The Rejected Mate's Secret Heir

Chapter 7: The Little Alpha’s Rules

The golden rays of the morning sun streamed through the velvet curtains of the royal suite, painting the grand bedroom in warm light.

Elena opened her eyes, her mind instantly snapping to high alert. But before panic could set in, a soft, energetic giggle echoed from the adjoining balcony.

Elena pushed back the silk sheets and hurried to the balcony doors.

There, standing on the marble balustrade with his little hands on his hips, was Jaxon. Down in the central training courtyard below, a dozen towering Bloodmoon warriors—full-grown, elite soldiers clad in heavy leather armor—were standing in a neat, straight line.

"No, no! You're doing it all wrong!" Jaxon yelled down at them, shaking his head with absolute disapproval. "Big Uncle Caleb said you guys are the strongest, but your stance is super wobbly! Drop lower!"

Elena’s jaw practically hit the floor.

Commander Caleb, the ruthless head of the pack's military, was standing right beside the boys, his arms crossed over his chest, actually watching the five-year-old instruct his elite squad. Even more unbelievable—the massive warriors below actually obeyed, dropping lower into their stances with awkward, nervous grins.

"Commander Caleb!" Elena called out sharply, her voice echoing across the courtyard.

Caleb immediately looked up, clearing his throat awkwardly as he bowed his head toward Elena. "Good morning, Lady Elena. The young prince woke up early and requested to inspection the morning drills."

"I'm inspecting the green army, Mommy!" Jaxon beamed up at her, waving his hands wildly. "They promised to teach me how to hold a real wooden sword after breakfast!"

Elena let out a long, exhausted sigh, though a tiny, fond smile briefly touched her lips before she quickly covered it. "Jaxon Vance, come inside right now. It's time for breakfast."

"Aww... okay," Jaxon pouted, but he obediently climbed down from the balustrade and ran into her arms.

As Elena closed the balcony doors, shielding her son from the dozens of curious gazes below, she couldn't deny the terrifying truth. Jaxon was adapting to this place far too fast. His Alpha blood was waking up, drawn to the power and discipline of the pack.

I'm losing my hold on him, Elena thought, her chest tightening with anxiety. The longer we stay here, the more he becomes a part of Max's world.

Meanwhile, in the luxury quarters on the west wing of the manor, a silver glass shattered violently against the marble floor.

"He called that wolfless bastard's child the legitimate heir?!" Lady Freya shrieked, her dark eyes flashing with pure rage as she paced the room.

Her father, Elder Richard, sat in a high-backed armchair, sipping his tea with a gloomy, sinister expression. "Calm down, Freya. Losing your temper won't fix the situation."

"How can I be calm, Father?!" Freya snapped, her sharp fingernails digging into her palms. "For five years, I have been acting as the unofficial Luna of this pack! I attended every banquet, managed the pack affairs, and waited for Max to finally make me his Queen! And now... that worthless female returns with a child who possesses Max's bloodline!"

"The child is a threat," Richard agreed coldly, his eyes narrowing into thin slits. "He possesses an abnormally strong Alpha aura for his age. If the pack elders see his full potential, they will rally behind him, forcing Max to crown Elena as Luna just to legitimize the royal lineage."

Freya stepped closer to her father, her voice dropping to a dangerous, poisonous whisper. "We can't let that happen. Elena is wolfless. She has no pack backing her, no guards of her own. She is completely vulnerable."

"Do not act recklessly, Freya," Richard warned, glaring at his daughter. "Max has placed elite royal guards outside their suite. If he catches you trying to harm the boy, he will execute you without hesitation. You saw how he defended them in the courtyard yesterday."

A dark, cruel smile spread across Freya's lips. "I won't touch the boy, Father. The boy is Max's weakness. But Elena? Elena is just a ghost from the past holding on by a thread. If I break her, the boy will follow her out of this pack forever."

Back in the royal suite, a heavy knock echoed at the door.

Before Elena could answer, the double doors swung open, and two servants entered carrying silver platters laden with freshly baked pastries, roasted meats, exotic fruits, and hot tea.

Behind them walked Max.

He was dressed in a sharp, dark suit that accentuated his broad shoulders, looking every bit the ruler of the continent. But the moment his eyes landed on Jaxon, the cold, intimidating Alpha King seemed to melt just a fraction.

"Did you enjoy your morning drill, Jaxon?" Max asked softly, walking into the room.

Jaxon sat at the dining table, picking up a strawberry and taking a big bite. He looked up at Max with narrowed, suspicious eyes. "The soldiers are okay. But you're still not allowed to sit with us."

Max paused mid-step, a faint, amused twitch gracing his lips. "This is my castle, little one."

"And this is my mommy's table," Jaxon retorted fearlessly, pointing his half-eaten strawberry at Max. "You made her cry yesterday. Bad guys don't get pancakes."

Elena couldn't help the small snort that escaped her throat. She quickly coughed to cover it up, taking a seat beside Jaxon and avoiding Max’s intense gaze.

Max stared at the two of them—his fierce, protective mate and his brave, headstrong son. The heavy silence in the room wasn't just filled with past pain anymore; there was a spark of wild, unpredictable energy that Jaxon brought into their lives.

Max slowly pulled out a chair at the far end of the long table, respecting the distance.

"Eat your fill," Max said quietly, his icy blue eyes fixing onto Elena with an unyielding promise. "Tonight is the Royal Pack Gala. The elders and nobility from neighboring territories are arriving to inspect the heir."

Elena froze, her fork hovering in mid-air. She looked up at Max, her eyes wide with shock and dread. "A gala? Max, no! I am not a piece of political showmanship for your pack!"

"You aren't," Max replied, his voice dropping into a deep, possessive rumble that made the air in the room vibrate. "You are my son's mother. And tonight, I will make sure the entire continent knows that anyone who dares to disrespect either of you... will answer directly to me."