99 No-Shows Later, My Son Calls Him Alpha & We Left

Chapter 1

When my mate, Benjamin Hayes, kept abandoning our son and me for his widowed sister-in-law, Grace Carter, I began teaching my son, Gabriel, to call him "Alpha Benjamin."

On the night Gabriel had surgery, Grace said Thomas Hayes was crying for his dad. Benjamin let go of Gabriel's hand and walked away.

I wiped away my son's tears.

"The Alpha has something to do. Mom will stay with you."

At his birthday party, Gabriel waited with the first slice of cake, but Benjamin told us over the phone that Thomas didn't have a father. We needed to be more understanding.

The candles burned down. Gabriel still wouldn't eat that slice.

He still couldn't give up on his dad.

Then came Family Sports Day. Benjamin had finally promised to take part in the games with him.

But we had barely reached the school gates when Grace called again.

"Thomas keeps crying because all the other children have their dads here. Can you come?"

"I'll be there."

When the call ended, Benjamin was about to crouch down and explain, but Gabriel let go of his hand first.

"Go ahead, Alpha Benjamin."

Benjamin froze.

Whenever he had broken a promise before, Gabriel had always followed him, asking when he would be back.

This time, he simply took my hand.

"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."

Benjamin's shock hardened into anger as he turned on me.

"Lauren, is this how you're raising the Alpha heir?"

Gabriel stepped in front of me and lifted his chin.

"Alpha, you don't get to criticize my mom."

I looked down at the hand Gabriel had hidden behind his back. His fingers trembled despite his brave expression.

Gabriel had spent three months looking forward to this day. He got up early every morning to practice for the events because he was determined not to disappoint the father he idolized.

And what had his father done? He knew how long Gabriel had waited for this, yet he was still leaving him behind for someone else's child.

I shook my head and took Gabriel's hand.

"Gabriel has been looking forward to today for so long. He wanted to introduce his dad to his classmates. Do you really have to go to Thomas's event?"

Benjamin opened his mouth to answer, but his phone rang. The moment he picked up, Grace's tearful voice came through the line.

"Where are you? Thomas's event is about to start."

"I'm on my way."

When the call ended, an apologetic look flickered across Benjamin's face.

"Lauren, I'm sorry."

He had already made his choice. There was nothing left to discuss, so I took Gabriel's hand and walked into the school without another word.

At the opening assembly, Benjamin sat onstage in the place of honor reserved for Blackridge Pack's Alpha. Grace sat beside him in the Luna's seat.

The sight pulled me back to the hospital a month earlier.

That night, one message from Grace had been all it took for Benjamin to abandon Gabriel and me at the hospital. No matter how often I called, he gave me the same answer.

"Wait for me. I'll be there soon."

Even after Gabriel came out of surgery, Benjamin never showed up.

Gabriel tugged at my hand, pulling me back to the present.

"Mom, the games are starting."

I nodded and led Gabriel toward the field. After taking part in a few events with him, I stepped away to buy water.

When I returned, Gabriel stood across from Thomas with red-rimmed eyes and both fists clenched at his sides.

Before I could reach them, Benjamin rushed over, pulled Thomas into his arms, and soothed him in a low voice. Then he rounded on Gabriel with a scowl.

"Were you bullying Thomas again?"

Before Gabriel could explain, several children nearby spoke up.

"Alpha, Gabriel said you were his dad."

"Is that true?"

Benjamin was about to answer when Grace leaned close and whispered in his ear.

"Thomas told his classmates this morning that his dad would be competing with him. If you say you're Gabriel's father now, how will Thomas ever face them again?"

Benjamin looked at Gabriel. Guilt crossed his face when he saw his son's red-rimmed eyes.

"Dad..."

Gabriel's voice was barely audible.

Benjamin watched his son, who had always been so understanding. His lips moved, his expression torn.

After a few seconds of silence, he looked away.

"Thomas is my son."

Gabriel stared at him in disbelief, tears spilling down his cheeks.

Benjamin swallowed and took half a step toward him. Then he turned his face away, held Thomas tighter, and walked off.

Whatever hope I still had for Benjamin died in that moment.

As soon as we got home, I began drafting a mate-bond dissolution petition.

That evening, Benjamin came home as though nothing had happened. He wrapped his arms around me from behind and nuzzled the side of my neck.

"As the Alpha, it's my duty to care for everyone in the pack. I hope you and Gabriel will understand."

I turned and pushed him away without answering, then held out the petition.

"Sign it. This is best for all of us."

Benjamin looked down. When he read the words mate-bond dissolution petition, the confusion on his face turned to panic.

He looked up sharply, his voice strained.

"You're my Luna. No one understands me better than you do. Why would you do this? You're joking, aren't you?"

I gave him a humorless smile. Without meeting his eyes again, I pushed the petition closer to him.

"I'm not joking. I don't want to be your Luna anymore."