While I was at work, my boyfriend sent me an image. I opened it without a second thought, only for a horror movie ghost face to fill the screen. My heart nearly stopped.   Before I could confront him, his voice message arrived.   "Mia was only having fun. Don't blame her."   I had heard those words more times than I could count. Mia Brooks was his adopted sister, and she loved taking pranks too far. She had hidden a fake mouse under my blanket, put mustard in my toothpaste, and mixed peppermint oil into my face wash.   Ethan Hayes knew I was terrified of mice. He knew I hated mustard and that the smell of peppermint oil made me nauseous. Yet every time, he said Mia was young and told me not to hold it against her.   The fright triggered another episode of my heart condition. I clutched my pounding chest and struggled to breathe.   If this was what it meant to be Ethan's girlfriend, I wanted no part of it.   I was done.

When my mate, Benjamin Hayes, abandoned our son and me to rush to Grace Carter's side for the 99th time, I began teaching Gabriel to call him "Alpha Benjamin."   At first, Gabriel resisted. He was only 8 years old, and his father was still his hero.   The breaking point came on the day of Gabriel's Family Field Day, when Grace called Benjamin in tears yet again.   "Benjamin, can you come to Thomas's Family Field Day? He won't stop crying because his dad isn't here."   "I'll be there."   When the call ended, Benjamin reached for Gabriel's hand, already preparing the same apology he had given countless times before. Gabriel quietly stepped out of reach.   "A month ago, you left me at the hospital before my surgery because Thomas needed you. Then a week ago, at my birthday party, you took Thomas's side in front of everyone and called me selfish. That's when I realized maybe I'm not really your son." Gabriel held his gaze. "So there's no need for you to worry about me, Alpha Benjamin."   Benjamin stared at him in shock. I was proud of Gabriel, though it hurt that he had been forced to grow up this way. After days of helping him accept the truth, he had finally stopped waiting for Benjamin to change.   Gabriel drew himself up and gave Benjamin a stiff, formal nod. "Thank you for bringing me here, Alpha Benjamin. You should go be with the boy you consider your real son. Mom is enough for me today."