Chapter 4

It felt like there had been so many nights and days where I'd gently stroked Calian's head like this.

"Mom, when I was little, you always used to touch my hair like this," Calian said.

He looked like a little cub who'd finally found his home, his face soft and so full of trust and dependence.

I said gently, "Calian, as your mom, I must have really loved you, right?"

Calian nodded eagerly. "Yes, Mom. You love me more than anyone. And I love you so, so much."

I pulled him out of my arms and knelt, locking eyes with Calian's blazing golden gaze.

I said, "Calian, if you really love me so much, can you tell me what you and your father did that would drive me to wreck my soul just to get away from you?"

At my words, the smile on Calian's face disappeared instantly.

"Mom..." Calian turned his face away in a panic, refusing to meet my eyes. "That's all in the past. Since you don't remember, there's no need to bring it up again."

I caught the guilty look on his face and let a faint smirk tug at my lips.

Then I shot a glance at Lyon, standing behind Calian. "And you, the one who claims to be my Fated Mate, are you going to tell me everything? The real story, from beginning to end?"

Lyon locked eyes with me for a long moment.

His gaze flickered with emotion before he finally spoke, "Freya, you left because things got complicated between us. As for Calian..."

He trailed off, hesitating.

Calian stiffened, his eyes darting nervously to his dad.

Lyon gave him a reassuring look and continued, "As for Calian, it was nothing but a kid acting up. It was just some childish mischief that made you angry, nothing serious.

"Calian was being naughty. He upset you, but it wasn't anything major. Freya, come back with us.

"I promise, whatever happened before won't happen again. Calian's grown up now. He won't throw tantrums or cause trouble to upset you anymore."

Calian quickly nodded along with his father's words.

When he looked at me, he pulled a sheepish, trying-to-please grin.

I glanced at Calian and then looked up at Lyon, who was acting all cool like nothing was wrong.

With a scoff, I straightened up. "Since neither of you wants to tell me the truth, it looks like there's nothing left to talk about.

"Suit yourselves. I'm heading home to make dinner for my daughter."

With that, I walked right past them.

Calian called after me, sounding desperate, but I didn't look back.

I may have forgotten everything, but I was not an idiot.

The truth those two couldn't bring themselves to say was most likely hiding a pit that would tear me apart.

I'd already dragged myself out of that mess once. There was no way I'd jump back in blindly.

After I made it clear I wasn't going with Lyon and Calian, they didn't leave.

Instead, they moved in right next door.

And then, every single day, they'd pop up in front of me, trying to make sure I couldn't forget they existed.

I wasn't the only one who was fed up with it. Lilia was too.

Every time she ran into Calian, she'd come home looking all sulky.

"Mom, that Calian is so annoying," she'd complain. "He said I'm some kid you picked up, and I don't even have the right to call you Mom.

"He also said that soon you'll go back with them, and then you won't want me anymore."

I smiled and ruffled her hair.

"Don't worry, sweetheart. I'm not going back with them, and I'm never going to leave you," I said. "Lilia, promise me you'll stay away from Calian as much as you can, okay?"

After Lyon and Calian met with the pack leader that day, they found out Lilia was my adopted daughter.

But Calian's hostility toward Lilia didn't let up at all.

Every time he heard Lilia call me "Mom," he'd shoot her a jealous glare.

He never did anything out of line when I was around.

But I could never forget the murderous look in his eyes the first time he went after Lilia.

Lilia was only seven. She was no match for a twelve-year-old boy like Calian.

I was afraid that if I ever took my eyes off her, Lilia might get hurt.

So, I was already considering leaving this place with Lilia.

But Lyon and Calian were stuck to us like glue, and honestly, that was a real headache.

To get rid of Lyon and Calian, I went to see Sylas.

As soon as I asked for a dose strong enough to knock out two grown male werewolves, Sylas instantly caught on to what I was planning.

He flat-out refused to give me the potion.

"Elin... no, Freya. That's the Alpha King's heir. I can't afford to mess with him," he said.

No matter how many tricks I tried, Sylas wouldn't budge. In the end, I had to leave empty-handed.

As I was almost home, I spotted Lyon and Calian again.

They were both dressed to impress, and their good looks made every passing werewolf turn to stare, especially Lyon.

He had the aura of a noble alpha male—utterly magnetic to any female werewolf around.

And with those striking, sharply defined features, he was impossible to ignore.

A few female werewolves boldly approached Lyon, but he kept a frosty expression and completely ignored them.

Instead, Calian showed off his little wolf fangs and chased those female werewolves away.

When he spotted me, he waved at me with enthusiasm.

"Mom," Calian called out.

I tried to sidestep and act like I hadn't seen him, but he rushed over and grabbed my arm before I could get away.

"Mom, Dad and I have been waiting for you forever," Calian said.

"Freya." Lyon strode over, gave me a gentlemanly bow, and handed me a bouquet of flowers. "Tonight is the Night of Lunar Silence. I'd like to invite you to dinner."