Chapter 1
There was a sickening thud.
Edie clutched her forehead and screamed.
Blood seeped between her fingers and ran down her little face.
A boy of 5 or 6 stood grinning at me, a metal toy car clenched in his fist.
He had slammed that car into my daughter's head.
I held Edie close and pressed my palm to her wound. Blood soaked my fingers.
"Your son hurt my daughter with that car!"
I looked up at Leah.
Leah glanced down at the bloodstained toy car on the floor. Her expression didn't change.
She pulled the boy behind her and said unhurriedly, "Harvey's only 5. They were just playing. You're an adult. Do you really have to make such a fuss?"
Harvey peeked out from behind her legs, a smug little smile on his face.
He pointed at Edie, who was crying with blood all over her face, and shrilled, "She grabbed my car first!
"She hit me, too!"
Edie was only 3. She couldn't possibly take a toy away from a 5-year-old boy, let alone hit him.
Before I could speak, a hand reached in from the side and clamped down on my shoulder.
His grip was hard enough to crush bone.
Asher stood in front of me, blocking the light and casting a shadow over us.
"Rachel."
He said my name with disgust.
"It's been 4 years. You're still trying to win me back with a child?"
He glanced at the wound on Edie's forehead without a flicker of concern, then looked back at me.
"At least you've found a new way to play the victim."
"Are you blind?" I asked through gritted teeth. "Your son was the one who—"
Asher scoffed and raised a hand to cut me off.
"You're as vicious as ever. You brought her here to put on this little show. You think I'll go soft just because she's my child?"
I jolted. He must have mistaken Edie for his daughter. I was about to explain when Leah stepped forward.
Her timing was perfect. She slipped her hand gently around Asher's arm and said softly, "Rachel, this is all my fault. Asher only dissolved your bond because he was afraid I'd be so upset I'd hurt myself.
"Now that you're here, you two should talk and clear up the misunderstanding.
"Once Asher finishes discussing the partnership with the Moonlight Pack's Alpha King, I'll take Harvey and leave. You can have your place as Luna back."
Her eyes reddened as she hovered protectively over Harvey, looking painfully awkward.
Harvey, who had been so belligerent a moment earlier, stuck out his lower lip.
"No! I want Daddy! They're here to steal my daddy! I'm not leaving!"
Just as expected, Asher's expression darkened.
He fixed me with a hostile stare.
"Rachel, don't think you can force me to take you back with these cheap tricks.
"You've only just come back, and you're already bullying Leah. Let me make one thing clear: even if I let you return, Leah will still be my Luna. You're only fit to be her servant!"
He stepped closer and looked down at my daughter, whose face was streaked with blood and tears as she lay in my arms.
"Since you gave me a daughter, I suppose I can let you come back and live with us.
"I'm about to formally sign a partnership agreement with Jordan, the Alpha King of the Moonlight Pack."
His mouth curved into a contemptuous smile.
"Once the Moonlight Alpha agrees to support me, my power will triple. You're as mercenary as ever. You found out about that already, didn't you?"
Asher sneered as though he had seen right through me.
