Chosen By Fate, Rejected By Hate

Chapter 7

Mavi’s POV

After that frightening encounter with Alpha Abner, he never tried to contact me again. Slowly, the heavy knot of worry inside my chest loosened a little. I told myself that maybe he had finally realized he could never force me to love him. Maybe he had grown tired of chasing someone who would always push him away. I wanted so badly to believe that this peace would last.

Alpha Magnus and Moses had not crossed paths again since that day. There had been one close call at the mall, and my heart had nearly stopped beating until I managed to pull Moses away before anyone noticed. I still did not understand why Alpha Magnus had stayed in the province this long. But deep down, I kept hoping he would soon return to the city. If he left, I would no longer have to live in constant fear that my son and his father would run into each other by accident.

"Hey! Are you listening to me?" Lotlot snapped her fingers right in front of my face. "I have been talking for ages, and you look like your mind is miles away. Is something wrong?"

We were sitting inside a cozy coffee shop. She had called me over because she was attending a seminar nearby and wanted to see me before she headed back to the city. Lotlot was one of the very few people I trusted enough to let into my life. She visited often enough that Moses was comfortable around her. And every time she came, she would gently ask if I ever wanted to restore my old face. But I was happy with who I was now. I had no desire to bring back the girl I used to be.

"Moses and I ran into Alpha Magnus," I said quietly.

Lotlot’s eyes went wide instantly. "What? How did that happen? Did you tell him who you really are? Did you tell him Moses is his son?" she asked in a rush of questions. I almost laughed at her reaction, even though my heart felt heavy.

"Breathe, Lotlot," I said, shaking my head slowly. "First of all, it was a complete accident. And the answer to both your other questions is no. Why would I tell him? If he finds out the truth, he could take Moses away from me. What would I do then? I cannot live without my son."

I thought of the harsh rules of our kind. By law, custody usually belongs to the Alpha because of his status and power. If Alpha Magnus claimed Moses, I would have no legal way to refuse him. I could be punished for hiding the truth, and I might never see my child again. That fear was always lurking in the back of my mind. That was the biggest reason why the secret had to stay buried forever.

"That is a relief to hear," Lotlot sighed, though she still looked worried. "What about that arrogant suitor of yours? Alpha Abner."

"He has not bothered me for three weeks now," I replied with a weary sigh. "I really hope he stays gone. But the last time we spoke, he threatened to kill any man who even looked at me. He is completely out of his mind."

"You need to be very careful, Mavi," Lotlot said seriously. "I do not think he just likes you. He is obsessed with you. And do not let his silence fool you. He will not stop. He is probably just busy with his own matters right now."

I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. She was right. I should not let my guard down. If he ever showed up at my door again, I would have to be twice as careful.

"Let us stop talking about them. They only ruin my mood," I said, changing the subject. Lotlot agreed right away. We spent the rest of our time talking about happy things, and for a little while, I managed to forget my worries.

"I should head out now," Lotlot said as we both stood up to leave. "Come visit me at my place when you have time. Bring Moses with you."

"That sounds perfect," I smiled back. "Today is Moses’ last day of school. We are planning a little vacation. You can expect us knocking on your door in a few days."

"I will be waiting," she waved as she walked to her car. I waved back and watched her drive away before getting into my own car to head home.

Moses should be home by now with Jenny. Jenny was our neighbor’s daughter. I often asked her to pick Moses up from school or stay with him whenever I had to go out, like today.

But as I got closer to my house, I saw Jenny standing outside our gate. She was pacing back and forth, wiping her eyes frantically. The moment she saw my car, she ran toward me. My stomach dropped. Something was terribly wrong.

"Moses is gone!" Jenny cried out the second I stepped out of the car. "Alpha Abner took him! He dragged him away the moment we got out of the taxi!"

The news hit me like a physical blow. My knees went weak, and my chest felt like it was being crushed. This was exactly the nightmare I had been dreading. He had threatened to tear my world apart, and now he had done the worst thing possible. He had taken my son.

"Did he leave any message for me?" I asked, forcing myself to stay calm even as panic screamed inside my head. I had to think clearly. I had to be strong.

"He said if you want to see Moses alive, you have to go to his house in the city," Jenny sobbed as she handed me a folded piece of paper with an address written on it. "And he said you must wear a wedding dress. Because the moment you arrive, that will be your wedding day."

I walked slowly into the empty house and sank onto the sofa. My mind was spinning in circles. If I refused to marry him, I had no doubt he would hurt Moses to force my hand. But if I agreed, I would be trapping myself in a nightmare I could never escape.

In the middle of my confusion and fear, one name kept echoing in my mind. There was only one person powerful enough to stand against Alpha Abner. There was only one person who might be able to help me. I had no choice but to go to him.

My heart hammered wildly as I made my decision. I had known this moment would come sooner or later. But I never imagined it would be like this. I had to reveal the secret I had guarded for years. I had no choice but to go to Alpha Magnus. But would he help me? Or would I be trading one terrible fate for another?