Dominic’s POVThe test results paper crumpled in my fist as I drove. Jarek’s words kept repeating in my head—the DNA test showed Debbie wasn’t my daughter.I had called him three times today, asking if there was a mistake. Each time he firmly told me the results were absolutely accurate. The genetic markers didn’t match at all. There was zero possibility of paternity.“I ran it twice to be certain, Alpha,” Jarek had said when he delivered the report. “The child cannot be yours.”I rolled down the window, needing fresh air. The wind blew against my face as I drove aimlessly through pack territories. Street signs lost all meaning.My mind kept replaying Debbie’s smile when she called me “Uncle Ice Cream” at the training camp. Her innocent face, her little voice—all of it contrasted sharply with the cold test results.Five years.For five years, I’d believed Penelope left because I treated her badly after Isabella’s death. I blamed myself for pushing her away. Now I discovered she’d been
Kelsey’s POVLuna Sophia wanted a “proper” mate for her son—one with ancient bloodlines and important pack connections. Not me.I arranged flowers outside her quarters, forcing a smile whenever pack members walked past. The roses pricked my fingers, drawing blood that stained the white petals red.Word had spread quickly through the servants—the Alpha’s mother actively sought new Luna candidates from neighboring packs.After five years of waiting, of serving Dominic loyally while he mourned his runaway mate, I still didn’t measure up in Sophia’s eyes. Yesterday she dismissed me mid-sentence when I brought her afternoon tea.She barely acknowledged me while studying charts of eligible females from nearby territories, so I needed to act immediately.Night fell over the pack house. Most wolves attended the emergency council meeting about the mutant attacks, leaving the corridors nearly empty as I moved silently through the halls. My bare feet made no sound against the floors.Near the cou
Penelope’s POV“Stand still, sweetie.”I adjusted Debbie’s training uniform while she wriggled impatiently. “Is it time yet? Is it time?” she asked for the tenth time since breakfast, her voice bubbling with excitement.“Stop squirming,” I grunted, finally getting the second arm through. “I can’t dress you properly when you’re bouncing around like this.”“I can’t help it!” Debbie giggled. Her small feet pattered rapidly on the wooden floor of her bedroom. “Miss Lyra said I might get to try partial shifting today if I do really well!”I tugged the uniform into place, checking that the protective padding covered her vital areas. Today would be my first time watching her progress at the Rainbow Claw Training Camp. The instructors had sent glowing reports, but I needed to see it for myself.“Arms up,” I instructed, fastening the side buckles.Debbie instantly raised her hands, still bouncing on her toes. I smiled as she did. Something about her excitement warmed me to the core.I crouched
Penelope’s POVI stood at the edge of the training ground, my heart swelling with pride as Debbie shifted effortlessly between her human and wolf forms. Her small body glowed briefly during each transition before settling into her pup form—a beautiful silver-white wolf that shined brighter than any of the other young ones.“Remarkable coat she has,” my father noted, standing beside me. “Much brighter than normal for her age.”I nodded, unable to take my eyes off my daughter. The little wolf darted through the training course, leaping over low barriers and ducking through tunnels. Her speed impressed even the hardened trainers who nodded approvingly.“She’s a natural,” I said, trying to keep my voice casual though pride threatened to burst from my chest.My father tapped his wooden staff against the ground. “The Moon bloodline runs strong in her.”I tensed slightly. Comments about bloodlines always made me nervous, especially regarding Debbie.“The trainers say she has exceptional contr
Penelope’s POVI checked my phone for the twentieth time, anxiety agitating my stomach. Still no messages from Edward. No calls. No explanation for his absence.“Mom, when is Daddy Edward coming?” Debbie tugged at my shirt, her bottom lip quivering slightly.She wore her competition uniform—a miniature version of the traditional pack hunting gear, complete with the Iron Mountain insignia.“Soon, baby,” I lied, dialing his number again. The phone rang five times before going to voicemail, just like the previous attempts.Around us, the Rainbow Claw camp was on the go. Families gathered in the assembly area, parents helping their cubs stretch or practice last-minute techniques. Everyone had two parents present—everyone except us.“But the competition starts soon,” Debbie insisted, her green eyes filling with tears. “Tommy said we can’t play if we don’t have a dad. He said we’ll be disqualified."“Disqualified,” I corrected gently, smoothing her hair. “And Tommy doesn’t make the rules.”B
Penelope’s POV“Next up, solo agility course for five-to-six-year-olds!”Debbie bounced on her toes, already moving toward the starting line with the other cubs. The first events were individual showcases, allowing each pup to demonstrate their skills before the parent-child relays began.“Good luck, baby!” I called out, watching her scurry to her position.The moment she was out of earshot, I turned to Dominic. “Why were you at her training camp?”His jaw tightened. “What?”“Don’t play dumb,” I snapped. “Debbie told me you visited her training camp. What were you doing there?”“I wasn’t—”“She said you played games with them. That you were watching her.” I stepped closer, keeping my voice low but intense. “Were you spying on my daughter?”Dominic’s expression shifted, resignation replacing his initial denial. “Fine. Yes, I went to the camp.”“Why?” I demanded.“You know exactly why,” he replied, eyes locked on mine. “I needed to know if she was mine.”My heart hammered against my ribs
