Sorry, Alpha. You’re Not His Dad Anymore

Chapter 2

Theo's lung infection was worse than expected.

At 2 a.m., he called Dad over and over in the grip of his fever.

I sent Damian a message.

Aria: Theo is in Room 301. His condition is critical. Can you come see him, please?

30 minutes later, I saw Damian at the far end of the hall.

My heart jumped against my will.

But Damian didn't walk toward Room 301.

He turned into Celeste's room.

His reply didn't arrive until dawn.

Damian: Can't come. Had surgery tonight.

I stared at those words for a long time. Then, one by one, I placed Theo's medical records, allergy report, and 6 years' worth of unsigned requests for paternal blessings into a folder.

At the very bottom lay an invitation from Rowan Vale, the Lycan King of the North.

For 3 years, he had invited me every 6 months to rebuild the Northern Medical Center.

I had rejected him every time.

Because Damian said Blackthorn needed me.

Looking back, Blackthorn had never needed me.

It only needed a healer who would never leave, never ask for a title, and always clean up every mess Damian left behind.

I took out Rowan's invitation and signed my name on the acceptance form.

When Theo woke, a nurse arrived with a cake from Damian.

"Alpha Damian said children like cake." Smiling, she opened the box.

The heavy scent of hazelnuts hit the air, and my wolf's fur stood on end.

"Don't touch it!"

But Theo had already licked the frosting from his fingertip.

In less than 30 seconds, his breathing grew tight and angry red welts spread across his neck.

The monitor shrieked.

I drove epinephrine into his arm and used my healing power to protect his spasming airway. Theo convulsed in my arms, his gray eyes fixed on me in terror.

"Mom... did I do something wrong?"

"No, sweetie. You did nothing wrong."

The resuscitation lasted 20 minutes.

By the time his breathing finally steadied, my healing power was drained. My hands shook so badly I couldn't even hold a syringe.

Damian stood outside the door.

His gaze swept over the cake in the trash. A trace of discomfort crossed his face.

"I didn't know he was allergic to hazelnuts."

"His allergy report has been sitting in your study for 6 years."

Damian frowned. "I already apologized."

"Come inside." I stepped aside, clearing the doorway. "Say it—to your son."

He looked at Theo in the bed.

One more step, and he could have touched him.

But through our mate mark, I felt no guilt from him. Only irritation.

"Celeste just gave birth. She gets anxious when she can't smell me."

Damian remained outside the room. "I'll visit Theo at the manor after he's discharged."

"You promise?"

"Aria, don't push your luck."

He turned and left.

Theo peeked out from beneath the blanket.

"Mom, should I wear new clothes the day I go home?"

My throat tightened. "Why?"

"Alpha is coming to see me."

He swallowed every bitter pill. He even asked me to help him walk around the room so he would recover faster. He didn't want Alpha to think he was a useless pup.

On the day Theo was discharged, he waited from dusk until dawn.

On the table was a picture he had drawn of the three of us.

Damian was a black wolf, I was a white wolf, and Theo stood between us. Above our heads, in crooked letters, he had written three letters.

DAD.

Damian never came.

At 5 a.m., he updated his profile on the pack page.

In the photo, he held Celeste's hand while the baby girl grasped one of his fingers. Three hands lay stacked together like a real family.

The caption was only one word.

HOME.

I liked the post.

Then I logged out of Blackthorn's medical system, submitted my resignation, and sent Rowan a message.

Aria: My medical team and I will arrive in the North in 3 days.

This time, his reply came almost at once.

Rowan: Your position, residence, and Theo's school enrollment are all arranged. You only need to arrive safely.

No questions.

No condescension.

No demand for gratitude.

I took off the mate ring I had hidden for 6 years and placed it in the folder.