Chosen By Fate, Rejected By Hate

Chapter 6

Mavi’s POV

"May I know who the father of your son is?" Alpha Magnus asked again when I stayed silent and refused to answer.

"Why do you seem like you are interested, Alpha Magnus?" Sonia cut in sharply, her voice thick with anger.

"I am only curious. Moses looks so much like me. I thought he might be my brother’s child from a secret affair," Alpha Magnus replied calmly, as if he had not just struck a chord that made my blood run cold.

If I had turned to face them, they would have seen how pale my face had become. I had been right to dread this moment. I had always known someone would notice how much Moses looked like him. But I never imagined he would jump to the wrong conclusion so easily. He did not suspect the truth. He only thought my son was his brother's hidden child. The relief that washed over me was tangled with a sharp, bitter ache.

I gripped Moses’ hand a little tighter and kept walking, never turning back to look at Alpha Magnus. I was so grateful he did not push the matter further and just let us leave. But my heart was still pounding wildly against my ribs the whole way.

I let out a long, shaky breath only when we were safely inside my car. The tight weight on my chest finally loosened just a little. I made a silent promise to myself. From now on, I will be far more careful. I would do everything I could to keep Moses and Alpha Magnus from ever crossing paths again. I could not risk anyone finding out the truth.

"Alpha Magnus is really nice, Mom. I wish he could be my daddy," Moses said softly as I started the engine and drove away.

My grip tightened on the steering wheel until my knuckles turned white. "He is not your father, Moses. And that will never happen. You just met him today. Don't decide someone is good just because he gave you the toy you wanted, okay?" I answered firmly, though my voice wavered just a little.

"Okay, Mom," he mumbled quietly. But then I heard him whisper, "I really wish he was my dad." I pretended I had not heard those words. I did not know how to answer him without breaking my own heart.

Moses stayed quiet for the rest of the ride. But when we reached our house, my stomach twisted into a hard, painful knot. Parked right outside our gate was the car I dreaded seeing the most. Alpha Abner.

Alpha Abner was the Alpha of the Red Moon Pack. He had been pursuing me for almost three years now. He was arrogant, short-tempered, and cruel. No matter how handsome or wealthy he was, I would never want anything to do with him. I had turned him down many times already, but he refused to listen. He acted as if my refusal was nothing more than a game he intended to win.

"I do not like him, Mom," Moses frowned as he saw the man step out of his car the moment he noticed us.

"Me neither," I whispered back to my son before opening my door and stepping out.

"Hello, Mavi. It is always a pleasure to see you," Alpha Abner greeted me with a smile that never reached his cold, greedy eyes.

"You speak as if we have not seen each other in months. But you were standing right here at my gate yesterday," I replied plainly, refusing to return his smile. I would not give him even a small reason to hope. Even if I wanted to smile, I could not. Just looking at him made my blood boil.

"You should just agree to become my Luna, Mavi. I will give you everything. You can set the wedding date whenever you want," he said confidently, ignoring the clear look of dislike on my face.

"I do not have—"

"My mom will never marry you! She will only marry my real dad!" Moses shouted angrily as he climbed out of the car and heard every word.

The smile vanished from Alpha Abner’s face in an instant. The amber color of his eyes darkened and turned bright, burning red. That was the sign. That was how you knew he was furious. It was terrifying to look at, unlike Moses. When my son gets angry, his eyes shift to a beautiful shade of blue-green. I still wonder where he got that trait. I do not have eyes that change color when I feel strong emotion. I had heard only male werewolves carry that mark. And every time I see it, my mind drifts back to Alpha Magnus. Because his eyes are also like that when he is angry. Maybe my son inherited them from him.

Alpha Abner took a slow, threatening step toward Moses. I moved faster. I stepped right in front of my son and shielded him with my own body, my heart hammering against my ribs.

"You belong with me, Mavi. No one else can have you. Anyone who tries to take you away from me will have to step over my dead body first," Alpha Abner growled, his voice low and dripping with menace.

"First of all, I do not belong to anyone. You have no right to claim me or decide who I can be with. I will marry whoever I choose, and you cannot stop me. Second, I have told you many times. I do not like you. I will never love you. So please stop wasting your time on me. Leave me alone," I stood my ground, though cold fear was coiling tight in my stomach. His eyes looked like they were burning with pure rage. But I forced myself to stay calm. I could not let Moses see how scared I was. I had to be strong for him.

"Keep pushing me, Mavi. I will kill any man who dares to get close to you. And remember this, if you continue to reject me, I will not hesitate to take what I want by force. Even if it means tearing your world apart piece by piece," he spat out the chilling threat before turning around, getting into his car, and speeding away without another word.

"I knew it, Mom! He is so rude, arrogant, and ruthless," Moses grinned in relief as the car disappeared from sight.

I ruffled his hair gently and guided him inside our home, but my hands were still trembling. Alpha Abner had an army of loyal men at his beck and call. Rumor said much of his wealth came from illegal businesses. Everyone knew how ruthless he could be to anyone who crossed him. People called Alpha Magnus the heartless and cruel Alpha of the Iron Pack, but now I wondered if Alpha Abner was far worse.

I hugged Moses tighter as we stepped inside, locking the door and bolting it twice. But I knew locks meant nothing to a man like him. My mind raced with terrifying possibilities. What would he do when his patience finally ran out? Would he hurt me? Or would he go straight for the one thing he knew would break me completely?

I looked down at Moses, who was already walking happily toward the living room. A cold, sinking feeling settled deep in my bones. Alpha Abner had made it clear. He thought my son was the only thing standing between us. And I had a terrible, sinking certainty that he would not hesitate to use Moses against me. The danger was no longer just a worry. It was already at our door. And I had no idea when he would come back to strike.