My Alpha mate left our son dying, to save his mistress's son novel

I clutched my son, Kael, pressing a trembling hand against the gash weeping crimson on his small side.
The rogue claws had found him moments ago, and the silver dust embedded in the wound was doing its terrible work, but the blood loss was the greater threat.
Julian, please, I pleaded, my voice thin and ragged with fear. I looked up at my Mate, the Alpha, my eyes begging him to recognize the gravity of the situation.
"We have to get Kael to the healer's den. Now."
Julian, powerful and imposing, stood before the cabin's fireplace, his body tense. He glanced at the blood soaking the fur Kael was wrapped in, his eyes were complicated, shadowed by something I couldn't decipher.
"Just a moment, Lyra," he said, his tone annoyingly detached. "I have other things to handle at the moment."
While my heart hammered with primal terror over my sons life, a terrible sting of emotional neglect pierced me.
While our son was lying in the pool of blood, fighting each and every second for the survival, he was busy in his mind telepathy, desperately trying to connect with someone. I wondered who.
I struggled to hold my son steady, the need to move overcoming me. "Have other things to handle? Are you kidding me, Julian? Kael is bleeding from a silver wound! We need to go. Now."
"Will you please shut your mouth for a moment?" He yelled at me.
I was stunned to see him going mad at me, for what? For trying to protect our child?
"Just a moment, Bella. This is really important." He added, his voice lower than earlier, a small effort to erase the guilt he felt after realizing how wrong he was shouting at me at a situation like this.
A cold, unfamiliar rage spiked through my fear. What business could possibly be more important than the life of his true-born son and heir?
But before I could argue, a faint, high-pitched howl echoed from the north side of the territory. It wasn't the sound of battle; it was a distinctive distress call.
Julian answered it instantly, not with his voice, but with a low, rumbling acknowledgment in the Pack-mind. His expression instantly shifted, the stoic determination replaced by a familiar desperation, and a look of hurried decision.
"I have to go," he growled, already moving toward the door, his eyes avoiding Kael.
I felt a surge of pure, freezing shock as I forced the words out, "What? No, Julian." I pleaded, clutching Kael closer, "You can't just leave us here. We need to carry Kael to the healer. Our den is surrounded with rogues and I can't do this without you."
Julian paused by the threshold, his immense shoulders hunched. He looked back at me, his eyes now a mixture of guilt, frustration, and a deeply-rooted concern that wasn't for us.
"I'm sorry, Bella, But Elara's pup is hurt. Badly. Shes too far out, and the rogues might still be near. I have to go to them."
Elara's pup. The child she had conceived from a past fling, the child Julian had always treated with too much possessive care. He was leaving his own son, wounded and poisoned, to go to her child?
"You're kidding," I whispered, my voice shaking with disbelief and sorrow. "You're going to leave your own son to save hers?"
Julian looked at me, his face set in a grim mask. "I'm sorry, Bella. But I have to go. You know Elara's child is weak and can't be moved without assistance. Kael is strong; he'll wait for me."
Elara's child had a slight crack in his backbone. Healers had suggested that it could be fixed with regular exercises. But, Julian said it's too tiring.
He let her pup take rest all the time instead and promised him to exchange his bone when he is old enough for the surgery.
To keep him entertained and not feel lesser than other pups, he began spending five days a week with him and Elara, completely neglecting Kael and me.
But, never in my worst nightmares had I thought that he would leave us to die in rogues' hands to go save Elara's pup.
"What about my son, Julian?" I asked, a fresh wave of panic making my voice tremble. He crossed the floor in a single stride, looking only at me, never at Kael.
"You will be fine, Bella. Just hold the wound tight. The bleeding will slow. I will be back before the Moon rises."
I still tried to stop him. But, before the words could escape through my lips, he was gone. I was at a loss for a long time, not knowing what to do, the sound of Kael's unnormal breathing enhancing the terror in my eyes.
"M-Mom..." Keal, my two years old child, choked, "Where is Dad? Why is he not doing anything?"
I barely managed to suppress the tears from streaming on my cheeks at my son's words. I did not want to scare him. So, I said, "He is clearing ways for us, Kael. He will be here. Soon. I promise. Just hang on a little."
