Chapter 1
The rain poured relentlessly that day, a storm fit for the tragedy that unfolded. My mate, Makai Watson, the Alpha of the Watson Pack, abandoned our son, Jace, on his way to a crucial pack training session. He turned the car around and drove off because his secretary, Leslie Burke, was pregnant.
Stranded in the middle of nowhere, Jace tried to hail a cab but couldn’t find one. He was forced to run through the torrential rain and ended up in a terrible accident. By the time I rushed to the hospital, my little warrior was already gone.
As I broke down in tears, Makai called, his voice casual, as if he hadn’t just shattered our family.
“Amber, give my apologies to Jace for me. Leslie is pregnant, and I had to be there. I was a bit drunk that night, but the child is mine, and I must take responsibility. You always wanted a daughter, didn’t you? Once the pup is born, she can be yours to raise.”
I stayed silent as he continued, “The young girl is inexperienced, and I need to stay with her for a while.”
I wiped away my tears and replied calmly, “Fine.”
After handling Jace’s funeral, I drafted a mate rejection agreement and called the one Lycan I knew was eager to take down the Watson Pack.
“Didn’t you always want a shot at the Watsons? I won’t stand in your way now.”
On the other end, Devon Martinez, the Lycan King, responded with disbelief. “Amber, I might be known as 'the Lion of the Lycan Realm,' but don’t play games with me. You’ve been secretly protecting the Watsons for two decades; why the sudden change of heart?”
“I’m rejecting him,” I said bluntly.
He paused, surprised and intrigued. “Are you serious? So many Lycans tried to win your heart, yet you chose a third-rate pack like the Watsons and turned Makai, an unknown, into one of the most influential Alphas in the state. Why are you suddenly set on rejecting him?”
I didn’t elaborate but stated firmly, “The reason doesn’t matter. I won’t shield the Watsons anymore.”
I could hear Devon’s satisfaction through the phone. “I’ve been waiting for you to say that. Makai thought he was untouchable thanks to your protection. If not for you, I would have taken him down ages ago. Since you’re rejecting him, I’ll be sending him a special surprise at the Watson Pack’s celebration tomorrow.”
Just after I hung up, Makai returned to the packhouse after a three-day absence. He headed straight to Jace’s room, and discovering it empty, turned to me on the sofa.
“Where’s Jace? The training is over, and he can relax, but staying out so late isn’t acceptable. My son shouldn’t be so reckless.”
I glanced at the lipstick stain on Makai’s neck and replied coolly, “Are you sure you remember he is your son?”
He frowned, about to argue, but softened instead, “Is Jace still upset about that day when I left him? I’ll make it up to him when he gets back. He always listens to me; he won’t stay mad.”
Indeed, Jace always listened. Knowing how much Makai valued strength and achievement, Jace trained late into the night, always excelling in pack challenges. Just before the training session, he confidently declared he would earn his warrior rank and make his father proud.
Yet, on his most important day, his father betrayed him, leading to his tragic end. I couldn’t bear to imagine how Jace felt when Makai forced him out of the car.
I swallowed my tears and choked out, “You’ll never see Jace again.”
Makai grew slightly angry, “You’re his mother; don’t stir up unnecessary drama.”
With that, he tossed a beautifully wrapped gift box at me, as though granting me a favor.
“That little pregnant girl is needy. I’ll only be home one day a week from now on; get used to it, okay?”
The weight of his words settled over me like a shroud. My wolf stirred within, a low growl of pain and anger echoing in my mind. But I didn’t let it show. Not yet. There would be a time for that, and it was coming sooner than Makai could ever imagine.