Penelope’s POVI rubbed my sweaty palms against my competition shorts as we approached the suspension obstacle. The referee stood ready, whistling between his lips, watching us take our positions at the starting line. Other families lined up alongside us.“Ready?” the referee asked.I felt Debbie jump at my side, her small hand squeezing mine. “We’re gonna win, right Mom?”I forced a smile. “We’ll try our best, sweetheart.”The referee blew his whistle, the shrill sound carrying across the entirety of the field. Families sprang into action all around us.“Both of you, hold onto me,” Dominic ordered, dropping to one knee. He gestured toward his neck and waist. “I’ll carry you across.”I froze, glaring at the direction of his scent through my blindfold like he’d grown a second head, but I could only see darkness. I heard the other fathers already hoisting their children onto their backs, but none attempted to carry both child and mother.“Mom, come on!” Debbie tugged at my arm impatientl
Penelope’s POV“I’ll get you both to the finish line,” Dominic promised, his voice low. “I’ll make sure you win, even if it costs me.”I snorted, adjusting my blindfold as we continued through the tunnel. “How noble of you.”“This way,” he murmured, guiding me around another bend. “Five more steps, then we’re out.”I counted silently, and sure enough, the air changed on my fifth step. Brightness filtered through my blindfold as we emerged from the tunnel.“We made it!” Debbie cheered.I yanked off the blindfold, blinking as my eyes adjusted to the sunlight.The final challenge stood before us now—a dense briar patch stretching thirty yards across. Thorns longer than my fingers jutted from every twisted branch. A few families already circled the perimeter, fathers searching for the safest path through.“Rules are simple,” the referee announced. “Cross the briars to reach the finish line. Parents must protect their cubs from injury.”Tommy’s father probed the edge of the patch with a sti
Edward’s POVI slammed my fist onto the stone table, cracking it down the middle. The Rogue counselors flinched, their mutilated bodies hunching forward in the torchlight.“Incompetent fools!” I roared. “Hundreds of my creatures—destroyed! Months of planning—wasted!”The emergency meeting in the underground den had gone poorly from the start. Failure reports poured in from every territory. The defensive efforts of the wolf packs had decimated my mutated army faster than we could replace them.“Rogue King,” a counselor ventured timidly, his half-rotted face barely visible beneath his hood. “Perhaps we should reconsider our approach. The direct attacks aren’t working as expected.”I glared at him, enjoying how he shrank back into the shadows. “And what brilliant strategy would you propose instead?”The counselor’s mouth opened and closed several times. No sound emerged.“As I thought,” I sneered. “Useless.”I paced the length of the gloomy hall.. Twenty Rogue counselors sat at the long t
Penelope’s POVI watched Debbie rush onto the winners’ podium, her curls bouncing in the sunlight. Her face glowed with excitement as she waved frantically to everyone watching. The referee handed her a shining medal, which she immediately held up high above her head.Pride swelled in my chest, momentarily overwhelming my confusion about Dominic. She looked so happy, so triumphant. This was what mattered—her joy, her confidence. Not my complicated feelings about her father.“Look, Mom!” she called, bouncing on her toes. “It’s real gold! Or at least it looks like it!”I smiled and gave her a thumbs up. She deserved this moment of glory after working so hard in practice.Debbie suddenly turned toward me, eyes wide and hopeful. “Mom!” she called, waving me over. “Mom, can we take Uncle Ice Cream out for dinner tonight? To celebrate? Please?”Her pleading expression caught me off guard. Before I could respond, she’d already bounced off to collect her medal certificate, leaving me standing
Penelope’s POV“I’ll get you both to the finish line,” Dominic promised, his voice low. “I’ll make sure you win, even if it costs me.”I snorted, adjusting my blindfold as we continued through the tunnel. “How noble of you.”“This way,” he murmured, guiding me around another bend. “Five more steps, then we’re out.”I counted silently, and sure enough, the air changed on my fifth step. Brightness filtered through my blindfold as we emerged from the tunnel.“We made it!” Debbie cheered.I yanked off the blindfold, blinking as my eyes adjusted to the sunlight.The final challenge stood before us now—a dense briar patch stretching thirty yards across. Thorns longer than my fingers jutted from every twisted branch. A few families already circled the perimeter, fathers searching for the safest path through.“Rules are simple,” the referee announced. “Cross the briars to reach the finish line. Parents must protect their cubs from injury.”Tommy’s father probed the edge of the patch with a sti