After whispering a few encouraging words into his ears. I walked up to the window of our room. I slowly slid the window sill to get the outside view. My eyes widened in terror.
The rogues' were everywhere. Killing each and every person coming in their way. But, my gaze fixed at a familiar person. Julian.
There he was, holding Elara's pup in his lap, who looked completely fine, his top-tier soldiers making way for Julian and Elara.
I took a sigh of relief. Now that he had rescued Elara and her pup, he would possibly return to us, to save Kael, his son. I immediately connected Julian through telepathy.
"Julian, now that Elara and her pup are safe, can you please return and help us? Kael doesn't have much time."
"Liam is traumatized by the attack, Bella. He isn't reacting. Elara can't handle him alone. I need to stay with them tonight." He had replied, his voice laced with concern and worry, just not for Kael but Liam.
Just when I thought I would go crazy in anguish, Kael's painful scream echoed through the room.
I turned back only to find a huge and strong wild rogue standing next to Kael, his nails dug deeper inside Kael's neck, making him bleed from two places now.
"Tell your Alpha to fulfill our demand or you son dies!" He barked.

I watched in paralyzing horror as the brute's silver-tipped nails dug deeper into Kaels fragile neck. The rogues foul breath hitched as he stared straight at me.
I could see the feverish excitement in his eyeshe hadn't expected to find the Alphas Mate, the Luna, and the heir so easily trapped. His cold threat still echoed in the small, blood-splattered room.
Every instinct screamed at me to shift, to tear him limb from limb, but Kael's life was on stake. One wrong move could cost Kael's life.
My handswhich had been trembling with fearnow steadied with an icy resolve. I slowly reached my hands to my forehead, trying to connect with Julian.
Due to our mate bond, the line immediately connected. A moment of hope flickered through my eyes. But, soon the reality struck me hard.
Julian had disconnected our link.
"Do it faster!" The rogue wolf barked at me, moving his Claws from Kael's neck to his heart. "Or else I'll took your son's out of his chest."
"No please..." I begged before I tried to connect Julian again. Not once, but dozen times. But, everytime the link was disconnected ruthlessly before he finally accepted the connection.
"What is it, Bella? Didn't I tell you I can't leave by Liam's side tonight?"
"J-Julian... We are under attack!" I blurted out immediately, in case he disconnect our connection again.
"K-Kael's life is on stake, Julian." My voice trembled with fear and concern. "They are demanding The White Tulip Water. Give it to them and Kael will be saved."
"That's our pack's treasure, Bella." Julian's voice sounded from the other end, cold and emotionless, "I can't give it to them."
My eyes widened in shock and terror. I could not believe this man, who had once gathered the whole Kingdom's healers just to be careful on his son's successful delivery, to be this reluctant to part with his Pack's treasury when the same son's life was on stake.
"Are you in your mind, Julian?" I could not hold my anguish anymore and yelled at him. "Is the Pack's treasure more important to you than your son?"
Then, a low, almost regretful voice sounded from the other end. "Liam will need the water of White Tulip when he undergoes the surgery of his backbone."
"Liam is all that Elara has, Bella. I can't let her watch his son living a life of a cripple."
I could not believe on what I heard. What did he actually mean?
It's not that he could not sacrifice his Pack's treasure for our son, it's just my son lost the race to Elara's son.
He could not see her son living a life of a cripple. But, he was fine with watching his son die?
"You are choosing Elara's son's treatment over our son's life?" I muttered, my voice dangerously calm.
"Don't be so dramatic, Bella." He replied lazily, "They know Kael is my son, a heir to my pack. They dare not lay their hands over him. They are only scaring you."
"Just hang on a little. I have asked my beta to reach you as soon as possible." He had added, as if doing a huge favour on me.
"What if-" I still tried to argue, to fight for my son's survival. But, the mind link was disconnected from the other end.
I turned to look at the rogue wolf, who had already guessed the outcome. My lips trembled in fear as I said, "You have got the wrong child to bargain."
"You should have gone for Elara's child instead." Only I knew the pain of sting that pierced my heart saying this.
I was Julian's wife, his mate, and the child lying in the pool of blood was his own son. But, the only person he cared about was his childhood sweetheart who had abandoned him on the wedding day and eloped with his lover.
