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

Chapter 3

Lauren's POV:

"Honey, where did you put the Luna ring I gave you when we bonded?"

I stopped typing and went to find the ring. When I handed it to him, I couldn't hide my confusion.

"Why do you need it?"

"Grace thinks it's beautiful. She wants to wear it to Thomas's graduation ceremony."

Benjamin accepted it as if it were an ordinary piece of jewelry.

Thomas was a few years older than Gabriel and was graduating that year.

I looked down at the moonstone, then reminded him what the ring represented.

"Benjamin, the Moon Goddess bestowed this ring on the current Luna. It represents her authority in the pack. Grace shouldn't be wearing it."

Benjamin smiled as if I were being ridiculous.

"You don't need a ring to prove you're my Luna. Besides, it's only jewelry. Stop making such a big deal out of it."

He turned and headed back to Gabriel's room.

I assumed he was going to check on our sleeping son. Then Gabriel cried out.

I shoved open the door. Pale blue light filled the dark room. In the middle of the glow, Benjamin was removing Gabriel's Alpha bloodline sigil against his will.

"Benjamin, have you lost your mind? Why are you taking his sigil from him?"

The sigil glowed at Benjamin's fingertips. He turned to me without a trace of concern.

"Lauren, you're the Luna. Can't you stay calm for once? Thomas is growing up without a father. Without the status and protection of a bloodline sigil, he'll be an easy target. I have to protect him. Gabriel still has both of us."

I couldn't answer. I could only look at Gabriel, pale and shaken after the sigil had been removed.

The sight made me sick.

"Benjamin, did you think about Gabriel and me for even a second?"

My voice was calmer than I felt.

"Honey, you and Gabriel are the people I love most. Of course I thought about you. But Grace and Thomas are family too."

Any love I had left for him died with those words.

I let out a disbelieving laugh.

"Then hurry and take it to Thomas. We wouldn't want anyone bullying him."

Benjamin smiled, relieved. "I knew you'd understand. That's why you're my Luna."

He kissed my forehead, pulled on his coat, and left again.

Once the door closed behind him, I sat beside Gabriel and stroked his hair.

"Mom, I don't want to stay here anymore."

Gabriel trembled beside me as tears streamed down his cheeks.

"Then we won't stay. We'll leave."

I deleted the message I had started earlier and sent a new one.

Lauren: I don't need 5 days. Our flight leaves at 3 p.m. tomorrow. Please pick Gabriel and me up.

The reply appeared at once.

Jonathan: That's great news!