Chapter 2

Early the next morning, just as I stirred, I received an urgent call from Mason’s grandfather. He demanded my immediate presence, along with my daughter, back at the Pack. My daughter was excited. She thought her father finally had time for us.

“Is Daddy going to discuss my birthday party with me?” she asked.

She was thrilled the entire way there, but I couldn’t shake the unease in my heart.

Mason’s grandfather had never liked me. This sudden summon couldn’t mean anything good. I grasped my daughter’s hand as we entered the Pack’s grand hall—

And there, my eyes fell upon Mason, tenderly assisting Olivia as she settled onto the couch.

They looked like a haply family while I stood like an intruder in their supposed marital harmony. Olivia’s belly was a little bigger and she looked very pleased with herself.

Mason’s grandfather stood before them, his face was stern as he spoke.

“Evelyn, I bear good news—Olivia is pregnant, and, in accordance with the Alpha King’s decree, Mason will officially ascend to the Alpha title of the Phantom Pack.”

He continued, “Their offspring will be the future heir of our Pack.”

“Soon, they will partake in the Marking Ceremony.”

I glanced at Mason—he kept his gaze away, refusing to meet my eyes.

Olivia grasped Mason’s hand, placing it over her stomach.

“Mason, you’re finally going to be a father. Are you not overjoyed?”

Mason nodded.

“I will take care of you and the baby. I will be the father I ought to be.”

Olivia looked at me with blatant provocation, as if saying: You lost.

My heart ached.

What did he mean by "finally"? Was not my own daughter his child as well?

He was forsaking his own flesh and blood to care for the child of his stepmother? A child conceived from such a twisted union?

“Mommy… why is Daddy taking care of someone else? Shouldn’t he be taking care of us?”

My daughter looked up at me, confused and hurt. Though her voice was soft, it carried across the hall, reaching the ears of several onlookers.

“Well, she is merely a bastard. Who gave her leave to claim him as her father?”

A sharp, mocking voice pierced the room—it belonged to Mason’s cousin, who had always held me in contempt.

“The Pack only needs one heir, and that is Luna Olivia’s child! Do not think you can snatch that away!”

Mason’s grandfather rebuked us coldly.

Murmurs rippled through the hall:

“Precisely. A rogue’s bastard daughter—what is she doing here?”

Mason’s grandmother regarded me with disdain.

“Evelyn, you were a rogue Mason took in. We extended our hospitality out of kindness, but henceforth, you are merely a maid—your duty is to clean.”

“And that little girl? She is simply an orphan we took in. If you do not accept these terms, then depart.”

“I am not an orphan! I am not!”

My daughter cried, her small voice trembling.

She could not understand why everyone held her in such hate…

In their eyes, I was merely a rogue, exiled from my former Pack.

When I eloped with Mason, I hid my true identity— And I never once revealed my wolf form to him. I looked at Mason. He stood and walked toward us, attempting to explain,

“She is not a bastard, and she is not—”

But before he could complete his sentence, Olivia pulled him back. Under his grandmother’s gaze, Mason abandoned us.

“Evelyn, take the child and return home.”

Mason finally spoke, his eyes still refusing to meet mine.

“I will visit you both later.”

I stared at him. Mason, from this moment forward, we are nothing to each other.

“Wait.”

I turned to leave, but Olivia’s voice rang out.

“Evelyn, since you are leaving, should you not give up the necklace around your neck?”

“As the Phantom Pack’s new Luna and Mason’s mate, that crescent moon necklace rightfully belongs to me.”

I looked at her, then at Mason—

He remained silent, his head bowed.

That necklace had once symbolized my place in his life— A token from Mason, signifying my identity as part of his family.

He had declared that as long as I wore it, I was his sole mate.

“Mason, do you share this thought?”

I could not help but ask, clinging to a final, fragile hope. Mason paused, then slowly lifted his head.

“I am sorry, Evelyn. It is Pack tradition.”

His words pierced my heart like a sharpened blade. I inhaled deeply, removed the necklace from my neck, and gently placed it on the table.

“Here. Take it.”

I held my daughter’s hand and left without turning back. Tears blurred my vision, but I knew— I would never look back again.

Ten years of love with Mason shattered in that devastating moment.

—

As soon as we returned home, I immediately contacted my father.

“Evelyn, have you finally made your decision? When will you return?”

His voice trembled slightly with emotion.

“Your mother has been yearning for your return every day.”

“I miss you both dearly,” I replied.

“And I have joyous news—I have a daughter now. She is beautiful.”

His voice suddenly became joyful.

“Truly? Evelyn, that is wonderful! She is the blood of our family!”

“Return soon—your home is here, with the Northern American Pack.”

I looked at my daughter beside me.

She was staring at her coloring book, her small face clouded with sadness. I knew… once we returned to North America, it would signify a clean break from Mason. But what of my daughter? She was still so young…Could she endure all of this?

“Mommy… are we leaving?”

She suddenly looked up at me.

“Daddy does not like me, does he?”

My heart broke. Tears welled up in my eyes.

How could I hide the cruel truth to my child—that her father did not love her?

“I know,” she said quietly. “Daddy wishes to be with someone else. He is no longer my daddy.”

“If we remain, I will have to address him as Uncle, not Daddy… right?”

“Nobody here likes us, right?”

Her maturity cut through me. She was still so young, yet she understood so much.

I crouched down and embraced her tightly.

“We are simply returning to Mommy’s home,” I said softly.

“There, you will have grandparents who love you dearly.”

“Okay,” she nodded.

“But… I wish to celebrate my birthday with Daddy first.”

She spoke softly, her eyes shimmering with tears.

“He promised last year that he would spend it with me this time.”

I looked at her and hesitated.

I knew—once we departed, we would never have that birthday with Mason.

I took a deep breath and nodded.

“Okay. Mommy promises.”