Realising Kael and I were not useful to him anymore, the rogue wolf looted the whole house, grabbed everything that he could and then left, taking all the rouge wolves along with him.
I finally took a sigh of relief and rushed to Kael's side. My fragile son had already fainted witnessing the horror before his eyes.
Just then, Kian, Julian's beta and his so-called helped arrived.
"Luna..." He whispered, entering our room. "Alpha has asked me to escort you safely."
My hands were clenched into fists and the blood was boiling in my veins. I wanted to vent my anger on the first person I saw. But, I had a son to care about.
I let Kian grabbed my son as he took us out and helped us sit in his car.
"K-kael doesn't have much time." I said, my voice trembling, "Get us to Healer's den as soon as possible."
Kian nodded in agreement. But then, his phone rang. He picked it up. Someone on the phone was commanding him, I guessed it was Julian.
Kian's eyes darkened and he shot a pitiful glance over kael, saying, "But Alpha, Kael is really serious now. If we don't get him to the Healer's den right now, I doubt if he will survive to watch the sun next day."
I could not hear what Julian said from the other end, but Kian's face turned complicated.
He looked at me, pity written all over his face when he said, "I have to go, Luna. I can't drive you to the Healer's Den."
I froze at my place. My whole body shook, not with the shock but pure anguish. "Are you even your mind, Kian?"
"I'm the Luna of the pack and my son... He will die if we don't rush to the Healer's Den and you have the audacity to-"
"I'm sorry, Luna." He cut me off, "But Alpha has new command for me."
"And, what's his new command?"
"Liam is having night cravings and wants to eat ice-cream that I had once made for him. Alpha Julian wants me to make the same ice-cream for Liam right now."

My mind went utterly blank. The world narrowed to the sight of Kael's small, pale body resting against my chest, his breaths shallow and ragged.
Ice cream. That was the Alphas immediate, life-or-death priority?
My poor son, his life wasn't even as worthy as the night cravings of Elara's son?
A sound tore from my throata harsh, desolate laugh that had no humor in it. "Is this a joke, Kian?" I whispered, the words coated in a sudden, frightening calm.
Kian looked away, his eyes filled with a wretched guilt that did nothing to soothe the inferno inside me. "I apologize, Luna. But... an Alpha's command is absolute."
"He says Kael is strong, Luna," Kian mumbled, his hand already reaching for the car door handle. "He's sending a different warrior to escort you in a few hours. Alpha Julian assures me that a few hours won't make a difference for Kael, but Liam needs his Beta's ice cream now."
I could see the effort it took for Kian to speak those words, the shame burning on his face, but it didn't matter. His pitiful sympathy was useless. My son was dying.
"Get out," I commanded, my voice flat and final, laced with an authority I hadn't known I possessed.
Kian hesitated. "Luna, I cannot leave you on the roadside with"
"I said, get out!" I shoved the Beta's shoulder with such force that it startled him. He scrambled out of the drivers seat, confusion warring with fear in his gaze.
I didn't wait. Shifting Kael's weight gently, I slid across the car seat. My hands grabbed the steering wheel, my foot slamming the accelerator to the floor before Kian could even fully close his door.
I did not know how to drive a car. I remember begging Julian to teach me. But, everytime he shunned me off saying he can't risk my life and will always drive me wherever I want to go.
But, where was he now? Fulfilling the night cravings of his mistress' son when his own son's life was in danger.
The world outside the car became a blur of black trees and rushing asphalt. The adrenaline flooding my system was the only thing keeping me coherent. I drove with reckless speed, one hand on the wheel, the other gripping Kael's fragile form.
I risked a glance at Kael. His chest rose and fell in shallow puffs. The silver poison from the rogue's claws had done its work, seeping into his small body, slowing his healing factor. He was fading.
"Hold on, my love," I whispered, pressing my lips to his sweat-damp forehead. "We are almost there. Mummy won't let him win."
Just then my sight got blurred with a focus of huge light coming from outside and the next second I heard the sound of my car hitting something huge.
Before I could react or do something, my senses faded. I was fainted. However, in that splits second, I managed to do something I should have done long ago.
I sent an emergency signal. Not to Julian this time. But, someone I had not contacted for years. Someone I could rely on.
***
After an unknown amount of time, I opened my eyes to find myself lying in an infirmary's bed. I got up immediately. I did not look for my son. I did not need to.
