Chapter 1

Auretta’s POV

"Let's wait for your dad. His wolf is done fighting the enemy," I told my son after I breastfed him.

The mating mark on my neck only throbbed three times. I never worried when Andrew fought the enemy because he wouldn’t let anyone win against him.

“The sun is going down.” I stood on the terrace, hugging my son tighter as the cold air bit into my skin.

My eyes stared at the orange sky in amazement, and I could see the moon, which was still too shy to show itself.

The street lights turned on simultaneously to welcome the night. My son's eyes widened as the terrace light, turned on by the omega, shone on us.

"You can't see far now, but don't worry, you'll be able to soon," I said to my son, who looked at me intensely as if he understood what I said.

I kissed my son's cheek. I pouted, not getting his smile.

“You have a cold face like your dad. You must learn to express your face and smile.” I advised my 10-day-old son.

I smelled Andrew’s intoxicating scent, a broad smile spreading as I watched him walk towards us. He was so charming.

“Why are you standing on the terrace?” Andrew asked, standing in front of us and looking straight at me.

“Why do you ask that?” I pursed my lips. “You don’t like us waiting for you?”

Andrew looked at me expressionlessly. “Of course I do.” He hugged me and kissed me briefly on the lips. I glared at him, humiliated before our son. “But you guys better wait for me on the couch.”

“Alaric wants to see the sunset.”

“You are the one who wants to see it.” Andrew glanced at me coldly. I grinned.

“Are you satisfied with your sleep? Are you full?” Andrew pinched our son’s cheek.

“He really is like you. Has no facial expression,” I said.

Andrew smiled proudly. “Alaric is my son. He has to look like me.” He pinched our son’s cheek again.

“But it makes me upset that he doesn’t respond to me.” Andrew pinched our son’s nose and then took his hand and dropped it.

“Don’t make him cry. It’s not easy to make him stop crying.” I warned him.

“I’ll be by his side as long as he cries,” Andrew said.

He wanted to hold our son, but I shook my head; he looked at me hurt.

“You just want Alaric to like you.” Andrew snorted and pinched Alaric’s cheek until it turned red. “You’ve taken my mate.”

Andrew laughed out loud when he found Alaric’s eyes were glassy.

I lightly hit his muscular arm.

“Did we lose our warriors?” I asked.

“Of course not.” Andrew shook his head.

“Did our warriors kill the enemy warriors?”

“No.” Andrew clicked his tongue and made an annoyed face. “This war was disappointing.” He put his hands on his hips.

“I must ensure our warriors can kill the River Triangle Pack warriors next week.” Andrew grinned widely. A smile that made him look even more sinister.

The sound of the gate being pushed open caught our attention. The red car slowly drove into the yard, stopping beside my white car.

I smiled as Tabitha got out of the car and approached us.

"It's great to see you guys again. We haven't seen each other for five months." Tabitha smiled brightly.

“It’s good to see you again,” I said with a smile. “You changed your hair color and style.”

“Oh, you noticed right away.” Tabitha touched her shoulder-length pink hair. “Does this hair color and style suit me?” she asked.

“You look more beautiful and fresh,” I said honestly.

Tabitha blushed. Then she looked at my son. “Alaric. I’m so glad we finally met. I’m your aunt.”

My eyes glanced at Andrew, who said nothing. My pupils dilated, and my breath hitched.

His pitch-black eyes were locked on his cousin. His gaze implied that he was stunned by Tabitha's change in appearance.

I was very uneasy as the memories of that night came back to my mind.

'Did we make the right decision to let Tabitha meet your son?' The wolf's voice echoed in my head.

I begged Quinn, my wolf, not to ask such questions since I wanted to trust Andrew.

Moon Goddess showed me that our decisions were not wrong.

I sat on the bed's edge after ensuring Alaric was sleeping soundly. I rubbed my face and found myself daydreaming.

I thought I had forgotten what Andrew and Tabitha did five months ago. So, I welcomed Tabitha, who wanted to meet her nephew.

I touched the mate mark on my neck; it felt like being stabbed with a pen, not too painful, but that didn't stop me from worrying about Andrew.

"What happened to Andrew?" I looked at the time on my phone. "It's midnight."

I left the room to find Andrew because the mate mark hadn't stopped throbbing.

Then I saw Andrew's workspace was open, and no warrior was standing before the door.

I pushed the door open without knocking. My scent had already told him.

My eyes widened, and my heart raced quicker as if warning me when I saw Tabitha seated on the couch playing with her phone while Andrew sat in his chair.

“Can’t you sleep?” Andrew asked, looking away from the documents in his hand to me.

I looked at Andrew and Tabitha alternately. Suspicion gripped my chest tightly. “Why is Tabitha in your room?”

"She couldn't sleep. She was thinking about her ex-girlfriend who died in the war," Andrew said.

“I’m sorry to hear that,” I said. Tabitha shook her head and smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes.

“You go to sleep. I’ll sleep after I finish my work,” Andrew said, assuring me he would sleep with me.

“I’m going to bed too.” Tabitha stood up, glancing at Andrew. Andrew just nodded.

“Good night, Luna.” Tabitha gave me a small smile as she passed me, standing in the doorway.

I looked at Andrew, who seemed to be waiting for me to leave his workspace. The moonlight from the window behind him made him appear creepy.

I reminded him to sleep, and he nodded before I went to my room.

‘Why didn’t you tell Andrew that your mate mark was throbbing?' my wolf asked.

‘Didn’t you get suspicious seeing them in the same room at night?’ My head was spinning from my wolf’s cries.

‘I will remind you that the mate mark will pulse when our mate is hurt and betrays our love!’ My wolf was so angry that she wanted to take over my body, but I was able to prevent her.

I couldn’t accuse Andrew and Tabitha without proof. They didn’t look like they had just done something. Their appearance was neat, and they weren’t nervous, unlike when I caught them kissing.

I stared at the ceiling blankly, lying without a blanket, letting the cold night air from the open window brush my skin.

My wolf was sleeping, unconcerned about me, waiting for Andrew, who never entered the room and kept me up till the morning rose.

When I didn't see Andrew in the dining room for breakfast, the sensation of unease in my chest intensified. I couldn't talk casually with Tabitha.

Alaric made me smile that morning. He helped me forget about Andrew, who didn't tell me he met with Beta and the chief warrior to discuss the war at the warrior camp.

"Let's sunbathe, Alaric." I sat on a chair by the pool, laying my son on my lap.

My morning routine after having a child was to let my son get some sunlight.

"Your drink, Luna." Warrior Johan put my orange juice on the table next to me.

"Thank you, Warrior Johan," I said, smiling at him.

I thanked Warrior Johan again, who promptly picked up Alaric's pacifier, which had fallen to the floor. I pinched my son's cheek as he loved to take his pacifier out of his mouth.

I turned toward the door as my nose inhaled Andrew's scent.

He walked with heavy steps, his face tense, his gaze full of anger, and his fists clenched tightly as if ready to punch someone.

The broad smile on my lips disappeared when he stood in front of me with an angry expression and said something that stunned me.

"So it's true that you betrayed me?" Andrew's index finger pointed at Warrior Johan with anger burning in his eyes. "You cheated on me with this warrior."

His voice boomed like lightning that struck me. A sledgehammer hit my chest. I was so shocked that my voice caught in my throat. "What, what, what do you mean?"