3

I grew up an orphan. My parents died when I was too young to remember their faces.

All I had was my sister Emma, both of us raised in the pack's orphanage. She presented as an Omega, making our lives even harder.

When Ryan discovered I was his mate, his parents – the pack's former Beta pair – were horrified.

"An orphan?" Katherine had sneered. "With no bloodline? No status? With an Omega sister?"

But Ryan had stood firm then. "I only have one mate in this life," he'd declared. "And it's Celeste."

Now, a decade later, he spent the night holding Marcus and me in the basement, as if it could erase his betrayal.

Morning came too soon. Marcus woke and immediately lunged at Ryan, tiny fists flying.

"Marcus, stop," I caught him mid-attack. "Don't treat your father like this."

Ryan's face lit up. He gathered us both in his arms.

"I love only you two," he whispered. "Forever. I'll make everything right, I promise. Marcus will be my only heir."

He took Marcus to the garden for training, personally demonstrating combat stances and wolf forms.

While they trained, Ryan called me over, holding out my phone.

"Call your sister," he said kindly. "I know you miss her."

Poor, foolish Ryan. He thought my Omega sister posed no threat to his plans.

He didn't know Emma had found her mate six months ago – Alpha Alexander Stone of the Blood Moon Pack.

My fingers trembled as I dialed her number.

Soon, very soon, my son and I would be free.

Over the next few days, I forced myself to watch Jamie's torment of Marcus in silence. Each moment carved another scar on my heart.

"Kneel, bastard," Jamie would sneer in the garden, pointing to his muddy boots. "Put my shoes on properly. Both of them."

Marcus caught my eye, his small face brave despite his trembling hands.

"Faster!" Jamie kicked Marcus in the ribs. "This is how they'll treat you in Silver Prison anyway."

My claws dug deeper into my palms. Blood dripped onto the basement floor, but I didn't dare move. Not yet.

Sarah watched from her perch on the garden bench, smirking as her son tormented mine.

That night, my brave, gentle Marcus snuck downstairs with stolen medical supplies.

"I'm okay, Mom," he whispered, carefully cleaning the crescents my claws had carved into my palms. "See? I'm getting good at this."

I traced the purple bruises on his arms where Sarah had pinched him. Each mark felt like a dagger in my heart. Some were turning yellow, others were fresh and dark.

"Does it hurt badly?" I asked, my voice breaking.

Marcus shook his head. "Not anymore. I'm strong, like you."

Ten endless days passed. The Pack Council meeting loomed closer.

Even with Marcus taking the blame, Sarah's anxiety infected the house like a disease. She paced the halls at night, jumping at shadows, muttering about DNA tests and truth spells.

Finally, Ryan announced his solution over dinner: a vacation abroad with Sarah and Jamie until things "settled down."

While Ryan packed upstairs, I held Marcus in our basement refuge, treating his newest bruises with trembling fingers.

"Is Father leaving forever?" Marcus asked, his young face confused by the commotion above.

"Yes, baby."

A smile lit his face – the first real one I'd seen in days. "Good. I don't like him anymore. He only hurts you, Mom." He puffed out his chest. "When he's gone, I'll protect you instead."

I hugged him tight, breathing in his scent, memorizing every detail. "And Mom will always protect you. No matter what."

Ryan came down before leaving, his face twisted with reluctance. We sat on our narrow bed, neither looking at him.

"I'll be back before..." he hesitated, "before Marcus's sentence starts. I'll arrange everything – private tutors, comfortable quarters, the best education Silver Prison offers."

I nodded meekly, eyes downcast. "Whatever you think is best, mate."

Surprise flickered across his face at my easy acceptance. After weeks of fighting, my submission seemed to both please and unsettle him.

Ryan lingered in the basement, holding Marcus and me as if memorizing our scent.

"Hurry up!" Katherine's voice cracked down the stairs. "You'll miss the flight!"

Ryan pulled us closer. "I'll bring you both gifts. When I return, we'll have our marking ceremony, and I'll announce Marcus as my heir. I promise."

"Daddy..." Marcus's voice cracked.

My heart shattered. Despite everything, my son still loved his father. These past weeks had only taught him to hide it.

I quickly pulled Marcus into my arms, muffling his words against my shoulder.

"Go," I said softly. "Enjoy your trip with Sarah and Jamie. Make sure our sacrifice means something."

Guilt darkened Ryan's eyes. "I'm leaving Gregory here – my strongest guard. Call me anytime, for anything."

As they loaded the car, Gregory approached hesitantly.

"Beta Ryan, should Marcus continue his training with Jamie's combat instructor while you're gone?"

Sarah's head snapped up. "No. The instructor comes with us. Jamie needs consistent training, even on vacation."

I felt Marcus stiffen in my arms.

But my brave boy forced a smile. "It's okay. I can practice alone."

Ryan's face twisted with fresh guilt. "I'll find you an even better teacher when I return, Marcus. I promise."

Empty words. Empty promises.

I watched the car disappear, taking Sarah, Jamie, and my mate away.