Watching me awake, a female healer rushed to my side. She looked somewhat between relaxed and sad. "You are finally awake. I almost thought you would not survive."
"But, you son..." She was struggling to find words to inform me about my son's condition. I made it easier for her.
"I know..." I said, "It was impossible for him to hang on this long."
My voice trembled with pain and anguish. Hands clenched into fists, the sight of Julian holding Liam in his hands, ignoring my desperate call, still fresh in my mind.
I immediately got up from the bed and came out, despite the healer's advice of taking rest. Because, I could not.
I was in rush to go out of the Pack's infirmary when my wolf smelled a familiar scent and my legs couldn't help but moved to the next ward.
There he was, Julian, stroking Liam's hair as he laid on bed. Elara sat next to Julian, placing her hands over his.
Anyone at first glance would assume them having a family moment and not want to disturb their peace. But, I remained still, watching them in silence.
"Thanks for taking care of Liam the whole night, Julian. I don't know what I would have done without you." Elara said, her voice ever so soft.
"No need to thank me, Elara." Julian replied immediately as if feeling hurt to see Elara being so polite. "Liam is like my son. I'll always take care of him."
Elara smiled at him. Julian's eyes lit up watching her happy and immediately pulled her into his arms. "I'm here, Elara. Don't worry."
I felt a pang of jealousy and hurt. He felt necessary to coax Elara and her son. But, what about me and Kael?
Did he have no responsibility towards us, if not love?
Just then, Julian's gaze landed at me. His eyes widened and he immediately broke his hug with Elara and rushed to my side.
"Bella..." He whispered, his voice seemed laced with concern and relieved. "Thank God! You are here. You scared me to death, you know?"
"Where did you disappear last night? My warriors couldn't find you." He said, reaching his hands to pull me into his arms. But, I stepped back, not letting him touch me.
"I can see how scared and worried you are!" I said, pointing at Liam whose bed was filled with a bundle of toys and snacks.
"Bella..." He whispered my name, as if hurt by the accusation, "You are taking me wrong. Liam... He was really critical last night. I just couldn't leave him alone."
"Save it, Julian. I really don't need your explanations."
With that I turned to leave. However, the next words escaping through his lips streamed tears down my cheeks that I had been trying hard to suppress.
"Where is Kael, Bella? Take me to him and I'll apologize."

Julians question"Where is Kael, Bella?"hit me not like a wave of pain, but like a shard of ice splintering in my heart.
He spoke the name of the son he abandoned, the son he sentenced to death, with casual ownership, as though Kael were a mislaid set of keys.
The tears that had betrayed my resolve immediately dried on my cheeks. The anguish in my voice was replaced by a chilling calm.
"You want to know where Kael is?" I asked, my voice dangerously low. I took a deliberate step back, ensuring the space between us was vast and absolute.
Julian, looked genuinely confused by my lack of emotion. "Yes, Bella. Take me to him. I want to apologize for last night."
His words only fueled the cold, terrifying clarity in my mind. He was still centered on his own narrative.
Did he really think his apology was enough to resolve the damage he had already done?
His apology... Would it bring our son back?
I suppressed the infuriating rage within me as I replied, "It's too late now. Kael doesn't need your apology anymore."
He frowned. Taking a hesitant step towards me, he continued, his hands reaching out to cup my shoulders. "I know you are upset, Bella. But, trust me, I never meant to abandon you. I had sent my warriors to escort you. But, you were gone."
"I'm Kael's father, Bella. I'm equally worried for him."
"Equally worried?" I laugheda sharp, mirthless sound that made Julian flinch. "He was dying, Julian. The silver poison was spreading. But you knew that. You just didn't care."
I straightened my spine. The Alpha, the powerful leader, the man I had loved, now looked small and pathetic in the sickly light of the infirmary, clinging to the bedside of his former lovers child.
"I asked you for the White Tulip Water," I continued, each word a hammer blow. "The only thing that could be bargained for Kael's life. And you said no."
Julians eyes narrowed, a flash of the Alphas defensive rage taking over. "That water is the Pack's most sacred treasure! It's for the future, not for one... one fleeting skirmish! And I told you, Liam needs it for his backbone surgery!"
