Chapter 3

My husband brought his secret son before the entire pack and waited for me to accept him as our future Alpha.

The pack hall was already full when I entered.

Caelan stood near the raised platform at the front of the room. Talia waited beside him with Milo asleep against her chest.

When Caelan saw me, the tension left his face. He crossed the room at once.

"You came." Relief warmed his voice, and several nearby wolves smiled as if they were watching a husband welcome his Luna.

I let him escort me to the platform. He faced the crowd with Talia and the child on one side and me on the other.

Whispers moved through the crowd.

Most of Blackwood already knew Talia. She had grown up here. Some remembered that she and Caelan had once been expected to mate before she left the territory years ago.

Now she had returned carrying his child.

And I was standing beside them.

"Tonight, I bring you great news," Caelan announced. His voice echoed off the stone walls. "This is Milo. He is my firstborn son."

Loud whispers erupted across the room. The wolves looked at the baby, then at Talia, and finally at me.

Caelan raised his hand. The room quieted down immediately.

"Milo will be the future heir of the Blackwood pack," Caelan declared.

He turned toward me. His eyes were calm and confident. He expected me to play my part. He expected me to be the understanding, self-sacrificing Luna.

"Rhea," he said softly, but loud enough for the whole room to hear. "Acknowledge him."

The entire pack held their breath.

I looked at the baby. Then I looked straight into my husband's eyes.

"No," I said.

Caelan's confident smile froze. A shocked murmur ran through the crowd.

"Rhea," Caelan warned. His jaw hardened. "Acknowledge our heir."

"No," I said again, my voice clear and steady.

For the first time that evening, control slipped from his face.

His pride was wounded in front of his people. He was the Alpha, and he would not let anyone defy his authority. Not even his mate.

The air in the room suddenly turned suffocatingly heavy.

He unleashed his Alpha aura. He aimed the crushing pressure directly at me.

I had no wolf to protect me. The invisible weight crashed down on my shoulders.

My legs trembled violently. My knees began to sink under the sheer force of his power.

But I refused to yield. I gritted my teeth and locked my joints.

He saw me resisting. He frowned, opening his mouth to force the command heavier.

"Accept my—"

Suddenly, a loud commotion broke out at the heavy wooden doors of the hall.

Blackwood guards shouted in protest, but they were pushed aside. A strong, familiar voice cut through the heavy silence.

"Tell Rhea Vale we're here."

Caelan froze. His concentration broke.

The crushing Alpha weight vanished instantly. I let out a sharp breath and stood up perfectly straight.

I knew exactly who was at the door.

I reached deep into my pocket. I pulled out my father’s heavy silver ring.

Caelan watched me. He finally realized this was not a tantrum.

For six years, he had believed every sacrifice ended the same way—with me still standing beside him.

I looked at the man who had been certain my love made leaving impossible.

Then I let the entire Blackwood pack hear my answer.

"I, Rhea Vale, reject you, Caelan Thorne, as my mate and Alpha."

For one heartbeat, nothing happened.

Then, Caelan's face changed.