the pain of his betrayal tearing me apart from the inside out.
But there was no love in the eyes of the man before me-only cold indifference and ruthless ambition. As I kneeled down before him, I realised I would never find the love and acceptance I craved from him, only heartache and betrayal.
“It’s all your mother’s fault. If she hadn’t pressured me into having a child and had remained the perfect Luna she used to be, none of this would have happened. Don’t blame me-blame her. She was so focused on finding out who took her baby that she didn’t realise the person responsible was right in front of her. I must say, the past few years have changed her significantly. I never thought she had it in her to beat someone to the pulp. Poor Jane almost died at her hands; it was fortunate I arrived just in time to save her.” He laughed and looked into the distance, as if reminiscing.
I felt sorry for myself and also sorry for my mother for doubting her. My father is worse than the devil.
I made a mistake coming here. Now I understand why my mother wanted me to stay away from you,” I said, wiping tears from my face. I pushed myself to my feet and brushed off my knees, my body trembling with a mix of anger and sadness.
It hurt deeply to admit it, but my father was an asshole.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Alpha Liam’s voice was cold.
“I’m leaving and never coming back,” I said, starting for the door.
But as I moved to leave, the warriors who had led me here quickly stepped in my way, their intent clear. Desperation surged through me, knowing I needed to act fast to escape this nightmare.
“You think I’d let you walk out of here alive after you’ve learned my secrets?” Alpha Liam’s tone was chilling.
My heart raced, and I turned to face him, trying to keep my voice steady. “What are you planning to do to me?”
“I’m going to make sure this time I don’t repeat my mistake from seven years ago,” Alpha Liam said with a chilling calm.
“Are you going to kill me? You think my mother won’t find you?” I yelled, my voice rising in desperation.
He chuckled darkly. “Your mother is preoccupied trying to survive. She’s too busy to notice her son went against her wishes and is about to be killed again.”
“What did you do to my mother?” I shouted, tears stinging my eyes.
“She’s locked away, facing accusations. Even Damian can’t save her now. Once Lilith is done with her, I’ll bring her back to me and mold her back into the perfect Luna she was. As for Damian… I’ll deal with him next,” he said with a cold, calculated smile. Then he motioned for the warriors to take me away.
“You will pay for this,” I shot back in anger.
Alpha Liam raised an eyebrow, a mocking smile playing on his lips. “And what exactly do you plan to do, little boy? Scare me with your empty threats?” He chuckled, his eyes glinting with sinister amusement.
The warriors grabbed me forcefully, hoisting me off the ground. I struggled against them, panic and desperation coursing through me. I never expected things to turn out like this.
My efforts seemed futile-I was outnumbered and overpowered. Alpha Liam’s cold, calculating gaze bore into me, reminding me he held all the cards.
How could I save myself and my mother from this ruthless man? But it felt as if every avenue had been blocked and every chance at escape had been snuffed out. My mind grasped for hope, but it was hard to find any.
The thought of my mother suffering in prison, facing accusations, and being broken by Lilith’s torture was a crushing blow. I had no way of helping her, no way of reaching her. It was as if the light of any possibility had been extinguished.
“It’s all over now,” I muttered, defeated.
“But it doesn’t have to be.” The voice of Shadow spoke in my mind, causing my heart to race.
“What are you talking about?” I asked.
“It’s time you knew who I really am,” Shadow said.
“Haven’t you ever wondered how you survived after your father tried to kill you and left you in the woods for days?”
I was silent, considering his words.
“You think of me as your wolf, but I’m not. I’m a powerful being sent to this world by the moon goddess on a mission. Years ago, while fulfilling my mission, I unintentionally saved your life by breathing life into yours. That’s why you survived in the woods until your mother found you. It was against my rules to interfere with the human world, but I couldn’t abandon you, so I shared my life with you. My punishment was to stay in your world until the moon goddess calls me back or gives me another mission.”
His revelation stunned me, shedding light on why I had always felt different. I had to know more, but my mind raced ahead to his last words. What would happen when he left me? Would everything change?
“What was your mission before you found me?” I asked, curiosity burning inside me.
“My mission was to judge wolves who were treated unfairly, but I failed. Since I have no mission right now and am still under punishment, it wouldn’t be against the rules for me to interfere in the human world again, right?” He chuckled, and I nodded desperately in agreement.
“Please, help me save my mother.”
“I will, but aren’t you curious about who I truly am? I’m the chief-” He began, but I interrupted.
“We don’t have enough time for that,” I argued impatiently as the men dragged me into a dark room.
“But it’s something important for you to know,” he insisted.
“Later,” I responded with a tired sigh, waving off his explanation. “We can’t waste time on idle talk right now.”
“Alright then, tell me exactly what you need me to do,” he pressed, his voice serious. I swallowed the lump in my throat, the weight of my request bearing down on me. However, as I recalled all the cruel words Alpha Liam had hurled at me and the pain he had inflicted on my mother, my heart solidified.
“I want Alpha Liam’s,” I said, my heart simmering with fear just beneath the surface.
“But first, you need to save my mother,” I added. As soon as the words left my lips, I felt a shift in his presence, taking control of my body.
“Your wish is my command, young one,” he said, his voice echoing through me, a sense of power surging within.