"You chose his backbone surgery over Kaels life," I stated simply, letting the monstrous truth hang in the air. "You didn't see him as your son, Julian. You saw him as less important than Liams future comfort."
Before Julian could launch into another self-justifying excuse, I cut him off, raising my voice. "You want to know where Kael is?"
My gaze swept over Julian, lingering just long enough to see the guilt finally start to register in his eyes. He took a nervous breath, sensing the change in the atmosphere.
But, before the words could escape through my lips, the female healer previously attending me, rushed to my side and said, her voice urgent, "Miss Bella, you haven't signed on the death certificate of your son."
"I know the process is devastating. But, it's a procedure you must undergo."
"No..." Julian's face instantly turned pale. "It can't be possible! My son, Kael... He-"
"Bella," he whispered my name, his face seemed somewhat in guilt and denial. "What is she talking about? Kael... is dead?"
I did not reply. I stayed still at my place, wanted to see what his reaction would be knowing his son died because he was too busy caring about someone else's child.
Perhaps, he will be guilty. Perhaps, this will be the moment of realisation and perhaps, he will come back to us, his real family.
And, perhaps, I'll forgive him one last time.
'This is your last chance, Julian.' I said in my mind.
Julian staggered backward, his eyes fixed on the death certificate as I signed it before his eyes.
"Bella..." He whispered before pulling me in his embrace, saying gently, "It's okay. Liam is your child as well. We will adopt him and love him like we loved Kael."
My knuckles were tightened on his words. I was enraged on his audacity of talking about adopting the person who was mainly responsible for my tragedy, but I remained calm and said nothing.
He had lost his only chance.
He broke our hug after listening to Elara's voice. Elara walked out of Liam's ward and said, "Liam is not taking his medicine again. He... only wants you to feed him."
"What? The medicine is essential for his recovery. He must not skip them." He blurted out, the curves of worry appeared on his forehead, something that could not be visible on his face when our son was bleeding to death.
He immediately walked away with Elara, sparing no glance at me. Then as if suddenly remembered something, he paused at the door. He looked at me with a pair of eyes, showing guilt and concern at the same time.
He seemed to want to say something, perhaps whispering some encouraging words to coax me. But then, he prioritized Liam over me and walked inside his ward without speaking a single word to me.
But, I did not care. The woman who once loved him, the mother who begged him for help, the wife who awaited his attention, was now dead along with the son whose death I had just confirmed with my signature.
I turned back, my whole body stiffened in cold and vengeance. The last thing I did before walking out of the Pack's infirmary was connecting with the same person through my mind link I had connected last night.
"How is Kael doing?" I asked,
"He is critical. Can't say anything now." The voice sounded from the other end, cutting deep through my heart.
I had just lost my four months old unborn baby, I didn't know I had until I saw the blood gushing out my private part during the accident.
The death certificate belonged to him, which Julian misinterpreted as Kael's.
Kael was the only child I had now. I did not want to loose him either.
"So, what have you decided now?" The voice asked, deep and magnetic.
"I have decided. I'm breaking my mate bond with Julian Moore. Escort me from his pack house. Tonight."

"Are you sure you want to do this?" The person asked from the other end, "You betrayed your family, went against the whole pack and degraded your own bloodline just to be with Julian."
"My decision is final, Lucian." I replied, my voice never as confident as this.
"Alright. Taking you out under Julian's eyes is not easy. Give me two days. After that, you would have no choice, Bella."
"Even if the blood flows like a river in Scarlett Moon Pack, I'll have you with me."
After throwing out these words, almost a threat, he disconnected our mind link. I stood still at my place for a long time before I finally decided what I needed to do next.
I hired a cab and went home. Julian still stayed at the Pack's infirmary, feeding medicine and keeping entertain to Liam.
He didn't find it necessary to stay with his wife or at least say a few comforting words to her after she lost her child because of his fault. He just didn't care.
However, these things didn't hurt me anymore. I simply didn't care.
The first thing I did after arriving home, was stripping off the photo frames of our wedding pictures from the wall of our bedroom.
Each and every piece of evidence that showed us happy and in love, was thrown into the trash.
The curtains I had chosen for our home to make it lively was changed into the plain old curtain he had put in his home before meeting me.