Penelope’s POVI rubbed my sweaty palms against my competition shorts as we approached the suspension obstacle. The referee stood ready, whistling between his lips, watching us take our positions at the starting line. Other families lined up alongside us.“Ready?” the referee asked.I felt Debbie jump at my side, her small hand squeezing mine. “We’re gonna win, right Mom?”I forced a smile. “We’ll try our best, sweetheart.”The referee blew his whistle, the shrill sound carrying across the entirety of the field. Families sprang into action all around us.“Both of you, hold onto me,” Dominic ordered, dropping to one knee. He gestured toward his neck and waist. “I’ll carry you across.”I froze, glaring at the direction of his scent through my blindfold like he’d grown a second head, but I could only see darkness. I heard the other fathers already hoisting their children onto their backs, but none attempted to carry both child and mother.“Mom, come on!” Debbie tugged at my arm impatientl
Penelope’s POV“Next up, solo agility course for five-to-six-year-olds!”Debbie bounced on her toes, already moving toward the starting line with the other cubs. The first events were individual showcases, allowing each pup to demonstrate their skills before the parent-child relays began.“Good luck, baby!” I called out, watching her scurry to her position.The moment she was out of earshot, I turned to Dominic. “Why were you at her training camp?”His jaw tightened. “What?”“Don’t play dumb,” I snapped. “Debbie told me you visited her training camp. What were you doing there?”“I wasn’t—”“She said you played games with them. That you were watching her.” I stepped closer, keeping my voice low but intense. “Were you spying on my daughter?”Dominic’s expression shifted, resignation replacing his initial denial. “Fine. Yes, I went to the camp.”“Why?” I demanded.“You know exactly why,” he replied, eyes locked on mine. “I needed to know if she was mine.”My heart hammered against my ribs
Penelope’s POVI checked my phone for the twentieth time, anxiety agitating my stomach. Still no messages from Edward. No calls. No explanation for his absence.“Mom, when is Daddy Edward coming?” Debbie tugged at my shirt, her bottom lip quivering slightly.She wore her competition uniform—a miniature version of the traditional pack hunting gear, complete with the Iron Mountain insignia.“Soon, baby,” I lied, dialing his number again. The phone rang five times before going to voicemail, just like the previous attempts.Around us, the Rainbow Claw camp was on the go. Families gathered in the assembly area, parents helping their cubs stretch or practice last-minute techniques. Everyone had two parents present—everyone except us.“But the competition starts soon,” Debbie insisted, her green eyes filling with tears. “Tommy said we can’t play if we don’t have a dad. He said we’ll be disqualified."“Disqualified,” I corrected gently, smoothing her hair. “And Tommy doesn’t make the rules.”B
Penelope’s POVI stood at the edge of the training ground, my heart swelling with pride as Debbie shifted effortlessly between her human and wolf forms. Her small body glowed briefly during each transition before settling into her pup form—a beautiful silver-white wolf that shined brighter than any of the other young ones.“Remarkable coat she has,” my father noted, standing beside me. “Much brighter than normal for her age.”I nodded, unable to take my eyes off my daughter. The little wolf darted through the training course, leaping over low barriers and ducking through tunnels. Her speed impressed even the hardened trainers who nodded approvingly.“She’s a natural,” I said, trying to keep my voice casual though pride threatened to burst from my chest.My father tapped his wooden staff against the ground. “The Moon bloodline runs strong in her.”I tensed slightly. Comments about bloodlines always made me nervous, especially regarding Debbie.“The trainers say she has exceptional contr
Penelope’s POV“Stand still, sweetie.”I adjusted Debbie’s training uniform while she wriggled impatiently. “Is it time yet? Is it time?” she asked for the tenth time since breakfast, her voice bubbling with excitement.“Stop squirming,” I grunted, finally getting the second arm through. “I can’t dress you properly when you’re bouncing around like this.”“I can’t help it!” Debbie giggled. Her small feet pattered rapidly on the wooden floor of her bedroom. “Miss Lyra said I might get to try partial shifting today if I do really well!”I tugged the uniform into place, checking that the protective padding covered her vital areas. Today would be my first time watching her progress at the Rainbow Claw Training Camp. The instructors had sent glowing reports, but I needed to see it for myself.“Arms up,” I instructed, fastening the side buckles.Debbie instantly raised her hands, still bouncing on her toes. I smiled as she did. Something about her excitement warmed me to the core.I crouched
Kelsey’s POVLuna Sophia wanted a “proper” mate for her son—one with ancient bloodlines and important pack connections. Not me.I arranged flowers outside her quarters, forcing a smile whenever pack members walked past. The roses pricked my fingers, drawing blood that stained the white petals red.Word had spread quickly through the servants—the Alpha’s mother actively sought new Luna candidates from neighboring packs.After five years of waiting, of serving Dominic loyally while he mourned his runaway mate, I still didn’t measure up in Sophia’s eyes. Yesterday she dismissed me mid-sentence when I brought her afternoon tea.She barely acknowledged me while studying charts of eligible females from nearby territories, so I needed to act immediately.Night fell over the pack house. Most wolves attended the emergency council meeting about the mutant attacks, leaving the corridors nearly empty as I moved silently through the halls. My bare feet made no sound against the floors.Near the cou