006.

Cassie.

"How dare you speak to me in that manner?" Axel rose from his desk, eyes full of hate as he approached me.

His expression was so cold, so filled with disdain, that it almost made me falter.

Almost. But I couldn't allow myself to back down now.

"If you and your mate want me out of the pack so badly, then fine. I'll take my son and leave," I said, my voice shaking but firm, "perhaps you believe the rumors too, that Cam isn't your son."

In an instant, Axel closed the distance between us with a speed that made my pulse race, his hand gripping my arm hard.

“What the fuck do you mean by that?" he asked, his tone sharp.

His face was so close to mine. It was the first time since that one night we'd shared that he'd allowed himself to be this close.

For a little moment, I almost let myself remember it –the way he'd looked at me back then, the gentleness in his touch. But I forced myself to focus, shaking away the thought.

"I mean exactly what I said," I replied, barely able to keep the tremor out of my voice as tears stung my eyes. I didn't want to cry, not in front of him or Selena, but the pain was too overwhelming to contain.

"You're not going anywhere with my child," Axel growled, tightening his grip.

His words cut through me, sharp and cold.

"Then no other she-wolf will ever take my place as Cam's mother," I managed, though my voice was barely a whisper. I met his eyes.

"Don't you remember what we went through, what I went through during his birth?"

My mind slipped back to that night, to the memory still vivid in my bones. I had been so weak when I went into labor, barely able to stand.

Blood had filled my mouth as I vomited, leaving a sickly, metallic taste that clung to my throat throughout the process.

“She won't make it,” The doctor had said and urged Axel to save me and let Cam go, but I had refused strongly, clinging to the only thing that had brought me a sense of joy while everyone condemned me. I’d told Axel that night that even if it killed me, I would bring Cam into the world, and I did.

"Cam is my life," I whispered, looking into Axel's eyes, "And you know this."

For a brief moment, Axel's expression softened slightly, his grip loosening as he searched my face. There was something in his gaze that I hadn't seen in so long –sympathy, maybe even a hint of care.

But before I could even process the look in his eyes, Selena stumbled forward, pressing a hand to her head as she moaned.

"My head... I feel dizzy."

Axel's face transformed in an instant, all concern and urgency as he turned toward her.

"We'll talk about this later," he said, his voice clipped as he slipped his arm around Selena's shoulders and guided her out of the study.

I stood there, watching them disappear down the hall, a fresh wave of tears blurring my vision. I turned and walked slowly back to my room, the ache in my heart intensifying with every step.

When I entered, Cam was already awake, his wide, innocent eyes gazing up at me from his crib. I hurried over and scooped him up, holding him tightly against me as tears flowed freely down my cheeks.

The weight of everything Axel had said crushed me, every word replaying in my mind like a curse I couldn't escape.

"I don't even know how he could say such things," I whispered, burying my face in Cam's soft fro.

Cam cooed softly, his tiny hands reaching up to touch my face as if sensing my pain.

I kissed his forehead, brushing away my tears as I tried to steady my breathing.

I spent the rest of the day with Cam, feeding him and holding him close. I could feel the exhaustion settling in, not just from the day's events, but from the months of feeling unwanted, of fighting for my place. And now, knowing that Axel thought so little of me, that he would even entertain the thought of making Selena Cam's mother... It was too much.

Late that night, after putting Cam to bed, 1 slipped out to get some air, hoping the night breeze would clear my head.

The moon hung high in the sky, casting beautiful silver light across the pack grounds. I closed my eyes and breathed deeply, letting the cool air wash over me.

But as I opened my eyes, a figure emerged from the shadows, stepping into the moonlight. My heart clenched as I recognized the face, the piercing gaze.

Selena.

She took a step closer, her expression twisted with barely concealed anger.

"I've really had enough of you," she spat, her voice dripping with venom.

Before I could react, her fist connected with my face, sending a shock of pain through my cheekbone. I staggered back, but Selena wasn’t done, and she hadn’t come to have a conversation with me.

Another punch landed on my face, and then another to my stomach. I fell to the ground, gasping as I tried to shield myself from her blows.

"Pathetic," she sneered, towering over me as she rained down insults with every strike. "You actually thought you could use your sob story to manipulate him right before my eyes? You think you're anything more than a stain on this pack?"

I tried to push myself up, but she shoved me back down, her knee pressing painfully against my ribs. My head was spinning, my vision blurring from the force of her assault.

With one final kick to my ribs, she spat on me, her eyes blazing with hatred before she leaned in, her voice a deadly whisper.

"Forty-eight hours. That’s all you get. If i so much as see you in this pack after forty-eight hours, I don’t know what’ll happen to that bastard son of yours.”