The Broken Mother Became the Alpha’s Mate

My daughter was critically ill, hanging on by a thread. As she lay dying, her only final wish was to see her daddy one last time. But her father—my cheating mate—was thinking about ripping marrow out of her body to save his mistress’s child！ Sophia's POV “I’m sorry, Ms. Sophia. We couldn’t save your daughter.” The Pack’s Chief Healer tsaid, “She only has a little time left. You can still say goodbye.” Goodbye...? My heart stopped. “No... no, that’s impossible. There has to be a way.” My legs buckled. “She carries Alpha blood. Please, try again...” “Olivia’s cellular wasting disease has spread to every organ.” The healer closed his eyes. “If we had a few more years, maybe we could find something. But she doesn’t have that time.” I dropped to the cold floor as tears broke loose. My Olivia was only five. Her life hadn’t even begun. No. There had to be another way. My mind raced, and then I remembered. At the edge of Shadow territory, in the Frozen Abyss. It was a forbidden cryogenic preservation method. It can froze the body completely, preserving it in desperate hope that one day the patient could be thawed and healed. 1 hour later, I took Olivia arried there. I covered her body with her favorite star-blue princess dress and carefully laid her inside the chamber. “Baby, is there anything you want to say to Mommy?” I asked softly, my voice already breaking. Olivia wore a breathing mask. She weakly moved her lips. No sound came out, but I knew what she meant. “Daddy... want Daddy... want a family photo... with Mommy and Daddy...” My heart twisted so hard I nearly screamed. Even now, in her final moments, she was still thinking about the father who neglected her. I crushed down my rage. “Sweetheart, Daddy’s busy—” Then I forced a smile. “Mommy will call him right now.” Derek. The future Alpha of Shadow Pack. My mate. Since Olivia was born, he had gotten busier and busier. I had practically raised her alone. The few times he showed up were enough to make her light up for days. But his neglect only got worse. For the last few months, he had vanished completely, always using “border patrol” as an excuse. I had called and told him how sick Olivia was, but he refused to believe me. He decided I was lying to get his attention. He let me cry for two sentences, then hung up. After that, he sent me a text: “Sophia, stop making up vicious lies about our daughter being seriously ill just to trick me into coming back. Your jealous little games only make me sick of you.” Sick of me. I called Derek again, hands shaking. He answered after two rings. “Derek, where are you? Olivia’s not going to make it. She wants to see you one last time—” “Where is Olivia? I’m coming right now!” His voice sounded urgent. Relief hit me so fast I nearly cried again. Thank the Moon Goddess. He believed me at last. He still cared about our daughter. “We’re at Frozen Aby—” I hadn’t finished when I heard another woman’s voice in the background. Soft. Trembling. Pitiful. “Derek, please. The healer said only Olivia’s marrow and bloodline power can save my Lyra. You have to save her.” Blair. The woman who could steal all of Derek’s attention without effort. Her fake, tearful voice made me sick. Then Derek spoke, low and gentle. “Don’t worry, Blair. I’m going to bring Olivia over right now and have her donate marrow to Lyra.” Boom. My world exploded. All I could hear was a roaring in my ears. Donate marrow? From who? To save who? Deep in my mind, my wolf, Mia, let out a savage roar. Rage and disbelief burned through my blood. His own daughter was dying. And the thing on his mind—the thing he was hurrying toward—was dragging marrow out of her dying body to save his mistress’s child? No. Absolutely not. I could not let him find Olivia. I hung up, turned off every location setting on my phone with shaking fingers, took a freezing breath, buried my fury, forced on a fake smile, and walked back to the chamber. “Baby, Daddy said yes. But he needs a little more time. Why don’t you sleep first? When you wake up, Daddy will come see you, okay?” My throat tightened. I hated myself for covering for Derek even now, but I had to. “Okay.” Olivia obediently closed her eyes. Just before sleep took her, she opened them a little and gave me the weakest, sweetest smile. “Love... you... Mommy...” Like moonlight fading away. That was what broke me. I covered my mouth so I wouldn’t scream. My teeth bit through my lip. Blood filled my mouth. If she knew the daddy she longed for only wanted her marrow to save another girl, how heartbroken would she be? I watch the staff pressed the switch. White frost rushed through the chamber and swallowed Olivia’s little face. I dropped to my knees on the frozen ground and sobbed until I couldn’t breathe. ... When it was over, I returned to the house Derek and I shared, hollow and numb. Suddenly the master bedroom door flew open. Derek strode out. He wore a tailored custom suit that sharpened his tall Alpha-heir frame. His cool pine scent filled the room at once. But beneath it, my wolf caught something else. A faint, sweet white rose scent. Blair. Mia growled low in my mind, full of hatred. If I hadn’t held her down, she would have torn apart the traitor standing in front of me carrying another she-wolf’s scent. “Where’s Olivia?” He frowned, scanning the empty room, his tone openly demanding. I didn’t move. I didn’t answer. I just looked at him like he was a stranger. This was the future leader of Shadow Pack. This was the man the Moon Goddess chose for me, the man who swore to love and protect me for life. The mate bond twitched weakly inside me, carrying only exhaustion now. I answered in a dead voice. “Where she is... what does that have to do with you?” Derek tugged at his tie impatiently and said in a lofty tone, “Sophia, are you even a competent mother? You forgot your own daughter’s birthday? Today’s her fifth birthday, and you didn’t even buy her a cake?” Competent? He thought he had the right to talk to me about parenting? He didn’t even wait for my answer. He headed for the door, clearly convinced I’d left Olivia in the car. “Olivia? Where are you? Come out,” he called into the night, forcing warmth into his voice. “Daddy rushed back from the border just to celebrate your birthday. Tomorrow Daddy will take you to the amusement park, okay?” No one was there. I forgot Olivia’s birthday? A cold laugh rose in my chest. Olivia was five. In those five years, Derek had only spent one birthday with her—her first—and only because the Pack had a banquet and he needed to keep up the image of a perfect family. What right did he have to question me? I turned and stared at him. “Take her to the amusement park... or take her to have her marrow extracted?” Derek’s hand tightened on the doorframe. He froze. Slowly, he turned back. For one second, shame flashed across his face. Then it was gone. “Fine. Since you know, I’ll say it.” “There’s a decorated female warrior at the border. Her pup is sick and needs a marrow transplant. I checked. Olivia is a match.” His fingers tapped the table like he was some noble hero. “You know I’m the future Alpha. If our daughter can save a grieving mother with one trip to the hospital, then such a selfless act—” I looked at him in disbelief. He had ignored our daughter for years, and now he wanted to play righteous heir? Disgust rolled through me. I cut him off. “Warrior Blair? Or your mistress Blair?” Derek went still. His face twisted with rage.