The furnitures I had bought to fill his empty and cold villa was now burnt to ashes and the decoration I had done for years to make our home look beautiful was all removed.
My legs trembled for a moment as I stepped inside Kael's room. A small but beautiful room I had designed myself because Julian had no time for Kael's needs as he was busy taking care of Elara's crippled son.
There laid the baseball in the corner of the room, Kael had me bought to play with his Dad, but never once did he get the time to play with him.
There was also a collection of music notes he wanted to play for his Dad, to see the appreciation in his eyes for him. But, the only listener and appreciater he had was me, his Mom.
My gaze moved to the bed. It was small, neatly made with a dinosaur-themed comforter.
I pulled back the covers. Nestled on the pillow was a faded, one-eyed teddy bearhis constant companion.
He had once told me, he would not share his teddy bear with anyone but his little brother if I give him one.
He really wanted a little brother and I could not give him.
I lifted it, burying my face in the soft, worn fur. It smelled faintly of child, of sleep, and of a lingering, sweet innocence.
A single, hot tear finally escaped, landing on the bear's matted ear. It was the only tear I allowed myself.
The task had to be completed. Every itemthe brightly colored books on the shelf, the small, painted wooden truck, the pair of tiny sneakers near the doorwas cataloged not by its worth, but by the weight of the memory attached.
The truck: His first birthday, the one Julian missed for a Pack meeting.
The books: The ones I read to him every night, whispering tales of brave wolves and powerful heroes, that Julian never witnessed.
The sneakers: The last pair he wore, the soles dirty from the final time we played hide-and-seek, just two days before he was bitten.
I wrapped up the memories of my son, playing and laughing in this house on a wooden box.
I picked up the box, the weight of Kaels small life heavy in my arms, and carried it out. The mechanical voice, 'Kael is still critical. Can't say anything now.' still echoed in my head.
I did not throw the box into the trash heap with Julian's possessions. This box would travel with me. It was the only memory I intended to keep, a silent witness and the physical anchor of my vengeful purpose.
I placed the box near the front door, next to my small backpack containing only the bare essentialsdocuments, a change of clothes, and a hidden hunting knife. Everything was ready.
Julian's home, the house he had built and that I had briefly made a home, was now utterly purged of my existence and Kael's memory.
It was back to being Julians sterile, solitary villathe perfect setting for the Alpha who prioritized appearance and comfort over love and life.
Just as I finished my business, I heard the sound of footsteps behind me. I did not need to turn back to know who it was.
Even now his each gesture, every sound he made was imprinted to my mind. It was Julian.
I could feel the utter shock in his eyes as he asked, sweeping his gaze over his empty house, "Bella... What is this? Where is everything gone?"
I finally turned back to look at him. My eyes red with the tears I shed earlier. He frowned and immediately walked to my side. "Bella, are you... okay?"
I felt a pang of hurt and rage at his words. But, I remained neutral.
"I'm okay, Julian." I said, "I just don't want to remember the past."
"It's all right, Bella." He said, his voice ever so gentle and caring as he pulled me in his embrace, "Do whatever you want if that helps you ease your heart."
I didn't push him this time. Neither did I hug him back. I only let him hug me. It was good that he did not doubt anything, not knowing that he was hugging me for the last time.
It was our final good-bye.

The next day, I stood before my son's grave, giving him the last farewell. I did not want to snatch Julian's right of bidding farewell to his son and had informed him about the funeral's timing, hoping to tell him the truth I hadn't said yet.
He had promised he would reach on time. But, after waiting for hours when I called him to ask where he was, he said, "I'm sorry, Bella. This is too hard for me. I can't watch my son buried before my eyes. Please handle this yourself."
I barely fought the urge of exposing his pathetic act, and tell him I had already watched Elara's latest post where he was cooking Liam's favourite meal.
"It's okay. I can understand." I simply replied before I hang up. Maybe, that was what Goddess wanted, that he remained unaware of the truth.
I knelt before the grave, the cold earth seeping through my trousers. There was no grand headstone, no words of love or legacy. Just a small grave. Because, I wanted it that way.
It was the final, stinging proof that Julian had treated his child's passing as a procedural casualty, not a monumental tragedy.
As I brushed a stray leaf from the stone, my phone vibrated in my pocketJulian's private line. I answered, my voice deliberately flat.
"Yes, Julian."
"Bella! Good, you picked up." His tone was bright, dismissive of the profound silence he had left behind at the house. The sound of upbeat chatter and music filtered through the line.
"Im at the infirmary. Liam is finally off the IV drip, and his fever broke! Great news, isn't it?"
My knuckles tightened against the rough stone of my son's grave, but I kept my voice even.
"That's good, Julian."
"Yes! So, I decided to throw a little informal celebration for the Pack healers and Liam to cheer him up. And, I'll officially adopt him as my son. You should come, Bella."
He paused, a hint of patronizing concern entering his voice. "You've been through a lot. A little distraction will do you good. Come, celebrate Liams recovery with us."
Celebrate Liams recovery. The boy who was the direct cause of my son's death. The boy whose recovery warranted a party, while my son's funeral was treated with utter neglect.
"A celebration," I repeated, the word tasting like rust and venom.
"Exactly. A new start. Come, Bella. From this day on, consider Liam as your own son."
"You are coming, right?" He asked.
The glacial calm returned, harder and sharper this time. He wanted a display? He would get one.
"Yes, Julian," I accepted, rising slowly from the grave. "I'll be there."
Before he could speak one more word, I hang up the call. Then, I blocked his number, broke the sim card from my phone and threw it aside.
Just then, my mind buzzed, and I was connected through a mind link. The same person, the only hope.
"What is it?" I asked, my heart beating faster and my mind preparing myself for the worst possible outcome. But, the voice sounded, soft and gentle.
"Kael is out of danger now. He is continuously asking for you, Bella."
Two drops of tears seeped through my eyes that I had been suppressing for a long time as I finally took a sigh of relief.
"Thank you... Thank you so much Lucian." I stammered. I almost sank to my knees, wanting to kowtow this person who emerged as an Angel and helped me save my child who had no chance of survival.
I might have lost Kael, had Lucian, my old friend, not sent an immediate help, rescuing Kael on time.
But, unfortunately, I could not save my unborn baby whom I had kept in my womb for four months.
The death the female healer was talking about, was about my little angel who could not even get to open his eyes in this cruel world and the grave I was standing in front, belonged to him, unnamed.
This was what I wanted to tell Julian before leaving, who wasn't even aware of my pregnancy.
But, I assume it is good he did not come and still don't know about Kael's existence. He wasn't a good father anyways. Dead or alive, his actions had proven, Kael's existence didn't matter to him at all.
The same way, he doesn't matter to us anymore.
After disconnecting our mind link, I summoned my trusted servant at cemetery.
I hinted at the gift box I had prepared for Julian. Inside laid our wedding ring along with the silver string of our mate bond that I had cut off my wrist when he refused to give away White Tulip Water to save our son.
"Deliver this parcel to Alpha Julian at the celebration banquet. Tell him I can't attend his 'Celebration' because I'm still mourning for our dead son."
"But, I have sent my blessings to Liam and his mother instead. They will surely like the gift."
After handing over the gift box to the servant, I walked out of the Pack's cemetery.
There waited a black SUV with four mascular men in black suits to drive me to the airport... to meet Lucian, my old friend, and Kael, my son.

The air in the Pack infirmarys main hall was thick with the scent of pine and cinnamon, masking the usual antiseptic smell.
Julian stood near a large ice sculpture carved into the shape of a leaping wolf, raising a glass of sparkling cider near a huge cake he had personally customised for Liam's big day.
Laughter and relieved chatter bounced off the vaulted ceiling. He felt a surge of warmth, a potent mix of pride and relief.
Liam, pale but smiling, was the star of the show, sitting on a cushioned chair beside Elara, who radiated subdued triumph.
She whispered something into Liam's ears before she walked straight to Julian's side. Wrapping her hands around his arms as if he belonged to her, she asked, her voice soft and laced with anticipated.
"Let's cut the cake. Liam is so excited to officially call you Dad."
"Just a moment, Elara." He replied, gently pushing her hands off his arms, "Bella will be arriving soon. Let's wait for her."
He checked his watch again, a heavy gold band catching the light.
Where was Bella?
A thought bugging his mind for quite a while, became dominant over his excitement once again.
She's taking her time getting ready, he thought, adjusting his tailored tunic. Shell be here soon. She just needs this distraction. Shes grieving, of course, but thats done now. We need to focus on the futureon Liam.
He thought, shutting the fear off his heart that had been taking place earlier.
He had given Bella the courtesy of mourning, the space she needed. His absence at the grave was regrettable, perhaps, but entirely justified.
Once she arrived, he would put a reassuring arm around her and publicly declare Liam their son. It would be a beautiful, unifying moment.
His smile faltered slightly as he scanned the room again. He needed her here. Without her, the picture felt incomplete, unbalanced.
Just then his Alpha ear sensed a slight movement at the door and his heart raced with excitement and anticipation.
It must be Bella.
She has arrived. Finally!
Just as he was about to move toward the door, a sudden silence fell over a small cluster of Pack members near the entrance.
A tall, impeccably dressed man, completely unfamiliar to Julian, stood rigid in the doorway, holding a small, silver-wrapped gift box. Julian recognized the man as one of Bellas most trusted household staff.
The servant didn't look for Julian; he simply waited until Julian's gaze landed on him. Then, he moved with economical steps through the crowd, parting the laughing bodies like water.
Elara nudged Julians arm, her eyes wide with curiosity, but he barely registered her touch.
The servant stopped precisely three feet in front of Julian and bowed stiffly.
"Alpha Julian," the man intoned, his voice cutting through the remaining chatter, "Luna Bella instructed me to deliver this." He held out the silver box.
Julian took the box, a slight frown creasing his brow. "Thank you. Where is she? Tell her the party has started."
The servant's expression did not change. "Luna Bella sends her regrets. She cannot attend your Celebration."
Julian's hand tightened around the box. "Cannot? Why? I told her it would be good for her to get out"
"She is still mourning your dead son, Alpha," the servant finished, his tone devoid of warmth. The bluntness of the statement was a slap in the face. The hall, now fully silent, felt suddenly cold.
Julian forced a patronizing chuckle. "Yes, of course. Well, I appreciate the thought. What is this, then?" he asked, indicating the parcel.
"Her blessings to Liam and his mother," the man replied, his gaze flicking briefly, dismissively, toward Elara. "She said they would surely like the gift."
Julian dismissed the servant with a nod, turning his back on the messenger and forcing a bright smile for the onlookers. "See, Elara? Shes sending her support. She just needs a little more time."
He held the box up, shaking it gently. "Let's see what treasure Bella sends to cheer up our recovered son."
He ripped the silver paper cleanly. Beneath it was a plain wooden box. Julian flipped the lid open, his expression ready for a playful reveala drawing, a note, a piece of jewelry.
Instead, the world tilted, and the festive pine scent was replaced by the sudden, sickening odor of ozone and absence.
Nestled on a bed of dark velvet lay two items.
The first was their wedding band, the heavy gold ring he had placed on her finger years ago. It was polished, immaculate, and utterly severed from her.
The second item stole the breath from his lungs. It was a strand of silver, no thicker than a thread, coiled neatly beside the ring.
But Julian didnt need to touch it to know what it was. It was the physical, crystalline filament of their mate bondthe one she had warned she would cut if he ever betrayed her.
It was severed cleanly at both ends, a literal piece of his soul connection now lying inert in a wooden box.
The chatter in the room remained suspended, watching him. He could feel Elaras anxious grip on his arm. But all Julian heard was a deafening roar in his ears, a sound like a distant, massive wave crashing down.
He looked down at the severed thread, then up at the spot where the servant had stood. The man was gone.
The only thing remained was the snickers and whispers of the onlookers who dared not mutter their disdain earlier.
But, now that their Luna slapped the Alpha on his face by breaking the mate bond, and by finally leaving him, they couldn't help mocking a man who had abandoned his own family to save someone else.
"I heard he left Luna alone when surrounded by the rogue wolves to rush to meet his childhood sweetheart. Poor Luna, she had to witness her husband's infidelity at the worst possible time."
"You are right. I was there at the Pack's infirmary when he left Luna again when she had just lost her unborn baby."
"I can't even imagine her loss. Desperately trying to save her son while keeping another protected in her womb. How terrifying!"
"Wh-What did you say?" Julian's voice trembled, "P-Pregnant? Bella was pregnant?"

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